Westerville won’t appeal court ruling, will pay $1.3M
“Westerville officials announced Tuesday they will not appeal a court decision that will cost the city $1.3 million.
On Aug. 12, the Ohio 10th District Court of Appeals upheld a $1.3 million award to James Taylor, owner of the US Bank at 833 S. State St. for a portion of the property and attorney fees, after the city took a slice of Taylor’s land through eminent domain.
The space was used as part of the city’s $2.1 million gateway project, which required 0.205 acres of Taylor’s land to install an entryway feature at the city’s southern entrance.
A Franklin County judge approved the city’s taking of the land at State and Heatherdown Drive to bury utility lines and install decorative brick pillars and wrought-iron fencing.
The city offered $145,855 for the property. But Taylor appealed the judge’s decision, claiming visibility of the bank would be ruined and a curb cut could be eliminated, greatly harming the business.
A Franklin County Court of Common Pleas jury agreed with Taylor in 2013, awarding the $1.3 million, a decision that the Ohio 10th District Court of Appeals agreed with last month.”
King, Andrew. This Week Community News 1 October 2014.