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<section article="gtr" article_name="Transportation" number="8-310" title_number="8" title_name="Highways" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Acquisition and Disposition of Property">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this section, “Board” means the State Highway Access Valuation Board.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Secretary shall establish a State Highway Access Valuation Board in the Administration.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Board shall consist of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The Administrator or the Administrator’s designee;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The Secretary of the Department of Planning or the Secretary’s designee; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The Secretary of Commerce or the Secretary’s designee.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Administrator or the Administrator’s designee shall serve as chairman of the Board.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The Board shall determine the times and locations of its meetings and shall conduct business in accordance with procedures established by the Board.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>A member of the Board:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>May not receive compensation as a member of the Board; but</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>The Administration shall provide staff to the Board.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>This subsection does not apply to an interstate highway.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If an owner of property that abuts a State highway where the State owns control of access seeks to purchase a right of access to the highway, the owner may petition the Administration to sell to the owner a right of access.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Within 60 days of receiving a petition under paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Administration shall act on the petition.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The Administration shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Approve the granting of the right to access the State highway, the terms governing access, and, if available at the time, the cost of the right of access; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Deny the petition, citing the Administration’s reasons for denial.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>If the Administration is willing to grant access to a State highway to the owner of abutting property but is unable to determine the cost within the time required under paragraph (3) of this subsection, the Administration shall inform the property owner of the cost of the right of access within 60 days after its response under paragraph (4)(i) of this subsection.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>If a petitioner is not satisfied with the decision of the Administration on the cost of the right of access under subsection (c)(4) or (5) of this section, the owner may appeal the Administration’s decision to the Board.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>Following receipt of an appeal under subsection (d) of this section, the Board shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Review the appeal and request any documentation that the Board considers necessary to fully consider the property owner’s request to purchase the right of access and the Administration’s response;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Hold at least one public hearing on the appeal of the property owner and response of the Administration; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Evaluate the appeal in terms of the impact that a grant of access rights would have on economic development, environmental protection, and other policy considerations that the Board considers relevant.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>At any time following the public hearing, but within 6 months of the date of the petition, the Board shall render a final decision on the appeal.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Board may affirm, reverse, or modify the decision of the Administration on the cost of the right of access from which the property owner appealed.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Board may include the terms of the sale related to the cost of the right of access in its decision on the cost of the right of access.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>A decision by the Board under this subsection:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Shall be based on the record developed by the Board;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Shall require the affirmative vote of at least two members of the Board; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, shall be binding on the Administration, but subject to approval of the Board of Public Works.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
