October 17, 2024|
Photo – A proposed use for BLM land in Rawlins – Courtesy City of Rawlins
Rawlins officials must decide what the city should do with the Bureau of Land Management-owned property on the south side of the city.
In August, the Bureau of Land Management filed a zone change request with the City of Rawlins. The federal agency asked to change the zoning of several BLM-owned plots of land along Donnell Street from residential to commercial. The change allows BLM to construct a new fire station and barracks on the property.
At the same time, the city itself requested a similar zone change for a roughly 20-acre parcel of land in the same area. The Rawlins Planning Commission approved the BLM request. However, residents opposed the city’s zone change request.
During the September 3rd public hearing, Carbon County Deputy Clerk and Donnell Street resident Wendy Newbrough informed the governing body that the city does not own the land. Newbrough found a 1967 BLM patent that allows Rawlins to use the parcel of land, but only for a streets department shop and storage yard. All other uses are forbidden by the Department of the Interior.
Since that time, Rawlins Attorney Pinita Maberry-Nave has been investigating the city’s options regarding the Donnell Street property.
On Tuesday, the Rawlins city council held a special work session to discuss the BLM-owned parcel. Attorney Maberry-Nave began her presentation by describing the property’s permitted use as listed in the 1967 agreement.
The city attorney said that Public Works Director Cody Dill presented the governing body with four options for the property. The first option is to use the land for its original purpose. Public Works Director Dill said he would like to consolidate material and equipment from other areas around the city onto the BLM parcel.
Dill said he would like to use 4.2 acres on the Jackson Street side of the property for streets material and snow storage. Since snow storage isn’t listed as a permitted use under the 1967 contract, the city will need approval from the Bureau of Land Management.
Dill said he would eventually like to move the entire streets department to the area, per the original agreement.
Attorney Maberry-Nave explained that option two requires the city to seek permission from BLM to use the property for another purpose. Maberry-Nave said over the past 57 years, the city has unsuccessfully attempted to use the land for something other than a streets department shop.
Attorney Maberry-Nave said any proposed use other than a streets department shop must benefit the public, such as a park. The city would retain control of the land but would still be subject to the restrictions of the BLM patent.
The third option for the property is to simply forfeit the city’s claim to the land. In that scenario, Attorney Maberry-Nave said BLM would put the parcel up for public sale.
The fourth and final option presented to the governing body is for the city to purchase the property from the Bureau of Land Management. Attorney Maberry-Nave said the Department of the Interior will sell the land to the city for an appraised price. However, the federal government will still own any oil, gas, and coal rights on the land.
The Rawlins city council instructed Attorney Maberry-Nave to have the Bureau of Land Management begin the formal appraisal process. Once the purchase price of the land is determined, the governing body will decide on its future use.
