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Planning commission finds vacation of small Orange Street segment conforms with general plan
Summary
The National City Planning Commission voted to find that vacating an unused 1,500‑square‑foot segment of Orange Street west of Euclid Avenue conforms with the general plan, reserving a 15‑foot utility easement for SDG&E; the decision moves the request to a City Council public hearing.
The National City Planning Commission on March 3 voted to find that the proposed vacation of an unused portion of Orange Street west of Euclid Avenue conforms with the city’s general plan, a procedural finding that clears the way for a subsequent City Council public hearing.
Assistant Director of Community Development Martin Reeder told the commission the privately initiated request affects roughly 1,500 square feet adjacent to 1640 Orange Street, a short cul‑de‑sac area currently separated by chain‑link fencing and an embankment. Reeder said the property owner has maintained the parcel since buying the adjacent house about three and a half years ago and that the area has ongoing drainage and past encampment and security concerns.
Reeder said the vacation would reserve a 15‑foot utility easement to allow SDG&E access to overhead facilities and would permit the property owner to build a fence and a retaining wall to secure the side of the home and address the drainage problem. "We're asking for the planning commission to make a finding of general plan conformance for the street vacation and then we will be going on to a public hearing," Reeder said during his presentation.
Commissioners sought clarification on parcel boundaries (including a nearby 1638 parcel shown in the materials), whether adjacent parking areas are city right‑of‑way, and where the proposed fence would be located; Reeder pointed to the exhibit near the garage and confirmed the reservation of the SDG&E access easement and the need for a secure gate to preserve utility access.
A motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025‑01 — "a resolution of the Planning Commission of the City of National City, California, finding the vacation of an unused section of Orange Street west of Euclid Avenue in conformance with the general plan" (city‑initiated case file 20204 SC) — was moved and seconded and approved in the commission's electronic vote. The motion was recorded as approved unanimously.
Next steps: if the commission's finding is forwarded to the City Council, the item will be noticed for a public hearing and mailed to nearby residents. The City Council may uphold the commission's determination or set the matter for a separate hearing at which the council could rehear or overturn the decision. The record presented to the commission indicated the city would retain maintenance responsibility for the reserved utility easement but would no longer be responsible for general maintenance of the vacated area if the vacation is approved.
Clarifying details: the area described in staff materials is approximately 1,500 square feet; a 15‑foot utility easement was described for SDG&E access; the applicant's survey indicates portions of the cul‑de‑sac would revert to adjacent property lines if vacated; the applicant shared some survey/engineering costs with the city during the review process.
