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Georgetown council authorizes eminent domain for Williams Drive intersection improvements
Summary
The City Council voted 6–1 to authorize the use of eminent domain to acquire a portion of property at 3204 Williams Drive for an intersection widening project, after staff said the owner had not responded to offers.
City Council members in Georgetown on an evening meeting voted 6–1 to authorize the use of eminent domain to acquire part of a parcel at 3204 Williams Drive — currently occupied by a Walgreens — needed for the city’s Williams Drive intersection improvements.
The council action authorizes filing a condemnation petition under Texas law after staff said the city made and followed required offers but received no response from the property owner. Scott Michael, the city’s real estate services coordinator, told council the city sent an initial offer on March 25, 2025, and a later “final offer,” but “we have not settled. We have not agreed on anything. We have not been notified by them of any kind of counteroffer.”
Michael said construction for the roadway project is approaching and that the city has followed the procedural steps described in Texas Property Code Chapter 21. “The project construction timeline is fastly approaching, so we need to advance this possession as required for the right of way,” he said. Council Pro Tem Pitts read the motion authorizing the use of eminent domain and required statutory language as part of the record.
Why it matters: The acquisition will allow the city to convert the intersection from four lanes to a five-lane divided roadway with a raised median, revised left- and right-turn lanes and retained shared-use path. Staff said the work is part of the city’s annual intersection improvements and that possession of the required right of way is needed to keep the project on schedule.
What the council approved: The motion as read by Mayor Pro Tem Pitts instructed staff to proceed with eminent domain for a described portion of Lot 1A, San Gabriel Estates (the parcel at the Williams Drive/Booty’s Crossing Road corner) and to file the condemnation petition if necessary. The roll-call recorded Districts 1–6 voting yes and District 7 voting no; the motion carried 6–1.
Process steps described by staff: Michael walked council through the acquisition sequence under Texas law: offer based on appraisal, a final offer if there is no response, filing for condemnation if the final offer is rejected or unanswered, a special commissioners’ hearing to set compensation, deposit of award for possession, and trial if either side objects to the commissioners’ award.
Meeting context and next steps: Staff said it will file the condemnation petition if negotiations do not resume; the next formal steps would be a court filing and a special commissioners’ hearing to determine compensation. The city cited Texas Property Code Chapter 21 and read required statutory language on the record before the roll-call vote.
