California Eminent Domain Report

There are two interesting projects in San Diego County that are moving forward, both of which involve at least some use of eminent domain.

The San Marcos Creek Specific Plan is proceeding in, not surprisingly, San Marcos.   The project involves efforts to create a new downtown area for the City.  The project has been a long time in the making, with the City adopting its initial specific plan back in July 2007.  A 2015 PowerPoint presentation describes the City's plans for the area.  And just this week, the City filed at least four eminent domain actions as part of its efforts to implement the ...

Downzoning property is always a thorny issue:  on the one hand, zoning changes are typical, "police power"-type governmental activities; on the other hand, they can significantly impact property values, and in some cases can result in governmental takings liability.  When a property owner experiences a change in zoning, there are typically two theories that can be pursued:  one is so-called "spot zoning," and the other is a regulatory taking.  

Under the first theory, "spot zoning," a property owner can have a zoning designation invalidated if it can prove the government targeted the ...