TITLE
Recommendation to adopt Resolution of Intention to vacate Solana Court, and a portion of the unnamed east/west alley north of Anaheim Street, authorize the conversion of the westerly portion of the east/west alley into a one-way alley, set the date of Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. for the public hearing on the vacation; and adopt and accept the Categorical Exemption CE 13-109. (District 1)
DISCUSSION
1301 Pine Avenue, LLC, the owner of The Guidance Center building and the adjacent parking lots at 1301 Pine Avenue, requests the vacation of the adjacent alley known as Solana Court from Anaheim Street to 14th Street, as well as a portion of the unnamed east-west alley north of Anaheim Street from Pine Avenue to a point approximately 100-feet east of Pacific Avenue as shown on Exhibit A.
Currently, these alleys bisect the parking lots and serve primarily as drive aisles for the Guidance Center's parking lot. The westerly portion of the unnamed east-west alley adjacent to 137 Anaheim Street is to remain public for egress from the restaurant's parking lot. The intent of the vacation is to secure The Guidance Center's parking lot with a fence and install sliding gates at the entrance of the proposed vacated alleys.
In addition to the vacation, Public Works Traffic Engineering requests that the westerly 100 feet of the east-west alley, adjacent to the property at 137 Anaheim Street, be converted into a one-way westbound only alley. This alley change will alleviate the dead-end alley condition that would result if the alley were to remain two-way. Proceedings for this vacation are being conducted in accordance with Chapter 3, General Vacation Procedure, of the Public Streets, Highways and Service Easements Vacation Law of the California Streets and Highways Code. Findings must establish that the subject rights-of-way are unnecessary for present or prospective public use. The Public Works Department supports this action based on the following evidence, facts, conditions and findings, establishing that the dedicated rights-of-way to be vacated are not necessary for present or prospective public use:
1. The alleys primarily serve as drive aisles of the parking lots.
2. The adjacent property/business owners were notified of the proposed alley vacations and there were no objections.
3. A utility easement will be reserved over the alleys in order to continue to provide for various existing utilities, which include water, sewer, power and communication lines.
4. Refuse is collected by a private trash collection company; therefore, no easement for refuse is required.
5. On December 30, 2013, the Planning Commission determined that the subject vacation action is consistent with the General Plan, as required in Section 65402 of the California Government Code. The Development Services Department staff report is included as Exhibit B.
In conformance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Categorical Exemption No. CE 13-109 was issued for this project. The interested City Departments, including Fire, Police and the City Traffic Engineer, have reviewed the proposed right-of-way vacation and provided no objections to this action.
This matter was reviewed by the Long Beach Fire Department on July 2, 2013, Deputy City Attorney Linda Vu on November 6, 2014, and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on November 12, 2014.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on December 2, 2014, to set the date of hearing for January 6, 2015, so that the developer can complete the project requirements by early 2015.
FISCAL IMPACT
A tentative vacation processing fee of $9,225 was deposited to the General Fund (GF) in the Public Works Department (PW). There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
A RESOLUTION OF INTENTION TO VACATE SOLANA COURT AND A PORTION OF THE UNNAMED EAST-WEST ALLEY NORTH OF ANAHEIM STREET, IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, PURSUANT TO THE PUBLIC STREET, HIGHWAYS AND SERVICE EASEMENTS LAW (DIVISION 9, PART 3, CALIFORNIA STREETS AND HIGHWAYS CODE); FIXING A TIME AND PLACE FOR HEARING ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN OR OBJECTING TO THE PROPOSED VACATION
Respectfully Submitted,
ARA MALOYAN, PE
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER