LAKEWOOD, Colo. -- Letters to 180 private property owners were being finalized and sent out Wednesday after the RTD Board gave the green light a day earlier for the next phase of FasTracks construction.

The 12-mile light rail stretch will eventually take riders from Union Station in Denver to the Jefferson County Government Center in Golden.

A total of 306 parcels will be affected so tracks can be laid, and parking facilities built, a spokeswoman for FasTracks said Wednesday.

Sixteen properties are owned by public entities, said Paulette Tornilas, Public Information Manager for FasTracks.

Tornilias said in most cases, RTD will be purchasing only a portion of land -- even as little as 50 square feet. Full properties could potentially be acquired if appraisals show what’s left over leaves the owner without any significant value.

"Only in five or six cases we’ll need to purchase full properties," Tornilas said. "We won’t know that until appraisals are done."

Tornilas explained property owners can have their own appraisals conducted with RTD picking up the bill. Then, RTD obtains its own appraisal before an independent reviewer helps determine a sales price.

"Our goal is to always work with the property owner, to come to negotiations that result where everyone can move forward in a positive manner," Tronilas said.

Not everyone has had an easy time moving forward.

"I’m absolutely furious," said Terry Smith, who, along with 15 other property owners, received similar notices last year.

Smith told 7NEWS the rental home he owns jointly with his business partner is slated to be demolished to make way for a road leading to a parking lot.

Smith said a dispute over the sales process landed all sides in court recently.

"I’m being forced to sell my home before I’ve had the chance to get a return on my investment," Smith said.

Smith explained RTD was willing to pay $160,000 -- about $50,000 less than he had hoped because of upgrades and renovations inside.

"RTD is going to cut our throats," Smith said.

Tornilas reiterated RTD is paying "fair market value" for impacted property.

"We know people are going to have issues with it. We’re here to go through the plans, why we need the property, and ultimately to produce projects the public said they wanted.

Voters in eight counties approved a tax increase for the FasTracks project in Nov. 2004.

The overall project includes 122 miles of new light rail and commuter rail service. Tornilas said increased costs for construction materials and lackluster sales tax revenues have driven up the overall budget to $7.9 Billion – up from $4.7 when originally approved.

Completion of the West Corridor is expected in 2013.

Tornilas added impacted property owners along the West Corridor will receive a second letter in the next 30 to 90 days to formally begin the acquisition process.