Arroyo Grande City Council members voted 4-1 on Feb. 11 to vacate a public equestrian easement on Ridgeview Way after a contentious discussion about whether the city should preserve a decades-old plan for a linked equestrian network.

The council acted on a staff recommendation that the easement is "in excess" of city needs, enabling the property owner to pursue potential development. Bridal Pedratti, Community Development Director, told the council staff believes vacating the easement "is a benefit to the city in the long term" because it meets the requirements of the California Streets and Highways Code and could allow new development on the parcel.

The discussion centered on two competing views: some council members and staff argued the easement has remained unused and is unlikely to become part of a connected trail network, while residents and other council members said maintaining the easement preserves a generational opportunity to stitch together an equestrian route linking James Way, Tally Ho Road and Gallardi Road.

Council member Lowe, who asked that the item be considered separately from the rest of the consent calendar, said she "appreciate[s] that the city's open space element includes a policy to promote trails" and cautioned against prematurely eliminating future options, adding, "I would like to not foreclose those kinds of opportunities." Director Pedratti told the council staff had concluded that limited opportunities and surrounding parcel conditions made reconnection unlikely and that vacating met statutory findings.

A homeowner who identified herself in public comment as "the homeowner at 290 Ridgeview Way" said she has used the easement for 27 years and described a local, functioning pattern of equestrian use that connects to other nearby riding facilities and trails. "We have ridden down Ridgeview Way to Tally Ho up James Way," she said, adding she purchased her property because of its rural residential zoning that allows horses. Another resident urged council members to visit the easement map, describing the easement strip as a short, isolated segment that "goes nowhere." Several neighbors said the 1988 vision for a linked equestrian network still matters to local riders and property owners.

Councilmember Guthrie and Councilmember Marviglia both said the easement had lingered on maps for decades without the envisioned network materializing; Guthrie noted other planned walking paths had fallen away when segments had been lost and said he was inclined to vacate. Mayor Pro Tem Seacrest said she lived in the area and was skeptical that the easement could be used safely for horses given road and bridge constraints; she said she could "make the findings easily" in favor of vacating.

When the council moved to the roll call vote, the tally was: Council member Guthrie 9yes9, Council member Marviglia 9yes9, Council member Lowe 9no9, Mayor Pro Tem Seacrest 9yes9 and Mayor Rae (Ray) Russell 9yes9. The motion carried 4-1.

Council members and staff clarified that three possible statutory findings for vacation were included in the staff report and only one is required to carry out a vacation; staff recommended the finding that the easement is surplus/excess. The council did not adopt any additional direction to seek alternative trail connections or a study prior to vacating.

The council's action relinquishes the citys recorded equestrian easement on the parcel to enable the owner to pursue privately authorized development under applicable city standards; the staff report noted potential future uses such as accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as examples of why the land could be put to different use.

The item will be finalized by staff implementing the council's motion and recording the vacation consistent with the city's procedures and the Streets and Highways Code.

Ending: The decision resolves a long-running local dispute between property owners and trail advocates. Residents who oppose the vacation said they may continue outreach to preserve equestrian connections in other ways; council members who supported the vacation said the action clears an orphaned constraint and allows property owners to pursue reasonable development on private land.