Article Title
In the Land of Kelo: Still No Meaningful Protection for Property Owners
Abstract
This article analyzes Connecticut’s legislative response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Kelo v. City of New London. Following a brief summary of the Kelo case, the article describes the municipal economic development statutes in effect in 2000 when the New London project was approved and how these statutes were changed in response to the popular backlash against Kelo. Under newly adopted Conn. Gen. Stat. 8-193(b)(1), eminent domain may not be used to acquire property for economic development if its primary purpose is to increase local tax revenue. The New London development plan in Kelo is put to the new statutory test to see if it would protect the affected property owners. The clear conclusion is that Connecticut’s statutory reform provides no meaningful protection for property owners against the use of eminent domain for private commercial projects.