McKinney council authorizes eminent-domain resolution for Highway 5 sewer easement

The City of McKinney City Council voted to adopt a resolution finding public necessity and authorizing the use of eminent domain to obtain easement rights for a sanitary sewer relocation along State Highway 5, west of North McDonough Street between East Louisiana and East Virginia streets.

Gary Graham, the city’s director of engineering, told the council the project requires a 15-foot center sewer easement plus two temporary construction easements to keep a utility relocation on schedule and avoid delays to the contractor. “We have had some very productive conversations with the property owner,” Graham said, and added that staff hopes to reach a negotiated agreement but requested authority “to start the clock” on the eminent-domain process if necessary. Graham described the standard sequence the city follows: appraisal, an initial offer, the opportunity for counter-appraisal from the owner, and, if no agreement is reached, use of special commissioners appointed by Collin County to determine fair market value.

Councilmember (mover) made the motion to adopt the resolution and authorize use of eminent domain to acquire the necessary property interests from Shuying Wang LLC; the motion was seconded and approved on a roll call vote reported as 7–0.

The resolution directs staff to proceed with appraisal and offer procedures under state law and preserves the city’s option to use condemnation only if negotiations fail. Councilmembers stressed minimizing construction impacts to the property owner while ensuring downstream service reliability for the neighborhood served by the sewer line.

Next steps: staff will continue negotiations with the property owner, complete appraisal work, and, if necessary, initiate the eminent-domain process. The record shows the council authorized the action but staff said it remains the city’s preference to reach an agreement without condemnation.