City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: OCTOBER 6, 2026 FROM: COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WARD: 3
DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: PC-2026-00909 (VC-S) – SUMMARY STREET/ALLEY VACATION – A REQUEST TO CONSIDER THE SUMMARY VACATION OF A SEGMENT OF THE ELIZABETH STREET ALLEY, CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 2,500 SQUARE FEET, LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF ELIZABETH STREET, BETWEEN MAGNOLIA AVENUE AND ELIZABETH STREET ISSUE:
Approve a proposal by the City of Riverside Public Works Department for the summary vacation of a segment of the Elizabeth Street Alley, consisting of approximately 2,500 square feet, located on the south side of Elizabeth Street, between Magnolia Avenue and Elizabeth Street.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Determine that this proposal is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense) of the CEQA Guidelines, as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility the project will have a significant effect on the environment; Approve Planning Case PC-2026-00909 (VC-S) for the Summary Street/Alley Vacation of a 2,500 square feet segment of Elizabeth Street Alley, subject to the recommended conditions of approval; Adopt the attached resolution vacating the existing alley pursuant to the Public Streets, Highways and Service Easements Vacation Law (Attachment 1); and Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute quitclaim deeds associated with the summary street vacation as necessary.
BACKGROUND:
On November 9, 1949, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 4678, accepting a deed of real property, known today as the Elizabeth Street Alley.
DISCUSSION:
The proposed summary street/alley vacation will vacate 2,500 square feet of excess right-of-way approximately 100 feet in length and 25 feet in width (0.05 acres), located on the south side of Elizabeth Street, between Magnolia Avenue and Elizabeth Street. The street/alley vacation is needed to deter unauthorized gatherings and/or encampments.
If the summary vacation is approved, the area totaling 2,500-square-foot area will be removed from the public right-of-way. The vacated area will be a new parcel, with ownership maintained by the City of Riverside. The new parcel will be assigned the same zone, CG-SP – Commercial General and Specific Plan (Magnolia Avenue) Overlay Zones, and General Plan land use designation, C – Commercial, of the adjacent parcels. An 8-foot-high fence will be constructed at each end of the vacated area.
The following summarizes the facts and findings required for approval of a summary vacation:
The property is excess right-of-way and is not required for street purposes.
The area to be vacated is not required for street purposes and is excess right-of-way. Additionally, the right-of-way is not part of the Master Plan of Roadways in the General Plan 2025 Circulation and Community Mobility Element.
Access to adjoining properties will not be affected.
The parcels to the east and west of the area to be vacated are developed in their entirety, with no existing vehicular access. Pedestrian access to these parcels will remain from Elizabeth Street. Access to surrounding properties will not be affected as the properties are served by the proposed remaining segment of the Elizabeth Street Alley.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action since all project costs are borne by the applicant.
Prepared by: Candice Assadzadeh, Senior Planner
Approved by: Miranda Evans, Community & Economic Development Director Certified as to
availability of funds: Julie Nemes, Finance Director
Approved by: Gilbert Hernandez, Assistant City Manager Approved as to form: James Johnson, City Attorney
Attachments:
Summary Vacation Resolution
Recommended Conditions
Aerial Photo
Legal and Plat Map
Fence Improvement Plan
PC-2026-00909 (VC-S) ● Page 2