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Archive | Wetlands

June 12, 2015

Lost Tree Village Corporation v United States

For those readers not familiar with the concept, the implementation of a wetlands regulation can constitute a regulatory taking and require that just compensation be paid pursuant to the Fifth Amendment. Wetlands cases can be complex, but generally fall into a few categories for analysis. . The first type is analyzed under Penn Central Transportation Co v New York City, 438 US 104 (1978). The Penn Central case utilized a three factor test to determine whether a regulation goes “too far” (meaning it would be considered a taking under the… read more

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Posted in Recent cases, Valuation, Wetlands
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November 26, 2014

Appellate Division Affirms $4.3 Million Award in Metro North Brewster Station Taking

Last Wednesday the Appellate Division, Second Department decided Matter of Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Etc. v. Longridge Associates, LP (Index No. 1877/03) and affirmed the lower court’s judgment, with costs. The lower court (LaCava, J.) rendered a decision on December 4, 2012 awarding Claimants $4,375,000. The subject property consisted of 52 acres of vacant land in Putnam County New York. The property was taken by the MTA as part of the Metro North Railroad’s (MNRR) Brewster North Station and Commuter Parking Lot Expansion Project. More specifically, the acquisition was intended for… read more

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Posted in Eminent Domain, Highest and Best Use, New York, Recent cases, Wetlands
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November 20, 2014

Appellate Division Affirms 75% Increment Applicable to Wetlands Taking

Yesterday the Appellate Division, Second Department decided In re Matter of New Creek Bluebelt, Phase 4. Lawrence N. Paolella, et al., v. City of New York, in which it affirmed the findings of Supreme Court, Richmond County (Saitta, J.). The lower ruled that there was a reasonable probability that the imposition of wetlands regulations on the subject property constituted a regulatory taking and applied a 75% increment in calculating the final condemnation award of $810,000. For the Claimants, the award represents a 338% increase over the City’s valuation of $185,000. The… read more

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Posted in Eminent Domain, New York, Recent cases, Wetlands
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January 30, 2014

Coy Koontz, Jr. Honored as Champion of Private Property Rights

The Owners’ Counsel of America, a nationwide network of leading eminent domain attorneys dedicated to representing property owners, honored Coy Koontz, Jr. with the Crystal Eagle Award last week for the resolve and commitment that he, and his late father, exhibited in fighting for the right of private property ownership. “My family and I have given up so much of our lives for this fight because we believe that owning your property ought to mean something– that the government can’t control you unreasonably,” said Coy Koontz, Jr. of the yet… read more

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Posted in Challenging condemnation, Eminent Domain, Eminent Domain Abuse, Recent cases, Wetlands
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July 1, 2013

Recent Supreme Court Case: Koontz v St. Johns River Water Management District

Amid many other cases handed down last week, including striking Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act and holding the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional, the Supreme Court of the United States also handed down a decision having enormous impact on property owners and the land use agencies that regulate them. The case, Koontz v. St  Johns River Water Management District, involved a landowner of 14.9 acres of property, primarily wetlands, east of Orlando, Florida. The property was purchased in 1972 by Coy Koontz, Sr., who passed away before the litigation… read more

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Posted in Wetlands
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