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Home My WebLink AboutItem 2c - Resolution No. 6984 declaring its intention to vacate Front Street°o\ Of i DATE: July 16, 2013 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council STAFF REPORT Development Services Department FROM: Jason Kruckeberg, Assistant City Manager /Development Services Director Philip A. Wray, Deputy Director of Development Services /City Engineer SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 6984 DECLARING THE CITY'S INTENTION TO VACATE FRONT STREET FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE METRO GOLD LINE FOOTHILL EXTENSION LIGHT RAIL PROJECT IN ITS ENTIRETY, SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING RELATIVE THERTO AND APPROVING A CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION PURSUANT TO THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) FOR THE PROJECT Recommendation: Adopt SUMMARY The Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority (Authority) has requested that the City vacate Front Street for the construction of the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Light Rail project. In Arcadia, the light rail project includes a parking structure and transit plaza, located on the north side of Santa Clara Street just west of First Avenue and southwest of the proposed rail station. In order to construct the parking structure and transit plaza, Front Street must be vacated from St. Joseph Street to Santa Clara Street. As part of the street vacation process, the City Council must set a time and place to hold a public hearing to ascertain the necessity to abandon and vacate the Front Street right -of -way. Staff recommends adoption of a resolution to declare the City's intention to vacate Front Street and set a public hearing for August 20, 2013. BACKGROUND The Authority is currently responsible for the construction of the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension east from Pasadena through Azusa. 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 design and construct the main alignment, and in 2013, the Authority selected WebCor/Watry to Resolution No. 6984 — Front Street Vacation July 16, 2013 Page 2 of 3 design and construct all parking facilities and station area enhancements, which include the Arcadia parking structure and transit plaza. The main alignment is under construction, the Arcadia parking structure and transit plaza are in design. One of the Authority's responsibilities is to obtain all missing portions of right -of -way for the light rail alignment and related elements like the parking structure. The City recently vacated portions of Third Avenue and St. Joseph Street for the main alignment. The Authority is now requesting that the City vacate Front Street so that the Arcadia parking structure and transit plaza can be constructed in its place. Front Street was dedicated to the County in 1887 as part of the Santa Anita Tract. The street has served as a local connection between St. Joseph Street and Santa Clara Street and many years ago was the access to the old railroad depot. Currently, only one industrial /office complex takes access from Front Street, and that complex has been purchased by the Authority and will be demolished for the construction of the parking structure. DISCUSSION The Authority currently owns all but one of the contiguous properties on both sides of Front Street, with Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI) owning the other property. Once the vacation process is complete, the Authority intends to purchase the vacated portions of street that will be under the ownership of REI. The Authority will then own the entire abandoned Front Street right -of -way. The Authority intends to terminate St. Joseph Street at the Front Street intersection with a cul -de -sac bulb, and the bulb will have an access driveway into the north side of the parking structure. Front Street currently contains above and below ground utilities for both the local service connections and pass- through lines. The Authority has been working with the utility companies to abandon where possible or relocate their utilities around the proposed parking structure site. Since the utilities will not be abandoned or relocated before the proposed vacation, the vacation will be subject to the reservation and exception of a public utility easement over the abandoned street until such time as all utilities are cleared from that area. In accordance with the Streets and Highways Code of the State of California, the City must hold a public hearing before it can vacate the street. The Code requires the City to adopt a resolution of intent to vacate, set a time and place for a public hearing, and allow time to notice the hearing. A public hearing at the City Council meeting of August 20, 2013 is suggested. Resolution No. 6984 — Front Street Vacation July 16, 2013 Page 3 of 3 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS The proposed right -of -way vacation is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to 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 Environmental Impact Report (EIR), adopted in 2007 for the Metro Gold Line Extension. FISCAL IMPACT In accordance with the City's Cooperative Agreement with the Authority, the vacation process is to be administered by the City at no cost to the Authority. Once vacated, the City will no longer have any maintenance responsibilities for the street. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council approve the proposed right -of -way vacation as categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15301(c); adopt Resolution No. 6984, declaring its intention to vacate Front Street for the construction of the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Light Rail Project in its entirety and set a public hearing relative thereto. Approved. Dominic Lazzar City Manager Attachment: Resolution No. 6984 RESOLUTION NO. 6984 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA, CALIFORNIA DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO VACATE FRONT STREET IN ITS ENTIRETY, SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING RELATIVE THERETO AND APPROVING A CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION PURSUANT TO THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITYACT (CEQA) FOR THE PROJECT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The City of Arcadia does hereby determine that the proposed right -of- way vacation of Front Street is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Local 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 that certain Environmental Impact Report (EIR) adopted in 2007 for the Metro Gold Line Extension. SECTION 2. The City of Arcadia does hereby preliminarily approve that certain proposed street vacation, comprised of Front Street in its entirety, as shown on the map in Exhibit "A ", attached hereto, which the City Council hereinafter declares its intention to vacate and abandon. Utility companies have requested reservations or exceptions of easements as authorized by Sections 8340 and 8341 of the Streets and Highways Code of the State of California. SECTION 3. The City Clerk is hereby directed to file said map in the City Clerk's office where the same may be examined by any and all persons desiring to do so. SECTION 4. Pursuant to and in accordance with provisions of Chapters 3 and 5 of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Streets and Highways Code of the State of California (Streets 1 and Highways Code Section 8300, et seq.), the City Council does hereby declare its intention to vacate and abandon Front Street in its entirety pursuant to the Streets and Highways code of the State of California. SECTION 5. Notice is hereby given that at the hour of 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard, on the 20th day of August, 2013, in the Council Chambers of Arcadia City Hall, 240 West Huntington Drive, Arcadia, California, a public hearing will be held by the City Council, at which time any and all persons interested in or objecting to the proposed vacation and abandonment may appear and be heard. SECTION 6. The City Clerk is hereby directed to cause this Resolution to be published in the official newspaper of the City of Arcadia and the notice of public hearing stating the date, hour, and place to be published for at least two successive weeks prior to the hearing. SECTION 7. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution. Passed, approved, and adopted this day of F.1110126019 City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Stephen P. Deitsch City Attorney 2 2013. Mayor of the City of Arcadia LA PORTE ST o< O� F� W Q ST JOSEPH ST tiT Q � I Q � SANTA CLARA ST Z Q `, pF ARC v�'l LPLIFOI�,r99A� VV9 0 "gym 4"ity of VO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT EXHIBIT "A" FRONT STREET VACATION LEGEND LIMITS OF STREET VACATION SCALE: 1 " =140' NORTH