The U.S. Supreme Court
handed property owners across the United States a big win, ruling Florida
environmental officials violated a landowner’s constitutional rights by
demanding money or a conservation easement in return for permission to develop
alleged wetlands on his property.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled governments have to show their demands for money or conservation easements to offset permits for land development are in direct relation to the perceived damages that development might bring.
20-Year Legal Battle
The case centered on Florida landowner Coy Koontz Sr. and his family, and it wound through courts for nearly 20 years. The Koontz family owned a 15-acre parcel of land outside Orlando. They wanted to develop three acres of it, and even agreed to donate the rest for conservation. But St. Johns River Water Management District officials wanted more.
The case centered on Florida landowner Coy Koontz Sr. and his family, and it wound through courts for nearly 20 years. The Koontz family owned a 15-acre parcel of land outside Orlando. They wanted to develop three acres of it, and even agreed to donate the rest for conservation. But St. Johns River Water Management District officials wanted more.
District officials told the
Koontz family they had to either develop less of their land while giving a
greater portion of it to government officials in the form of a conservation
easement, or pay as much as $150,000 to improve government-owned property
several miles away from the Koontz’s property.
