Item 3: Ordinance Vacating Portion of West 4th Alley

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EUGENE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Public Hearing: Ordinance Vacating the Portion of West 4 Alley Located between 4 and 5 Avenues and Lincoln and Charnelton Streets (VRI 12 -3) Meeting Date: January 22, 2012 Department: Planning and Development www.eugene- or.gov Agenda Item Number: 3 Staff Contact: Steve Ochs Contact Telephone Number: 541/682 -5453 ISSUE STATEMENT The City Council will hold a public hearing on an alley vacation request submitted by CB Simons on behalf of Simons Properties and CSA Oregon LLC. The property affected by this proposed action is the east /west right -of -way of West 4 1 h Alley between Lincoln Street and Charnelton Street. A map is included as Attachment A which shows the proposed street right -of -way to be vacated. This item is scheduled for a public hearing only; action is currently scheduled for Feb. 11, 2012. BACKGROUND As noted above, and shown on the attached map, the applicant is requesting the City of Eugene to vacate the West 4 Alley right -of -way from Charnelton Street to Lincoln Street while retaining a public utility easement over the alley. The area of the request is 4,669 square feet. The applicant is requesting the vacation to enhance safety on the property, improve access and create a better business environment on the property. This alley is situated adjacent to the jail and the applicant and businesses on this block have experienced trespass, aggressive panhandling, theft, vandalism and unsanitary situations from non - tenant pedestrian traffic due to the close proximity to the jail. It is staff's understanding that this alley is commonly used by inmates upon their release. By controlling the alley and monitoring its use, the property owner will be able to reduce these problems. Control of the entire development site (the entire block between Lincoln and Charnelton streets, and West 4 and West 5 avenues), will allow the applicant to provide a safer and overall more attractive and vibrant business environment on the property. Public Works and Fire staff confirm that adequate public rights -of -way exist to satisfy all access and traffic circulation needs in the vicinity. As the attached map indicates, the alley essentially dead -ends at the jail. As such, it provides minimal benefit for east -west bike and pedestrian travel, as well as access for nearby properties. The primary east -west route is on West 5 Avenue, which will be unaffected by this vacation request. Public Works staff, and other affected City Departments and utility providers, confirm the presence of utilities in the alley and note that the provision of necessary public services can be maintained with the retention of a public utility easement over the alley, as proposed by the S:ACMO \2013 Council Agendas \M130122 \S1301223.doc