Bike path moves forward on ‘friendly’ terms
“A key piece of the puzzle to construct a recreation trail from the village to Fish Hatchery Road fell into place Monday.
Lisa Robbins, the niece of Dora and Betty Keller, owners of the Alpine Dairy on West Netherwood Road, agreed to allow the village to build part of the trail across the Keller property.
Village President Steve Staton met with Robbins and her attorney Monday afternoon to discuss the village’s plan to use its power of eminent domain to compel the Kellers to allow the trail to cross their land.
The Kellers had repeatedly refused the village’s request over the course of nearly two years of planning the trail.
To Staton’s surprise, that changed when Robbins’ attorney suggested what he called a “friendly eminent domain.”
“They started right off talking about the original route on the north side of their property and calling it a friendly eminent domain,” Staton told the Observer on Tuesday.
Staton had been concerned because the term carries a negative connotation. But he felt it was a last resort in order to build the trail.”
Livick, Bill. Connect Oregon 14 October 2013.