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5 0 7' other alternattves whtch might permit unload�ng without blocking the street In response to question, Mr Pusich advised that while staff studies indicate the entire street could be abandoned for present and prospec- t tive public uses, in view of Mr Sicotte's ob,7ections, it has been recommended that only the half of the street which is the property of the developer of the senior citizen housing pro�ect be abandoned and that Mr Sicotte's property continue to be used as a public travelway Mr Pusich pointed out that when streets are abandoned, property owners are required to make sufficient changes in the appearance of the former street so that there will be no confusion as to its use Mr Pusich advised that if the 30 feet of street now proposed to remain a travelway were also abandoned and given to Mr Sicotte as originally suggested, he could remove the curbs, etc and make use of it, probably for unloading trucks on his own property. City Attorney Schricker reminded Council that the sub�ect of the present public hearing is whether or not the portion of Hilton Street proposed to be abandoned is required for public purposes as a right-of-way Mr Schricker stated that the present or proposed use of the land on either side of the street, a portion of which is proposed to be abandoned, is not the sub�ect of the public hearing. Mr Schricker advised further that as far as the store is concerned, the only relevant consideration is the question of whether or not the use is ordinary and necessary to the public right-of-way , Lengthy discussion continued and Mr. Smith, Mr Pusich, Mr Schricker and Mr Sicotte commented and replied to questions concerm ng the , need for additional information from staff to support the recommenda- tion, the history behind the proposed abandonment of right-of-way, whether or not other alternatives might be available to accortonodate both the senior citizen housing pro�ect and the owner of the store, whether property owners on a street have any additional rights re- garding its use other than as a public travelway, whether or not any travelway on Hilton Street is needed by the public, the difficulty of maneuvering lar9e trucks, the fact that the same plan has been used successfully elsewhere in the City, the manner in which the pro�ect developer can obtain additional parking spaces on the property pro- posed to be abandoned by using garages or carports instead of parallel street parking, the fact that it is customary in California for those living in senior citizen pro�ects to own cars at a ratio of about one car per two apartments compared to the one car per four apartments anticipated by federal requirements, the desire of Council to en- courage development of housing for low/moderate income people, Council policy re9arding returnin9 unneeded streets to the tax rolls, the lia- bility to the City represented by seldom used streets, the fact that returning property used for streets would increase the value of the property and, therefore, increase the amount of taxes to be paid by the property owner, and the effect utility easements which remain might have on the use of the property � In response to question regarding direction to staff concerning Council policy of returning unneeded streets to property owners, Mr , Pusich cited a goal of the General Plan to return such streets to private use wherever possible Mr Pusich advised that such pro- posed abandonments are always decided on an individual basis by the Council, although staff may make recommendations. -3- Reg Mtg � 8/2/76