Outspoken Independence landowner Tom Scott said he and his attorneys settled with city of Independence over a piece of land the city acquired through eminent domain in 2004.

Scott said he and the other two owners of the land decided to settle with the city before a trial was scheduled to begin in late March. The agreement with city was finalized by both the city and the landowners on June 1, according to Scott's attorney, Richard Sullivan.

Scott said the city paid $232,500 for the 1.13 acres of land. Scott said the property was acquired in 1999 for $90,000.
"They should have paid $325,000 for it," Scott said, regarding what he said is the fair market value.

City Attorney Allen Garner confirmed the city settled with Scott and his group, Scott, Hewitt and Mize, who own the property.

The city acquired through eminent domain the small piece of land east of the railroad tracks at 39th Street and Selsa Road in 2004 to build a road for access to Arizona-based developer Bill Kidwell's business park. Kidwell agreed to build the road.
The settlement comes three years after Scott began fighting the city over the value of the land. Scott even started a Web site, www.stolemyland.com, sold dirt on eBay, and posted a sign on a piece of land that was not acquired by the city declaring "This land being taken unfairly by the city."

Scott said he would continue to stay active in land rights topics, including keeping an eye on lawsuits he said are between the city and Kidwell. Also, he said there is the possibility of a lawsuit involving the city. He said he may sue the city for damage to the remaining property that was a part of the land the city acquired, saying he was left with just a ditch.

He also expects the city to acquire the land to make improvements to 39th Street, which he said he is more comfortable with than using eminent domain for development purposes.

Adam Torres at adam.torres@examiner.net