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Planning Commission finds Olive Avenue right-of-way vacation consistent with general plan
Summary
The commission determined that a request by the Carpinteria Sanitary District to vacate about 1,800 square feet of Olive Avenue right-of-way is consistent with the city's general plan under Government Code section 65402 and will allow the district to enclose existing electrical infrastructure within its floodwall.
The Carpinteria Planning Commission voted unanimously to adopt a resolution finding that a sanitary-district request to vacate a small portion of Olive Avenue right-of-way is consistent with the city’s general plan, a required step under California Government Code section 65402.
Staff report and request City planning staff explained the request as a general plan conformity determination submitted by the Carpinteria Sanitary District. The district asked the city to vacate roughly 1,800 square feet of right-of-way at the dead end of Olive Avenue (about 90 feet by 10 feet), immediately adjacent to the district’s wastewater treatment plant. Staff said the strip is unimproved except for Southern California Edison infrastructure — an existing transformer cabinet and switch gear — and that inclusion of this strip within the sanitary district property would allow the equipment to be enclosed within the plant’s floodwall and better protected from a 100-year storm event. Staff recommended that the commission adopt the resolution making the consistency finding and forward the determination to the City Council.
Sanitary district comments Craig Murray, general manager of the Carpinteria Sanitary District, told the commission the electrical feed for the plant sits outside the floodwall and the requested vacation would allow the district to bring the infrastructure inside the floodwall for protection. He noted the request is coordinated with the broader CAP project but said the right-of-way vacation would also address an immediate flood vulnerability.
Commission action A motion to adopt the resolution determining the proposed vacation is consistent with the general plan carried on a roll-call vote of 4-0 (Commissioner Allen — aye; Commissioner Lafeverse — aye; Commissioner Benefield — aye; Vice Chair Moyer — aye). Staff reported the general plan conformity determination is statutorily exempt from CEQA, stating the action is not a project under the statute.
Clarifying details Staff said the requested strip of right-of-way measures approximately 1,800 square feet and is located at the end of Olive Avenue, adjacent to the wastewater treatment plant and near Palm Avenue Lofts. The district emphasized the move is intended to protect electrical cabinets from flood damage and to accommodate additional electrical infrastructure if the CAP project proceeds.
Ending The commission’s consistency determination will be reported to the City Council, which will consider the actual street vacation in a subsequent action.
