Council approves resolutions of necessity for two easements along 115 kV line route after failed negotiations

The Santa Clara City Council on Tuesday adopted resolutions of necessity authorizing the city to commence eminent‑domain proceedings, if necessary, to acquire easements at two properties—3800 Bassett Street and 891 Laurelwood Road—required for Silicon Valley Power’s 115 kV transmission line project.

SVP staff explained the overhead transmission project is approximately 2.24 miles long and is intended to increase the system operating limit from about 819 megawatts to roughly 1,300 megawatts to accommodate approved and under‑construction load growth. Staff said Route A, the alignment the council selected during prior hearings, requires temporary and permanent easements on several private parcels along the southern segment; the two parcels under consideration are adjacent to the right of way where additional easement width is needed to meet electrical clearance and maintenance requirements.

“Without it, our capacity will be limited to our system operating limit of 819 megawatts,” SVP Division Manager Ali Jackman said in opening the presentation. Jackman summarized the acquisition process: the city had appraised the easement areas, made offers based on fair‑market appraisals, and engaged in months of negotiations; because negotiations at these two parcels reached an impasse staff asked the council to make the legal findings required to commence condemnation if a voluntary purchase is not secured.

At the 3800 Bassett Street hearing staff noted continued negotiation and said a potential settlement offer arrived the day before the council hearing; Jackman said staff nevertheless would seek council authority to begin a condemnation process in case negotiations fail. The public was given the opportunity to speak; there were no live or online speakers who identified themselves as the property owner for either parcel during the hearings. After closing both hearings, the council adopted the resolution of necessity for 3800 Bassett Street (council recorded a 6–1 result per the clerk) and later adopted the resolution for 891 Laurelwood Road with a 6–1 vote.

City Attorney’s office reminded the council that the resolution of necessity establishes statutory findings required under California eminent‑domain law and that the council’s action does not establish just compensation. Valuation and possession, if needed, would be determined through settlement or a condemnation action and jury trial if required. Council members asked procedural questions and confirmed staff would continue negotiation even after authorizing the condemnation process.

The two votes complete the council’s authorization to use Route A and to pursue the easements necessary for the southern segment; staff said construction progress and schedule depend on acquisition of those easements and that the condemnation process may take up to 24 months if used.