City Council to Consider Vacating Street Segment for Car Dealership

The Pasadena City Council on Monday will consider a recommendation by the Department of Public Works to vacate a segment of Nina Street, starting from the intersection of Sunnyslope Avenue to Nina Street’s eastern terminus, in order to accommodate a request by automobile company Rusnak Porsche to develop its property and construct new automobile sales, leasing, services and parts buildings with a paved parking lot.

A street “vacation” means that the public is letting go of, or “vacating,” the public interest in a property. After a street or an alley is vacated, the public no longer has a right to use the property for access.

Rusnak Daimler Chrysler Center Inc., owns all abutting properties along both sides of the street segment, and is the developer for the proposed development. It is the applicant for the street vacation, the Public Works Department said.

An Agenda Report for the City Council meeting on Monday showed the Public Works Department is recommending that a resolution to vacate Nina Street from Sunnyslope Avenue to the east end – a dead end – be adopted after a public hearing set for Aug. 15 is conducted to gather public input and comments.

The Department is also recommending that the City Clerk be directed to public a Notice of Hearing, in accordance with the Streets and Highways Code.

The agenda report showed the existing roadway configuration is not in conformance with the standard design for a cul-de-sac. For one, it does not provide sufficient turn-around space for public, emergency and maintenance vehicles and is therefore substandard for motorists.

“Staff has determined that there is no need, present or future, to retain the subject street segment for its intended public purpose, and that its vacation will not cause any negative impacts to the City’s transportation system,” the report said. “Relinquishing all rights of the proposed vacation area will relieve the City from future maintenance responsibilities and any liability associated with the vacated area.”

The segment that’s proposed to be vacated is about 60 feet wide, including a 10-foot wide sidewalk on either side, and extends from Sunnyslope Ave. to about 276 feet eastward. It is located a block north of Colorado Blvd. The street terminates abruptly at the east end and provides access to the abutting properties.