×

County right to schedule public hearing on right-of-way issue

The Ward County Planning Commission was right to schedule a public hearing to discuss a county policy requiring the dedication of road right-of-way in the platting of new lots.

The policy requires landowners who plat 40 acres or fewer to give land to the county for a 75-foot right-of-way from the center of the road on county roads and a 40-foot right of way on township roads. In other situations, by state statute, the county and townships hold 33-foot easements from the center of their roads, and landowners continue to own that property. The county then purchases the amount of right-of-way necessary when a road project is built.

Some object to the policy – even claiming to have been unaware of its scope. the Ward County Farm Bureau has been investigating the policy and objects to the taking of the land from platted properties without compensation.

The policy is not new and it has been discussed and reviewed before.

However, any issue that involves private property rights and government’s potential conflict with those rights, regardless of the situation, warrants the most intense scrutiny and review.

This is not to assert that the policy is wrong, pointless or insidious. Instead, the issue simply warrants a full hearing and further consideration. Then, affected parties can hopefully arrive at a satisfactory outcome.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today