2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 7 | Municipal Corporations › Chapter 723 | Streets; Public Grounds › Section 723.121 | Conveyance of Lands Not Needed for Municipal Purposes by Legislative Authorities.

Effective:
November 9, 1965
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 287 - 106th General Assembly
The legislative authority of any municipal corporation may convey the fee simple estate or any lesser estate or interest in, or permit the use of, for such period as it shall determine, any lands owned by such municipal corporation and acquired or used for public highways, streets, avenues, sidewalks, public grounds, bridges, aqueducts, and viaducts, or in connection with any such purposes or as incidental to the acquisition of land for any of such purposes, provided that it shall determine, and enter its determination in the minutes of its proceedings, that the property or interest so to be conveyed or be permitted to be used is not needed by the municipal corporation for any of such purposes. Such conveyance or permit to use may be to the grantee or permittee or to the grantee or permittee and his or its successors and assigns and shall be of such portion of such lands as such legislative authority determines, which shall be described in the deed or other instrument of conveyance and in any permit to use, and may include or be limited to areas or space on, above, or below the surface, and may include the grant of easements or other interests in any such lands not so conveyed or made subject to a permit to use, for use by the grantee for buildings or structures or other uses and purposes, and for the support of buildings or structures constructed or to be constructed in or on the lands, areas, or space conveyed or made subject to a permit to use.
Whenever pursuant to this section separate units of property are created in any lands, each unit shall for all purposes constitute real property and shall be deemed real estate within the meaning of all provisions of the Revised Code and shall be deemed to be a separate parcel for all purposes of taxation and assessment of real property and no other unit or other part of such lands shall be charged with the payment of such taxes and assessments.
With respect to any of such property not owned in fee simple by the municipal corporation, the legislative authority thereof may grant the right to use any portion thereof in perpetuity or for such period of time as it shall specify, including areas or space on, above, or beneath the surface, together with rights for the support of buildings or structures constructed or to be constructed thereon or therein, provided that it shall determine, and enter its determination on the minutes of its proceedings, that the property made subject to a permit to use is not needed by the municipal corporation for any of such purposes.
The legislative authority of such municipal corporation shall require, as either a condition precedent or a condition subsequent to any conveyance or grant or permit to use, that the plans and specifications for all such buildings or structures and the contemplated use thereof, be approved by the municipal corporation as not interfering with its use for its purposes of any such property and not unduly endangering the public, and may require such indemnity agreements in favor of the municipal corporation and the public as are lawful and as shall be deemed necessary by it. The municipal corporation shall not unreasonably withhold approval of such plans, specifications, and contemplated use.
All such conveyances or grants or permits to use shall be made with competitive bidding as required by section 721.03 of the Revised Code, except that competitive bidding shall not be required if such conveyance, grant, or permit to use is to be made to the United States of America or this state, or any political subdivision, taxing district, department, commission, board, institution, authority, or other agency of either.
In any case where any municipal corporation has acquired or acquires easements in or permits to use areas or space on, above, or below the surface for any purpose, the legislative authority thereof is authorized to extinguish them in whole or in part or subordinate them to uses by others, provided that it shall determine, and enter its determination on the minutes of its proceedings, that the easements or permits to use so extinguished or subordinated are not needed for municipal purposes.
No conveyance, easement, lease, permit, or other instrument executed pursuant to the authorization given by this section shall prejudice any right, title, or interest in any lands affected thereby which at the date thereof existed in any person, firm, or corporation, other than the municipal corporation which makes such conveyance, grants such right, or executes such instrument and other than members of the general public having no specific rights in said lands, unless such right, title, or interest was expressly subject to the right of the municipal corporation to make such conveyance, grant such right, or execute such instrument and unless said municipal corporation by such instrument expressly exercises such right, nor shall any public utility be required to move or relocate any of its facilities that may be located in or on the areas described in any such conveyance, easement, lease, permit, or other instrument.