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Home My WebLink About2025-01-14 - AGENDA REPORTS - LAND EXEMPTION AND ESMT VISTA CYNAgenda Item: 10 CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT CONSENT CALENDAR CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: Li DATE: January 14, 2025 SUBJECT: RESOLUTION DECLARING PROPERTY OWNED BY THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA EXEMPT FROM THE SURPLUS LAND ACT AND APPROVAL OF A LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT, LAND EXCHANGE, AND AN EASEMENT WITH VISTA CANYON, LLC DEPARTMENT: Neighborhood Services PRESENTER: Mariela Delgado RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council: 1. Adopt a resolution declaring a portion of the Assessor's Parcel Number 2840-029-901 as exempt surplus land under the Surplus Land Act. 2. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the lot line adjustment and the property exchange with Vista Canyon, LLC. 3. Authorize the City Manager or designee to grant Vista Canyon, LLC, an easement for landscape improvements and maintenance. 4. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all necessary documentation to complete the property exchange, subject to City Attorney approval. BACKGROUND The City of Santa Clarita (City) owns approximately 1.4 acres of property identified in Assessor's Parcel Number (APN) 2840-029-901, the Cooper Street parking structure. The adjacent property owner, Vista Canyon, LLC, (Vista Canyon) has requested a lot line adjustment to utilize the unused space for mechanical equipment and allow for improved access and architecture of the to -be -constructed apartment building (Area A, as shown in Exhibit B). Additionally, the lot line adjustment will allow for improved layout and functionality of the private community garden (Area B). The requested portions of City property, approximately 1,478 square feet, are not needed for public use. Under the California Surplus Land Act (SLA), Page 1 Packet Pg. 77 any public property transfer of ownership must be declared surplus and offered for affordable housing development or other public uses unless it qualifies as "exempt surplus land" under specific statutory criteria. This agenda item proposes declaring the subject property as "exempt surplus land" under California Government Code 54221(f). The property qualifies for exemption because it meets the following conditions: the parcel is less than 0.5 acres and not contiguous to land owned by the state or used for open space or affordable housing purposes. It is being exchanged for a substitute property for City use, specifically to secure an additional access point to a public parking garage, thereby enhancing public infrastructure and access. In equal exchange for the surplus land, Vista Canyon has offered a portion of the adjacent parcel, approximately 1,478 square feet (Area C). This exchange will benefit the City by providing a second access point to the Cooper Street public parking garage. The official recordation of the lot line adjustment and land exchange will be contingent on completing Vista Canyon Park Phase II. Staff has prepared a resolution declaring the property as exempt surplus land and authorizing its exchange. The proposed action has been evaluated for compliance with the SLA and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Staff determined that the designation of the property as exempt surplus land does not constitute a project under CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 and does not pose a potential for significant environmental impact. In addition, Vista Canyon is requesting a permanent easement (Area D) on APN 2840-029-901 for the landscape and streetscape improvements that will be designed, constructed, and maintained by the owners of Building Four or Vista Canyon. This mutually beneficial easement will reduce the City's maintenance burden and provide landscape beautification and a passive -use gathering area for the community to enjoy. ALTERNATIVE ACTION Other actions as determined by the City Council. FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact. ATTACHMENTS SLA Exemption Resolution Vista Canyon Site Map Page 2 Packet Pg. 78 10.a RESOLUTION NO. 25- A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, DECLARING A PORTION OF APN 2840-029-901 AS EXEMPT SURPLUS LAND AND AUTHORIZING THE EXCHANGE OF SUCH LAND WHEREAS, the City of Santa Clarita (City) is the owner, in fee simple, of APN 2840- 029-901 situated in the City, approximately 1.4 acres and legally described on Exhibit A and depicted on Exhibit B, attached hereto and made a part of hereof Property (Property); and WHEREAS, the California Surplus Lands Act (Cal. Gov. Code section 54220 et seq.) (Act) as modified by California