The Benefactor of Eminent Domain
Action Now Wants Taxpayers to Pay
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Loveland - August 16, 2006
On August 15, 2006 the developer of Aspen Knolls, KB Homes, asked the Loveland City
Council to provide the developer with future special property taxes, monies KB Homes already
promised to spend as the result of a previous Eminent Domain action to facilitate the
development.
Is this legal and is anyone paying attention? The Condemnation by the City Council of the Hein
Family Trust property bordering Taft Avenue at the request of KB Homes (a low-quality
California developer) specifically provided stated the developer, KB Homes, would pay for all
the street improvements needed to increase access from the development onto Taft Ave.
Now, years later, the developer has asked for a Mill Levy on future home owners to last 20
years that would pay the developer for the improvements (streets, sewer, drainage) required for
the project to proceed. LovelandPolitics.com wants to know if that includes the property
siezed from residents for the project both under the threat of eminent domain and actual
condemnation of private property.
Imagine a city where the government takes the property under eminent domain and than taxes
future homebuyers to pay the cost of developing the property. Where is the private sector in all
of this? The property required for the traffic lanes off Taft was acquired through government
Eminent Domain and now the developer wanted the city to finance his costs of developing the
infrastructure through future property taxes for the next 20 years.
Fortunately, four City Councilmembers voted against the proposed new property taxes while
another four (including the Mayor) voted in favor. The one seat currently vacated by Ron
Weaks would have been a tie breaker but since it is still vacant KB Homes was told no.
Look at the main page to see if you specific Councilmember voted either for or against the
proposed new property tax.