Agenda Item: 8
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: August 27, 2024
SUBJECT: SAND CANYON TRAIL, PHASE IV, PROJECT T3024 - SUMMARY
VACATION OF A PORTION OF THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY
AND SLOPE EASEMENT ALONG SAND CANYON ROAD AND
ACCEPTANCE OF EASEMENTS FOR ROAD AND TRAIL
PURPOSES
DEPARTMENT: Public Works
PRESENTER: Shannon Pickett
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Adopt a resolution for the summary vacation of a portion of the public right-of-way along Sand Canyon Road, as described and shown on Exhibit “A” Legal Description and Exhibit “B” Exhibit Map, and an easement for slope purposes, west of Sand Canyon Road, as described and shown on Exhibit “C” Legal Description and Exhibit “D” Exhibit Map of the attached resolution.
2. Authorize the City Clerk to record the certified original resolution in the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s office.
3. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to accept the dedications and grants of easement for public use and trail purposes and grants of easement for public use and road purposes along Sand Canyon Road.
4. Authorize an expenditure in an amount not to exceed $80,000 to reimburse the property owner for clearing private improvements from the future trail easement at 16207 Valley Ranch Road as part of the Sand Canyon Trail project.
5. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents, subject to City Attorney approval.
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Road and Slope Easement Vacation
The road easement to be vacated, shown in blue on the attached Location Map for property on 27101 Sand Canyon Road, is a portion of Lot 3 of Parcel Map No. 8244, originally dedicated to the County of Los Angeles on December 6, 1984. The slope easement to be vacated, shown in yellow on the attached Location Map, is a portion of Lot 2 and Lot 3 of Parcel Map No. 8244, originally dedicated to the County of Los Angeles and recorded on December 6, 1984.
Both easements traverse through a private residential lot located on the west side of Sand Canyon Road. The portion of the street easement and the slope easement, as described and shown on Exhibits “A” through “D” of the attached resolution, are in excess of the specified 84 feet of right-of-way required for Sand Canyon Road in the Circulation Element of the City’s General Plan, and are not needed for future public road purposes.
Per Section 8331 of the Streets and Highways Code, the legislative body of a local agency may summarily vacate a street or highway if both of the following conditions exists:
1. For a period of five consecutive years, the street or highway has been impassable for vehicular travel; and
2. No public money was expended for maintenance on the street or highway during such period.
Both of the aforementioned conditions exist; therefore, staff is recommending a portion of public right-of-way and slope easement as described and shown on Exhibits “A” through “D” of the attached resolution be summarily vacated by adopting the resolution.
In compliance with Section 8340 of the Streets and Highways Code, City staff coordinated with public utilities and determined that there are no public utility facilities in place that would be affected by this vacation, and no reservation of easement is necessary for prospective public use.
Road and Trail Dedication
The property owner at 27101 Sand Canyon Road has offered to dedicate an easement for public use and trail purposes within the property and an easement for public use and road purposes along the property frontage on Sand Canyon Road as shown in green and red, respectively, on the attached Location Map for property on 27101 Sand Canyon Road. The trail easement will allow for a trail connection from the recently installed pedestrian bridge on Sand Canyon Road just north of Condor Ridge Road to Sultus Street, and the road easement will increase the right- of-way of Sand Canyon Road to 84 feet, which is consistent with the Circulation Element of the City’s General Plan.
The property owner at 16207 Valley Ranch Road is willing to dedicate an easement for public
use and trail purposes and an easement for public use and road purposes along the property frontage on Sand Canyon Road as shown in green and red, respectively, on the attached Location Map for property on 16207 Valley Ranch Road. The trail easement will allow for a trail segment to be constructed along Sand Canyon Road, and the road easement will ensure that the constructed portion of Sand Canyon Road is within the easement. Furthermore, the road easement will ensure that the westerly edge of the easement lines up with the westerly edge of the public right-of-way on Sand Canyon Road, south of Valley Ranch Road.
Trail construction within the trail easement will require private improvements such as fencing, irrigation, and landscape to be relocated. The $80,000 expenditure recommended in this agenda report will reimburse the property owner for removing those improvements and relocating them outside the easement areas. Once removed, this segment of trail will be constructed.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Adequate funds are available in project expenditure accounts T3024233-516101 (TDA 8 Fund) and T3024238-516101 (TDA 3 Fund) to support the recommended action.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution
Location Map for 16207 Valley Ranch Road
Location Map for 27101 Sand Canyon Road