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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolution 02-079 -Land Exchange with Fire DistrictRESOLUTION N0.02-079 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF SARATOGA AUTHORIZING AND ORDERING A LAND EXCHANGE WITH THE SARATOGA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT WHEREAS, as a result of a collaborative planning process and to accommodate the design of a proposed new fire station, the Saratoga Fire Protection District has requested that the City of Saratoga convey to the District the Heritage Plaza property shown on Attachment A to this Resolution in exchange for (1) dedication to permanent public use of at least ten (10) public parking spaces controlled by the Ciry; (2) an easement eight feet in width for passage of pedestrians and bicycles within the setback of the western side of the Fire Station property along State Route 9; and (3) an easement ten feet in width for passage of pedestrians and bicycles within the front apron of the fire station adjacent to Saratoga Avenue; and WHEREAS, the Saratoga Fire Protection District has agreed that will cover costs associated with relocating the Memorial Arch in the Heritage.Plaza to Blaney Plaza including removal, transportation, foundation construction, and installation provided that all costs relating to the design of Blaney Plaza and all Blaney Plaza improvements other than the foundation necessary to support the Memorial Arch shall be paid by the City. WHEREAS, the Saratoga Fire Protection District has completed a Mitigated Negative Declaration regarding the new fire station including the proposed exchange of the Heritage Plaza property for the easements referenced above and concluded that it will have no unavoidable significant adverse impacts; and WHEREAS, the City Council on August 7, 2002 requested that the Planning Commission report to the City Council on the proposed vacation's conformity with the City of Saratoga General Plan and no report has been filed; and WHEREAS, on November 6, 2002 the City Council considered this matter at a public meeting at which all members of the public had the opportunity to be heard and to present evidence; and WHEREAS, the City Council has considered all public testimony, the Mitigated Negative Declaration, and all materials presented by staff. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council hereby: 1. Finds and determines that it has considered the Mitigated Negative Declaration for the project as required by the California Environmental Quality Act and determined that the land exchange will have no significant impacts. 2. Finds and determines that the land exchange conforms to the City of Saratoga General Plan in that the project will improve traffic circulation and allow development of the proposed Fire Station including ten new public parking spaces and bicycle and pedestrian easements as specified in Exhibit A to the resolution approving the Design Review, Conditional Use Permit and Lot Line Adjustment consistent with and in furtherance of the following General Plan Goals and Policies: Policy CI.7.Oa Provide adequate parking for non-residential uses to minimize intrusion into adjacent neighborhoods. Finding: The proposed development will meet all required parking standards in the zoning ordinance including bicycle parking and locker room facilities and the land transfer and accompanying dedication to public use often parking spaces will minimize existing intrusions into adjacent neighborhoods by providing new public parking spaces controlled by the Ciry of Saratoga. • CI.5.15 Require the provision of secure bicycle parking as part of all future development projects that include multi family residential, commercial, industrial, office, and institutional uses. Finding: The proposed development will meet all required parking standards in the zoning ordinance including bicycle parking and locker room facilities the land transfer and easement acquisition and will enhance opportunities for bicycle access by providing easements for bicycle use. CI.5.19 Encourage non-residential development projects to include amenities such as showers and lockers for employees to further encourage bicycling as an alternative to automobile use. Finding: The proposed development will meet all required parking standards in the zoning ordinance including bicycle parking and locker room facilities and the land transfer and easement acquisition will enhance opportunities for bicycle access by providing easements for bicycle use. • CI.5.6 Provide Safe and direct pedestrian routes and bikeways between and through residential areas linking transit centers and important community centers such as the village center. Finding: The proposed development will include clear pedestrian zones and a plaza entry and the land transfer and easement acquisition will enhance opportunities for pedestrian and bicycle access by providing easements for pedestrian and bicycle use. Safety Element Goal 4.0 To reduce the danger of property damage and loss of life due to fire in both urban and rural areas of the City. Finding: The vacation and property transfer will allow development of a fire station design with a front apron of sufficient size to avoid safety problems associated with fire trucks backing in to the Fire Station and with a sufficient setback from the intersection of Saratoga Avenue and Saratoga- Los Gatos Avenue to minimize the bulls of the structure and improve line- of-sight at the intersection. 3. Directs the City Engineer to prepare a deed conveying from the City to the District the Heritage Plaza property to the Saratoga Fire Protection District and a deed from the District to the City conveying to the City (1) an easement for permanent public parking use controlled by the City at all times over the area shown in Exhibit A to this resolution; (2) an easement eight feet in width for passage of pedestrians and bicycles within the setback of the western side of the Fire Station property along State Route 9 as shown on Exhibit A; and (3) an easement ten feet in width for passage of pedestrians and bicycles within the front apron of the fire station adjacent to Saratoga Avenue as shown on Exhibit A. Said deeds shall be free of all liens or encumbrances. 4. Directs the City Manager to sign the deeds conveying and accepting the aforesaid property interests upon either (1) satisfactory completion of the transfer by the Saratoga Fire Protection District of the Memorial Arch to Blaney Plaza or (2) receipt of an improvement agreement signed by the Saratoga Fire Protection district and in form and content acceptable to the City Manager and City Attorney assuring satisfactory completion of the transfer by the Saratoga Fire Protection District of the Memorial Arch to Blaney Plaza. The City Clerk is directed to cause the deed conveying the Heritage Plaza property to be recorded immediately following recordation of the deed conveying the various easements to the City. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Saratoga, State of California, this 6'h day of November 2002, by the following vote: AYES: Councilmember Stan Bogosian, John Mehaffey, Ann Waltonsmith, Vice Mayor Evan Baker, mayor Nick Streit NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: None ,~ Mayor Attachments Attachment A: Map showing location of Heritage Plaza property and easements to be conveyed.