Council authorizes temporary easement on Green Creek hotel parcel for Trumbull Bridge work

The Green Tree Borough Council on July 17 voted to authorize the borough to acquire a temporary construction easement on Parcel 0038‑G‑0400, owned by Green Creek Hospitality LLC, to support replacement work on the Trumbull Bridge. “I move that we adopt resolution 30 93 authorizing the actions needed for the acquisition of an easement of Parcel 0038‑G‑0400,” said the council member who made the motion (Council member, speaker 5). The council carried the resolution by roll call vote.

Staff told the council that the major funding partners — the Federal Department of Transportation and PennDOT — are covering about 95 percent of the project cost and recommended that council authorize the administration and solicitor to secure needed easements and, if necessary, to proceed with eminent domain and condemnation with just compensation. A borough staff member (Staff member, speaker 2) stated that the administration will work toward an amicable agreement as the primary option. Staff also provided square‑foot estimates for the temporary areas: one affected area totals about 6,100 square feet and a second parcel is about 28,000 square feet, of which roughly 2,200 square feet would be needed temporarily; a small fractional figure referenced in the record ("0.004") was not specified further in the transcript. The clerk conducted the roll call and recorded affirmative votes from council members present, and the resolution passed.

The authorization allows staff and the solicitor to continue outreach to property owners and to take legal steps if negotiations fail; staff said the project is expected to be put out to bid around Halloween and that the easements must be obtained prior to bidding. The council indicated the borough will attempt negotiated agreements first and use condemnation only as a last resort.