SUBJECT: CONSENT
Title
A Resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Town of Erie, Colorado Authorizing Negotiations, Purchase, and if Necessary and Appropriate, the Exercise of the Town's Powers of Eminent Domain to Acquire a Fee Interest in, and Temporary Construction Easements on Certain Real Property for the Construction, Operation and Use of Roadway and Intersection Improvements at and along Erie Parkway and Weld County Road 7
Body
DEPARTMENT: Public Works
PRESENTER/PREPARER: Todd Fessenden, Public Works Director
Wendi Palmer, Civil Engineer
TIME ESTIMATE: NA
only required for non-consent items
FISCAL SUMMARY:
Cost as Recommended: NA
Balance Available: NA
Budget Line Item Number: NA
New Appropriation Required: NA
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Approve the Resolution and authorize Town Staff to negotiate the property purchases.
End
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER:
At the September 25, 2018 Board of Trustees meeting the Board awarded the design for the Erie Parkway and Weld County Road 7 (WCR7) intersection improvements to J-U-B Engineers, Inc. At the March 24, 2020 Board meeting the Board awarded the design for the traffic signal at this intersection to Fox Tuttle Transportation Group.
Both Erie Parkway and WCR 7 are classified as Principal Arterials in the Town’s Transportation Master Plan. The ultimate right-of-way width for a Principal Arterial is 140-feet. The existing right of way for both Erie Parkway and WCR 7 is 60-feet. A 60-foot wide right-of-way is not adequate to incorporate the initial safety improvements for the intersection. Wherever possible staff looked to acquire the recommended right of way, however there are two locations where existing buildings would be negatively impacted if the Town acquired this right of way. The intersection design was re-evaluated to minimize the right of way needed in these locations.
The Town engaged Western States Land Services, a firm that specializes in right of way acquisition, to negotiate the purchase of right of way and temporary construction easements. Although negotiations are continuing, the process is slow. In an effort to expedite the acquisition process, this resolution will allow the Town Attorney and Town Administrator to enter into a purchase agreement, or if needed begin condemnation proceedings to acquire the needed right of way to construct the safety-related improvements at this intersection.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution