Monday,
June 11, 2007
Farm Bureau Files Brief in
Supreme Court Property Rights Case
Source: American Farm Bureau Federation
In the Supreme Court case, MiPro v. Mount Laurel, the AFBF brief asks the court to consider a petition filed by home builders whose property was condemned.
The builders, MiPro Homes, obtained all necessary permits from the Mount Laurel Township (N.J.) planning committee. The township later decided, however, that it did not want more homes because of the burden on local resources. At the last minute, the township decided to condemn the property for “open space” without going through the deliberative process required by the Supreme Court’s earlier ruling in the Kelo eminent domain case.
“Since the Supreme Court’s ruling in Kelo, farmers have become vulnerable to the possibility of having their property taken for economic development and open space designations,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “When property is taken like it was in the MiPro case -- under false pretenses and without a public debate and comprehensive planning process -- it flies in the face of the guidelines laid out by Kelo.”
According to the Farm Bureau
brief, if allowed to stand by the court, the actions of the township would
“strip farmers of virtually the only protection they have left against
unwarranted or ill-advised takings: the protection provided by public
scrutiny and open debate.”
Contact:
Tracy Taylor Grondine (202) 406-3642 tracyg@fb.org
Mace Thornton (202) 406-3641 macet@fb.org