Arlington council authorizes use of eminent domain for Division Street sidewalks; approves landfill pipeline license and multiple consent items

The Arlington City Council at its first meeting of 2025 voted to authorize the use of eminent domain to acquire property for sidewalks and landscaping along Division Street (State Highway 180) and approved related property and utility actions, council members said.

The council adopted a resolution authorizing condemnation of fee-simple title to certain tracts along Division Street between Cooper and Collins streets for the Division Street TxDOT sidewalk project, Cooper Street to Collins Street. Council member Gonzales moved the condemnation authorization; Council member Hunter seconded the motion, and the motion passed, the mayor announced.

The council also approved a resolution to settle negotiations for fee-simple ownership of 1,372 square feet (a portion of Lot 6, Danny and Finch Addition) at 621 West Division Street for the same Division Street sidewalk project. Later in the meeting the council authorized the city manager or designee to execute a modification to a pipeline license agreement between ET Gathering and Processing LLC relating to a natural gas pipeline that runs through a portion of the Arlington landfill at 800 Mosier Valley Road. Council member Odum Wesley moved the settlement and pipeline authorization; Council member Pham seconded the motion and the motions passed.

Why it matters: The sidewalk work is part of a TxDOT corridor improvement. Authorizing eminent domain clears a legal path for the city to acquire parcels needed to build sidewalks and landscaping; the pipeline license modification affects utilities within city-owned landfill property.

Council approved a consent agenda that included eight minute orders, three ordinances and four resolutions. Consent items covered routine renewals and purchases such as a renewal of an annual liquid chlorine requirements contract and the purchase and installation of new carpet at the Northeast Library, as well as zoning-related ordinances and economic development agreement updates. A motion from Council member Galante, seconded by Council member Odum Wesley, carried the consent agenda.

One member of the public, Richard Weber of Arlington, spoke in opposition to one consent item (listed on the agenda as 8.14) that he said would amend a developer agreement and effectively extend incentives and deadlines. Weber criticized the change as excusing a developer’s failure to meet earlier commitments and called the amendment “ridiculous.” The council voted to approve the consent agenda despite the comment.

Next steps: The condemnation resolution and property settlement provide staff and the city attorney authority to complete acquisition steps needed for right-of-way and sidewalk construction; the pipeline license modification authorizes the city manager to finalize the agreement amendment.

No public speakers registered in support or opposition for the Division Street items during the meeting’s public hearing on those resolutions.