A Johnson County developer has sued both Olathe Public Schools and the city of Olathe, accusing them of abusing eminent domain powers to help the school district sell land to another preferred private developer.
In a suit filed last month in Johnson County District Court, developer Cherry Park Properties alleges that the district, through the city, used eminent domain to acquire easements on its property for a sewer line to help the district sell nearby land to developer CB Holdings, which is owned by Clay Blair, a prominent civic leader and donor to area causes, including Olathe schools.
In court documents, Cherry Park argues that the acquisition of its land serves a private buyer and not the public, which it says is an illegal use of the eminent domain power…