With just days before the state's lease on the land at Fairfield Lake State Park ends, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has agreed to use eminent domain to acquire the land from the developer who bought the 5,000 acres early this year with plans to turn the parcel into an exclusive gated community.
For months, the Texas legislature tried to do something but could never agree on a plan. Texas Parks and Wildlife Commissioner Jeffrey Hildebrand argued that the state has what he calls, "a clear duty to act for the greater good of all Texans."
Legal experts say developer Shawn Todd has no legal recourse to stop the state from acquiring the property, The only thing left to do is to negotiate a price.
In February, Todd paid $110 million for the land. Todd turned down the state's offer of $25 million for Todd to give up his company's contract so the state could negotiate to buy the land from the previous owner.
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