Metropolitian Council Reviews Eminent Domain Policy

The Metropolitian Council wants to safeguard the property rights of individuals and business owners. The council is considering a policy that would help prevent local governments from abusing eminent domain. One council member says eminent domain poses a threat to every homeowner and business in the nation and something needs to be done to change that. That's a statement several residents of Champlin couldn't agree with more.For nearly a year now Champlin residents with a gorgeous view of the Mississippi River have lived in fear that city officials might use the power of eminent domain to force them out of their homes. "There's an awful lot of people in here and all of us would be displaced," said Champlin resident Pam Taylor. Pam's neighbor Alice Moats is one of those people, "I like my apartment, it's really nice, so, I don't want to move." Champlin officials do confirm they'd like to tear down several older residences and replace them with a newer, upscale development. "There is a lot of public space that opens up that river to people who don't have access to it now," explains Champlin Mayor Steve Boynton when discussing the proposed project. But Mayor Boynton says using eminent domain to force people to move is not part of the plan, "This council at this time is only interested in dealing with willing sellers." In St. Louis Park, city officials say eminent domain played an important role in the redevelopment of Excelsior Boulevard. Eminent domain and $3 million in grants the city got from the met council. To prevent cities from abusing their eminent domain powers, the met council is reviewing its grant funding policies says chairman Peter Bell, "We'll be taking up this question of should we restrict the use of our grant dollars that go to municipalities when eminent domain is proposed." Eminent domain became a hot-button issue last summer when the U.S. Supreme Court expanded the power of cities to condemn blighted neighborhoods. What the met council wants to do is make sure cities don't force people out of their homes simply to increase local tax revenues.