Battle over Eagle path continues in court, on ground
“The city of Eagle filed an eminent domain claim in April to force Laguna Pointe property owners to sell easements for a public path that connects to the Boise River Greenbelt on the south side of the south channel – but homeowners aren’t waving a white flag.
Laguna Pointe is on the offensive, and not just with its lawyers.
The homeowners association has hired public relations firm Strategies 360 and spent about $4,000 to clear a new path for bicyclists, walkers and others along the river. Laguna Pointe is a high-end subdivision east of Eagle Road and south of State Street.
“The Laguna Pointe homeowners felt, and feel, they were being painted as the bad guys and wanted people to hear both sides of the story,” said Phil Hardy of Strategies 360.
A public path was part of the original development agreement for Laguna Pointe, which received final city approval in 2006.
For unknown reasons, the grant of easement was not properly recorded with the county. Months of negotiations on path uses and location – homeowners said the existing path was outside the easements – ended last month, when the city opted to use seizure laws to take control of the land where the pathway lies and settle the matter.”
Moeller, Katy. Idaho Statesman 19 May 2014.