Landowners, Sonoma County settle airport expansion lawsuit
“Sonoma County officials have agreed to pay $815,000 for a family’s property next to the Charles M. Schulz airport for a runway extension project, settling the contentious case on the eve of trial.
The amount is roughly twice the total of what the county previously offered to pay for the land, along with the relocation expenses for the 73-year-old matriarch who lives there.
“I’m happy that we settled, because it is not going to court,” said Rebecca Ritter, the main trustee for the six acres on Sanders Road, who had complained the airport was “stealing” her property.
She had been fighting the county for more than a year after it invoked the power of eminent domain to force the sale of the property.
The county had offered $135,000 for the 6.5 acres, despite it being valued by the assessor at $408,000 this year and $475,000 for several year prior.”
Mason, Clark. Press Democrat 5 August 2013.