A judge voided Rhode Island’s seizure of 31 acres planned for 252 affordable homes

A federal judge has blocked the Town of Johnston, Rhode Island, from taking control of a 31-acre property planned for affordable housing. The judge ruled that town officials did not have the legal authority to seize the land. US District Judge Melissa R. DuBose overturned the town's decision to take the property near George Waterman Road. The ruling clears the way for the Santoro family and their development company, SCLS Realty LLC, to continue plans for a 252-unit housing complex. The decision ends a major legal dispute between town officials and property developers over land rights, local zoning rules and state requirements for affordable housing.Secret condemnation and social media discoveryThe dispute began when the Santoro family submitted plans to build a large residential development on their 31-acre property. Under Rhode Island law, developers can avoid certain local zoning restrictions if a town has less than 10 per cent of its housing classified as affordable. Johnston's affordable housing share stood at about 7.9 per cent. To stop the proposed development, the town government, led by Mayor Joseph Polisena Jr., moved to take the property through eminent domain. This lega...