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Eminate Domain


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PDPl from North St. Louis County on 11/28/2005 3:25:20 PM:
I really like the idea of the Katy Trail however I live on the Missouri River across from Pelican Island and I have been told that the State can take 250 feet of my property to build a continuance of the trail. Is that possible? It seems to me that it would be nice to take the extention over to Pelican Island and then to Suoix Passage Park and continue from there. I already have 150 feet of my property in the River as errosion has taken it over the years. Is this something I need to be concerned with? Thank you for your reply.

 
The Dalton Boys from Austin, TX/Columbia, MO. on 12/1/2005 7:04:31 AM:
Unfortunately the short answer is yes, the state can claim right of eminent domain. The question of which route would be better aside, it is at the very least fortunate that you like the idea of the KATY, and that unlike one poor soul in Connecticut, that state claimed eminent domain to build a shopping mall. The basic premise of eminent domain supposedly manifests to the benefit of the "greater good" a.k.a. hospitals, city parks etc. In the case in the Northeast the state's case managed to mangle the greater good issue in favor of the shopping mall which I personaly don't see. Of course then there is the issue of right of eminent domain in its own right...the state or other government entity taking land from a landowner....sticky issue that. In closing, they can do it, you can fight it, and I'm happy for you that it will be the KATY and not a shopping mall. Regards.......Mark of the Dalton Boys