Thursday, March 22, 2007

Setback for property rights

Utah Governor Jon Huntsman joined his state legislature in bucking the national tide of concern for property rights; he signed a contemptible law expanding the use of eminent domain.

House Bill 365 allows a public body, a redevelopment authority, to condemn blighted land if 80 percent of owners in the targeted area agree.

The bill also requires a two-thirds vote of a community’s redevelopment board to approve the condemnation.

It is a significant change in a state that had a moratorium on the use of eminent domain for private development.

Among other consequences, the law is expected to pave the way for the city of Ogden to condemn land so that Wal-Mart can open a new store in its preferred location.

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