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PC RES 2025-009 P.C. RESOLUTION 2025-09 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES FINDING THE CITY'S VACATION OF THE SEWER EASEMENT ON 5801 CRESTRIDGE ROAD IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S GENERAL PLAN AND DETERMINE THE SEWER EASEMENT VACATION IS EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT REQUIREMENTS (CASE NO. PLSR2025-0349). WHEREAS, on February 6, 1979, the City Council approved Conditional Use Permit (CUP) No. 41 and Variance No. 34, allowing the construction of a new retirement care facility (`Canterbury Gardens') to be constructed on a vacant lot located at 5801 Crestridge Road. The development included a sanitary sewer with a corresponding sewer easement. At an unknown time thereafter, a portion of the sanitary sewer within the easement was abandoned and relocated. However, no records were found showing that the corresponding sewer easement was properly vacated; and WHEREAS, On December 18, 1990, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 90- 93, which established procedures for vacation of City Right-of-Way and Easements; and WHEREAS, on June 14, 2024, the Applicant (HBA Architects) submitted a CUP Revision for the construction of a 20,418 ft2 addition, interior remodel of existing spaces and ancillary site improvements; and WHEREAS, on September 30, 2025, the Applicant submitted a request to vacate a portion of the sewer easement to accommodate the proposed improvements; and WHEREAS, on October 21, 2025, the City Council authorized Staff to proceed with the process of vacating part of the sewer easement and Staff initiated a General Plan Consistency Finding for the vacation of the sewer easement on the subject property; and WHEREAS, Section 8313 of the California Street and Highways Code requires compliance with Section 65402(a) of the California Government Code before vacating a street or public service easement that is within an area for which a general plan has been adopted; and WHEREAS, Section 65402(a) of the California Government Code requires that no real property shall be disposed of, and no street shall be vacated or abandoned if the adopted general plan or part thereof applies thereto, until the "location, purpose, and extent" of such vacation or abandonment have been submitted to and reported upon by the planning agency as to conformity with said adopted general plan or part thereof, and WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act, Public Resources Code Sections 21000 et. seq ("CEQA"), the State's CEQA P.C. Resolution No. 2025-09 Page 1 of 4 Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15000 et. seq., the City's Local CEQA Guidelines, and Government Code Section 65962.5(f) (Hazardous Waste and Substances Statement), the Planning Commission found no evidence that the sewer easement vacation will have significant effect on the environment, therefore, the easement vacation is exempt under 15060 (c)(3) and 15061 (b)(3); and WHEREAS, the custodian of records for all materials that constitute the record of proceeding upon which this decision is based is the Community Development Department, and those documents are available for public review in the Community Development Department located at the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, California 90275; and WHEREAS, on October 28, 2025, the Planning Commission held a public meeting, within forty (40) days of the date the request was initiated, at which time all interested parties were given opportunity to be heard and present evidence. NOW, THEREFORE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, HEREBY FINDS, DETERMINES AND RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: Section 1: The facts set forth in the recitals of this Resolution are true and correct and incorporated herein by reference as though set forth in full. Section 2: The Planning Commission herby finds as follows with respect to the location, purpose and extent of the abandonment and vacation of the sewer easement, as described and depicted on Exhibit A and B, that is located on the western side of 5801 Crestridge Road: A. The location of the vacation of the easement is consistent with the Rancho Palos Verdes General Plan. The General Plan's infrastructure goal states that it shall be the goal of the City, "to ensure adequate public utilities and communications services to all residents, while considering environmental, aesthetic and view impacts"(General Plan Page preceding page No. C-5). The vacation of the sewer easement will not adversely affect the existing sewer service, as the site will continue to be serviced by Los Angeles County, and the site will continue to have access to all public utilities. Additionally, the location is not required for public utilities, communications services, roads, trails or paths, and eliminating the easement would not obstruct the General Plan's Infrastructure Goal. As such, the location of the easement is not required to further the objectives and policies of the General Plan, and vacation of the sewer easement is consistent with the Rancho Palos Verdes General Plan. B The purpose of the sewer easement was originally to provide sanitary sewer to the initial development constructed in 1980. However, at an unknown time thereafter, a portion of the sanitary sewer within the easement was abandoned and relocated. No records were found showing that the corresponding sewer P.C. Resolution No. 2025-09 Page 2 of 4 easement was properly vacated, however, the sewer easement is no longer being used by the City for sewer purposes. Additionally, the City's General Plan Land Use Element goal states it shall be the goal of the City to, "encourage the development of institutional facilities to serve the needs to the residents" (General Plan page No. L-6). As the sewer easement is proposed to be vacated to accommodate new development and enhanced uses for the existing institutional facility, it will further serve the needs of the residents. C. The existing site is serviced by Los Angeles County sewer lines off of Crestridge Road running from south to north and west to east along the property. The sewer easement proposed to be vacated is located in the western, center portion of the property. The extent of the abandonment and vacation is limited to the 6-foot-wide sewer easement. The vacation of the easement would continue to allow for the development and use of the existing institutional lot. As such the extent of the easement vacation is consistent with the aforementioned goals and policies of the Rancho Palos Verdes General Plan. Section 3: CEQA Compliance The Planning Commission determines The vacation of the sewer easement is exempt from CEQA because the vacation of the easement is not a "project" as that term is defined by California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") Guidelines as this ordinance constitutes general policy and procedure making and does not result in any physical change to the environment (14 CCR §§ 15060 (c)(3), 15378 ); in addition, the easement vacation is exempt from CEQA'S requirements because there is no possibility that the vacation of the easement would have a significant adverse effect on the environment (14 CCR § 15061 (b)(3)). FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Planning Commission forward a copy of this resolution to the City Council so the Council will be informed of the action and recommendations of the Planning Commission P C Resolution No. 2025-09 Page 3 of 4 PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED on this 28th day of October 2025, by the following vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS CHRISTEN, CHURA, GEORGE, O'CONNOR, SANTAROSA, AND CHAIR NULMAN NOES: NONE ABSTENTIONS: NONE RECUSALS: NONE ABSENT: VICE CHAIR BRACH Eric Nul an Chair Brridy or. , A CP Director of Community Development; and, Secretary of the Planning Commission P.C. Resolution No. 2025-09 Page 4 of 4