McKinney City Council allows eminent domain on properties for highway reconstruction

McKinney Courier-Gazette
By Winston Henvey / Star Local Media
November 9, 2023

As construction continues on widening State Highway 5, the McKinney City Council unanimously gave city staff permission to enact eminent domain on five properties for temporary construction easements, as well as for water and sewer easements.

According to Engineering Director Gary Graham, TxDOT told the city that it needed to move its water and sewer lines during the construction process, as well as provide a temporary construction easement. Because the road abuts to private properties along the highway, the city began negotiations with its neighboring property owners. Of the 62 properties in question, 36 have been acquired, while 16 properties are under negotiation. Currently, the city has had to use eminent domain on 10 properties total, four being enforced following the previous city council meeting.

The properties in question on Nov. 7 include the Northwest and southwest corners of McDonald Street and Eldorado Parkway, as well as two properties on the northeast corners of McDonald Street and Spur 399 and the northeast corner of McDonald Street and University Drive.

Graham said that the reasons varied as to why the city had to utilize eminent domain, ranging from the property owner not responding after several attempts to the property owner asking for compensation that the city cannot give.

The city is currently assessing the value of the properties in question before taking the easements.

All five cases were unanimously approved.