Juniper Drive vacation denied

Moses Lake council votes down request

MOSES LAKE - With a 4-3 vote, the Moses Lake City Council voted against vacating a portion of Juniper Drive to the Moses Lake Clinic Tuesday night.

Clinic Administrator David Olson requested the city council vacate Juniper Drive to the clinic for their expansion needs. Olson said the portion, spanning from Hill Avenue to Cherry Street, approximately one-tenth of a mile, would allow additional parking, increase pedestrian traffic safety, allow for the development of additional facilities, including a cancer treatment unit, allow them to house their physicians at their facility and possibly attract more specialty doctors to the area.

There was no public comment during the Tuesday night meeting.

During past council meetings, residents living near the clinic provided testimony both in favor and against. The majority of testimony was against the vacation. Clinic physicians provided testimony in favor of the vacation.

Mayor Ron Covey said he was in favor of the vacation because the amenities the clinic is willing to provide would benefit the entire community. He said the additional facilities would prevent Moses Lake residents from driving hours to reach a city with the appropriate treatment facilities.

Covey said he understands the concerns of citizens who do not want to give up the portion of Juniper Drive because their tax dollars funded the roadway.

He shared his idea for a compromise between the city and the clinic to vacate a portion of Juniper Drive.

Covey said the clinic could compensate the city for the full value of the portion of road, approximately $155,000. In similar vacation situations, the city is compensated for half of the appraised value.

He said the $155,000 could be used to pay for one-third of the construction cost to develop Lark Avenue to connect to South Pioneer Way. The city would pay the remaining two-thirds.

Covey said the development of Lark Avenue would give an access to the Lakeview Terrace area.

Olson said he was unable to make a commitment to the idea. He said he would be willing to propose the idea to the physicians at the clinic who would make the decision.

Councilmember Richard Pearce said rather than the clinic spending $155,000 to construct Lark Avenue, they should use the funds to develop the portion of Juniper Drive they wish to annex into a pedestrian-friendly walking area to reach facilities on both sides of the street instead of vacating it.

Councilmember Jim Liebrecht said he was against the annexation but after meeting with Olson, his view was swayed in favor. He said it would be a fair trade for the annexation in exchange for the full value to the roadway portion to develop Lark Avenue. He said the clinic would bring needed medical amenities the city does not have.

Councilmember Dick Deane said additional medical amenities will come regardless of the clinic expansion. He said citizens living near the clinic deserve more consideration.

Councilmember Jon Lane suggested sending the Lark Avenue proposal to Moses Lake planning commissions for further review.

Councilmember Brent Reese said he agreed with Covey about the need for more diverse medical amenities. He made a motion to allow the vacation in exchange for $155,000 to develop Lark Avenue.

Liebrecht seconded the motion.

Councilmember Bill Ecret said he agreed with Lane to send the proposal to the planning commissioners for review. He said he lost his mother, father and sister to cancer so he understands the need for a cancer treatment center in the area but felt $155,000 would not be enough because construction costs rise each year.

Ecret said he wasn't sure if there was a parking issue at the clinic. He said he wanted to know what capacity the clinic parking lot was at.

Pearce said he would like to see a site plan of the clinic without the vacation of Juniper Drive. He said the site plan would assist the council in making a better decision.

Council moved ahead with a vote on whether to permit the vacation of Juniper Drive.

Ecret, Deane, Lane and Pearce voted against the vacation.

Covey, Liebrecht and Reese voted in favor of the vacation.