White House Mayor: No Eminent Domain on Union Road Project
WHITE HOUSE, TENNESSEE: (Smokey Barn News) – You may have heard the buzz about the City of White House planning to realign Union Road due to concerns about traffic and safety. However, the family that owns a key portion of land needed for the project has stated they do not want to sell, and voiced concern that the city might try to take it using eminent domain.
A video posted to social media by Stacey Kelley Stoddard, whose family owns the land in question, sparked a strong community response, racking up over 130,000 views, as of Thursday afternoon. In the video, Stoddard expresses frustration over the proposed plan and fear that the city might forcibly seize the property. But according to White House Mayor John Corbitt, that’s not the case.
“We have no plans to implement eminent domain,” Corbitt told Smokey Barn News.
“It’s never been discussed, not by me, not by the board, we hadn’t even reached that stage.”
What’s the Plan?
According to the city’s engineering plans (full PDF), the White House is proposing to realign Union Road near the SR-76 intersection, a location the city says ranks #1 in crash rate and #2 in both total crashes and crash severity.
The new route would:
Shift Union Road westward…
Cross a portion of the Kelley family’s farm..
Include 2.2 acres of right-of-way acquisition, plus drainage and slope easements…
The goal, Corbitt said, is to improve a very dangerous intersection and accommodate growth from both the Burris Ridge subdivision (650 homes) and a future industrial park off I-65, both of which will funnel traffic through Union Road toward 76.
What the Mayor Said…
Corbitt told Smokey Barn News the project has been on the city’s long-range planning books for more than two decades. The Kelley family, he said, was aware the land might eventually be needed.
“They’ve known it’s been on the table,” Corbitt said.
“We’re waiting on appraisals. The plan is to make a fair market offer. No one’s trying to lowball anybody.” Mayor Corbitt added that eminent domain has never been discussed by him or the board.
He also emphasized that the proposed route would not cut through the center of the farm, but would instead hug the eastern edge, minimizing disruption.
As for what happens if the family declines to sell?
“There are other options,” Corbitt said, “but they’re not better options.”
One such option would be to close Union Road just before it meets Highway 76 and redirect all traffic through Harper’s Way and Love’s Lane, routing drivers out at the truck stop traffic light.
Finally, Corbitt noted that while he is the mayor, he is just one vote on the board and does not believe there is support among board members to pursue eminent domain, even if it were suggested.
Mayor Corbitt also confirmed that in a completely unrelated project last year, the installation of a traffic light at Pleasant Grove Road, which also involved a portion of the Kelley family’s property, the city informed the family that eminent domain could be considered if needed. While the city ultimately acquired the land cooperatively and did not pursue eminent domain, the Kelley family told Smokey Barn News that the experience left them concerned, and they assumed the same approach might be used again, which they say is what prompted the social media video.
From the Kelly family.. “I am encouraged to hear that White House City Mayor John Corbitt went on record with Smokey Barn news to indicate that he personally is not exercising eminent domain for this case and that he does not think there would be support from other board members to do so, “Stacey Kelley Stoddard told Smokey Barn News. “We have vocally opposed this project as long as it has been on the growth plan; nevertheless, through the years, each city management continued to move towards this same plan. As recently as January 2025, we have indicated in a public city BOMA meeting and through various letters to the board of Alderman and Mayor that we do not want to sell this property or have it developed for any reason. I go on record with you to say that our stance remains the same – Our farm is not for sale. The enormous response of encouragement and backing from my Facebook video was one that I never imagined. My purpose was to bring awareness to our community, and was far exceeded.”
“The City of White House is growing rapidly, which is placing significant demands on our infrastructure,” Mayor Corbitt said. “With future projects, the use of eminent domain may become necessary. However, in this particular case, the city has made no plans to pursue eminent domain. Each project is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.”
