Board approves vacating portion of March Smith Way in Fair Oaks after neighborhood compromise

The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Dec. 16 to adopt a resolution vacating a northwesterly portion of March Smith Way in the Fair Oaks community while reserving the underlying public utility easement for future access needs.

County engineering staff described the 20‑foot strip as originally offered by an irrevocable offer of dedication (IOD) recorded in 1992 and accepted in 2016, and recommended the board recognize the abandonment as exempt and proceed while keeping utility easements intact.

Speakers living on the fronting parcels told the board the segment functions like a private lane that is too narrow for safe turnaround and emergency access. "If certain vehicles of certain size park at the dead end, I could not get out," Steven Anderson said, identifying himself as an owner of one of the parcels. Megan Anderson, another owner, called the resolution a negotiated compromise that preserves an IOD to allow lawful future access if adjacent parcels split and develop.

An attorney for another owner, Mark Lias, said his client, John Chewy, did not receive timely mailed notice of the hearing and asked the board to continue the item so the owner could present additional information. The board closed the public hearing after hearing all three speakers and proceeded to a vote.

Supervisor Houghton confirmed during questions that the county would retain the IOD so the right of way could be re‑established for future development if necessary; that assurance was incorporated into the board's action. The clerk announced the item passed unanimously, 5‑0.

No change was made to existing public utility easements, which staff said had been reviewed by utilities and county departments who raised no objection in the record.

The board’s formal action adopts the attached resolution vacating the specified portion of March Smith Way and reserving the public utility easement; any future requests to alter access or require widening would follow the county's normal dedication and development processes.