If Mandarin House owner Eddie Hwee doesn't arrive at a settlement soon with city officials, they will likely move to acquire a portion of his parking lot for the upcoming State Road widening project.

The Cuyahoga Falls City Council approved the first piece of legislation on Monday night to implement eminent domain, but council members Jerry James, Diana Colavecchio and Terry Mader -- who all sit on the Public and Industrial Improvements Committee -- are hopeful that the issue can be resolved through negotiations. 

City engineer Tony Demasi said talks are ongoing, but added that if a settlement isn't raached within 30 days, city officials would look to the council to approve eminent domain and acquire the land, reports the Falls News Press. 

In a March 21 interview with Patch, Hwee said the widening of Bath Road would cut out about 20 of his 58 marked and unmarked parking spots, which would disrupt his business. 

City officials have contended Hwee has 38 spaces, not 58, and that the land they want lies in the city’s right-of-way.

The $9 million State Road widening project funded, in part, by the Ohio Department of Transportation, is aimed at widening a two-mile stretch of State Road from Graham to Quick Road to relieve traffic congestion, reduce car accidents and spur new retail development, said Demasi.