COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Brett Fulgoni, Director of Public Works
DATE: January 20, 2026
SUBJECT: Adoption of Resolution Accepting a Public R ight-of-Way Dedication and In-Lieu Payment
Description:
The City Council will consider approving a Resolution for the acceptance of a public right- of-way dedication and in -lieu payment associated with the Starbucks project located at 1202 West Betteravia Road, Santa Maria, California.
Environmental Notice: The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Adopt a Resolution accepting a public right-of-way dedication located at 1202 West Betteravia Road , Santa Maria, California , and an in -lieu payment for the construction of Betteravia Road widening; and
2. Direct the City Clerk’s Office to send to the Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder the “Irrevocable Offer to Dedicate Public Right-of-Way” document for recordation.
BACKGROUND:
Starbucks, currently under construction at 1202 West Betteravia Road, received entitlements through Planning Commission approval of project PD2023 -0009. As a condition of this project, the developer was required to dedicate public right -of-way and provide an in-lieu fee for the proposed widening of Betteravia Road to be constructed by the City.
DISCUSSION:
The Starbucks development was conditioned to dedicate public right-of-way and provide an in-lieu payment for the City to widen Betteravia Road. Roadway widening is typically required as part of new development projects to comply with the City General Plan Circulation Element. Adjacent to this project, Betteravia Road is identified as a Primary Arterial, and an additional eastbound travel lane is planned. These improvements are typically performed by the proposed development ; however, duri ng the Planning Commission Study Session, the Planning Commission raised traffic operation concerns regarding the proposed widening and the development’s driveway on Betteravia Road. 2 As a compromise, the Condition of Approval was modified to require a righ t-of-way dedication and an in-lieu fee for the widening. This will require the Public Works Department to design, publicly bid, and oversee the widening construction project at a future date. The City Surveyor has reviewed and approved the easement documen ts for technical accuracy.
Alternative(s)
The City Council may choose not to approve the right -of-way dedication and in -lieu payment. The developer has provided an Irrevocable Offer to Dedicate the right -of-way, which would allow the City to accept the dedication at a future date. The in-lieu payment is based on a current estimate of construction and associated soft costs to perform the widening.
Fiscal Considerations
The recordation of the right-of-way dedication will have no immediate fiscal impact on the city. The roadway widening costs are estimates , and actual costs may exceed the estimates if material pricing and labor costs vary from approved estimate. Future maintenance costs will be incurred for upkeep of the public right -of-way (asphalt resurfacing, sidewalk maintenance, etc.).
Impact on the Community
The widening of Betteravia Road will allow for a right -turn lane to be constructed at the intersection, improving signal operations for vehicles.
ATTACHMENT(S)
A. Resolution
B. Easement Document