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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNew Business #3 9-08-87"f]~ (~ NEW BUSINESS Inter- Corn DATE.' ~U~UST 28, ~987 ~ TO: WILLIAN HUSTON, CITY )IANJkGER FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTNENT/ENGINEERIN6 DIVISION SUBJECT: REQUEST TO VACATE A PORTION OF SAN JUAN STREET RECOMMENDATION: Direct staff to proceed with a traffic study for the requested vacation of a portion of San Juan Street adjacent to the Lambert School site and engage the firm of Austin-Foust Associates to perform said study subject to the cost of s~id study being borne by the requesting party, Caltrans. BACKGROUND: Caltrans has recently completed the preparation and public review of the environmental document for the widening of the Santa Ana (I-5) Freeway between the 1-405 Freeway to the south and the Route 55 Freeway on the north. The proposed freeway widening consists of expanding the current facility of six (6) lanes to a twelve lane {12) facility. The segment of the freeway between Newport Ave. and Red Hill Ave. is proposed to be widened acquiring right-of-way from the northerly side of the freeway which results in a taking of 1.3 acres and fifty parking spaces from the Tustin High School site. Per the attached Caltrans letter the Tustin Unified School District has filed a legal suit against Caltrans alleging-that the environmental document for the proposed widening of Route 5 does not fully address and mitigate the impacts to Tusti n High School. DISCUSSION: The attached Caltrans letter requests the City to consider vacating a portion of San Juan Street adjacent and con, non to both Tustin High School and Lambert Elementary School. The vacation of a portion of San Juan Street would then allow the Tustin High School site and the Lambert Elementary School site to function as one contiguous 45.7± acre site. A breakdown of the potential school parcels is as follows: Existing Tustin High School Site 36.51 acres Existing Lambert School Site g.78 acres Vacated Street Right of Way 0.69 acres 46.g8 acres Less Caltrans' Proposed Taking -1.30 acres NET SITE 45.7~ acres As indicated in the Caltrans letter, the school official and their attorney stated the high school's adverse impacts could be entirely mitigated if San Juan Street were to be vacated in front of the former Lambert school. Staff has indicated to Caltrans that prior to any decision regarding the vacation of a portion of San Juan Street that ~ complete traffic study would be required to evaluate the impacts to the immediate neighborhoods as well as the remainder of the City's circulation system. It is suggested that staff be directed to initiate said study and that the firm of Austin-Foust Associates be engaged to perform said study. Austin-Foust is the firm that completed both the East Tustin traffic study approximately two years ago. It is ~stimated that the San Juan street closure study would range between $15,000-$20,000 and could mostly likely be completed in about sixty days. A map delineating that portion of San Juan Street the was requested to be vacated {highlighted in yellow) is attached. Bob Ledendecker Director of PubliC Works/City Engineer BL/lg ,'ARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DISIRICT 7, P.O. BOX 2304, LCd, ANGELES ~51 Telephone (213)620-3210 August 18, 1987 7-LA-5 21.3/30.3 07210 - 065480 Mr. Robert Ledendecker Director of Public Works 300 Centennial Way Tustin, CA 92680 Dear Mr. Ledendecker: The Tustin Unified School District has filed a legal suit against Caltrans alleging that the environmental document, for the proposed widening of Route 5 from Route 405 to Route 55 does not fully address and mitigate the impacts to the Tustin High School. At a recent meeting the Attorney and Assistant Superintendent of the school district told Caltrans that the Tustin High School is smaller than the recommended minimum area and the Caltrans proposed taking of 1.3 acres and 50 parking spaces exacerbates this crowded condition. They pointed out that the school stadium serves the entire school syste~ as well as the City. The former Lambert Elementary School is now being used as a annex to the high school but is not contiguous, being separated from the campus by San Juan Street. The Attorney and school official stated the high school's adverse impacts could be entirely mitigated if San Juan Street were vacated in front of the former Lambert School. This would then provide an enlarged contiguous high school campus. We discussed the vacation of San Juan Street with you and I understanding that the first step is obtaining a traffic study of the effects of cul-de-sacing this street which now connects Newport Avenue and Red Hill Avenue. If the report is favorable, you would consider recommendation of vacation to the City Council. -2- The law suit may impede the furtherence of the Route 5 project. However, the School District may be willing to continue the suit for a reasonable time if they feel that the vacation of San Juan Street is being given serious consideration by the City. We request that the City take the necessary steps to determine the feasibility of vacating San Juan Street at the Lambert site, and if acceptable, vacating the street. Caltrans is ready to cooperate with the City in every way possible to facilitate and expedite this vacation. we sincerely appreciate and are grateful for your cooperation and consideration in this matter. It has been a pleasure to work with the City of Tustin in all aspects of the development of the Route 5 and Route 55 improvements. Sincerely, S. L. ELICKS, Chief Project Development Branch B cc: Clayton Parker, Attorney Tustin Unified School District Robert Vidor, Attorney Caltrans Lisa Mills, OCTC ""' ,,,,, ~ I---.1~1~,,'~~ ,,BRYAN _, 135Z2 ll~l~ PINETREE ~o II~a l, f~ LEAR ~ I,~4 1~72 I~, ~ PARK / ~~ "" "" '~'~ * *~ ~1~" ' 116e R C. C. LAM BERT SAN JUAN o 1380Z I HILLVlEW r,j~ 14.141 1414t 14'151