The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to invoke eminent domain — the power of a government to take private property for public use — to build a road extension.
The 1.25-mile extension, which would link Route 288 and Woolridge Road, includes a 650-foot bridge, a sidewalk and a bike path. It is slated to cost $54 million, with funding from the Central Virginia Transportation Authority. Construction is planned to start next year and will likely be completed three years after construction begins.
The planned path crosses through 11 privately held plots. Eminent domain allows governments to seize privately owned land for public use, but requires them to provide “just compensation” to the owners.
The owners of nine of the plots agreed to either sell their land to the county or accept a one-time licensing fee for its use. But the county has been unable to reach an agreement with the owners of the remaining plots, developers Doug and Susan Sowers.
“We are at an impasse,” Chessa Walker, the county’s director of transportation, told the board during a meeting on Wednesday. “They’ve countered, we’ve countered, they’ve countered again. We’re just really far apart.”
Chesterfield initially offered the Sowerses roughly $169,000 about a year ago for the use of the two plots, which cover almost 165 acres. They countered with an offer of $500,000. The county increased its bid to $206,000, and the Sowers lowered their counter to $475,000.
County Attorney Jeff Mincks told the board that’s still too far apart.
“There does come a point where you’re beyond fair market value,” Mincks said. “And when we get to that point, we just can’t justify the use of taxpayer money.”
The Sowerses did not respond to multiple phone calls seeking comment.
The county’s next move is to file a certificate with the courts authorizing eminent domain, but it must settle on the value of using of the land. Officials said the Sowerses can still accept the county’s initial offer at any point, if they wish to do so.
Bermuda District Supervisor Jim Ingle said invoking eminent domain was a serious decision.
“It is a last resort,” Ingle said.
