There is an underlying policy in the county favoring the careful consideration of matters involving constitutional taking claims in fairness to the owner of private property bringing the claim and in view of the uncertainty and expense involved in defending law suits alleging such issues. At the same time, the legitimate role of the county in lawfully regulating real property must be preserved and the public's right to require the dedication or exaction of property consistent with the Constitution. Consistent with this policy, this chapter establishes a procedure for the review of actions that may involve the issue of constitutional takings, as well as providing guidelines for such considerations. This chapter is further intended and shall be construed to objectively and fairly review claims by citizens that a specific government action should require payment of just compensation, while preserving the ability of the county to lawfully regulate real property and fulfill its other duties and functions.

(Ord. 158 § 1 (part), 1998)

The guidelines adopted and decisions rendered pursuant to the provisions of this chapter are advisory and shall not be construed to expand or limit the scope of the county's liability for a constitutional taking. The reviewing body or person shall not be required to make any determination under this chapter except pursuant to Section 17.80.050.

(Ord. 158 § 1 (part), 1998)

Any owner of private real property who claims there has been a constitutional taking of private real property shall request a review of a final decision of the county.

The following are specific procedures established for such a review:

A.

The person requesting a review must have obtained a final and authoritative determination by the county relative to the decision from which they are requesting review.

B.

Within ten days from the date of the final decision that gave rise to the concern that a constitutional taking may have occurred, the person requesting the review shall file in writing, in the office of the county clerk, a request for review of that decision. A copy shall also be filed with the county attorney.

C.

The board of county commissioners, or an individual or body designated by the county commission, shall immediately set a time to review the decision that gave rise to the constitutional takings claim.

D.

In addition to the written request for review, the applicant must submit, prior to the date of the review, the following:

1.

Name of the applicant requesting review;

2.

Name and business address of current owner of the property, form of ownership, whether sole proprietorship, for-profit or not-for-profit corporation, partnership, joint venture or other, and if owned by a corporation, partnership or joint venture, name and address of all principal shareholders or partners;

3.

A detailed description of the grounds for the claim that there has been a constitutional taking;

4.

A detailed description of the property taken;

5.

Evidence and documentation as to the value of the property taken, including the date and cost at the date the property was acquired. This should include any evidence of the value of the property before and after the alleged constitutional taking, the name of the party from whom purchased, including the relationship, if any, between the person requesting a review and the party from whom the property was acquired;

6.

The nature of the protectable interest claimed to be affected, such as but not limited to fee simple ownership, leasehold interest;

7.

Terms (including sale price) or any previous purchase or sale of a full or partial interest in the property in the three years prior to the date of application;

8.

All appraisals of the property prepared for any purpose, including financing, offering for sale or ad valorem taxation, within the three years prior to the date of application;

9.

The assessed value of and ad valorem taxes paid on the property for the previous three years;

10.

All information concerning current mortgages or other loans secured by the property, including name of the mortgagee or lender, current interest rate, remaining loan balance and term of the loan and other significant provisions, including but not limited to right of purchasers to assume the loan;

11.

All listings of the property for sale or rent, prices asked and offers received, if any, within the previous three years;

12.

All studies commissioned by the applicant or agents of the applicant within the previous three years concerning feasibility of development or utilization of the property;

13.

For income producing property, itemized income and expense statements from the property for the previous three years;

14.

Information from a title policy or other source showing all recorded liens or encumbrances affecting the property;

15.

The county commission, or their designee, may request additional information reasonably necessary, in their opinion, to arrive at a conclusion concerning whether there has been a constitutional taking.

E.

An application shall not be deemed to be "complete" until the reviewing body/official certifies to the applicant that all the materials and information required above have been received by the county. The reviewing body/official shall notify the applicant of any incomplete application.

F.

The county commission, or an individual or body designated by the county commission, shall hear all the evidence related to and submitted by the applicant, city or any other interested party.

G.

A final decision on the review shall be rendered within ten days from the date the complete application for review has been received by the county clerk. The decision of the county commission, or individual or body designated by the county commission, regarding the results of the review shall be given in writing to the applicant and the officer, employee, board or commission that rendered the final decision that gave rise to the constitutional takings claim.

H.

If the county commission, or individual or body designated by the county commission, fails to hear and decide the review within ten days, the decision appealed from shall be presumed to be approved.

(Ord. 158 § 1 (part), 1998)

(Ord. No. 2024-1, § 3(Exh. C), 1-22-2024)

The county commission, or individual or body designated by the county commission, shall review the facts and information presented by the applicant to determine whether or not the action by the County constitutes a constitutional taking as defined in this title. In doing so, they shall consider:

A.

Whether the physical taking or exaction of the private real property bears an essential nexus to a legitimate governmental interest;

B.

Whether a legitimate governmental interest exists for the action taken by the county;

C.

Whether the property and exaction taken is roughly proportionate and reasonably related, both in nature and extent, to the impact caused by the activities that are the subject of the decision being reviewed.

(Ord. 158 § 1 (part), 1998)

After completing the review, the county commission, or individual or body designated by the county commission, shall make a determination regarding the above issues and, where determined to be necessary and appropriate, shall make a recommendation to the officer, employee, board or commission that made the decision that gave rise to the constitutional takings claim.

(Ord. 158 § 1 (part), 1998)