TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Steven Lederer, Director of Public Works
REPORT BY: Danielle Goshert, County Surveyor
SUBJECT: Resolution of intent to abandon an approximate 2.5-mile portion of Old Howell Mountain Road from the St. Helena city limit to just south of Sulman Lane
RECOMMENDATION
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Adopt a Resolution of intent to conduct a public hearing on August 19, 2025, regarding the abandonment of an approximate 2.5-mile portion of Old Howell Mountain Road, while retaining right of way for a public trail. (No Fiscal Impact)
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BACKGROUND
The subject resolution affects an approximate 2.5-mile portion of Old Howell Mountain Road, being a 66-foot-wide right-of way easement that was accepted as a public road by the County on August 7, 1867. This portion has been closed since damage was incurred during the storms of 2017 and 2023. The closure spans the length from the St. Helena city limit at the south end to a location just south of the intersection with Sulman Lane as shown on the exhibit included in the attached resolution.
The Board was previously advised of the status of this portion of the right-of-way and indicated a desire to proceed with abandonment that includes the reservation of a trail easement to utilize the route as a bike/pedestrian facility if an appropriate partner is found. Such reservation is allowed per Streets and Highways Code Section 8340(d), and the Napa County Parks and Open Space District is ready and willing to take responsibility for developing and maintaining the trail and an agreement for those services is forthcoming upon approval of this abandonment.
The portion to be abandoned includes electric transmission poles and lines near the northern terminus, therefore in conformance with Streets and Highways Code Section 8340(c), a utility easement will be reserved for these in-place public utility facilities. Access to adjoining parcels is not compromised by this abandonment as there are no existing access connections to Old Howell Mountain Road along this segment.
The requested action will set a public hearing, as required by the Streets and Highways Code, for August 19, 2025. Public notice will be placed in the newspaper for two consecutive weeks preceding the hearing date. Additionally, adjoining landowners will be directly notified of this action, and public notices will be placed at the northerly and southerly termini of the route at least two weeks prior to the hearing.
FISCAL IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
No |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: It can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility the proposed action may have a significant effect on the environment and therefore CEQA is not applicable. [See Guidelines for the Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act, 14 CCR 15061(b)(3)]. The proposed action involves abandonment of 2.5 miles of OHMR that has no potential to result in a change to the environment and therefore is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable. Further, it has been determined that this type of project does not have a significant effect on the environment and is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. [See Class 1 (“Existing Facilities”) which may be found in the guidelines for the implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act at 14 CCR §15301; see also Napa County’s Local Procedures for Implementing the California Environmental Quality Act, Appendix B.]