BATON ROUGE - The East Baton Rouge Metro Council introduced multiple ordinances that could allow private land to be seized for MOVEBR projects in the parish.

It's tied to road improvement projects along Mickens Road and Port Hudson Pride Road.

These projects are looking to take the next step in their development; however, the parish has determined that portions of the land needed for these projects cannot be acquired through amicable means.

Because of this, the council introduced four ordinances that would allow the parish to enter expropriation proceedings, which is a way for governments to force private property owners to give up land for public use, in this case for the project. The council would need to vote to approve it.

As mentioned, one of those projects is along Port Hudson-Pride Road near Zachary.

The parish is looking to widen the road, along with adding paved shoulders and a sidewalk. Residents living nearby say they believe that the changes are needed.

"Been needing to happen for a long time. We've lived here for about 10 years. There's been multiple wrecks; I've been run off the road multiple times, and I know plenty of people who have. Just so: narrow shoulders, lots of potholes," resident Bryan Tannehill said.

A couple of residents who live alongside the road told WBRZ that they want the project to be finished and done right, but want to be properly compensated if part of their land is needed to complete it.

The other project is along Mickens Road, where the city plans to expand it to three lanes between Hooper Rd. and Lainer Drive. Putting in a single-lane roundabout near Lainer is also part of the project.

"I think it'll be a marvelous thing for us, coming and going. It should make it safer for everybody as they drive to and from because the road is so busy all the time," resident Michael Franklin said.

Metro Council members tell WBRZ that proceedings like these are not out of the ordinary and it's a step in the process when there's a property that may be holding up construction.

There will be a public hearing and possible vote on the proceedings at the next council meeting, which is scheduled for Nov. 10.