An unfortunate but undeniable fact about high-voltage transmission lines is that they destroy property values. Not just the value of the property upon which they are located, i.e. the 175-foot easement, but all of the surrounding property, as well. In a setting such as the North Palo Duro Canyon, where surrounding property values as far as the eye can see are largely based on the scenic views, this rule is compounded exponentially.
A huge, buzzing 125-foot tall transmission line, juxtaposed against an otherwise quiet wilderness landscape, with towers and lines crisscrossing over the slopes and hills and ultimately stretching in disarray over 1700 feet of canyon bottom to the opposite rim, complete with colored balls and flashing lights on towertops, would be a spectacle people would pay not to see, rather than to see.
The fact is, all of the land values along the canyon as far as the eye can see would be "affected," so to speak. Property values would decline as no one would want to buy a home with a unique transmission-line view, or have a cowboy breakfast and stare at the odd neon balls bobbing in front of the canyon's Spanish Skirts.
How would that make your stomach feel?
In spite of the obvious fact that surrounding property values will decline, landowners outside of the 175 feet plus 500 feet added for houses or other habitable structures adjacent to the easement, were not notified or considered to be "affected" landowners. It appears they will receive no compensation for their losses unless they are able to recover them in court.
Even landowners whose property is directly crossed by the line, especially along the canyon, may not recover for the loss in their surrounding property values. Utility companies seek appraisals on the "fair market value" of the easement alone, not on the surrounding property, thereby forcing landowners into expensive, and usually cost-prohibitive, condemnation suits to seek recovery for their losses.
Making matters worse is the issue of, what is "fair market value"? Especially when you are talking about a property as unique and priceless as the canyon? Any typical "appraisal" of a property such as this, which has taken millions of years to create and is full of priceless views, irreplaceable history and abundant wildlife, would be akin to valuing a Monet painting based on the cost of the paint, a few brushes and a blank canvas.
A lot of serious concerns present under this topic, many of constitutional origin. As Americans, do we really want our country to disregard these concerns? In a sense, our constitution is a lot like the canyon, exposing in its depths centuries of hard-fought battles, reflecting in its landscape the wisdom of our forefathers, urging us in its song not to lose sight of who we are and what we stand for. For the sake of the future of our country, can we afford to simply toss it away?
