The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors voted Oct. 14 to adopt two Resolutions of Necessity authorizing eminent domain proceedings for parcels needed to construct a new bridge over Orestimba Creek near Crows Landing.
The board approved the resolution for the first parcel—owned by Zachary J. and Audrey N. Maring—on a 4-0 vote, with Supervisor Terry Withrow recusing himself. The second resolution, for property owned by the P.C. De Pauw Trust and the R & S De Pauw Trust, passed unanimously 5-0.
The Kilburn Road Bridge Project aims to replace the aging single-span bridge with a modern two-lane, three-span structure that meets current safety and engineering standards. The existing bridge is considered structurally deficient, unable to support legal truckloads, and lacks clearance for a 50-year flood event. Currently, stop signs on either side of the bridge restrict traffic to one vehicle at a time.
County staff reported that offers of just compensation were made to both ownership groups, but negotiations failed to produce voluntary agreements. The resolutions authorize County Counsel to initiate condemnation proceedings to acquire the necessary property interests.
For the Maring parcel at 22001 Kilburn Road, the county seeks a permanent road easement (1,594 square feet), a permanent maintenance easement (3,013 square feet), and a temporary construction easement (1,715 square feet). The land is currently used as a rural ranchette with a walnut orchard, though the acquisition areas are vacant and unimproved.
The second parcel, located at 22006 Kilburn Road, is used for irrigated field crops. The county seeks a permanent road easement (2,607 square feet), a permanent maintenance easement (1,491 square feet), a permanent utility easement (1,332 square feet), and a temporary construction easement (1,939 square feet). The utility easement is needed to relocate above-ground lines and poles held by Turlock Irrigation District.
Under California law, a public entity may not initiate eminent domain proceedings until its governing body adopts a Resolution of Necessity, which requires findings about public interest, project compatibility, and necessity of the property. Property owners were notified by mail and given the opportunity to appear and be heard at the Oct. 14 hearing.
The bridge replacement is fully funded through the Federal Highway Administration’s Highway Bridge Program and Toll Credits, with a total project cost of $6 million included in the county’s 2026 Public Works Road Projects budget. The project has undergone environmental review under CEQA and NEPA, with mitigation measures in place for cultural resource impacts.
County staff say the recommended actions align with the Board’s priorities of delivering efficient public services and enhancing community infrastructure.
