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Council authorizes easement appropriations for Jackson Pike path and intersection improvements, seeks amicable settlements
Summary
Council approved ordinances authorizing acquisition of property and easements for a Jackson Pike shared‑use path and related intersection projects, with staff saying eminent‑domain authority would be used only if negotiations fail. Officials said they continue negotiating with affected property owners.
Grove City Council approved multiple ordinances authorizing the appropriation of property and easements needed to build a shared‑use path and related intersection and signal improvements on Jackson Pike and at Jackpot/Jackson Pike and Hawthorne Parkway.
Law Director Smith said the ordinances give the city authority to proceed with eminent‑domain only if voluntary agreements with property owners cannot be reached. “Our goal is to reach an amicable settlement with each and every one of them, so we do not have to go to court,” he said, while noting that the ordinances are legally necessary to keep the project on schedule if negotiations stall.
Council and staff discussed options to reduce impacts on sensitive properties, including narrowing the path footprint, adding plantings, and additional on‑site measures to protect natural areas. One council member emphasized the potential for partner volunteer groups to help maintain trail corridors and reduce long‑term maintenance concerns.
Council approved the appropriations to allow the projects to continue. Staff said they have already reached or are close to settlements with some property owners and will continue negotiations before pursuing condemnation filings as a last resort.
The ordinances cover multiple segments of the roadway and associated signal work; staff said the separate pieces reflect different legal requirements for right‑of‑way acquisition versus traffic‑signal work under Ohio law.
