Voters approve limits on eminent domain: (Long Island NY) Newsday, 9/2/05

Town voters [in Putnam CT] have approved a measure blocking Putnam from using eminent domain to acquire private property for private or controlled economic development purposes.

The measure was approved 142-32 in voting Thursday. Only 174, or 3.6 percent, of the town's 4,824 registered voters cast ballots in the referendum.

Despite the low voter turnout, backers of the measure said they were satisfied with the outcome and insisted the referendum was necessary.

New London condemned homes in its Fort Trumbull neighborhood to allow private developers to build condominiums and a hotel there in order to boost commercial development. The homeowners took their case to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the city in June.

Mayor Daniel Rovero said earlier this week he supported the concept of preventing the use of eminent domain for private development, but he felt the ordinance may need to be amended to make it more workable.

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Newsday: www.newsday.com