Last year the state legislature was eager to tackle the eminent domain issue. This year, the issue did not make the list of legislative priorities. From the Norwalk Hour:

After the 2005 U.S. Supreme Court ruling backing New London’s use of eminent domain, House Speaker James Amann asked cities to delay planned seizures of private property until the General Assembly reformed the state’s eminent domain laws.

The 2006 session ended last May without an agreement. Yesterday, when Amann and his caucus unveiled their 2007 legislative priorities at the Capitol, the words “eminent domain reform” appeared nowhere on the poster-boards or in the packets provided for the media.

Instead, House Democrats focused on initiatives regarding health care, energy, smart growth, transportation, property tax relief and public safety.
Amann, D-Milford, later said eminent domain reform has not been forgotten. But he said it was listed among secondary, or so-called “tier two” initiatives, following an internal poll of caucus priorities.

“We have so many challenges,” Amann said, adding he no longer expects the moratorium to be followed.

The news came as a disappointment to Nancy Esposito, whose Norwalk business, Casey’s Sheet Metal Service, is located within a targeted redevelopment area.

The Norwalk Common Council, led by President Mike Coffey, has been at the forefront of curbing the use of eminent domain locally. In a press conference recently held to announce redevelopment plans for eminent domain takings, he was quoted as saying recent changes would, “ensure that there was no abuse of the power conveyed to the agency and should heighten the council’s attention when matters conveying such power come before them. Further, it will inhibit the prospect of the Redevelopment Agency and/or developers in overreaching with regards to what property is truly essential to accomplish the objectives stated in the redevelopment plans as approved by the council.“