The use of eminent domain is the power of the government to take private property and convert it to public use. They can only take it if they have justly compensated the owner. Generally, the Government seizes the private property and offers fair value for it, but this is not always the case. There are many factors in which the ethical use of eminent domain is required. How much compensation is just compensation? How much is the project going to benefit the public?
In an article on ColoradoPolitics.com, there is speculation that the town of Monument did not have to compensate some land owners in an eminent domain case. in 2016, Monument purchased a lot from private owners in a residential area. The purpose was to relocate a water tank. The relocation of the water tank lowered the values of the houses around the lot. In court, the eminent domain ruling stood that the public benefit of a water tank outweighed numerous losses to individual residents. As a result, the residents received no compensation for their lower property values.
A home is generally the largest purchase in an individuals life, but it can be devalued by a water tank. The Government thinks they know what is good for the people by handing out "fair market value" for the land they take to build a water tank or to widen a road. The loss in home value and returns on investments on the house could be substantially more than the fair market valuation. eminent domain can be beneficial, but it does infringe of the property rights of citizens and disrupt freedoms.
Article: https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/town-does-not-have-to-compensate-property-owners-in-eminent-domain-case-high-court-rules/article_f6253a0e-aa5f-11ea-8e91-d380c4ddd653.html
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