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Following decades of negotiations, the city of Friendswood will pursue the use of eminent domain to acquire a long-disputed 5-acre parcel of land near Lake Friendswood Park.
Friendswood City Council approved the measure unanimously at its Nov. 3 meeting.
Why it matters
City staff said acquiring the land would simplify maintenance and enhance public safety for the area around the lake, most of which the city already owns.
The move is part of the city’s long-term efforts to consolidate land around the lake. In June, City Council voted to annex roughly 1.3 acres of land from the Slone Subdivision.
Those opposed
The property owner has long resisted the city’s pursuit of purchasing the property, much of which is underwater.
The city has made several offers to purchase the land, including six-figure offers, despite the land’s tax appraisal sitting at $40, City Manager Morad Kabiri said.
In 2018, the property owner of that tract of land sued the city of Friendswood, alleging that the city had built on his private property, according to previous reporting by Community Impact. Litigation is still ongoing.
