When late January storms triggered the muddy hillside below Peter Meyer’s Cadillac Drive home to tumble across the road below he sprang into action.
But since Cadillac Drive is a private road there was no summoning help from the City of Scotts Valley or Santa Cruz County. Instead, Meyer called a contractor himself and paid more than $100,000 out of his pocket for emergency repairs to open the road.
“It was the right thing to do,” said Meyer, who specializes in executive and management development. “If I didn’t do it how could I talk to my neighbors?”
What happened on Cadillac Drive has been occurring across Santa Cruz this winter as private road dwellers are forced to pick up the tab for repairing their streets — problems ranging from potholes to massive mudslides.
If roads are privately maintained and open for public access, with no barriers or gates allowed, then property are responsible for all repairs. Municipal codes allow emergency vehicles and utility workers to use the roads and make repairs to utility lines, and water and sewer lines..
In the case of Scotts Valley, the area is a hodgepodge of public and private ways that existed when the city was incorporated in 1966. Some streets –, and Scotts Valley Drive, Grace Way and Blossom Way – are a hybrid of public and private domains.
“Scotts Valley inherited what the county already had,” said Scott Hamby, city public works director, adding that the ratio is about half and half – and is not likely to change anytime soon.
“The city would love to take over all the roads, but it’s a financial issue.”
So do all private road dwellers dig deep into their pockets when disaster strikes?
Not really. But some people who weren’t paying attention when they closed escrow were surprised when the rains wreaked havoc on their street and they realized they were private.
“I wonder how many people just don’t understand,” said Ann Nixon, whose husband has lived on Lower Southwood Drive, a private road, for 41 years. Her husband fills the street’s potholes so their seven neighbors can get smoothly in and out — but he’s a bit over 70 and can’t toil forever.
The best-case scenario for private road owners is creating a road maintenance association to build up a reserve fund for repairs. On Cadillac Drive the property owners have an association, but that is not designated for emergency repairs.
Meyer’s friends have established a GoFundMe page to solicit donations for his generosity. In the last month, 30 people have donated $2,805 of the $130,000 goal.
Meyer’s cottage behind his house and overlooking the mudslide has been red-tagged, although he is still able to live in his house.
Meanwhile, Fifth District Supervisor Bruce McPherson has been attempting to secure federal aid for private roads and properties. Under President Trump’s emergency funding FEMA money is not available. “Our fragile mountain roads have taken a beating,” he said in a recent editorial.
McPherson’s office recently helped residents on Hopkins Gulch, Wilderfield Road, Huckleberry Island and Heartwood Hill roads in the San Lorenzo Valley get emergency funding.
“We’re encouraging all private road owners to work with the Resource Conservation District to maintain their roads,” said Robin Musitelli, senior analyst for McPherson, referring to the grant-funded conservation district that can assist with road association formation.
Private road owners wishing to form an association can go to www.rdcsantacruz.org and request a consultation and on-site visit from the Rural Road Erosion Assistance Program.
An association can also form a County Service Area (CSA) to pay for local government services on their property-tax bills. CSA’s are unique because residents determine their benefit-assessment rate, which can range from $10 to $1,000 per parcel.
Applications for this avenue can be obtained from the Local Agency Formation Commission at the county building at 701 Ocean St. in Santa Cruz.
