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Supervisors preview Old Ranch Road resolution as staff warn legal limits to restricting access
Summary
The board discussed a draft resolution on Old Ranch Road after constituents raised safety and enforcement concerns; staff said the road traverses private parcels, state trust land and national forest and federal/state rules severely limit the county’s ability to restrict public access. Maps and agency input will be supplied at the regular meeting.
Supervisor Anthony brought forward a draft resolution on Old Ranch Road and asked staff to summarize legal and operational options. County staff said the road provides the only practical access to a section of national forest but passes through a short stretch of private parcels and then state trust land before becoming forest land, which constrains legal authority to restrict road users.
Staff explained that state trust‑land rules and federal access principles mean the county may lack a clear enforcement mechanism to require permits or otherwise deny use of that established road. "There is no way to legally limit access down that road because everyone has the right to go down that road," county staff said, and they promised a map presentation and agency input from the State Land Department and U.S. Forest Service at the regular meeting.
Supervisors asked whether permit requirements or alternate access routes were feasible; staff said the Forest Service had declined proposals to build an alternate access or extend Lizard Road and said the county would need to consult the State Land Department and other agencies for legal clarity. The resolution remained in draft and will return to the board with mapping, agency comments and recommended options.
