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Home My WebLink AboutItem 3STAFF REPORT Development Services Department January 24, 2012 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: SUMMARY Arcadia Planning Commission Philip Wray, Deputy Development Services Director /City Engineer Lisa L. Flores, Senior Planner s$* General Plan Consistency No. GP 12 -01 — Review for Right -of -Way Vacations on Third Avenue and St. Joseph Street for the construction of the Gold Line light rail. The Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Authority has requested that the City vacate portions of Third Avenue and St. Joseph Street right -of -ways for the construction of the Gold Line light rail. The Third Avenue right -of -way, which is adjacent to the northeast portion of Bonita Park, is approximately 1,800 square feet (20' wide x 60' feet long strip) and the St. Joseph Street right -of -way, which is located at the intersection of Front Street, is approximately 4,800 square feet (60' wide x 80' feet long). The Development Services Department is recommending that the Planning Commission find that the requested vacations are consistent with the City's General Plan and forward a recommendation of approval to the City Council. Upon finding that the right -of -way vacation is consistent with the General Plan, the vacation must be approved by the City Council. BACKGROUND The Gold Line Construction Authority is responsible for the construction of the Gold Line Foothill Extension and plans to extend the Gold Line light rail east from Pasadena through Azusa. The construction of the light rail is underway, and the station will be at grade just northwest of the intersection at Santa Clara Street and First Avenue, with the rail line passing diagonally through the intersection which is also at grade. Approaching the station from the west, the rail line will be elevated above Santa Anita Avenue to allow continued flow along this arterial. The project funding was committed in 2008 through the passage of Measure R, a half -cent sales tax for local transportation in Los Angeles County. In 2011 the Authority selected Kiewit Parsons to complete the design and construction of the Metro Gold Line. ANALYSIS One of the Authority's responsibilities in the final design process is to obtain all missing portions of right -of -way for the light rail alignment. The Authority had requested the City vacate two portions of street right -of -way, one on Third Avenue and the other on St. Joseph Street, where they cross the alignment. Attached are location and aerial maps of the two street vacations. The two locations have not been used as streets for many years, if at all. They currently extend into the rail project alignment and the land is necessary for the construction of the railway. The vacations would not create any land- locked parcels, and the Gold Line Authority owns all the land contiguous to right -of -ways to be vacated. The portions of Third Avenue and St. Joseph Street are not part of the City's Arterial and Collector Street network and are not necessary for present or future street purposes or access (see General Plan, Figure CI -4). Additionally, there are no on- street bike lanes designated in the Bicycle Plan (see General Plan, Figure CI -7). The General Plan goals and policies emphasize the City's interconnected mobility system and these vacations will enhance the interconnection of the Gold Line with the City's system. The proposed vacations are consistent with the following goals and policies set forth in the City's 2010 General Plan: Circulation and Infrastructure Element Goal CI -1: An efficient roadway system that serves all of Arcadia, supports all transportation modes, and balances the roadway system with planned land uses. Policy CI -1.7: Continue Capital Improvement Programs (CIP) funding for transportation improvements. Goal CI -3: Enhanced local and regional transit service Policy CI -3.4: Enhance local transit circulator service, particularly to link neighborhoods to commercial districts, and Downtown to all areas. Policy CI -3.6: Cooperate with Metro and the Gold Line Authority to bring light rail service to Arcadia as soon as possible. Land Use Element Goal LU -10: A thriving Downtown, with healthy commercial areas supported by high - quality, residential uses and supportive of the Metro Gold Line transit station. Policy LU -10.2: Promote the Metro Gold Line Extension and establishment of a transit station in Downtown Arcadia, and take full advantage of the opportunities the Gold Line station will bring to Downtown and the City as a whole. CEQA The Planning Commission action, determination of General Plan consistency, is not a project for purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act ( "CEQA "). The proposed right -of -way vacation by the City Council is expected to be categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to California Code of Regulations, Title 14 ( "CEQA Guidelines ") Section 15301(c) because the action consists of a legal transfer of ownership which will result in negligible or no expansion of use beyond the project analyzed in the EIR, adopted in 2007 for the Gold Line Extension. Gold Line Street Vacations January 24, 2012 Page 2 RECOMMENDATION It is staffs opinion that the proposed Right -of -Way Vacations for portions of Third Avenue and St. Joseph Street as depicted on the attached maps are consistent with the City's General Plan. Therefore, based on the aforementioned information, the Development Services Department recommends that the Planning Commission find that the proposed Right -of -Way vacations are consistent with the General Plan, and forward a recommendation of approval to the City Council. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION The Planning Commission should approve a motion to find that the proposed Right -of -Way vacations of portions of Third Avenue and St. Joseph Street are consistent with the City's General Plan goals and policies, and forward a recommendation to the City Council. If any Planning Commissioner, or other interested party has any questions or comments regarding this matter prior to the January 24, 2012 public hearing, please contact Senior Planner, Lisa Flores at (626) 574 -5445, or by email at Iflores @ci.arcadia.ca.us. Approved by: fit Jim Kasama Community Development dministrator Attachments: Location Map and Aerial Photo of proposed St. Joseph street vacation Location Map and Aerial Photo of proposed Third Avenue street vacation Gold Line Street Vacations January 24, 2012 Page 3 1 1 1 1 9 A T ins 4 SEE DRAWING NO. RW-011 oo< t t t 1 o a.Z On y co �lZ _Me124.48_ -- 1 / 50' \ i D $O `5 z l N --1 1 r A V z 1 / c.• 8 ] /)fii7C11 Fd�NOT••) ::�ph • n uu5 .4, -.4”q ulK�nrm.lnq.�n., .ly+�n i.nypbn \r•TO eqn t4 STA. . 19 +39 (D.) i`. 50' \dT i \ti\ `m SEE DRAWING NO. RW-013 e' 0 t 8 Iw D LOCATION MAI St. Joseph Street Right -of -Way 4,800 square feet v 1 Owl 5 r�r T 10{ qj 3 t: EN•cl imam SEE DRAWING NO. RW-013 '\ 2 \ v't \ MP 123.86 V iy]r rlptl F■enome -, i,\peoee :,rug eng■neering I11• 1,tlrawinge \03- 4getolwnyraM r%.61a.plg It u:ft U1 SEE DRAWING NO. RW -015 F D 1I A a MP 123.78 LOCATION MAP Right -of -Way 1,800 square feet