A Buchanan County Judge formally ordered the condemnation of a stretch of land near the Belt and Gene Field road, as the city exercises eminent domain to build a right-turn lane at the crossing.

The City filed the petition in March. City officials and the property owner, Mart Plaza, LLC, offered different appraisals for the value of the property. Circuit Judge Daniel Kellogg signed the condemnation order Wednesday after a morning hearing.

Judge Kellogg is expected to appoint three disinterested residents to an appraisal commission to determine how much the property is worth.