Republican lawmakers in Annapolis are trying to limit the scope of eminent domain to guard against government seizure of private property for economic development.
“You can build roads and parks and schools, but once you take private land and turn it over to private entities, you are somewhere where you shouldn?t be,” said Sen. Andrew Harris, R-District 7, a sponsor of one of the bills against the Supreme Court decision on eminent domain, which is a government?s authority to seize private property for public use.
“Once you give it to private people, you have problems with politicians colluding with big-time developers,” Harris said.
Two similar bills, sponsored by Baltimore County Republican delegates and senators, combats a Democratic bill that sets limits on the Supreme Court decision that says condemnation for economic development is acceptable if a redevelopment plan is in place, said Harris.
Baltimore County- and Harford County-specific, as well as statewide versions are proposed in the House and Senate this year and were a center of controversy during last year?s General Assembly session, he said.
Specifically, the proposals exclude urban renewal, community revitalization, commercial development, job creation and generation of tax revenue from the scope of public use.
Bill supporters in Baltimore County cited Proposition 509, a 2000 proposal backed by then-County Executive Dutch Ruppersberger that would allow the government to seize private property for virtually any reason in several geographical areas.
Voters including Essex resident Brad Wallace ? whose property was slated for seizure ? defeated the measure in referendum.
“They didn?t have a plan; they had a concept. The concept was a blank piece of paper,” Wallace said.
Current County Executive Jim Smith has resolved not to use eminent domain for economic development, said county spokesman Don Mohler.
“There is a reality when you get to the end of a project like Yorkway, when there are one or two property owners who are bent on ripping off the taxpayers, when you have some very difficult decisions to make,” Mohler said.
“We?re not at that point yet.”
