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Pedantic correction: The term is "eminent domain". In fairness, if someone exercises the power of eminent domain, the domain will imminently be theirs, but that's neither here nor there.

Maybe a railway isn’t a realistic example. A nature preserve might be a better one; they can’t decide to cordon off an area for wildlife if you’ve already destroyed all the trees, whereas untouched land might fall into that category.

The examples I can think of were in Texas and I’m sure the rules vary by region.

I highly doubt people in Texas are building parking lots to protect against a nature preserve. It's generally because of parking requirements established by building codes.

That said, under eminent domain the government is required to pay you the fair market price of the land it is taking from you. That's why it's in companies' best interest to not let their land sit undeveloped.