PISMO BEACH CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item #12.C
Meeting Date: August 6, 2024
TITLE:
Options for Closing the Northern End of Ridge Road to Vehicular Traffic RECOMMENDATION:
Provide staff with direction on options for the closure of the northern end of Ridge Road.
DISCUSSION:
On June 18, 2024 the City Council directed staff to return with an agenda item on the potential closure of the northern end of Ridge Road at the City Limit line.
In November 2014, the voters of the City of Pismo Beach adopted Measure H-2014, which amended the City’s General Plan in a number of regards, specifically with reference to development in Planning Area R. Planning Area R consists of a number of parcels, which are outside of the city limits, but within the City’s sphere of influence. Measure H-2014 placed a limit on the size of parcels within Planning Area R, and it further limited the types of land uses allowed within Planning Area R, should those properties ever be annexed into the City in the future.
Measure H-2014 also removed references in the City’s Land Use and Circulation elements of the General Plan to an “inland arterial” road running from Price Canyon Road to Oak Park Boulevard, as well as references to the extension of Highland Drive and Ventana Road to the inland arterial. Since the inland arterial and connections to the inland were no longer included as part of the City’s General Plan, several roads that previously dead ended at the city limit (Rancho Pismo Drive, Highland Drive, Ventana Drive, and Morgan Drive) were no longer needed for vehicular traffic into Planning Area R, and the City closed these roads via Resolution R-2018-093 on November 27, 2018. The full staff report from that meeting is available for download from the Access Pismo1 public records portal or by scanning the QR Code at right.
At the time of the street closures, the City did not consider closing Ridge Road because it is used by a number or residents within the city and also provides access to the Mankins Ranch (APN 079-261-001) and a City water tank, both located outside the city limits.
While not in Planning Area R, there is another parcel outside the city limits that has adequate road connection options from that parcel to existing roads within the County of San Luis Obispo that make connection with existing city streets unnecessary. That parcel is currently undeveloped, so no existing through traffic would be impacted by the closure of Ridge Road.
1 Full URL:
https://accesspismo.pismobeach.org/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=203914&dbid=0&repo=Laserfiche Council Agenda 8-6-2024 12.C-1
Under Vehicle Code Section 21101, a City Council may adopt a resolution closing streets under its control to vehicular traffic upon a finding that such streets are no longer needed for vehicular traffic. Due to the removal of the inland arterial, staff believes that access from Ridge Road to the county is no longer needed.
Options for Closure
Option A
The first option to close Ridge Road is for the City Council to adopt a Resolution similar to R-2018-093, north of the driveway for 251 Ridge Road (APN 005-401-013), however this would eliminate access to an existing use which provides access to the Mankins Ranch parcel, APN 079-261-001.
Option B
The second option to close Ridge Road is for the City Council to adopt a Resolution establishing a two-foot “no access easement” across the end of Ridge Road, and then granting an “access easement” in favor of APN 079-261-001, to which the City can place restrictions on to maintain control future access into and out of the city, and an easement to the City for access to its water tank. This approach was most recently used within the City on Tract 2345, which employed a one-foot “Access Denied Strip” along its north- eastern boundary with vacant parcel to prevent access to the streets within Tract 2345, should the vacant parcel be developed in the future.
Conclusion and Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council discuss options for the closure of the northern end of Ridge Road and provide direction to staff. Staff will return with a resolution and the necessary survey documents required to carry out the Council’s direction as soon as the necessary documents can be completed.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact related to staff’s recommendation.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Tract Map 2345 (page 3) showing one-foot Access Denied Strip
2. Figure showing Mankins Ranch in relation to Ridge Road
3. End of Ridge Road showing various driveways
4. Proposed easements
Prepared by:
Submitted by: Benjamin A. Fine, P.E., Director of Public Works/City Engineer City Manager Approval:
Council Agenda 8-6-2024 12.C-2
Attachment 1
Council Agenda 8-6-2024 12.C-3
Mankins Ranch
APN: 079-261-001
End of Ridge
Road
Attachment 2
Council Agenda 8-6-2024 12.C-4
Driveway for
APN 005-282-001
Driveway for
APN 005-401-013
Driveway for
APN 079-261-001
Driveway for
City Water Tank
Attachment 3
Council Agenda 8-6-2024 12.C-5
Proposed 2’ no
access easement
Proposed 2’ exclusive
access easement in
favor of
APN: 079-261-001
Proposed 2’ exclusive
access easement in favor of
City of Pismo Beach
Attachment 4
Council Agenda 8-6-2024 12.C-6