Meyer Levy, a Plano landowner known for his 1995 battle against City Hall, died Sunday. He was 85.

His fight began after the city annexed his 100-acre farm near the southeast corner of Preston and Parker roads, with plans to build an extension of Ohio Drive through the middle of his property.

"He still farmed it, and the city just said 'No way, we're going to put Ohio through,'" said neighbor Phyllis Luckey, whose homeowners association supported Mr. Levy. "That was mean, I thought."

City officials said at the time that the road was necessary to relieve Preston Road congestion.

When Mr. Levy refused to sell the 5-acre slice needed for the road, the city condemned it, prompting a lawsuit by Mr. Levy, who said the land was worth $1 million. A settlement for almost $850,000 eventually was reached.

Although the city got its way � Ohio Drive now divides Mr. Levy's property � the City Council agreed to drop its plan to assess Mr. Levy almost $400,000 to defray the cost of building the road.

Mike Levy of Austin described his uncle as deeply committed to the land that he had farmed for more than 40 years.

"It's still not resolved," he said of ongoing zoning issues. "What we're going to do is unclear, but we certainly respect his passion for what he felt was being mistreated by forces more powerful than he."

In addition to his nephew, Mr. Levy is survived by his niece, Jean Karotkin of Dallas; brother, Harry Levy of Dallas; and four great-nieces. Services were Monday at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home.

This story also appears in the Plano Morning News.

ed note: this land includes the Collinsworth cemetery which is on the eastern edge. Access to it is through the alley behind the neighboring subdivision.