The overview: Crews are upgrading Butler Road and Turner Street from asphalt to a concrete with curbs and gutters. The project will require acquiring parts of five private properties totaling 0.57 acres, or 24,857 square feet.
City officials are in negotiations with the property owners to buy the properties but requested council approve a resolution granting that would “authorize the uses of eminent domain powers, if necessary” to acquire the properties.
Eminent domain is the right for a government to acquire, with monetary compensation, private property for public use.
On July 11, League City City Council voted 6-2 to postpone the decision until negotiations had concluded. Council members implied they wanted eminent domain to not be an option until there was no other choice.
What they’re saying: Executive Director of Capital Projects Ron Bavarian said passing the resolution would not necessarily mean the city would use eminent domain to acquire the properties but would establish public necessity for the road project. The resolution would put the eminent domain tool in the city’s tool belt in case it became necessary to use, he said.
“It’s going to be a last, last resort,” Bavarian said of using eminent domain.
However, some council members expressed aversion to granting the city such power until negotiations concluded. Some said they don't want eminent domain used at all.
Council Members Chad Tressler and Andy Mann were the two sole votes against postponing the resolution. Tressler expressed confusion in what the resolution would actually accomplish but ultimately voted against postponing.
