Skyline Homes, Inc. v. Commonwealth

In January, 1965, the petitioner purchased about 200 acres of unimproved land located on the easterly and westerly sides of Pond Street in Franklin, Norfolk County. The area, in a rural setting with scattered houses, was zoned primarily for residential use. In September, 1965, the Commonwealth acting through the Department of Public Works took a portion of the petitioner’s land for highway purposes (Route 495) : 12.58 acres for the highway proper, and an easement on 2.32 acres to provide for the relocation of Mine Brook. The effect of this taking for the highway was to cut off a triangular…