County supervisors voted 3-2 on Tuesday in approving a resolution to request that Caltrans join together with the county on a joint powers authority regarding the Highway 156 expansion – a move that could allow for fewer complications in using eminent domain to obtain a needed property, officials hope.
Board members approved the idea to approach Caltrans regarding the highway project and, specifically, efforts to gain ownership of the San Justo Schoolhouse property along the route. The county to this point has had difficulties in obtaining that property as a final piece before it can move forward.
In 2008, Caltrans approved an environmental impact report for the project. The plan would expand Highway 156 – from San Juan Bautista to a point near Hollister – into a four-lane, at-grade expressway. The cost of the project is estimated at $47.2 million and it is set to receive both county and state funding.
Obtaining the schoolhouse property would get the county one step closer to construction, which is about two years off at this point following a recently resolved legal battle over the expansion.
Supervisors Anthony Botelho, Margie Barrios and Jerry Muenzer approved the resolution. Supervisors Robert Rivas and Jaime De La Cruz were against it. Rivas said he was concerned the joint powers authority would further delay the process, while Barrios contended the partnership would speed it up.
Officials said they would not use general fund money related to any property seizures.
Botelho, who represents the San Juan area where much of the project’s opposition has been based, said his major concerns were safety and minimizing the footprint on prime agriculture land.
‘”Naturally, from my perspective I would like to explore alternatives in either removing the old San Justo School or moving it,” Botelho said. “I don’t know if that’s possible, but without setting up this committee it can’t be explored.”
County Counsel Matthew Granger explained the benefits, procedurally, of using the joint powers authority. It would give the county all the powers prohibited in the government code, including eminent domain. He said it is currently unclear whether the county has eminent domain authority because the expansion is not a county project.
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