Caltrans secured the California Transportation Commission's approval on Tab 70 of four resolutions of necessity needed to acquire limited property rights for the Gualala downtown streetscape project on State Route 1 in Mendocino County.

Caltrans's Rizwan Tanvir told commissioners the project will add ADA‑compliant sidewalks, class 2 bike lanes in both directions, additional crosswalks with refuge islands, a two‑way left‑turn lane and drainage upgrades intended to reduce localized flooding. Tanvir said the department has completed the outreach process and implemented design exceptions and alignment shifts that reduced the amount of private land required, quantified in the presentation as thousands of square feet saved across the Bauer parcels.

The Bauer Limited Partnership and its counsel opposed the RONs at the hearing. Attorney Steven Johnson argued the proposed work would remove approximately 92 on‑street parking spaces used by the public and local businesses, including the Surf Market, and said the project "does not comply with" the high legal standard in the Code of Civil Procedure for eminent domain. "Public interest and necessity do not require the project," Johnson asserted during his remarks.

Nafili Barrett, executive director of the Mendocino Council of Governments, testified in favor of the project and outlined the project's long planning history, grant funding and extensive public engagement. Barrett said the streetscape fills safety gaps and will connect residents to essential services in the town center.

Caltrans right‑of‑way staff responded to owner concerns by describing the department's survey records and title review showing the informal on‑street parking is within state right‑of‑way. Staff also quantified temporary construction impacts and mitigation: they said 15 on‑site spaces at the Surf Market and surf center would be impacted for two to three weeks during construction and that the department has offered compensation and proposed re‑striping and a half‑circular drive to add several on‑site spaces.

Commissioners pressed staff on parking counts, outreach and legal compliance; staff answered that the Coastal Commission and Mendocino County planning documents limit on‑street parking options and that compensation issues are for the courts. After discussion, a motion to approve the resolutions was made and approved by the commission (voice vote recorded as "Motion is approved").

Next steps: with the RONs adopted, Caltrans may proceed with the right‑of‑way acquisitions needed to construct the Gualala streetscape project. Disputes about compensation and property ownership computations remain subject to litigation and administrative review, according to Caltrans and the Bauer representative.

Sources: Commission hearing presentations and public comments at the December 2025 California Transportation Commission meeting in Riverside.