§6.2 - Eminent Domain and Public Appropriation

(a) The Council of Rivermarch shall possess exclusive authority to invoke eminent domain, granting lawful power to acquire privately-held landed title, property, or magical assets within its jurisdiction for necessary public use or civic benefit.

(b) Eminent domain may only be exercised following:

(i) Formal declaration of public necessity or urgent civic need by majority Council vote;
(ii) Written notice to affected titleholders or custodians, providing details of intent and reasoning;
(iii) Opportunity for tribunal appeal or negotiation prior to final appropriation.

§6.2.2 - Grounds for Public Appropriation

(a) Landed title or property may be appropriated for public use including, but not limited to:

(i) Infrastructure such as roads, bridges, fortifications, canals, or public buildings;
(ii) Arcane stabilization, leyline anchoring, planar sealing, or magical warding;
(iii) Defense measures including walls, watchtowers, barracks, or strategic containment zones;
(iv) Civic resource development, such as agricultural expansion, reservoir construction, or necessary urban planning.

(b) No private property shall be appropriated without clear demonstration of public benefit or necessity.

§6.2.3 - Compensation and Valuation

(a) Upon appropriation under eminent domain, affected titleholders shall be entitled to fair and equitable compensation determined by:

(i) Tribunal appraisal based on market value, productive capacity, and magical attributes;
(ii) Independent valuation if contested by the affected party within fifteen (15) days of notice.

(b) Compensation shall be offered in the form of coinage, replacement land, goods, magical services, or combination thereof, at the titleholder’s discretion, subject to reasonable availability and tribunal approval.

(c) Disputes over compensation value shall be adjudicated by tribunal arbitration under §4.3.

§6.2.4 - Procedures and Notifications

(a) A written Notice of Appropriation shall be served no less than thirty (30) days prior to the intended seizure, specifying:

(i) Nature of the property or magical asset targeted;
(ii) Public purpose or civic necessity;
(iii) Proposed valuation and method of compensation;
(iv) Opportunity to appeal, negotiate, or request tribunal intervention.

(b) Affected parties may request formal hearing or appeal within the thirty-day notice period. Failure to respond shall constitute acceptance of terms by default.

(c) In case of emergency involving immediate threat, arcane destabilization, or invasion, expedited procedures with reduced notice shall apply, subject to post-hoc tribunal review.

§6.2.5 - Limitations and Restrictions

(a) Eminent domain shall not be exercised:

(i) Solely for private gain or enrichment of specific individuals or groups;
(ii) Without documented attempt at negotiated agreement;
(iii) Arbitrarily or discriminatorily based on ancestry, magical practice, or political affiliation.

(b) Appropriation of property bearing unique or irreplaceable magical, spiritual, or historical value shall require additional public testimony, expert consultation, and Council supermajority (two-thirds) approval.

§6.2.6 - Restoration and Reversion

(a) Should appropriated property no longer serve its stated public purpose or become surplus to civic requirements, the former titleholder or their heirs shall retain right of first refusal to reacquire the property at tribunal-assessed market value.

(b) Restoration of magical properties, wards, or leyline connections disrupted by appropriation shall be the Council’s obligation, with associated costs factored into compensation or settlement.

(c) Failure by Council or civic agents to utilize appropriated lands within three (3) years shall trigger automatic reversion unless extended by Council resolution.