Trial in lawsuit over land for Clinton library set

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- A man fighting the acquisition of his land for construction of President Clinton's presidential library argued in court Thursday that the city is bending the rules on what

Thursday, April 6th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- A man fighting the acquisition of his land for construction of President Clinton's presidential library argued in court Thursday that the city is bending the rules on what constitutes a "park" so the project can go forward.

Chris Parker, the attorney for landowner Eugene Pfeifer, said the library wouldn't fulfill a public purpose required to designate the property as a park.

"The label of a park has been slapped on this acquisition because it needs to be a park, not because it is," Parker told Pulaski County Chancellor Vann Smith. "It has never been part of the parks' master plan.

"The whole impetus behind this taking was the president's announcement that he was going to locate his library in central Arkansas and ... that he was going to put it right here," Parker said.

The hearing came on Pfeifer's lawsuit to stop the city from acquiring his 2.9 acres. Pfeifer's property would complete the 27.7 acres wanted for the project in downtown Little Rock on the Arkansas River. If the judge rules in the city's favor, city officials plan to immediately close on Pfeifer's property unless he appeals.

Smith said it would take two or three weeks to make a decision. His post, county chancellor, is a type of judge.

"We believe the taking of this property does fulfill a public purpose," said Tom Carpenter, the city attorney. "The challenge, really, is not about law, but about politics. It's political in the sense that a public decision has been made with which he disagrees."

Pfeifer's complaint centers on the way the city went about acquiring property for the project. Parker said the city should have gotten voter approval to spend public money for the land purchases.

After Clinton announced he wanted his library in Little Rock, the city board voted to acquire the land by using proceeds from a $16.5 million park revenue bond issue.

The city plans to lease the site to the National Archives or a private foundation, perhaps the William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation, that would operate the presidential library.