Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation Right Of Way topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board adopts resolution of necessity to acquire property for Avenue 280 widening
Summary
The Tulare County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to adopt a resolution of necessity to begin eminent domain proceedings for portions of three parcels needed to widen Avenue 280 between Visalia and Farmersville.
The Tulare County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday adopted a resolution of necessity, authorizing the start of eminent domain proceedings to acquire portions of three parcels for the Avenue 280 widening project between Visalia and Farmersville.
Resource Management Agency Deputy Reid Chenkie told the board the project will widen a stretch of Avenue 280 from two lanes to four, and that the action is the fifth and final resolution of necessity for the corridor. Chenkie said the county has 51 acquisitions for the overall project; 36 are closed or in escrow and seven remain in negotiation.
The parcels at issue are within the Farmersville city limits and include two smaller “home site” parcels totalling about 2.25 acres and one larger agricultural parcel of about 35 acres. Chenkie described the county’s proposed permanent takes along the frontages as long, narrow slivers: on the home-site parcels about 3,208 square feet total (widths varying from roughly 8 to 21 feet), a canal easement of about 1,300–1,400 square feet, and a temporary construction easement (TCE) of about 4,000 square feet for 36 months. On the larger parcel the county described a permanent take of a little more than a quarter acre and a roughly quarter-acre TCE for 36 months.
Chenkie said the parcels are zoned residential and multifamily under Farmersville’s zoning, and that the property owner had at one point planned a tentative map and residential development adjacent to the corridor. He also said the county prefers negotiated purchase but that resolving the outstanding parcels is necessary to keep the project on schedule; a right-of-way clearing contract is planned for spring if acquisitions are completed.
No representative for property owner Manuel Souza appeared at the hearing. Supervisor Amy Shucklin moved to adopt the resolution of necessity and Supervisor Eddie Valero seconded. The motion carried 5-0. The board also authorized deposit of probable compensation and directed county counsel to pursue legal action as needed. Chenkie said the county will continue negotiations during the eminent domain process and expects a counteroffer from the owners following recent on-site meetings.
The board’s staff report referenced compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and cited Government Code §7267.2 regarding offer requirements for eminent domain proceedings.
