Wrong Course on Eminent Domain

“The Colorado Supreme Court’s recent decision in a Telluride eminent domain case is a troubling expansion of the condemnation power of home-rule cities.

The court found that home-rule cities can use their eminent domain powers to reach outside their borders and condemn land for open- space purposes.

We think the court went too far. Open-space preservation isn’t among the purposes the state constitution lists as examples of proper eminent domain use. If a city goes beyond its legal borders to take land, it should be restricted to the purposes listed in the constitution.”

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Editorial, Denver Post 4 June 2008