Eminent Domain Report

The Contra Costa Times reported last week that the City of Pittsburg certified the environmental document for the Donlon Boulevard extension after nearly two decades of trying.  Although the vote was unanimous, the project has vocal resistance.   According to the Save Mount Diablo website, the project may induce growth, destroy a "spectacular" ranch and actually create rather than relieve traffic congestion.  That group has made clear it does not agree with the City's action.

Often once an agency has certified its environmental document, right of way acquisition soon follows.  ...

For those of you interested in hearing from eminent domain experts across the United States on hot topic condemnation issues, I hope you'll join us at the ALI-CLE's 32nd Annual Eminent domain and Land Valuation Litigation Program.  The Program will take place February 5-7, 2015, at the Hotel Nikko in San Francisco.  I'll be presenting on a panel with Dwight Merriam (Connecticut) and Mark Murkami (Hawaii) on "Denominators and Bright Lines:  The Search for the Relevant Parcel in Eminent Domain and Regulatory Takings."

If seeing me doesn't get you interested (understandably), hopefully ...

At its meeting last week, the California Transportation Commission allocated $1 billion for local streets, highways and public transit.  This means a significant amount of money will be available for city, county and regional transportation agencies who will submit their projects to Caltrans in the coming months.   You can read Caltrans District 7 Press Release here.

The projects are spread around the state and include some major funding for rail projects as well as the usual highway improvements and also show that money will be coming to several California regions.  You can see a full ...

Most of us have been inconvenienced by road construction or other public works.  Streets can be more congested, exits closed, and traffic re-routed, making it more difficult to get to the restaurants, yogurt shops, book stores and other businesses we usually frequent.  Not surprisingly, these businesses often see their revenue decline while construction continues.  Does the public agency owe these businesses anything for these losses?

The short answer for most of the country is, usually not.  Courts generally consider construction-related inconvenience part and parcel of living ...

Often times government agencies require property for a public project that is already put to a public use. What are the acquiring agency’s options, assuming an agreement cannot be reached prior to filing a condemnation action?

1.  A condemning agency may acquire property that is already devoted to a public use if the proposed use will not unreasonably interfere with or impair the continuance of the existing public use. The complaint and resolution of necessity must specifically reference the Eminent Domain Law for joint public use. (Code of Civil Procedure section 1240.510). If a ...

Good news California:  local projects are continuing to receive federal funding.  Caltrans announced last week that the U.S. Department of Transportation has granted nearly $35 million in TIGER funds to six local and regional projects throughout the state.

The projects receiving funding include:

• East Side Access Improvement Project ($11.8 million): This Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority project will create a network of bike lanes and sidewalks for bicyclists and pedestrians to access the new Regional Connector/1st Central Station in Los Angeles ...

In a thought-provoking article, Anthony F. Della Pelle considers the interesting question of whether the City of Los Angeles could simply take the LA Clippers via eminent domain.  One might typically associate California’s Eminent Domain Law with the taking of land for public utility easements or mass transit projects.  Della Pelle was inspired by an article by Harvey Wasserman, in which Wasserman proposed that the power of eminent domain should be used to take all sports franchises nationwide.  Wasserman reasoned:

The Fifth Amendment says the public has the right to take property ...

If you're a right of way professional, your fall schedule could be quite busy.  I'm having difficulty keeping track of all the upcoming events, so I thought I'd put them all in one place.  Here's what we have on the agenda:

• September 5:  Mobility 21's annual Southern California Transportation Summit.  The event will take place at Disneyland Hotel, and will feature an array of fantastic speakers from various local public agencies, including Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC), Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA), the California ...

As public agencies continue to expand and build infrastructure throughout California, I've noticed a few recent themes.  First, many projects are supported by federal funds, usually through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) or the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).  And second, agencies are becoming more creative in exploring joint development opportunities with the private sector to enhance their projects and the surrounding community.

To the extent you are part of, or work with a public agency, and are involved with a federally funded project involving a potential ...

Last week, the Appraisal Institute unveiled its Standards of Valuation Practice (SVP).  SVP will not replace USPAP (the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice) -- which have long-been the mainstay of appraisal standards for many appraisals -- but will serve as an alternative when USPAP or other standards are not required.

According to AI President, Ken Wilson, MAI, SRA:

The SVP will establish a higher level of professional practice, engender public trust and facilitate the growth and advancement of the valuation profession...The SVP will recognize the broad ...