It’s simply wrong and a misuse of the definition of ‘blight’ to use eminent domain law for supposed blight when all a municipal government would do would be to replace one ongoing private business with another one.
State Sen. Mary Lazich entered the fray in the redevelopment discussions on Tuesday, saying she will introduce legislation clarifying state laws on eminent domain and the term “blight.”
“The statutes have to be clear enough to protect property owners from unjust use of eminent domain and to protect local governments from the waste of time and money that accrues from the challenge and defeat of improper use of eminent domain,” Lazich said.
In an interview, Lazich said many states have already addressed eminent domain laws following a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case in 2005, which allowed local governments to acquire properties through eminent domain and sell them to another private owner.
But this state isn’t one of them, she said.
“Unfortunately in Wisconsin law, there’s a loophole large enough for a herd of animals to jump through,” she said, referring to the “blight” declaration.
Via Eminent domain controversy prompts Greenfield to rethink development plan – GreenfieldNOW.