Attachment B - Approval Report 200568.pdf

City of Phoenix — Formal (2022-09-07)

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Planning and Development Department  
 
 
 
 
 
CONDITIONAL APPROVAL – ABND 200568 
 
 
 
   
 
Your abandonment request was granted CONDITIONAL APPROVAL by Christopher DePerro, 
Abandonment Hearing Officer.  
  
This request will NOT be completed until all the stipulations have been met and this request is 
formally adopted by City Council. It is the APPLICANT’S RESPONSIBILITY to ensure that all 
stipulations are satisfied. Please contact Maggie Dellow at (602) 262-7399 for questions and 
notification of your completion of the stipulations.  
 
Upon completion of the stipulations your request will be scheduled for City Council action.  
 
If the stipulations of abandonment are not completed within five years from the date of your 
conditional approval (your expiration date is February 18, 2026), this request will then expire.  
At that time a new submittal will be required along with the required payment for the abandonment 
process. A one time, one year extension can be requested prior to the expiration date, with 
applicable extension fee due. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ATTACHMENT B

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Planning and Development Department  
 
 
 
February 18, 2021 
Abandonment Staff Report: ABND 200568 
Project# 99-817 
 Quarter Section: 19-22 
 
 
 
 
Location: 
Georgia Avenue, between 28th Drive and 
27th Avenue 
 
 
Applicant:  
 
 
 
 
 
Grand Canyon University 
 
 
Request to abandon:  
To abandon the Georgia Avenue right-of-
way between 28th Drive and 27th Avenue. 
 
 
Purpose of request:  
The applicant states parcel consolidation 
and redevelopment. The developer intends 
to record a public access easement to 
preclude cul-de-sac requirement on 28th 
Drive and intends to remove public utilities 
between 28th Drive and 27th Avenue.   
 
 
Hearing date:  
February 18, 2021

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Hearing Summary 
 
Mr. Christopher DePerro, the Hearing Officer called the hearing to order at 9:32 AM on February 
18, 2021. ABND 200568 was the second case heard during this hearing.  
 
Ms. Maggie Dellow, the Abandonment Coordinator read the abandonment case into the record 
by stating the applicant, location, abandonment request, and purpose of the request, as well as 
City staff research. 
 
Mr. DePerro then started the discussion by asking the applicant if they would like to add any 
additional comments regarding the abandonment request. 
Mr. Taylor Earl, the representative for the applicant provided additional information about the 
abandonment request. Mr. Earl illustrated that Georgia Avenue was never a fully dedicated 
right-of-way and its function has been minimal. He continued to explain that most properties 
currently accessing Georgia Avenue have been purchased by Grand Canyon University and 
those which have not would be better and more safely served using Colter Street for access 
where the intersection is served by a traffic light.

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Mr. Earl expressed some concern at the prospect of closing Georgia Avenue at 27th Avenue, 
stating that the closer wasn’t needed for redevelopment plans. He explained that the 
abandonment was being sought because staff review comments indicated that the adjacent 
Georgia Avenue would need to be improved in conjunction with development plans, however, 
the long-term development plan for this area does not include the retention of Georgia Avenue 
as public right-of-way. 
Mr. DePerro indicated that the conditional approval of this abandonment may be able to 
preclude the improvement of Georgia Avenue right-of-way, as long as a lot combination is 
completed to remove any frontages from Georgia Avenue. Mr. DePerro also suggested that the 
stipulation requiring the closure of Georgia Avenue at 27th Avenue be revised to read, “The 
applicant shall close the street entrance on 27th venue with new curb, gutter, sidewalk an 
incidentals, unless otherwise approved by the Street Transportation Department”, allowing 
greater flexibility in keeping the entrance open, should the Street Transportation Department 
approve.  
Mr. DePerro then asked the applicant what they are proposing where 28th Drive terminates at 
Georgia Avenue.  
Mr. Earl indicated that the current plan is to keep 28th Drive open to Georgia Avenue and 
operate as normal without any type of turnaround. He indicated that this condition could be 
attained through private access easements.  
Ms. Maja Brkovic with the Street Transportation Department indicated that the City could not 
approve leaving 28th Dr as it currently is. The ordinance would require that 29th Drive terminate 
in a typical cul-de-sac or a dog leg cul-de-sac.  
Mr. DePerro proposed adding a stipulation to the conditional abandonment that would require 
the construction of a turnaround at the terminus of 28th Drive, if Georgia Avenue is successfully 
abandoned.  
Mr. Earl inquired as to why a turnaround would be necessary and private access easement nots 
be dedicated over Georgia Avenue for homeowners and services accessing properties on 28th 
Drive.  
Mr. DePerro indicated that it is not desirable to allow a public street to exit on to private 
property, even with the necessary private access easement.  
Mr. Earl asked for Ms. Brkovic to confirm if conditional approval of this abandonment would be 
adequate for obtaining Certificate of Occupancy for the adjacent apartment complex that would 
not be accessing Georgia but would otherwise necessitate Street improvements. Ms. Brkovic 
confirmed. 
Mr. Baird Fullerton, representative for the applicant indicated that he had no additional 
comments regarding this abandonment.  
The Hearing Officer then reviewed the draft stipulations with the applicant, revising stipulations 
by modifying the formerly numbered stipulation number 6 regarding closing the Georgia Avenue 
entrance at 27th Avenue, the addition of a new stipulation regarding the terminus of 28th Drive, 
and modifying the formerly numbered stipulation number 9 regarding the permitted completion 
period for this abandonment.

