To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Ceila Rethamel, Acting Director, Public Works & Development
Prepared By:
prepared
Ryan Seacrist, PE, CIP Program Manager, Public Works and Development
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presenter
Presenter: Ryan Seacrist, PE, CIP Program Manager, Public Works and Development
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Subject:
title
1:15 PM *C19-007 Gun Club Widening - Relocation Agreement between Rippey Commercial Investors, LLC and Arapahoe County
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The approval and signature of the Board of County Commissioners is sought for the CORE Transmission Line relocation agreement. The property is located on the west side of South Gun Club Road, generally located between the E-470 ramps and East Belleview Avenue. end
Alignment with Strategic Plan: Good Governance - Plan for future service, infrastructure, and fiscal needs.
Background and Discussion: In anticipation of the upcoming South Gun Club Widening project, County staff has been working with a developer adjacent to the project, Rippey Commercial Investors, LLC (Rippey), to negotiate acquisition of right-of-way, easements, and relocation of transmission lines owned by CORE Electric Cooperative (CORE). This agreement is beneficial for both the County and Rippey. County staff including individuals from the Planning Division, Transportation Division, and Attorney’s Office staff met with managers from Rippey to negotiate the terms of the agreement over multiple meetings. The attached relocation agreement has been agreed to by both groups in principle. The existing ROW along this section of Gun Club is approximately 89 feet. The total ROW needed for the final Gun Club widening project is 141’.
In order to meet this need, the agreement will dedicate 32’ of ROW and 20’ of public use easement (PUE). These property acquisitions will give the County the needed width to accomplish the project. Rippey will also dedicate new easements for the relocation of the CORE transmission lines that will be located on the west side of their property adjacent to E-470. The County will provide coordination and partially fund the relocation of the CORE transmission lines to the final location. This funding was previously approved by the Board and is 50/50 cost split with City of Aurora and these funds are already with City of Aurora. The relocation of the utility lines are awaiting the final utility design and approval of this agreement prior to procurement of the equipment and construction. The relocation of these lines are required for the widening and are to be paid by the project.
Alternatives: The alternative is to “do-nothing” which leaves the County with needing to acquire right-of-way and easements in the future for the Gun Club Road Widening project. This cost is estimated to be millions of dollars and significant time in additional negotiations. Also, if the County constructs improvements prior to development, the cost for those improvements would solely be the County’s.
Fiscal Impact: The cost estimated for the right-of-way and easements are at no cost. The cost to relocate the CORE transmission lines is currently estimated at $2.0M and is a 50/50 split between the City of Aurora and has been previously funded.
Alignment with Strategic Implementation Strategies: N/A
Staff Recommendation: PWD staff recommends approval and signature on this relocation agreement as a cost-effective way to obtain ROW for a project that is needed to elevate traffic concerns on Gun Club Road. This agreement is a critical milestone in the project and will allow the preferred alternative to be constructed.
Concurrence: PWD Planning and the County Attorney’s Office are in concurrence with the agreement.