Board approves small El Mineral Road vacation after owner raises fire-hydrant and access questions

Riverside County supervisors voted unanimously April 2 to vacate a 0.06-acre triangular portion of El Mineral Road to permit a developer’s realigned roadway as part of a tentative subdivision.

Property co-owner Laura Russell told the board the proposed vacation would affect her orchard, access gates and a water-district access point. She asked whether the water district and the fire hydrant would be protected, and whether the county had determined exactly how much property would be needed. County transportation staff said the vacated piece is a small wedge to accommodate a realigned road and that public-utility easements would be reserved so water-district access would be maintained. Transportation staff member Kevin Singh said the plans call for the fire hydrant to be relocated as part of the street-improvement plan.

Supervisors and staff also described prior efforts to reach an off-site right-of-way agreement with the adjacent property owner; when no agreement was reached the applicant chose to realign the road instead. Supervisor Spiegel, whose district covers the area, said staff would proceed with the requested realignment per the applicant’s chosen option.

The board approved the road vacation 5-0. Staff noted relocation of utilities and final improvement plans will be coordinated with the water district and transportation plan checks.

What happens next: the applicant will proceed with final engineering and the relocation of any affected utilities per standard plan-review procedures; staff indicated the project will include retaining or relocating the hydrant and maintaining recorded easements where necessary.