Thanks to something called Google Alerts, it’s easy to learn how property owners across the country are being attacked by local governments. And it can be pretty depressing. There are many such stories. But property owners fight back, too.

And sometimes they win a total victory. Or at least as total as you can get with the vultures still circling.

In the town of Neptune, New Jersey, a development project is being shelved, at least for now. We can’t have civilization without development, but we need property rights, too. Too often, local governments in collaboration with developers violate property rights by abusing the power of eminent domain.

Paramount Homes president Jeffrey Fernbach is walking away from a so-called “waterfront gateway” that would have created dozens of condominiums and shops in Neptune. He says, “Without eminent domain, it’s never going to happen.” He reports that many property owners won’t negotiate to sell if they know the town isn’t going to come in and grab their property anyway. Imagine that! Property owners wanting to keep the property they own. Acting as if their property right means they have a right to their property. The gall.

Well, Fernbach is mumbling about how he’s “still interested” in the project, perhaps in hopes that the township will change its mind.

Don’t do it, township. Uphold the rights of your own citizens. Do the right thing — the property-rights thing.

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.