Seizure of Property for Construction of Firehouse Okay
The Second Department affirmed the eminent-domain seizure of petitioner’s property (under EDPL article 2) for construction of a firehouse:
“The principal purpose of EDPL article 2 is to insure that an agency does not acquire property without having made a reasoned determination that the condemnation will serve a valid public purpose” … . Judicial review of a condemnation determination is limited to whether the proceeding was constitutional, whether the proposed acquisition is within the condemnor’s statutory jurisdiction or authority, whether the determination and findings were made in accordance with the procedures set forth in EDPL article 2 and the State Environmental Quality Review Act, and whether a public use, benefit, or purpose will be served by the proposed acquisition (see EDPL 207[C]…). Here, the petitioner has failed to demonstrate any basis for setting aside the Common Council’s determination.
Contrary to the petitioner’s contention, the record shows that the determination to condemn a portion of its property is rationally related to the stated public purpose and that such public purpose is dominant … . ” [T]he fact that an intended public use confers incidental benefit to private persons or entities will not invalidate the condemnation'” … . Matter of Peekskill Hgts Inc v City of Peekskill Common Council, 2013 NY Slip Op 07046, 2nd Dept 10-30-13