Agenda Item Wording:
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Public Hearing to Abandon Public Street Right-of-way - Hold a public hearing to adopt Resolution No. 2025-26 ordering the closure and vacation of a portion of public alleyway and right-of-way on Meadow Avenue and Shady Street, located west of Mooney Boulevard and north of Tulare Avenue; and, further authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary documents to complete the abandonment.
(Resolution required)
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Deadline for Action: 4/7/2025
Submitting Department: Community Development
Contact Name and Phone Number: Click or tap here to enter text.
Adrian Rubalcaba, Sr. Project Manager, (559)713-4507, adrian.rubalcaba@visalia.city <mailto:adrian.rubalcaba@visalia.city>
Jason Huckleberry, Engineering & Building Dept. Director, (559)713-4495, jason.huckleberry@visalia.city <mailto:jason.huckleberry@visalia.city>
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends adopting Resolution No. 2025-26 ordering the closure and vacation of a portion of public alleyway and right-of-way on Meadow Avenue and Shady Street and further authorizing the City Manager to execute the necessary documents to complete the abandonment.
Background Discussion:
The abandonment of the streets and alleyway is being requested by the College of Sequoias (COS) to facilitate the planned expansion of their campus. The Visalia Campus University Center master plan was submitted through the City’s Site Plan Review process as SPR No. 2024-17, proposing the demolition of existing buildings and construction of new facilities, further expanding the existing campus to the south. The expansion will encompass the majority of the northwest corner of Tulare Avenue and Mooney Boulevard (the site plan, Exhibit “A”, is attached for reference).
The COS expansion will include redesigning the college campus entry and connections to Meadow and Tulare Avenue. On-site features will include new driveway enhancements with roundabouts to improve vehicle circulation and public safety. The expansion requires the abandonment of Shady Street, a portion of Meadow Avenue, and a portion of the connecting alleyway, further delineated in Exhibit “B”, attached hereto. Onsite permitting and construction will be processed through state agency authorities, as COS, a state entity, can exempt themselves from City land use processes. The abandonment of any public streets, alleyways, or easements, and encroachment permitting will be processed locally.
Council previously approved the resolution to initiate proceedings to vacate the public streets and alleyway during a meeting held on March 17, 2025. This first reading sets forth the required public notifications, postings, and sets the public hearing pursuant to the Streets and Highways Code, “Public Streets, Highways, and Service Easements Vacation Law.” A public hearing is required for the final adoption of a resolution ordering the closure and vacation of public streets and alleyways. The public hearing date cannot be set less than 15 days after the initiation of proceedings and was scheduled for the April 7, 2025 Council meeting. The public hearing allows for the opportunity of all persons interested in or objecting to the proposed vacation to express their interest or opposition for the City Council to consider.
Notices were posted along the portions of alleyway and Meadow Avenue and Shady Street to be abandoned and a copy of the resolution was published for two consecutive weeks in the Visalia Times Delta, a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Visalia.
The street is classified as a local street under the City of Visalia circulation element, but the proposed project should be considered a minor realignment as it is removing that portion of the public street that is no longer required for public access as all surrounding properties are owned and utilized by COS, vehicular or public pedestrian access is no longer necessary over the area to be abandoned.
Any public utilities affected have been notified of the proposed public streets and alleyway abandonment. Existing easements are to be reserved and may remain or utility infrastructure rerouted and easements re-established as part of the vacate process; to be further determined by their respective utility companies and City of Visalia.
Fiscal Impact:
No additional fiscal impacts are anticipated. The ongoing street and alleyway maintenance for the areas vacated will be omitted.
Prior Council Action: On March 17, 2025 the City Council moved to adopt Resolution No. 2025-16, initiating proceedings to vacate a portion of the public alleyway and right-of-way on Meadow Avenue and Shady street.
Other: N/A
Alternatives: Council may elect to deny request to vacate the public alleyway and street right-of-way after considering interest during this public hearing.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to adopt Resolution No. 2025-26 ordering the closure and vacation of a portion of public alleyway and right-of-way on Meadow Avenue and Shady Street, located west of Mooney Boulevard and north of Tulare Avenue; and, further authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary documents to complete the abandonment.
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Environmental Assessment Status: EIR for Phase 1 of Visalia University Center is underway.
CEQA Review: To be determined.
Attachments: Click or tap here to enter text.
1. Exhibit B
2. Resolution