Board votes unanimously to authorize eminent domain for Sun Creek middle and high school

The Elk Grove Unified School District board on Monday approved a resolution determining that the public interest and necessity require acquiring roughly 85 acres in the Sun Creek planning area to build a combined middle and high school campus.

Dr. Coates, presenting staff analysis, said the parcel provides approximately 85 usable acres and aligns with the California Department of Education's initial site evaluation. "The proposed program includes a middle school serving approximately 1,200 students and a high school serving approximately 2,200 students on a combined secondary campus," Dr. Coates said, adding that securing site control is necessary to complete environmental review, utility planning and meet the target 2029 opening.

Property owner representative Rob Lehman objected during the public hearing, arguing the district's precondemnation appraisal and offer were legally deficient and that CEQA compliance had not yet been satisfied. "Because fundamental and specific aspects of the project have not been provided, we preserve our right to address issues pertaining to necessity that are not yet known to or knowable by us," Lehman said.

Staff told the board the district made the statutory offer, included reimbursement for independent appraisals, and remains open to negotiation while adoption of the resolution preserves the project schedule. After public comment from both the owner and community members who supported the project, the board moved to adopt the resolution; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously.

The adoption authorizes district counsel to initiate eminent domain proceedings if negotiations fail and allows staff to pursue preconstruction activities that require property control, while noting additional CEQA, geotechnical and infrastructure studies remain to be completed.