BY JONAS BEALS
The Stafford Regional Airport Authority has officially started the eminent domain process that could result in removing trees from private property.
Members of the authority voted 6-0 yesterday to approve a resolution that initiates condemnation proceedings on property owned by Suzanne and Mike Geslois off U.S. 1 east of the regional airport.
Their 40 acres is mostly wooded, zoned for agricultural use and is currently taxed under land-use status. The land lies in the extensive airport overlay district.
The authority has determined that some of the trees on the Gesloises' property are too tall for safe operation of the all-weather landing approach. The authority wants to purchase an easement on the Geslois property, not the land itself.
So far, the Gesloises have rejected an offer of $86,000 for the easement, claiming that the trees buffer their home from surrounding industrial development and planes overhead.
Removing the trees would knock the Gesloises out of the land-use program, resulting in a potential tenfold increase in annual real estate taxes. It is unclear which trees the authority needs to remove, how many need to go or how they will be cleared.
Suzanne Geslois pleaded her case for a second time during yesterday's public hearing. She talked about how her quality of life would suffer without the trees.
Her attorney, Clark Leming, reminded the authority that, by law, they could "only do what is absolutely necessary."
"Please go slow with this," he said. "All she wants to do is continue what she has done in the past."
Despite the unanimous vote to proceed with a condemnation hearing, some authority members expressed their sympathy.
"The numbers are stunning in terms of what occurs if this moves forward," authority member John Garvin said of the potential real estate tax increase.
The next step is for both parties to set a court date. A negotiated agreement can be reached at any time during the eminent domain process.
Jonas Beals: 540/368-5036
Email: jbeals@freelancestar.com