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Planning Commission finds vacation of eastern portion of utility easement at 1010 E. 20th St. conforms with Upland general plan
Summary
The commission voted 6-0 to determine that vacating the eastern 33 feet of a 73-foot public utility easement (9,918 sq ft) at 1010 East Twentieth Street conforms with the City of Upland General Plan; the developer will relocate an existing water line to the western portion of the easement and record a replacement easement.
The Upland Planning Commission on March 26 voted 6-0 to find that the proposed vacation of the eastern 33 feet of a 73-foot-wide public utility easement at 1010 East Twentieth Street is in conformity with the City of Upland General Plan. The vacated area totals 9,918 square feet; the item now moves to the City Council, which is the authority to approve the easement vacation itself.
Senior planner Lorelei Farris told commissioners the request accompanies an approved development that requires relocating an existing water line away from the planned building footprint. "The water line on the property will be relocated to a portion of the easement that will remain," Farris said, explaining the relocation shifts the active utility to the western portion of the existing easement and leaves the eastern 33 feet unnecessary for utility purposes once relocation and new easement recordation are complete.
Farris said the original 73-foot easement remained after Campus Avenue was vacated for street purposes; the retained easement protected water and storm drain infrastructure. The developer has submitted relocation plans to city engineering and will record a new easement that covers a relocated bend in the water line concurrent with the vacation recordation. Farris confirmed the developer will pay for relocation costs and that engineering review has been completed to the point that plans are ready once the vacation is approved.
Staff found the vacation consistent with multiple General Plan policies calling for the preservation and maintenance of infrastructure and adequate water conveyance and storage. Planning staff also recommended finding the action exempt from CEQA under the "common-sense" exemption (CEQA Guidelines §15061(b)(3)), because the planning commission's conformity determination will not itself cause a significant environmental effect.
City staff noted the applicant was unable to attend in person and was watching the meeting stream from Arizona. No public comments were received during the hearing; staff reminded the commission that the Brown Act requires the opportunity for public comment on business items.
A motion to adopt the CEQA exemption finding and adopt a resolution finding the vacation in conformity with the general plan passed 6-0. The matter will move to City Council for final action on the vacation and concurrent recordation of the new easement covering the relocated water line.
