Land Use Restrictions: Prayer Zones

Where are prayer zones popping up? South Carolina

What specific area is being protected in the prayer zone? Areas around South Carolina Schools

Is there a local ordinance or a state law on prayer zones? No, the signs do not require regulation is they are on private property and out of right of ways

WSOCTV | ‘Prayer Zone’ signs crop up near South Carolina schools

State Legislature. Preventing Farmland Annexation for Industry Use

Where: New York

What would the legislation do? prevent the annexation of farmland for industrial use

What argument do local governments offer to use annexation of farmland? It is an economic development tool

WAMC | Assemblyman Calls For Moratorium On Farmland Annexation

Times Union | Bill would slow transformation of farmland to industrial use

City Uses Eminent Domain to Block a Business Facility from Opening

Where: Illinois

Who: mayors of Burr Ridge, Darien, Hinsdale, and Willowbrook

How: By using eminent domain to acquire the land, they would prevent the re-opening of a medical-device sterilization facility

What is the environmental issue with the facility? A state regulatory agency shuttered the facility over the emission of harmful gases

Bloomberg Environment | Illinois Cities Consider Eminent Domain to Stop Sterigenics (2)

How to build a New Stadium when the Old Stadium Used Eminent Domain

Where: Oakland California

Who is making the opposition arguments? local pastors

Which stadium was built with the use of eminent domain? Oakland Coliseum, home to the A’s since 1968

Community arguments in opposition to a new waterfront stadium?

  • the new stadium forsakes “the significant investment in the Coliseum”
  • insult to the residents of East Oakland, who have been partners and neighbors
  • redevelopment of the Coliseum will price residents out of their neighborhood
  • tax dollars should not go to a private developer in the form of subsidies when there is education and infrastructure that needs the funding

Mercury News | A’s move from Coliseum would be insult to East Oakland residents

Compensation. Eminent Domain and a Pipeline

Where: Texas Hill Country Pipeline

What: Kinder Morgan is ordered to pay an additional $2.7 million to 3 land owners

How far along is the legal process?

  •  Blanco County Special Commissioners
  • Up next: District Court

What revenue sources will the pipeline offer for local governments and landowners?

  • The company says $1 billion annually to state and county governments 
  • Permian Basin leaseholders will earn more than $2 billion in annual royalties

Houston Chronicle | Kinder Morgan ordered to pay another $2.7 million in Hill Country pipeline dispute

3 Points from CATO on property rights and pipelines

  • This Conservative Court USSCT is going to AMAZING for property owners.CATO is joining Owners Counsel of America, Penneast New Jersey Property Owners, and Institute for Justice in an Amicus asking for US Supreme Court review of a pre-condemnation access and bond case
  • Pay up first. Property owners should not be deprived of their land while they still possess their land without compensation.
  • Private Companies need to be watched closely. Private companies exercising Eminent Domain need more guardrails.

CATO | Don’t Abuse Property Rights to Build Pipelines

Local Ordinance Sets Beverage Container Requirements at Large Gatherings. Local Sustainability Goals.

Where: San Francisco

The ordinance: Plastic and Litter Reduction Ordinance

What is required but he Plastic and Litter Reduction ordinance?

  • A gathering of 100 or more on city owned property requires reusable cups for at least 10% of attendees
  • Single use food service items are available only by request

New Eminent Domain Opposition Tactic: Gardening

What? Opponents to eminent domain are surreptitiously planting fruit trees on land that has been taken by eminent domain

How could this be used? Imagine a group planting state trees or state flowers that could be protected from removal.

The signage:  “A gift to the people, reclaiming land stolen by corporate greed.”

Where did this happen? Property taken for the Kelo project in New London, Mass.

The Day | Group is planting fruit trees, vegetables on Fort Trumbull eminent domain land