Many cheered when Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith and County Council Member Vince Gardina announced plans to condemn the site of a former Shell service station on the Towson roundabout and turn it into a public park. The proposal seemed worthy considering the condition of this blighted eyesore, right?
After all, this is not Maryland Senate Bill 509, which would have allowed the county to seize unblighted private property and give it to developers, was it?
Former County Executive Dutch Ruppersberger, now a Democratic U.S. Congressman, backed SB 509 in 2000, only to see Baltimore County voters defeat it by referendum. In this case, unlike SB 509, no citizens? homes are to be taken, no small businesses are affected. In fact, we?re talking about a big mean oil company aren?t we?
Now Democratic State Sen.James Brochin, who had already endorsed the public park proposal, is being joined by Republican Dels. Susan Aumann and William Frank in endorsing a combined public/private use that would include a park as well as the headquarters of the Towson Chamber of Commerce. Compromise is often the best political solution, particularly in land use matters, but is it in this case?
If Baltimore County condemns the Shell site and sells some portion of the property to the TCC, the line will be officially crossed. Baltimore County will have used eminent domain to condemn a piece of private property and turn it over to a private entity.
If the property is leased to the TCC, the line will have been blurred, opening the door for private property to be condemned for, what might it be considered, let?s say, a “public/private partnership?”
Such a transaction might be rationalized by saying the use would benefit the public. It will, however, beg the question of whose property will be next, possibly that of a homeowner or small business owner.
Taking land from one private property owner to give to another private property owner violates the core concept behind eminent domain.
It is meant to be used sparingly by government for transactions between it and a property owner for projects ? like roads and other infrastructure projects ? that benefit the public good.
If eminent domain can be used for public/private partnerships, it means the government will gain the power to decide how best to use private property. That is a situation ripe for corruption.
Are such deals really mutually beneficial and to whom? A few? Many? A select few? A chosen few? A politically connected few?
These are questions all Maryland citizens need to ask themselves in this election year. Can you support candidates who condone the condemnation of private property for private use? Do the ends justify the means?
I know where I stand on this issue.
I stand with the majority of Baltimore County residents that defeated SB 509.
In this election year, it is imperative for Maryland voters to ask their public officials whether they support government land grabs that take private property for the so-called “public good” ? and vote according to their answer.
Expanding the reach of eminent domain means more people will lose property for projects they do not request, nor will they benefit from.
Corinne Becker writes about quality of life issues in the community. She is president of Riderwood Hills Community Association in Towson, Baltimore County. She can be reached at [email protected].
