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County approves resolution authorizing possible eminent domain for 167 Mill Road bridge project
Summary
The Chester County Board of Commissioners approved resolution BOC 3,526 to authorize acquisition of a small easement—potentially by eminent domain if necessary—to reconstruct the bridge at 167 Mill Road; county facilities staff said the needed area is about 1,000 square feet and eminent domain is a contingency, not the first option.
Chester County commissioners voted to approve resolution BOC 3,526 on May 27, authorizing county officials to acquire property easements — including by eminent domain if necessary — to rebuild the bridge at 167 Mill Road.
George Martin, director of the county Department of Facilities, told the board the area of potential acquisition is "very, very small," on the order of "1,000 square foot type range," and said the request is part of the county's 10-year bridge program. "This is not a matter of last resort yet," he added, saying the resolution is intended to avoid delays while options for voluntary acquisition are pursued.
Commissioners pressed staff on design alternatives and the need for the additional right-of-way. Chair Josh Maxwell asked whether the bridge could be redesigned to avoid the easement; Martin said it is "a little bit of both" — engineering standards and practical construction needs drive the proposed footprint. Martin also said the county is limiting requests for laydown yards and temporary construction use and that the permanent area sought is strictly for piers and structure.
After discussion, the board approved the resolution by voice vote. The measure authorizes county staff to move toward acquisition steps, including preparing for eminent-domain proceedings only if voluntary purchase cannot be completed.
Next steps: Facilities staff will provide commissioners with exact parcel dimensions and additional engineering details for the Mill Road project as the design and right-of-way plans are finalized.
