By Bill Raack/Katie Ridgeway, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – The city of Maplewood says that it will no longer consider using eminent domain for private development in most cases.
The issue came up recently when the city asked for proposals to develop part of the downtown that presently includes about 12 businesses and six homes.
But Mayor Mark Langston says the city council has approved a resolution that says the city won't authorize the use of eminent domain by a private developer with no public purpose.
"Really we need to make a statement," Langston said. "The majority of people not just in this community but in communities around us don't like eminent domain, don't like to give a private developer that right to come in and bully you, to take your property."
A group protesting the Maplewood development project says it will now pursue a city ordinance regarding eminent domain to give the council's decision more authority.