Tulare County approves eminent domain findings for two parcels on Avenue 280 widening project

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 28 adopted resolutions of necessity to acquire portions of two privately owned parcels along Avenue 280 as part of the Caldwell Avenue (Avenue 280) widening project, voting unanimously to authorize the county to proceed with eminent domain as a last-resort step while continuing negotiations with owners.

The board took the actions after public hearings on two separate properties needed for the 2.5-mile Segment 2 widening — work that will convert the existing two-lane roadway to a four-lane corridor with multimodal accommodations, drainage upgrades and a bridge replacement. Reed Chenkie, Resource Management Agency project lead, told the board the project is funded in part by Measure R and that right‑of‑way acquisitions are time‑sensitive because staff plans right‑of‑way clearing this fall for utility relocations and construction beginning in spring 2026. "We do need to go through with the process so that we can continue with the schedule for the project," Chenkie said.

One hearing covered a portion of APN 127-50-008-001 (the "Hammer parcel"). Staff described a proposed…