Assembly Bill 1486, effective October 9, 2019, provides the framework and state law requirements for the disposal of a local agency's surplus real property; and WHEREAS, for purposes of (Cal. Gov. Code section 54221(f)(2), the Property is not: (i) within a coastal zone; (ii) adjacent to a historical unit of the State Parks System; (iii) listed on, or determined by the State Office of Historic Preservation to be eligible for the National Register of Historical Places; or (iv) within the Lake Tahoe region as defined by (Cal. Gov. Code section 66905.5); and WHEREAS, the Act provides exemptions from the requirements of the Act for "exempt surplus land," which includes small surplus parcels that are less than one-half acre in area and are not contiguous to land owned by a state agency that is used for open space, or low and moderate income housing purposes (Cal. Gov. Code section 54221(f)(1)(B)) and the exchange of surplus land for property for the City's use (Cal. Gov. Code section 54221 (f)(1)(C)); and WHEREAS, Exhibit B attached hereto describes approximately 1,478 square feet of the Property that is no longer needed by the City (Exempt Surplus Property); and WHEREAS, Vista Canyon, LLC (Vista Canyon) owns property adjacent to the Property and has requested to exchange the Exempt Surplus Property for the property depicted on Exhibit B (Exchange Property); and WHEREAS, staff recommends the transfer of the Exempt Surplus Property to the adjacent property owner, Vista Canyon, in exchange for receipt of the Exchange Property as the transfer is in the public interest in that the land exchange would secure a second access point to the public parking garage and relieve the City of the responsibility, cost and liability associated with the ownership and maintenance of the unnecessary Exempt Surplus Property, not needed for public use. NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita, California, does hereby resolve as follows: Pagel of 3 Packet Pg. 79 10.a SECTION 1. The above recitals are true and correct and are a substantive part of this resolution. SECTION 2. The City Council hereby declares the Exempt Surplus Property to be "exempt surplus land" under the Act in that it is a small surplus land parcel and will only be conveyed in exchange for substitute property, pursuant, to Cal. Gov. Code sections 5422 1 (f)(1)(13)) and 5422 1 (f)(1)(C)). SECTION 3. This resolution has been reviewed, with respect, to the applicability of the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.) (CEQA). City staff has determined that the designation of this property as exempt surplus land does not have the potential of creating a significant effect on the environment and is therefore exempt from further review under CEQA, pursuant, to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) because it is not a project as defined by the CEQA Guidelines Section 15378. Adoption of the resolution does not have any potential to result in a direct physical change in the environment. SECTION 4. The City Council authorizes and directs the City Manager, or designee, to execute and record such documentation, as approved by the City Attorney, as necessary or convenient to exchange the Exempt Surplus Property as described herein for the Exchange Property and to otherwise effectuate the purpose of this resolution. SECTION 5. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this resolution. PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 14th day of January 2025. ATTEST: CITY CLERK DATE: MAYOR Page 2 of 3 Packet Pg. 80 10.a STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss. CITY OF SANTA CLARITA ) I, Mary Cusick, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 25- was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 141h day of January 2025, by the following vote: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: CITY CLERK Page 3 of 3 Packet Pg. 81 EXHIBIT "A" LEGAL DESCRIPTION GRANT DEED IN THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA SHOWN ON TRACT NO.69164-01, FILED IN BOOK 1396, PAGES 40 THROUGH 48 INCLUSIVE OF MAPS, IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY RECORDER OF SAID COUNTY. Non -Order Search Page 5 of 6 Requested By: Kathlene Meyer , Pri Packet Pg. 82 Doc: 2020-1373406 DEG 11-02-2020 01 01 LOT 17 jl M, r I7 AREA A EXISTING LOT 7 VA VA EXISTING (1.42 AC} LOTS CY (0.44 AC) Lut I —0,42 AC AFTER ADJUSTED) LOT 84I. AC AFTER ADJUST-H)') ;j U Li pkopmm lu WME NW4T �mhkm I P1. 0 0 0 --EASEMEhrr TO MY OF $AVTA CUWA F-1 C EXHIBIT B 10.a *1,478 -, --n-1 in purple Exchange Land - shown in LU sement - LOT 11 W 0.000 z P 0 C .0 0 r7.33 'REA B (n 1�3 64.r 0- 0 AKIE C E X LL. EXISTING I I 7i�l 11 LOT 12 U (0.36 AC) v J ri ri 71 AAITCHEL' 4-. �q (n E --I Cu C-7RIVE Packet Pg. 83