Cotati City Council
Agenda Staff Report
Item type: CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
To: City Council
Subject: Acceptance of Public Improvements for structures at 8125, 8145, and 8175 Gravenstein Highway
Date: June 27, 2023
Written by: Craig Scott, Director of Public Works/City Engineer Recommendation
It is recommended the City of Cotati City Council adopt a resolution accepting the Public Improvements for the structures at 8125, 8145, and 8175 Gravenstein Highway as described in the Public Improvement Agreement executed on December 16, 2021, and authorizing the City Clerk to record the notice of completion and to release any Public Improvement Agreement Securities upon the passage of 35 days of noticing with no protests.
Background
On June 21, 2021, the Planning Commission approved final design review for the proposed improvements to the property and buildings located at 8125, 8145 and 8175 Gravenstein Highway (Project). The Planning Commission action entitled the project for these improvements and the City entered into a Public Improvement Agreement with the Project’s Developer for construction of improvements within the City’s right of way. Required easement documents were recorded prior to construction. The frontage improvements consist generally of sidewalk, curb and gutter and street improvements.
Analysis/Discussion
Townsend Capital Partners, LLC (Developer) owns the property known as 8125, 8145, and 8175 Gravenstein Highway, located in the City of Cotati with Assessor’s Parcel Number 144-040-021.
On November 9, 2021, City Council approved the improvement plans, the Public Improvement Agreement, the required land dedications and abandonments, reciprocal easement agreement, and accepted the easement and dedications for public purposes including public access, sidewalks, curb and gutter and roadway. On December 16, 2021, the City then executed and recorded the Public Improvement Agreement with the Developer.
There are two easements and dedications for this Project; a 19 foot easement and irrevocable offer of dedication along the Gravenstein Highway frontage and a 36 foot easement and irrevocable offer of dedication along Alder Avenue. These easements and dedications provide for public roadways and public sidewalks. A reciprocal easement agreement provides for the access driveway for the Townsend Capital Property to be relocated and a new parking lot constructed in a manner that necessitates a reciprocal easement over a portion of the 7515 Alder Property and the Townsend property for the purpose of drainage, public access, and parking.
The public improvements addressed in the Public Improvement Agreement have been completed to the satisfaction of the City Engineer and the licensed engineer of record for the Developer and consist of the following:
1. Site preparation and grading,
2. Street improvements including street pavement, curb and gutter, sidewalk, driveways, monuments, streetlight, striping and signs, and grind and overlay (half of Alder Lane in front of the property),
3. Storm drainage including conventional storm drain features (inlets, pipelines, sidewalk drains),
4. Landscaping including soil preparation, plantings for street frontages, and
5. All dry utilities (gas, electric, and communications).
Following City acceptance of the Public Improvements, a one-year warranty, provided by the Developer, will begin for the public improvements.
Financial Considerations
The City collects fees from the Developer upon the issuance of permits to cover City administrative and inspection costs. Once the improvements have been accepted by the City, the City will incur costs to maintain the roadway, streetlight, and the public portions of the storm drain. The property owner will be responsible for maintaining the driveway and sidewalk.
Environmental Issues
As identified, the proposed development is purely the renovation of existing structures located on a previously developed parcel and site improvements, and keeps all development activities within the boundaries of previously disturbed areas of the property. Staff requested the project applicant provide input from a consulting biologist and traffic engineer to identify any potential impacts to biologic resources or traffic improvements needed to mitigate circulation impacts. The results of these studies identified the project does not create any potentially significant impacts. Given this, the Project qualifies for a Class 1 and Class 4 Categorical Exemption under Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities) and 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Specifically, it is found to qualify for these Exemptions given implementation of the approved project would renovate the existing previously constructed existing structures, all of which are located on a previously developed parcel; and that all work is limited to previously disturbed areas on this parcel.