Douglas County authorizes eminent domain proceedings to secure land for Mueller Parkway; vote 3-2

Douglas County commissioners voted 3–2 on April 17 to authorize staff to begin eminent domain proceedings to acquire small property interests from Park Ranch Holdings for construction of Mueller Parkway and related drainage work, adopting Resolution 2025 R‑043.

County Manager Jennifer Davidson told the board staff did not make the recommendation lightly and described Mueller Parkway as a public‑purpose infrastructure project the county needs to complete to improve traffic circulation and reduce flood risk for planned developments. “This is the first step,” Davidson said, adding staff would continue to try to reach a voluntary agreement with the landowner.

Why it matters: Mueller Parkway is a multi‑phase roadway shown in the county’s master plan and the 2019 development agreement with Park Ranch. The county says two lanes of the road must be constructed by the end of 2025 under that agreement, and that small parcels and easements are needed to build embankments, culverts and an intersection/roundabout at Buckeye Road. Staff also told the board the proposed roadway will act as a levee in high flows and will redirect some floodwater to agricultural land north of the…