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Council authorizes eminent-domain acquisitions for three 2022 bond projects
Summary
On April 3, 2025, the San Antonio City Council approved ordinances authorizing the use of eminent domain as needed to acquire property interests for multiple 2022 bond-funded public-works projects, including traffic and mobility improvements in District 9 (Stone Oak area), Brookside outfall/Esmerald Way area phase 2, and Watson Road Phase 1 and a
San Antonio City Council on April 3 approved three ordinances authorizing the use of eminent domain if necessary to acquire property interests for 2022 bond-funded infrastructure projects.
The ordinances, read and moved on the council floor, declared the following projects to be public uses and public necessities and authorized the city to acquire permanent right-of-way and temporary construction easements by negotiation or condemnation if negotiations fail:
- District 9 Traffic and Mobility Improvements (Stone Oak area): acquisition of six permanent right-of-way easements and temporary construction easements within new city blocks noted in the project exhibits. The ordinance declares the project a public use and public necessity.
- Brookside Outfall/Esmerald Way Area Phase 2: acquisition of portions of seven privately owned properties, including three permanent fee-simple parcels and four drainage easements in support of the Brookside Outfall Esmerald Way Area phase 2 project.
- Watson Road Phase 1 (Verano Parkway to west of Palo Alto Road) and Linear Greenway Trails (Leon Greenway connection via Port San Antonio): acquisition of portions of 14 permanent rights-of-way easement interests along Watson Road and a variable right-of-way easement for the linear greenway connection (approximately 2,875 acres/125,366.54 square feet was cited in the ordinance text for one of the parcels).
Council discussion on these items was brief; each ordinance was read into the record, a motion and second were made, and the transcript records "motion carries" for each item. The council did not record extended debate on the floor for these items in the public excerpt. Each ordinance includes exhibit maps and legal descriptions that the city clerk incorporated into the motions.
Actions: Item 11 authorized the use of eminent domain for District 9 traffic and mobility improvements; Item 12 authorized eminent domain for Brookside Outfall Esmerald Way Area phase 2; Item 13 authorized eminent domain for Watson Road Phase 1 and the Linear Greenway Trails connection. The ordinances state the parcels are depicted on project maps and are more particularly described in attached exhibits; council voted to approve each as read.
Council members who moved the items included those representing the affected districts; in the transcript these motions were made from the dais and seconded before votes were called. The public record excerpt does not include a named roll-call tally for each vote; the minutes will show the official recorded votes.
