Subject:
Title
Public Hearing to consider alley vacation of 115 Wilmar Place NW
Body
EXPLANATION AND SUMMARY:
Over the last several years, following state code requirements for disposal of public property, the Vienna Town Council has authorized disposal of several sections of the 15-foot-wide public alley running parallel to Ayr Hill Avenue and Willmar Place NW between Center Street and Lawyers Road NW.
A new alley vacation application has been received from Manish and Vanita Sharma, owners of 115 Wilmar Place NW, to purchase the remaining 15’ X 50’ public alley next to their property.
In 2013, viewers determined that there is no inconvenience to the public nor a need to keep any piece of the alley between Ayr Hill Avenue NW and Wilmar Place NW, beginning at Lawyers Road and ending at Center Street.
In May 2021 the Town Council modified the process to determine the property value for alley vacations. Prior to May 2021, the property values to determine the sale price of vacated right of way was determined by an independent real estate appraisal. In May 2021 the Council adopted the following process:
The cost per square foot is determined by taking one-third (1/3) of the current Fairfax County tax-assessed value of the applicant’s land (land only, not improvements) adjacent to the alley or public right of way requested for vacation and divided by the current applicant’s property size in square feet (sf).
115 Wilmar Place NW:
The applicant’s lot size is 14,000 sf and the current tax-assessed land value is $352,000; therefore, the cost to purchase the vacated alley or public right of way would be:
$352,000 times 1/3 divided by 14,000 sf = $8.38 / sf.
Size of alley to be vacated: 1,200 sf
Cost to purchase alley = $8.38 x 1,200 = $10,057
Strategic Plan Initiative: Vienna is an influential and well-governed community. Vienna is an engaged community.
Departmental Recommendation: Recommend scheduling an alley vacation public hearing.
Finance Recommendation: Recommend scheduling a public hearing
Purchasing Recommendation: N/A
Town Attorney Recommendation: The Town Council may conduct a public hearing to consider vacating a portion of the identified alley, in the discretion of the Town Council.
Town Manager's Recommendation: I recommend the Town Council close the public hearing and approve the Ordinance to Vacate the portion of the public alley adjacent to 115 Wilmar Place NW, as presented.
Cost and Financing: N/A
Account Number: N/A
Decision Needed by This date: N/A
PROPOSED/SUGGESTED MOTION
Recommended Action
“I move to close the Public Hearing.”
And
"I move to approve the Ordinance to Vacate the portion of the public alley adjacent to 115 Wilmar Place NW, as identified in the petitioner’s plat, and condition upon payment of $10,057 from Manish and Vanita Sharma for the vacated portion, and submission by petitioners of a deed of consolidation, and further authorize the Mayor to execute the necessary documents.”
Or
Other action deemed necessary by Council.