Alpine elected officials have approved the use of eminent domain, saying they must take about an acre of land from a homeowner to widen a road.

Three Falls subdivision, a high-end development on the north bench of the city that has been years in the making, is now being held up because one landowner refuses to part with land required to widen Fort Canyon Road.

Elected officials voted unanimously to authorize condemnation, though city staff said they would first continue to negotiate in good faith before using the power.

City attorney David Church said developer Will Jones has offered the Hudson family nearly $90,000 for a narrow strip of land along the family's 24-acre property. About a third of the price is for landscaping, and about $60,000 for a right of way on the land, which an independent city appraisal valued in the $30,000 range.

The Hudson family, however, says both the appraisal and the offer are far too low. They want $153,000.

The property owners had been invited to attend a recent meeting to discuss the issue, but they declined, citing medical issues, Church said.

"To move forward, we need the council to authorize the power of eminent domain," Church said, noting the Hudson family had indicated to the city that they planned to use the state ombudsman's office to arbitrate the dispute.

"He indicated he was amenable to a compromise, somewhere between the high offer of Mr. Jones, and his (own) offer," Church said.

"It sounds like he is agreeable," said Councilman Kent Hastings. "He is just asking for higher-than-market value."

Staff said they would be pleased if the family would accept the developer's offer rather than force the city to use eminent domain.