CHAPTER 250

An Act to authorize the appointment of an Arbitration Board to deter-
mine a controversy between the State Hospital Board and the City
of Staunton and to authorize a conveyance of land which is the subject
of such controversy.

[H 527]

Approved March 6, 1956

Whereas, the city of Staunton contemplates certain street improve-
ments in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Highways, which
improvements will encroach upon certain land within the city now owned
by the Commonwealth and held in the possession of the State Hospital
Board, utilized as a portion of the recreation area at Western State
Hospital; and,

Whereas the city of Staunton has offered the sum of Thirty-five
Thousand Dollars as consideration for the land identified as

That certain tract or parcel of land containing 8.12 acres, more or
less, lying southeast of the present intersection of Routes 350 and 11 in
Staunton, needed for the relocation of Route 250 to a new intersection
with Route 11, and for a new connecting driveway to the Western State
268 ACTS OF ASSEMBLY [va., 1956

Hospital, in accordance with a map prepared by the Virginia Department
of Highways and entitled “Plan Showing Right of Way Needed for
Western State Hospital Property and Relocation Int. Routes 250 and 11
According to Scheme I” on file in the office of the Department of High-
ways.

And, whereas, a controversy has arisen between the city of Staunton
and the State Hospital Board with respect to the consideration to be paid
for such land; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia: .

1. That a Board of three arbitrators is hereby directed to examine the
issue in controversy between the city of Staunton and the State Hospital
Board with respect to that portion of land owned by the Commonwealth
and desired by the city of Staunton for public street improvements. Such
Board is to be composed of one member chosen by the city of Staunton
and one member chosen by the State Hospital Board, together with a third
member to be agreed upon by the two members so chosen, any two of
which may act as herein provided. .

2. The Board so appointed shall determine the consideration sufficient
to compensate the Commonwealth for the land so taken, which determi-
nation shall be binding on the parties to the controversy. In the event the
city of Staunton desires the land in question for the amount determined
by the Board as herein provided, the State Hospital Board is hereby
directed to execute a deed, approved by the Attorney General, conveying
such land to the city of Staunton. The sum so paid by the city of Staunton
in consideration for this conveyance is hereby directed to be deposited
with the State Treasurer to be used by the State Hospital Board, without
further appropriation, for the purchase of additional land for the use of
the Western State Hospital, either within or without the corporate limits
of the city of Staunton. .

An emergency exists and this Act is in force from the date of its
passage.