Property rights supporters met on Feb. 15 at Woodman Hills Elementary School to review their progress in gathering signatures for a citizens’ ballot initiative.The Eastern Plains Citizens Coalition was originally formed to stop the Front Range Toll Road, a north-south private toll road proposed for the eastern plains. The coalition is working with Colorado Citizens for Property Rights to put an initiative on the November ballot that would limit the state’s power to take private property for public use.Clark Absher updated those attending on state legislation related to the toll road and eminent domain powers. “There are all sorts of bills floating around,” Absher said. The coalition is primarily interested in House concurrent resolution HCR06-1001, introduced on Feb. 14. The measure’s language is identical to the citizens’ initiative and, if passed, would automatically claim a place on the November ballot, eliminating the need for citizens’ groups to gather the necessary signatures.A few local businesses agreed to display petitions at their locations. Petitions are currently available at Farmer Jim’s, Pack, Ship & More and Falcon Physical Therapy.Opponents of the toll road scored a major victory on Jan. 27 when a bill banning private developers from condemning private property passed in the Colorado Senate. The bill was identical to one vetoed by Gov. Bill Owens last June, but the governor and the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Tom Wiens (R-Castle Rock), reached a compromise on the new legislation the day before its passage.Sen. Weins has estimated that almost 100,000 property owners would be affected by the 210-mile-long “Super Slab” toll road. The compromise would take away all condemnation powers from a private toll road company and require the company to undergo the same review process as public roads. However, the agreement would also allow the private entity to retain ownership of the land seized.The state Legislature is currently considering 10 bills dealing with eminent domain, private toll roads or both. Absher reported that House Speaker Andrew Romanoff has indicated he wants to review all bills dealing with eminent domain.”Romanoff has been very supportive, but he’s seen this stuff coming from all directions,” Absher said. “This just re-emphasizes how important it is to get our citizens’ initiative on the ballot. That’s the only way we can guarantee that the people are going to get a chance to actually vote on this issue.”The group has hired a full-time lobbyist to advance their agenda in Denver. They will be holding another meeting at Woodman Hills Elementary on March 13 at 7 p.m.
