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Fairfax council adopts resolutions of necessity to acquire land for Meadoway Bridge replacement
Summary
The Town Council voted unanimously to adopt two resolutions of necessity enabling eminent-domain acquisition of two unresolved parcel interests needed to replace the Meadoway Bridge, a structurally deficient crossing over San Anselmo Creek. Staff said failure to acquire title would force repayment of roughly $2 million in federal grant funding.
The Fairfax Town Council voted unanimously to adopt two resolutions of necessity on a long-running Meadoway Bridge replacement project, authorizing the town to pursue eminent-domain acquisitions of two parcels where title has not been legally transferred.
The measures, covering the Hollister property and the Cascade Land Company parcel adjacent to the bridge, were approved after staff and the town's outside counsel presented the legal findings required for eminent domain. Kristen Arnold, the town’s public works director, told the council the existing 1950s wooden bridge “was found to be structurally deficient” and that the bridge is the only ingress and egress for residents on the creek’s east side.
The council heard that the town has secured approximately $2,000,000 in grant funding for the replacement and would be obliged to repay the grants if titles to the needed rights-of-way are not acquired. Andrew Sahlgren of BBK Law, appearing by Zoom, outlined the four statutory findings the council must make before adopting a resolution of necessity, including that the public interest requires the project and that the real property to be acquired is necessary.
Multiple Meadoway residents urged the council to move forward. Jason Brooks, who has lived on Meadoway for 10 years, said the neighborhood has waited “a critical step” for replacement and urged unanimous support. Karen Arnold, a Meadoway resident since 1991, told the council the bridge “is no longer safe and it is not repairable,” and urged approval of the resolutions.
After public comment the council moved and seconded the two separate resolutions (one per parcel) and adopted both. Council members voting yes included Vice Mayor Stephanie Hellman, Council members Barbara Koehler and Garry Gellley, and Mayor Liesl Blasch. The motions passed without recorded dissent.
Council members said the project has taken many years and noted safety and wildfire-evacuation risks for residents who rely on the bridge. Town staff and the project team said design work and grant conditions require the town own the full right-of-way for the federal funding to remain available.
The council paused briefly afterward and said it would return to related items as part of the town’s capital program; staff will proceed with statutory eminent-domain processes and continue to attempt voluntary acquisition and title resolution.
Votes at a glance: The council adopted two separate resolutions of necessity to acquire (1) the Hollister parcel and (2) the Cascade Land Company parcel by eminent domain to enable Meadoway Bridge replacement. Both motions were approved by roll call and recorded as passed.
