Yorkville's Kennedy Road Expansion: A Tale of Negotiation and Eminent Domain
After a nearly two-year struggle to secure a portion of the Blackberry Oaks Golf Course for the expansion of Kennedy Road, Yorkville is now considering a more assertive approach: eminent domain. The city's persistence in negotiations has led to a stalemate, with the key issue being the acquisition of 0.84 acres of right-of-way and 0.11 acres of temporary easement on the golf course property.
The proposed easement, measuring 30 feet by 1,225 feet, has been a point of contention. Yorkville has offered the golf course $1,800, which they claim is based on an 'estimated fair market value.' This offer, however, has not been sufficient to resolve the dispute.
The city's broader project to expand Kennedy Road and connect it with the Freedom Trail intersection was initially estimated to cost around $1 million. This includes pavement widening and turn lane additions to enhance safety at the intersection. However, the prolonged negotiations have incurred additional costs, ranging from $75,000 to $100,000, due to construction delays and inflation.
In response, Yorkville staff are seeking authorization to proceed with eminent domain on the entire 0.95-acre parcel if necessary. They have also offered financial compensation, along with accommodations for tree replacement and free water service to the property, according to city documents. These final negotiations aim to secure a voluntary acquisition before the City Council's January 27 meeting, where the eminent domain request will be considered.
In 2021, Yorkville received approximately $2.8 million from the developers of the Grande Reserve subdivision to reconstruct Kennedy Road, addressing the increased traffic from new residents. Initially, the city considered shifting the roadway east towards the Grande Reserve, but this option was deemed less desirable due to the disruption of private and city utilities, which would incur additional costs and further delay the project by one to two years, exacerbating inflationary pressures.
Even this alternative route would have required a significant portion of the golf course's property. The success of the eminent domain ordinance hinges on securing a majority approval from the City Council.
