Court Opinion

ID: 9564676
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 19:05:24.486217+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:18:36.588880
License: Public Domain

Judge Greene
concurring in the result.
It is well settled that in the exercise of the power of eminent domain the courts have no authority to interfere or substitute their judgment for the judgment of the legislature with respect to “the selection of a project site.” In re Housing Authority, 235 N.C. 463, 467, 70 S.E.2d 500, 502 (1952); Redevelopment Comm. v. Grimes, 277 N.C. 634, 640, 178 S.E.2d 345, 348-49 (1971); 26 Am. Jur. 2d Eminent Domain § 111 (1966). The selection of the project site, however, must not be arbitrary and capricious and that issue is always for the courts; provided there are specific allegations raising that issue in the trial *635court. Housing Authority, 235 N.C. at 467, 70 S.E.2d at 502. Not only must the pleading allege that the taking is unconstitutional because it is arbitrary and capricious, but facts must also be alleged supporting the claim that the taking is arbitrary and capricious. See id. (specific allegations held sufficient to require court to address constitutional question); Housing Authority v. Wooten, 257 N.C. 358, 366, 126 S.E.2d 101, 106-07 (1962) (allegations held to be inadequate to raise constitutional question).
In this case, the defendants allege in their answer to the complaint for condemnation that the taking of the property is “unconstitutional.” No basis is asserted for the allegation that the taking is unconstitutional.1 The trial court found as a fact and concluded as a matter of law that the “blanket allegation of an unconstitutional taking is inadequate and insufficient to allege an unconstitutional taking.” I agree. Because the allegations are inadequate to raise the issue of whether the taking is arbitrary and capricious, it is not necessary for this Court to address the issue of whether the taking is arbitrary and capricious. For this reason I concur with the majority in affirming the order of the trial court.

. The defendants argue in their brief that because the Commission chose to condemn some of the property in the blighted area and not all of the property, and did so without any explanation, the action was necessarily arbitrary and capricious. I would not address this argument because there are no allegations in the pleadings to support it.