Local Eminent Domain
A government’s right of eminent domain was never intended to give local officials an absolute, unlimited power to take somebody’s property for virtually anything. It is supposed to be used primarily to permit government to pay fair market value for land needed for public improvements, such as roads or utilities. Yet in recent years some governments have sought to use their eminent domain authority to obtain land for other purposes, from a new Wal-Mart Supercenter to a shopping complex. While those developments would serve the public good, they are private enterprise efforts.
Yup. At issue is the city of Pigeon Forge (where Dollywood is for you non-locals) is trying to take private property to build a parking complex.
