HomeMy WebLinkAboutG-23-481 BOD Staff Report 031422OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMMUNICATION
FEBRUARY 1, 2022 AGENDA
Subject
Jack Stephens Drive —
Right -of -Way Abandon-
ment, located south of
Plateau Street to West 6th
Street. (G-23-481)
Submitted by:
Department of Planning and
Development
SYNOPSIS
FISCAL IMPACT
RECOMMENDATION
BACKGROUND
Action Required
gOrdinance
Resolution
Approval
Information Report
Approved By
Bruce Moore
City Manager
The adjacent property owner requests to abandon the
portion of Jack Stephens Drive, from the south right-of-way
line of Plateau Street to the south right-of-way line of West
6th Street.
None
Approval of the Ordinance
The applicant proposes to abandon the portion of Jack
Stephens Drive, from the south right-of-way line of Plateau
Street to the south right-of-way line of West 6`h Street. Jack
Stephens Drive is a paved right-of-way located within the
DAMS Campus, with varying right-of-way widths. The
right-of-way is generally between 40 and 60 feet wide. A
small portion of the right-of-way (approximately 100 feet
in length) was previously abandoned by Ordinance No.
17,952. This portion is located between West 4th Street and
West Capitol Street.
The applicant has made the following comment with
request to the proposed abandonment:
BACKGROUND
CONTINUED
"All abandoned right-of-way areas will be
retained as utility and drainage easements as
there are many lines existing there today. The
abandonment will facilitate UAMS in taking
ownership of several duct banks, presently
owned by Entergy, as well as their continued
improvements in this part of the campus."
UAMS is the only property owner which abuts the area of
right-of-way to be abandoned. Therefore, there were no
other property owners to notify of the abandonment request.
A letter from Beach Abstract Company makes the
following comments with respect to reversionary clause(s)
for the right-of-way to be abandoned:
1. We find that the E'/z of Elm Street was dedicated
to the Public in the Dedication Plat and Bill of
Assurance to the City of Little Rock, Arkansas,
which was filed for record June 5, 1895, in Plat
Book AB, Page 252 and the THERE ARE NO
REVERSIONARY CLASUES.
2. We find that the E'/z of Elm Street was dedicated
to the Public in the Dedication Plat and Bill of
Assurance to the City of Little Rock, Arkansas,
which was filed for record July 20, 1906, in Plat
Book 1, Page 25 and the THERE ARE NO
REVERSIONARY CLASUES.
3. According to the City of Little Rock the W% of Elm
Street was most likely never dedicated because it
was always owned by the State of Arkansas and it
was not required for them to dedicate. So
therefore, we cannot state whether there is a
Reversionary clause.
Several of the public utility companies request that all or
parts of the area of abandonment be retained as a utility
easement. Therefore, the entire area of abandonment will
be retained as a utility and drainage easement.
There are no Master Street Plan issues, as the area of
abandonment is not classified as a collector street or higher.
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BACKGROUND
CONTINUED
Abandoning this right-of-way will have no adverse impact
on the public welfare and safety. The Little Rock Fire
Department submitted no negative comments to the
proposed abandonment request.
On December 9, 2021, the Planning Commission voted
9 ayes, 0 noes, and 2 absent, as part of the Consent Agenda,
to approve the abandonment request. There was no
objectors present.
All neighborhood associations registered with The City of
Little Rock were notified of the public hearing.
Please see the attached Planning Commission minute
record for the complete staff analysis.
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