PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING DATE:
APRIL 20, 2026
SUBJECT:
Title
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION PC 26-5198 RECOMMENDING THAT CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE SUMMARY VACATION AND ABANDONMENT OF THE DRAINAGE EASEMENT LOCATED ALONG REDEL ROAD GRANTED BY DOCUMENT 2015-0403598 ON JULY 30, 2015, WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF SITE DEVELOPMENT PLAN SDP24-0001 FOR THE STUDENT HOUSING BLOCK F PROJECT
CASE NUMBERS:
Summary Vacation VAC 26-0001
Body
Recommendation
APPROVE Resolution PC 26-5198 (VAC26-0001) recommending that City Council approve the summary vacation and abandonment of the Drainage Easement located along Redel Road granted by Document 2015-0403598 on July 30, 2015, within the boundaries of Site Development Plan SDP24-0001 for Student Housing Block F project.
Body
Board or Commission Action
N/A
Background
On September 4, 2025, the Development Advisory Committee approved the Student Housing Block F project. The project allows for the development of 310,500 square foot, 11-story mixed-use student housing building on a 4.5-acre site located at 292 E. Barham Drive within the University District Specific Plan area (Vicinity Map in Attachment A). The drainage easement along Redel Road was granted on July 30, 2015 as Document No. 2015-0403598 and is proposed for summary vacation.
Discussion
Pursuant to the California Streets and Highways Code (CSHC) 8333(c) the legislative body of a local agency may summarily vacate a public service easement if the easement has been superseded by relocation or determined to be excess by the easement holder, and there are no public facilities within the easement. Staff has determined that the Drainage Easement is in excess, and there are no public facilities within the easement.
In accordance with CSHC Section 8313 and Government Code Section 65402, the local planning agency is required to review the proposed vacation action and to report on its conformance with the adopted General Plan. Staff reviewed the limits of the proposed vacation of public service easement and determined that it is not needed for public use, and that the vacation and abandonment of the public service easement is consistent with the General Plan.
Following Planning Commission action, the proposed vacation and abandonment of public service easement can be considered by the City Council. If City Council orders the vacation and abandonment, the vacated public service easement will remove an encumbrance on the property and allow use of the area by the proposed development.
Environmental Review
The proposed vacation and abandonment of the public service easement is within the scope of the 2022 Addendum to the Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) (SCH NO. 2008101083) for University District Specific Plan which is in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Sections 15162 and 15164.
Public Comment
No public comments were received during the processing of this vacation application.
Attachments
A. Vicinity Map
Adopting Resolutions:
1. Resolution PC 26-5198 (VAC26-0001)
Prepared by: Kyrenne Chua, Principal Civil Engineer
Reviewed by: Stephanie Kellar, Deputy City Engineer
Submitted/Approved by: Joseph Farace, Planning Division Director