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Planning commission finds vacation of unused Orange Street segment west of Euclid Avenue conforms with general plan
Summary
The National City Planning Commission unanimously adopted a resolution finding that vacating an approximately 1,500-square-foot unused segment of Orange Street west of Euclid Avenue conforms with the general plan; a 15-foot utility easement for SDG&E will be reserved and the item moves to a public hearing at city council.
On March 3, 2025, the National City Planning Commission voted unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2025-01, finding that the proposed vacation of an unused portion of Orange Street west of Euclid Avenue conforms with the city's general plan.
Martin Reeder, assistant director of community development, told the commission the area under consideration lies in the 1600 block of Orange Street and is an approximately 1,500-square-foot dirt area adjacent to 1640 Orange Street. Reeder said the segment is effectively cut off by a chain-link fence and an embankment and is not used for pedestrian, bicycle or motorized through access. "While the city is technically responsible for this area for weeding maintenance, drainage, and so forth," Reeder said, the property owner has maintained the site since purchasing the house about three and a half years ago.
Reeder described past security concerns including encampment activity during the COVID period and ongoing drainage problems: "there is a gully forming that's endangering the driveway concrete," he said, and the applicant proposes fencing and a retaining wall to correct drainage and security issues. He also said there are SDG&E overhead lines across the area and that a 15-foot utility easement would be reserved for SDG&E access if the right-of-way is vacated.
Reeder explained the procedural background: the city council initiated the vacation request in February (a previous initiation had been made the prior year but timing required reinitiation), and state Streets and Highways Code procedures require the planning commission to determine general plan conformance within 40 days. If the commission finds conformance, the matter proceeds to a noticed city council public hearing with mailed notice to nearby property owners and published notice.
Commissioners sought clarifications about parcel lines, the location of the proposed fence and the utility easement. Reeder said the survey shows the hashed area to be vacated borders the applicant's parcel at 1640 Orange Street and that the applicant proposes a fence roughly level with the garage to prevent access along the house. He said SDG&E would retain access to overhead facilities through the reserved easement and staff would require appropriate gated access for maintenance.
Commissioner Valenzuela moved to adopt Resolution No. 2025-01; Commissioner Armenta seconded. The commission voted to approve the resolution unanimously. Reeder said the next step would be a city council public hearing where affected property owners and the public will be notified.
No changes to maintenance responsibility were recorded for public works beyond the vacation reverting maintenance responsibility to the underlying property owner and reserving an SDG&E easement.