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The Hearing Officer granted a conditional approval with revised stipulations.   
Stipulations of Conditional Approval 
 
The request of abandonment is conditionally approved by the Abandonment Hearing Officer. 
The following stipulations will need to be met:  
1. Either a or b shall be complied with: 
a. All utilities shall be relocated to locations approved by each affected utility 
company.  All work is to be done by each affected utility company at no expense 
to the affected utility company. An appropriate performance agreement, in an 
approved form and cost amount, must be posted with the Planning and 
Development Department to guarantee the improvements. 
 
b. All right-of-way shall be retained as a public utilities easement with 24-hour vehicle 
maintenance access.  
 
2. Consideration which provides a public benefit to the City is required in accordance with 
City Code Art. 5, Sec. 31-64 and Ordinance G-5332.  Cost for abandoned Right-of-Way 
adjacent to property not zoned single family residential will be $500 OR Fair Market Value 
whichever is greater.  Cost for property zoned single family residential is $1.00 a square 
foot for the first 500 square feet, $0.10 a square foot thereafter; OR Fair Market Value at 
the option of the Planning and Development Director or designee. The applicant shall 
submit calculation and fee to Planning and Development Department. The applicant shall 
request a selection of approved appraisers from the current list maintained by the Real 
Estate division of the Finance Department. 
 
3. No right-of-way within 50 feet of the 27th Avenue monument line may be abandoned. 
 
4. For the portion of 28th Drive between Colter Street and Georgia Avenue, if 28th Drive is still 
a dedicated right-of-way at the time of the completion of the abandonment, the applicant 
shall construct a turnaround within the existing right-of-way, or dedicate right-of-way if 
needed, as approved by the Street Transportation Department.  
 
5. All landlocked parcels shall be replatted, legally combined, or have an alternate legal 
access provided (private ingress/egress easement) to a public street. 
 
6. The applicant shall contact the Street Transportation Department (Michael Cano) at 602-
495-7149 to coordinate the removal, salvage or purchase all existing City owned signs.  
No sign is to be removed until a copy of the abandonment resolution is provided to the 
Street Transportation Department. 
 
7. The applicant shall close the street entrance on 27th Avenue with new curb, gutter, 
sidewalk and incidentals, or as otherwise approved by the Street Transportation 
Department.  
 
8. The applicant shall contact the Street Transportation Department (Jason Fernandez) at 
(602) 256-4168 to coordinate the removal, relocation or transfer of ownership of all City 
owned streetlights within the subdivision. This shall be done at no cost to the City. 
 
9. All work in public right-of-way is to be done in accordance with plans approved by the

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Planning and Development Department and at no cost to the City. 
  
10. All stipulations must be completed within five years from the Abandonment Hearing 
Officer’s decision. 
 
This conditional approval has been reviewed and approved by the Abandonment Hearing Officer. 
 
 
 
 
Hearing Officer Signature: ____________________________________    Date: __________ 
 
 
REPORT SUBMITTED BY: Alyssa Neitzel, Abandonment Secretary 
 
cc: 
Applicant/Representative, Grand Canyon University 
Christopher DePerro, Abandonment Hearing Officer 
 
4/12/21