Opinions Abound on Eminent Domain

GEOFFREY F. SEGAL, a senior fellow for government reform for the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy, made the following suggestion in a guest column to the Fredricksburg Free-Lance Star:

One possible disincentive for abuse would require compensation to be based on the appraised value of the land after rezoning, i.e., commercial real estate is almost always more valuable then residential. Another option would require localities to pay a premium if eminent domain is used--say 150 percent of assessed value.

The Mountain Press also proposed an editorial comment on the use of eminent domain in Tennessee.