Commission approves vacation of two trail easements in Bedford community

The Planning & Housing Commission approved a finding that vacating two public trail easements within the private, gated Bedford community is consistent with the general plan, allowing the easements to be returned to the homeowners association for maintenance.

Staff described the two paved trail easements (granted to the city on separate tract maps in 2017 and 2020) as roughly 0.60 miles of paved pathway that currently end on a private street (Adashian Way) and were effectively dead ends for public users. Planning staff said the city has since acquired other trail segments that align with the city’s trails master plan and that the two subject easements are no longer needed for the city’s trail network. Staff provided aerials showing the easements recommended for vacation and the city‑acquired trail segments that provide continuity with the master plan.

Commissioners questioned how an easement could be described as public when gated and whether the gates predated the city’s acquisition; staff said gates were installed at a driveway approach to limit vehicle access and that the developer/applicant could modify gates to allow pedestrian/bicycle access if the city chose to retain the easement. The applicant, Brian Millich of Arantine Hills Holdings (on Zoom), said the gates predated their involvement, that the trails being vacated are dead‑end segments that would require users to turn around at the private street, and that phases 3 and 4 trail extensions are expected to be graded and the channel work completed in Q1 of the next year with further extension dependent on a master license agreement with county flood control.

After public and applicant discussion, a commissioner moved and seconded approval of the vacation; the motion passed.