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Fairfield council opts to default to 66‑foot easement; discusses broader corridor planning
Summary
Council debated whether to record a 106‑foot right‑of‑way for Allen's Ranch Road or to keep the 66‑foot standard; staff advised any requirement above 66 feet would likely obligate the town to compensate owners without a traffic study, so council agreed to assume 66 feet while pursuing general‑plan mapping and alternative corridor options.
Councilors spent an extended portion of the meeting debating the future width of Allen's Ranch Road after staff and legal consultants told them the town lacks documentation to justify a 106‑foot right‑of‑way.
Town staff advised that the standard 66‑foot easement is defendable without traffic‑study justification, while anything larger could be considered a taking and would require the town to purchase the extra land or compensate owners. "Anything more than 66 feet, the town would be required to pay for," a town staff speaker advised during the discussion.
Council members who favor planning for long‑term growth argued larger easements avoid costly land purchases later and provide space for future lanes and utilities; opponents warned about the expense of acquiring that land now and the impact on existing homes in the path of a wider corridor. Members discussed alternatives, including showing a larger arterial on the town’s general plan, pursuing a western bypass corridor that avoids sensitive federal parkland and land purchases now, and negotiating with affected landowners.
Next steps: Council directed staff to present two options at an upcoming general‑plan open house—maintain the recorded 66‑foot easement now or record a wider corridor with clear documentation and a land‑purchase plan. The general‑plan open house was scheduled for Dec. 2 and council asked residents and affected landowners to attend.
No formal ordinance or acquisition occurred at the meeting; council emphasized the need for additional mapping, traffic analysis and federal/state coordination before committing to a recorded 106‑foot right‑of‑way.
