It was recently discovered that some Rockdale streets are out of compliance with the current street width, right-of-way ordinance.
The error was found when staff was going over a detailed city map showing the street widths and City Manager Barbara Holley brought the irregularities to the attention of the City Council.
She used Brazos Street as an example of a city street with too much right of way.
That street was found to have 75 feet, but the city ordinance only requires a width of 60 feet which includes the paved street and the rights of ways on either side of the street.
Council voted at a recent meeting to return the extra Brazos Street rights of way back to the property owners along that street.
Belinda Hillhouse objected to the move saying down the road it would increase the property owners taxes based on the fact that they would now own more land.
Lin Perry at first was also concerned about giving the property back to those on the streets that are too wide according to the current street ordinance.
But he voted for the motion when it was noted that the meeting vote only pertained to residents along Brazos Street.
“This affects no other street,” Holley said. “But if they (property owners on other streets) ask if their street is out of sync with the ordinance, then we will use the adopted street widths, according to the current city ordinance.”
Holley explained that city streets are typically classified as local, collector, arterial and thoroughfare.
In Rockdale local streets should be 50 feet wide with approximately 24 feet of pavement and 13 feet of right of way on either side.
Collector streets should have 60 feet of paved road and right of way.
The study of the map revealed other local and collector streets that are wider than the ordinance width, Holley said.
While no overall action is being taken to correct street width compliance, Holley said the city doesn’t need to be responsible for the overage.
“The city does not need to have more or wider infrastructure than is needed,” she said. We can return it to adjoining property owners as it benefits both of us.”
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