Adasiak v. Cyback

31 Pa. D. & C.3d 1, 1982 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 59
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Beaver County
DecidedAugust 2, 1982
Docketno. 771 of 1982
StatusPublished

This text of 31 Pa. D. & C.3d 1 (Adasiak v. Cyback) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Beaver County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Adasiak v. Cyback, 31 Pa. D. & C.3d 1, 1982 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 59 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1982).

Opinion

KUNSELMAN, J.,

On June 4, 1982, plaintiff filed her complaint in equity and a petition for preliminary injunction. Plaintiff is the owner of Lot No. 903 in the Ambridge Land Company’s Plan of Ambridge, situate in the Borough of Ambridge, Beaver County, Pa. This lot fronts on Merchant Street and was purchased in 1944. At the time of its purchase, the lot had erected thereon a one story structure. Subsequent to its purchase, plaintiff caused to be erected a second story which has been used for her living quarters for more than 21 years. The second story has had windows which provided light, air and view from its southerly side which light, air and view have been unobstructed for a period in excess of 21 years.

Defendant, Edith E. Lewis, is the owner of Lot No. 903 in the same plan which lot is contiguous to planitiffs lot and lying immediately to the North. Until recently, Lot No. 902 has had a one story structure erected thereon. On January 7, 1982, this one story structure was substantially damaged by fire. While not completely destroyed, the damage was so extensive that for purposes of this adjudication, it will be treated as a total loss.

The Borough of Ambridge enacted its zoning ordinance No. 648 in 1955. Both properties are situated within the commercial district established by the zoning ordinance. Plaintiff’s two story structure and the one story structure owned by Edith E. Lewis pre-existed the zoning ordinance.

On April 7, 1982, defendant, Edith E. Lewis, executed an agreement giving defendant, Janice Elaine Cybak, an option to purchase Lot No. 902. The agreement provided for a purchase price of $18,000, $2,000 of which was paid at the time the option agreement was signed. As part of the consideration, defendant, Cyback, was required to repair [3]*3the fire damage to the roof and supports and install a new roof of the same quality by June 1, 1982. While the option was irrevocable until September 30, 1982, the new roof had to be installed by June 1, 1982 or the option would be void. The deadline for installing the new roof was subsequently extended to June 15, 1982.

On April 28, 1982, defendant, Janice E. Cyback, applied for a building Permit to the Borough of Ambridge. The application indicated that it was for the purpose of correcting fire damage and indicated the proposed use to be a storeroom occupancy. The application also contained the following information.

“J. DIMENSIONS

48. NUMBER OF STORIES*.2?

49. TOTAL SQUARE FEET OF FLOOR AREA, ALL FLOORS, BASED ON EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS.1800 First Floor

50. TOTAL LAND AREA, SQ. FT.2200

*Second floor being added and front being replaced — tile to brick. Interior of second floor not to be completed at this time to permit a decision as whether one apt. or offices will be added. Second floor to measure 22 x 50 (Length).”

In the section for residential buildings only, in answer to a question relating to the number of bedrooms in a residential building, the applicant inserted, “See previous note”. The application had attached thereto, sketches which indicate that Lot 903 fronts on Merchant Street 22 feet and extends back therefrom of equal width throughout a distance of 100 feet to a 20 foot alley. The sketches also indicate that the first floor of the structure would extend for the entire width of the lot and would front on Merchant Street and extend back a distance of 90 feet toward the 20 foot alley. The sketch[4]*4es also indicated that the second story would also extend for the entire width of the lot and extend from Merchant Street 50 feet toward the rear. The application was approved by James W. Baker, Jr., the Borough Engineer, and a building permit issued on April 29, 1982.

Following the issuance of the building permit, defendant, Cyback, caused construction to commence. During the course of construction, a concrete block wall was erected through the height of the second story, and on May 20, 1982, plaintiff became aware that her windows would be blocked off by the wall which is less than six inches from plaintiff’s windows.

Plaintiff consulted Attorney Raymond Cromer of Pittsburgh who wrote a letter to the Borough Engineer which was received by him on or about May 27, 1982. The last paragraph of this letter provides as follows:

“In the event you disagree with my interpretations of the Ordinance and should you decide not to revoke the budding permit, please advise me immediately and please enter my appeal to the Board of Adjustment of Ambridge Borough from your decision and from your decision to issue the building permit.”

The borough engineer did not revoke the building permit but did refer the letter to the borough manager who reviewed the letter with the borough engineer but did not respond to the letter in any way. While the borough manager would have ordinarily referred a request for appeal to the board of adjustment, he did not refer Mr. Cromer’s letter to the board of adjustment. As a result, plaintiff was not afforded an administrative hearing to contest the issuance of the building permit to Ms. Cyback and the within action was filed by plaintiff seeking to enjoin [5]*5defendants, Lewis and Cybak, from depriving her of light, air and view and to require them to remove that portion of the structure which deprives plaintiff of an easement for light, air and view. Plaintiff further requests the court to direct the Borough of Ambridge to rescind the building permit and enjoin the borough from issuing a permit until all terms and conditions of the zoning ordinance have been complied with.

STATEMENT OF THE ISSUES

1. Can an adjoining land owner acquire an easement by prescription to light, air and view and protect such easement by requiring removal of a wall erected on other adjoining land?

2. Was the building permit issued to defendant, Cyback, subject to being revoked as issued contrary to various provisions of the zoning ordinance?

DISCUSSION

Plaintiff’s evidence established that she never acquired by grant an easement for light, air and view for her second story residence. To the contrary, her evidence established that she had unobstructed light, air and view for a period far in excess of 21 years. She therefore argues, that she acquired an easement to light, air and view by prescription. However, such an easement cannot be acquired by prescription. See Maioriello v. Arlotta, 364 Pa. 557, 73 A.2d 374 (1950). This is so, even though the offending structure might serve no useful purpose and might have been erected solely to annoy the plaintiff, (of which there was no evidence in this case). Cohen v. Perrino, 355 Pa. 455, 50 A.2d 348 (1947).

[6]*6Consequently, as between plaintiff and the individual defendants, plaintiffs complaint must be dismissed.

Plaintiff also argues that the building permit was issued in violation of various provisions of the borough’s zoning ordinance, and consequently, is illegal and should be revoked. If so, the permit could be revoked notwithstanding defendant, Cyback, has made expenditures in reliance thereon.

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Related

Upper Moreland Township v. Meade
218 A.2d 271 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1966)
Vogt v. Port Vue Borough
85 A.2d 688 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1952)
Maioriello v. Arlotta
73 A.2d 374 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1950)
Cohen Et Ux. v. Perrino Et Ux.
50 A.2d 348 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1946)
Exchange Bank & Trust Co. v. Bartley
39 A.2d 833 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1944)
Meyers v. Board of Adjustment
188 A.2d 730 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1963)
Al Monzo Construction Co. v. Monroeville Borough
289 A.2d 496 (Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, 1972)

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Bluebook (online)
31 Pa. D. & C.3d 1, 1982 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 59, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/adasiak-v-cyback-pactcomplbeaver-1982.