Cape Coral looks to end eminent domain fight

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CAPE CORAL, Fla. — City officials are exploring alternative sites for irrigation storage tanks amid an eminent domain battle with the owner of a 5-acre property the city originally sought for the tanks.

“Everybody tells me don’t let them get you, keep up the fight,” Bunch said. “That’s exactly what I plan to do.”

The city is negotiating with the owner of an adjacent property after initial hesitation because surrounding parcels were more expensive than the one off Pine Island Road just west of Chiquita Boulevard that owner Jeff Bunch has clung to since receiving an eminent domain notice in April.

“We would like to have this wrapped up, all of us, as soon as possible,” City Manager John Szerlag said.

The city offered Bunch $330,000 for the property, but he said at least one nearby property has sold for over $1 million.

 

“I know that the situation, probably, in hindsight, could be handled better,” Councilman Jim Burch said. “We are working very diligently in trying to resolve the issue.”

The city can’t fully release Bunch’s property until negotiations with the other property owner are through, Szerlag cautioned.

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