IN 1999 Remember...

Eminent domain powers approved Over the protests of some owners, the Grand Terrace council votes to give the redevelopment agency the option of seizing property.

By Courtney Perkes
The Press-Enterprise
GRAND TERRACE

In an effort to increase sales tax dollars for Grand Terrace, the City Council voted Thursday night to give the redevelopment agency the power to seize property in commercial areas.
City officials said without the power of eminent domain, it can be impossible to put together property for development because it only takes one person refusing to sell to kill a deal. Most likely the power would never be used, but it would help with negotiations, City Manager Tom Schwab said.

Council members said in the wake of a failed utility tax and the cuts to city programs that were made last month, development that creates sales tax for Grand Terrace is the only way to increase revenue.

"Right now, we are walking around with a redevelopment gun without any bullets in it," said Councilman Dan Buchanan, who said he is not aware of any other redevelopment agency that does not have the power of eminent domain. "It doesn't make it a very effective hunt for the ever elusive sales tax dollar."

City officials drafted the eminent domain ordinance at the request of Riverside developer Lisa Hjulberg, who is trying to assemble 18 acres of land along Barton Road for a shopping area with senior housing. Hjulberg said eight of 12 property owners have agreed to sell, but four others are holding out for more money.

"It's very difficult to bring everybody into consensus," she said after the meeting. "All it takes is for one to say no."

But on Thursday night, residents expressed opposition to the use of eminent domain. Others criticized the proposed project that is known as Town Square and could include a movie theater, upscale bookstore and restaurants.

"I don't want to see that area developed," said resident Robert Stirling, adding that such a project could only be supported by a larger population in town or people coming in from surrounding cities. "Either one, that's not the reason we live in Grand Terrace."
Resident Cynthia Bidney said she is opposed to eminent domain except in situations where land will be used for a public purpose such as a street. She said Grand Terrace should remain a bedroom community and not try to become a commercial area.

"We don't want vacant commercial buildings and we have a lot of them here," Bidney said.

But Sharon Van Ert, who has agreed to sell her property for the Town Square project, said she is frustrated that the people who won't sell are preventing her from doing so.
"Without eminent domain, we could be sitting here another 20 years," Van Ert said.

The ordinance will come back to the City Council in two weeks, when it must be adopted a second time in order to take effect. On Thursday, Councilwoman Lee Ann Garcia voted no because City Attorney John Harper was not at the meeting and she said questions should be answered by him before the council took action.

Mayor Byron Matteson abstained because he owns property in the area of the proposed Town Square project.

Courtney Perkes can be reached by e-mail at cperkes@pe.com or by phone at (909) 890-4446.
Published 7/9/1999