Eminent Domain Evoked As Landowner Demands Market Rate

A landowner who insisted on selling his property to a local municipality at the market rate had his land seized through eminent domain. Many are calling for a condemnation of the city's action.

1 minute read

November 25, 2007, 7:00 AM PST

By Nate Berg

"We all realize that suburban Denver's landscape has dramatically changed. Nowadays, biting down on a bloated bacon cheeseburger at Applebee's is about as close as locals are going to get to a cow."

"As many local municipalities are prone to do nowadays, Parker is determined to seize the property. For the common good, of course."

"The town could buy it after negotiating a price, sure. Or it could just use eminent domain and condemn the property."

"Which option do you think Parker chose?"

"But in 2004, in response to the trend of abusive eminent- domain cases like this one, the Colorado legislature passed a law prohibiting municipalities like Parker from condemning property outside its boundaries 'in absence of consent of the landowner and the local government in whose territory the property is located.'"

"That statute is now being reviewed by the Colorado Supreme Court after a case involving Telluride and a condemnation process levied against land outside its boundaries. The owner of the property in question had no interest in selling."

FULL STORY: Land grab should be condemned

Wednesday, November 21, 2007 in The Denver Post

Government / Politics Land Use Colorado

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