Vandalia staff brief council on airport‑area roadway project; prepares for possible eminent domain on holdout parcel
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Summary
City staff told the Vandalia City Council at a study session that a regional Dayton International Airport Northeast Logistics roadway project requires right‑of‑way from multiple owners; one owner has verbally demanded far more than the staff appraisal and the city said it may need to appropriate the parcel through eminent domain if negotiations fail.
City staff told the Vandalia City Council at a study session that a regional roadway project serving the Dayton International Airport’s northeast logistics area will require right‑of‑way or temporary construction easements from multiple parcels and that the city is preparing for court action if negotiations fail.
Mr. Cron, who presented the update, said the project is a partnership with the Montgomery County engineer’s office and will include roadway improvements and a shared‑use path on Northwoods Boulevard, Dixie Drive and Lightner Road, linking the Flying J facility to the Chewy facility and improving truck access to large buildings north and west of the airport. He said the project is in final design and staff must acquire rights from multiple property owners to proceed.
Staff reported that “a total of 49 parcels” will be involved in right‑of‑way acquisitions. The transcript contains an ambiguous phrase about how many of those parcels lie inside Vandalia; staff clarified in discussion that multiple parcels are in city limits and that several are critical to early utility relocations. For one northern Dixie Drive parcel, staff said a consultant’s appraisal produced a figure of $11,940 and that the property owner has verbally countered with $50,000; negotiations are ongoing.
“If we don’t get to a deal with [an owner], we have to appropriate the property, which means we go to court and you basically take the property through eminent domain,” Mr. Cron said. Councilmembers asked about the court process and payment timing. A staff member explained that the city deposits its appraisal amount with the court; the owner may obtain an independent appraisal and, if the court awards more than a certain margin above the city appraisal, the city may be required to pay the owner’s attorney fees as well.
Mr. Cron said the council will see a resolution of intent to appropriate property on the council meeting agenda (the Jan. 20 meeting referenced in the study session) so the project can stay on schedule if a negotiated settlement is not reached.
The presentation did not include a formal vote in the study session; staff indicated the item will be on the regular meeting agenda for formal action. The council did not take any other substantive action during the study session on the project.
