Traffic Relief On Murrieta Hot Springs Road: Wheels Set In Motion

MURRIETA, CA — Three private property owners along Murrieta Hot Springs Road will be forced into legal proceedings if they do not come to an agreement with the city of Murrieta over land easements connected to a plan to relieve traffic on the busy thoroughfare.

During Tuesday night's Murrieta City Council meeting, councilmembers voted 5-0 in favor of three resolutions that pave the way for the city to take the easements via the eminent domain process.

"We on the council do not take this lightly," Councilmember Ron Holliday said of eminent domain proceedings. "It's a method of last resort."

Eminent domain refers to the power of the government to take private property and convert it into public use.

During Tuesday's meeting, councilmembers focused on a stretch of Murrieta Hot Springs Road between Via Princesa East and Winchester Road — an area earmarked for widening from four lanes to six at an estimated cost of $8 million. Other improvements on the route include installing raised medians, sidewalks, street lighting and a traffic signal at Calle Del Lago. Retaining walls are also necessary along parts of the construction area, as well as a realignment of Via Frontera within the Ridgegate Community, according to city documents.

The planned work is part of the Murrieta Hot Springs Road Improvement Project, which consists of numerous upgrades between Margarita and Winchester roads.

Several property owners are affected by the project. Permanent right-of-way and utility easements, as well as temporary construction easements, on private property are needed, according to the city.

Eleven private property owners along the project route were contacted in Nov. 2020 by the city about acquiring easements from them. Purchase offer letters were sent to all 11, with prices based on Oct. 2021 appraisals, according to the city.

The city entered into agreements with eight owners; three held out.

Steve Campini is one of the holdouts. He was present at Tuesday's meeting and told the council he is in favor of the widening but the purchase offer he received from the city — $100,100 — was about $25,000 less than a quote he received from a local appraiser.

"I think it would be a shame to hold the project up ... over a minimal amount," Campini told the council.

James Ozouf of the city's public works/engineering department told the council that negotiations have stalled with another property owner, the Rhonda Association of condominium owners. On October 20, 2021, the city made an initial offer to purchase easements, and in Sept. 2022 the offer was increased to $360,000. That amount still stands.

Two parcels owned by another company with apartment complexes, including the Lakeridge community, are also affected by the Murrieta Hot Springs Road widening project. The final offer by the city to purchase easements on the properties stood at a total of $50,921, city documents show. During Tuesday's meeting, Ozouf said the city and the owner recently came to an agreement, but nothing was signed.

In all three pending cases, negotiations can still continue despite the council's unanimous decision to open the door to eminent domain proceedings, according to city staff.

Until the final agreements are reached or the eminent domain process wraps up, the widening project is stalled.

"Without the easements, the project cannot be constructed," Ozouf said.