Big Thompson Canyon residents fear eminent domain
“When Dianne and Lyle Honstein received a letter from the Colorado Department of Transportation earlier this month, they began to panic.
One word in particular from the letter stood out to them: acquisition.
It was in reference to their property in the Big Thompson Canyon, in Cedar Cove on Wildbriar Lane, and CDOT’s repairs to U.S. 34.
The letter, Dianne Honstein said, has led to many sleepless nights for her — it seemed that the state was planning to forcefully take her property — one where her family has lived for five generations.
“If they act on this letter that says ‘acquisition,’ ‘acquisition,’ ‘acquisition,’ we’re in trouble. … Normal people like us have no idea where to start and what to do,” she said.
The letter also came with a handbook which explained condemnation and eminent domain — a tool governments can use to take private property if the owners refuse to sell.
But the Honsteins aren’t the only ones who are dealing with this. According to CDOT spokesman Jared Fiel, the agency contacted 47 property owners about temporary easements, permanent easements and property purchases for U.S. 34 repairs.”
Hindi, Saja. Reporter Herald 16 November 2016.