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Residents warn Pendola Road gating endangers emergency access; public works says gate follows safety concerns
Summary
Residents told the Yuba County Board of Supervisors the closure and gating of Pendola Road is creating hardships and potential emergency evacuation hazards; Public Works says the road was closed after undermining, is gated for safety and staff is coordinating with the U.S. Forest Service on solutions.
Residents of the Pendola Road area told the Yuba County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 25 that the gate installed after a late-2024 undermining of the roadway is creating serious safety and access problems.
Sam Button of Yuba County Public Works said the county closed Pendola Road between Highway 49 and the Pendola Barn on Dec. 20, 2024, after the roadway was undermined and judged unsafe for regular traffic. "The road has historically been plagued by road failures and issues in the past," Button said, explaining the closure was implemented under county ordinance and that gates are in place. He added emergency-service agencies retain mechanisms to determine whether to use the road during emergencies.
Residents who spoke at the meeting said the gate has left some homes effectively on a narrow peninsula with limited escape routes, creating a potential public-safety hazard in the event of wildfire or other emergencies. "If the neighborhood ... ever has a fire, we will not have a way to get off of that peninsula," said resident Dana Holly, who urged the county to review the closure and consider alternatives. Another resident, Sarah Holly, said gating hurts health and safety and requested the board add Pendola Road to a future agenda for fuller public input and a clear timeline for repairs.
Button and other staff said the county has met with the community and the U.S. Forest Service (the underlying landowner in segments of the right-of-way) and is exploring options to reopen or repair the route. Staff also said gates are intended to prevent regular unsafe use while still enabling emergency personnel to obtain access when necessary; in exceptional circumstances officers can remove or direct removal of locks if required for life-safety operations.
Board members asked staff to clarify patrol procedures and emergency-access arrangements and several supervisors offered to visit the site with staff to see the washout firsthand. The county indicated any long-term repair will require coordination with the Forest Service and cost estimates; a resident cited an estimated $1,500,000 repair cost during public comment.
The board did not take immediate action on the matter at the Aug. 25 meeting but acknowledged residents' concerns and the need for clearer public communication about emergency access and timetables. Staff said it will continue meetings with stakeholders and post updates on the county website and suggested putting the item on a future agenda if more public input is requested.
