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August 3, 2005
Builders Targeted by Eminent Domain
WPVI, ABC Action News
As developers cheered the Supreme Court eminent domain decision, expansion of the powers of eminent domain may come back to haunt them. Here's a surreal case of "fact is stranger than fiction," "turnabout is fair play," and "be careful what you wish for" [emphasis added]:
An appeals court says the power that has been used to permit development can also be used to seize land from developers to preserve open spaces.
The ruling stems from Mount Laurel, where a developer received approval to build 23 homes on a 16-acre tract.
The Burlington County town moved to condemn and seize the property, saying it wanted to preserve open space.
NoLandGrab: This is one use of eminent domain where some liberals have championed the expansion of the government's powers.
In the past few months many have wondered why liberals have been relatively silent about this issue. Liberal views are not as concrete as conservative sentiment in this case. Liberals are split between supporters of eminent domain who cite redevelopment of blighted inner cities and protection of the environment and detractors who point out that lower income and minority citizens are inordinately affected.
Posted by lumi at August 3, 2005 10:09 PM