A Howard County jury on Monday reviewed complex charts, intricate maps and voluminous zoning documents.
But at the end of the day, the eminent domain trial between the Howard County Board of Education and an Ellicott City property owner still boiled down to two simple ideas: money and power.
“It?s criminal of them to steal my land,” said Chris Pippen, whose 1.3 acres of Ellicott City property is being sought by the Howard County School Board.
Lawyers for the school system argued before a six-member jury that the $476,000 school officials offered Pippen for the land is “fair” and “reasonable” for property needed to build a new elementary school.
But Pippensaid his land is worth $1.35 million, and school officials intend to use only one-third of his property for the school, while giving the rest to the Ellicott City branch of the YMCA, which borders Pippen?s property.
“I think that?s un-American,” he said. “It really is un-American for them to take my land and give it to the Y.”
At issue is how the board, using taxpayers? money, can take property from a private citizen.
School officials said they need Pippen?s land to build the new elementary school in to alleviate other overcrowded schools in the area, and available land for schools is scarce.
In the meantime, school officials have cut a deal to purchase 22 acres for the school from the nearby Ellicott City branches of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and YMCA, which border Pippen?s land, but still need Pippen?s 1.3 acres for a driveway for the school.
Under the YMCA?s deal, the new school would share use of some of the land with the YMCA.
David Carney, an attorney for the school board, declined to respond to Pippen?s un-American comment, except to say his land would be used for a public road.
“They need all that land,” he said.
The school is set for a 2007 opening.
The trial is expected to last until Friday.
