07-26-2011 CC RPT 11 - Laserfiche WebLink

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P11 -0199 • Page 2 parking structure be designed with walls of sufficient height on the first level as to deter unauthorized pedestrian access from the parking structure to the fire lane and Whittier Place. As with the interim phase, the RCCD has verbally agreed to enter into an agreement with the City whereby parking spaces within the RCCD development could be utilized to accommodate special community events at White Park. With the ultimate buildout of the project, these spaces would be within the above ground parking structure on the westerly portion of the site. Finally, it was agreed that the RCCD and City would revisit the concept of potentially vacating Whittier Place in conjunction with implementation of the second (final) phase of development if the vacation would be mutually beneficial to the RCCD and the City. Vacation Findings This vacation request would remove the segment of Fairmount Boulevard between University Avenue and Whittier Place and the contiguous segment of public alley west of Fairmount Boulevard from the public right -of -way to facilitate the creation of a consolidated 1.9 acre site for the Riverside Community College District (RCCD) to construct a multiple - phased academic and administrative development, which approved in early 2006 by the RCCD Board. The adjacent segments of University Avenue to the north, Market Street to the east, and Whittier Place to the south will continue to function in their current configuration with no impact on vehicular or pedestrian circulation. State law permits the City to vacate a street, alley, or walkway only upon a finding supported by substantial evidence that the right -of -way is no longer needed for vehicular or pedestrian traffic and is unnecessary for present or prospective public use. The following facts are provided to support the proposed vacation of the subject portion of Fairmount Boulevard and contiguous alley: • The parcels contiguous to the area to be vacated are owned by either the RCCD or the City of Riverside. These parcels will be consolidated into an approximately 1.9 acre "parent" site for the development of a multiple - phased academic and administrative facility for the RCCD as previously described. As the RCCD development would encompass property to the west and east of the subject Fairmount Boulevard right -of- way, the proposed areas to be vacated will no longer be needed for street purposes or for access to adjacent parcels. Furthermore, properties to the west of the parent site will still have public access from University Avenue. Therefore, the approximately 13,588 square foot area to be vacated will not be necessary for access to any parcels. Furthermore, the proposed vacation will not impact access to any other parcels as all other streets and alleys will remain in their current configuration; • The proposed vacation will not preclude vehicular or pedestrian access to properties on the northerly side of Whittier Place, a 23 -foot wide, one -way local street, westerly of the subject segment of Fairmount Boulevard; • The adjacent segments of University Avenue to the north and Whittier Place to the south will continue to function in their current configuration with no impact on vehicular or pedestrian circulation; 11 -3