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SET A PUBLIC HEARING FOR COUNCIL TO PROCEED WITH THE VACATION OF A PORTION OF NAVY DRIVE BETWEEN THE BURLINGTON NORTHERN AND SANTA FE RAILROAD CROSSING AND WASHINGTON STREET AND RESERVING A PUBLIC UTILITY EASEMENT ALONG NAVY DRIVE, WITH ACTIONS RELATED THERETO
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution setting a Public Hearing for April 1, 2014, to proceed with the vacation of a portion of Navy Drive between the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad crossing and Washington Street at the Port of Stockton and reserving a public utility easement along Navy drive from the BNSF property to Washington Street, with actions related thereto.
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Summary
The proposed vacation of a portion of Navy Drive (Attachments A and B - Vicinity and Aerial Maps) is an integral part of the Port of Stockton site improvements necessary to implement Homeland security requirements surrounding the operation of the Port and the extension of the Crosstown Freeway from Fresno Avenue to Navy Drive. Both the Homeland security requirements and the installation of improvements for transportation needs, require the Port to have control over the operation and maintenance of this roadway. Funding for the improvements is dependent upon the Port having control of the roadway.
DISCUSSION
Background
Caltrans is in the process of extending the Crosstown Freeway from Fresno Avenue to Navy Drive. As such, Port traffic for the east and west complexes will be redirected onto Navy Drive, near the City of Stockton Municipal Utilities Department offices. This will eliminate heavy truck traffic through the Boggs Tract residential area for the Port and redirect the traffic onto Navy Drive. The traffic increase will require the Port to improve the grade crossing at the BNSF railroad right-of-way that crosses Navy Drive. The improvements will include widening of the roadway and increasing the height of the grade crossing to facilitate the larger trucks.
Homeland Security requires that the Port regulate traffic on Navy Drive onto their facility via a proposed security gate/guard shed. The security gate would be located on Navy Drive just north of the BNSF railroad right-of-way. Homeland Security also requires a turn-around area for vehicles that are not entering the Port controlled site. The Port has agreed to locate this turn-around on its property north of the railroad right-of-way. However, in order to construct the gate and the turn-around, Navy Drive needs to be a private road maintained by the Port of Stockton within the Port facility and there is no need for public use of the street in this area.
If the proposed vacation is approved, the Port will take control over the operation and maintenance of this roadway and provide the required turn-around. Presently the City maintains this portion of roadway under the street maintenance program and the vacation will reduce that cost. Consequently, the Port is requesting that the City vacate Navy Drive so that it may fulfill its Homeland Security requirements and undertake the required road improvements.
A public hearing is required for this proposed vacation since Navy Drive is an active street right-of-way and public funds have been used to maintain the area.
The City's Traffic Division has requested that street lights be transferred from City of Stockton/Pacific Gas & Electric billing to the Port of Stockton. Public utility easements in the proposed vacation area between Washington Street and the BNSF property will be reserved for the benefit of the existing Port facilities. The easements and other utilities that are presently within the BNSF property will remain under a license with BNSF.
Title to the proposed vacation area and all of the property along Navy Drive adjoining the vacation area is owned by the requesting party, The Stockton Port District.
NOTIFICATION
Pursuant to California Streets and Highways Code sections 8322 and 8323, notice of a public hearing for a proposed vacation must be published at least two successive weeks prior to the hearing in the legal notice section of The Record, which will be done. The proposed vacation must also be posted in the vacation area two weeks prior to the hearing.
ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE
It has been determined by the Community Development Department that this action/project is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and is granted a "Categorical Exemption" under Article 19 and, specifically, by Section(s) 15301, Class 1 of the State CEQA Guidelines. In accordance with Section 65402 of the Government Code, the Community Development Department further determined that this activity/project conforms to the City's General Plan Policy Document, as amended.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The applicant, Port of Stockton, has paid the necessary fees to process this vacation and is responsible for the publication costs for the public hearing. There is no negative impact to the General Fund.
Attachment A - Vicinity Map
Attachment B - Aerial Map