Armstrong Township v. Lycoming County Board of Assessment Appeals and Choice FuelCorp, Inc. ~ Appeal of: Choice FuelCorp, Inc.

CourtCommonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
DecidedApril 5, 2024
Docket140 C.D. 2022
StatusUnpublished

This text of Armstrong Township v. Lycoming County Board of Assessment Appeals and Choice FuelCorp, Inc. ~ Appeal of: Choice FuelCorp, Inc. (Armstrong Township v. Lycoming County Board of Assessment Appeals and Choice FuelCorp, Inc. ~ Appeal of: Choice FuelCorp, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Armstrong Township v. Lycoming County Board of Assessment Appeals and Choice FuelCorp, Inc. ~ Appeal of: Choice FuelCorp, Inc., (Pa. Ct. App. 2024).

Opinion

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Armstrong Township : : v. : No. 140 C.D. 2022 : Submitted: April 21, 2023 Lycoming County Board of : Assessment Appeals and : Choice FuelCorp, Inc. : : Appeal of: Choice FuelCorp, Inc. :

BEFORE: HONORABLE RENÉE COHN JUBELIRER, President Judge HONORABLE CHRISTINE FIZZANO CANNON, Judge HONORABLE LORI A. DUMAS, Judge

OPINION NOT REPORTED

MEMORANDUM OPINION BY JUDGE DUMAS FILED: April 5, 2024

Choice FuelCorp, Inc. (Choice) appeals from the order of the Court of Common Pleas of Lycoming County (trial court), dated January 25, 2022, granting the motion to enforce a settlement agreement filed by Armstrong Township (Township). After careful review, we reverse the trial court’s order. I. BACKGROUND1 In 2006, Choice purchased the property at issue, located in Lycoming County (Property). The Property has a preexisting, non-conforming use as a fuel tank storage farm. In July 2016, Choice entered into a consent order and agreement in order to undertake improvements to the Property and bring the tanks back to operational status. To obtain the required permits and approvals for the endeavor, Choice was required to submit a market value report to the Township. Choice

1 Unless otherwise stated, we base the statement of facts on the opinion of the trial court. See Trial Ct. Op., 1/25/22, at 1-5 (unpaginated). complied with this requirement and submitted a report concluding that the Property’s market value was $3,700,000.00. At the time, the Township’s assessed value of the Property was $237,180.00. Because of the large discrepancy between the Township’s assessed value and Choice’s reported market value, the Township requested that the Lycoming County Board of Assessment Appeals (Board) reassess the Property for the purposes of a 2020 real estate tax assessment. In October 2019, the Board held a hearing regarding the Township’s request. At the hearing, the Township argued that because the assessed value of the Property was significantly less than Choice’s own market value, the Property should be reassessed at a higher value. See, e.g., Pet. for Appeal, 11/13/19, ¶¶ 1-23. Following the hearing, the Board mailed an order denying the Township’s request and finding no change in the assessed value of the Property. See Decision Order, 10/15/19. The order stated that both the old and new assessed value of the Property was $237,180.00. See id.2 The Township appealed to the trial court.3 Following several continuances, the trial court held a de novo hearing on February 26, 2021. The parties disputed the value of the Property, the highest and best use of the Property, and whether the Property’s use as a biochemical fuel storage facility was legally

2 The Township asserted that the Lycoming County Assessment Office records reflected that the land was assessed at $73,050.00, and the buildings were assessed at $164,130.00. See Pet. for Appeal, 11/13/19. The Board’s decision order states only that the assessed value was $237,180.00 and does not provide any reasoning for this decision; the basis for the Township’s determination is unclear from the record as provided. 3 Choice filed preliminary objections, arguing that the Township’s appeal failed to identify an alleged market value as of the date the appeal was filed. See Prelim. Objs., 1/15/20, ¶¶ 1-5. From the docket and original record, it does not appear that the trial court ever issued an order resolving the objections.

2 permissible. See Trial Ct. Op., 3/12/21, at 3.4 Ultimately, the trial court concluded that the use as a tank farm was legally permissible, that use as a tank farm was the highest and best use of the Property, and that the “fair market value” of the Property was $774,177.00.5 See Trial Ct. Op., 3/12/21, at 11. The trial court entered an order vacating the Board’s decision. See id. Choice and the Township filed motions for post-trial relief, challenging the trial court’s determination of fair market value. The Township argued that the trial court erred by disregarding its expert’s conclusion regarding storage tank capacity, which lowered the market value of the Property. See Twp. Mot., 3/22/21, at 1-8 (unpaginated). According to the Township, the Property’s fair market value should have been set at $1,900,000.00. See id. Choice, on the other hand, contended that the trial court had erred in its calculation of the Property’s value6 and exceeded its authority as the finder of fact by rendering an “opinion” of the value that was not supported by the record. See

4 Both Choice’s and the Township’s experts explained during their testimony that in order to determine the market value of a property, the highest and best use analysis must be considered. See Trial Ct. Op., 3/12/21, at 3. 5 Although the appeal was from the Board’s decision regarding the Property’s assessed value, the trial court’s order did not address the Property’s assessed value, nor did it identify the common level ratio (CLR) to be applied to the Property’s fair market value. See Trial Ct. Op., 3/12/21, at 3; see also Decision Order, 10/15/19. Section 102 of The General County Assessment Law defines the CLR as “the ratio of assessed value to current market value used generally in the county as last determined by the State Tax Equalization Board pursuant to the act of June 27, 1947 (P.L. 1046, No. 447), referred to as the State Tax Equalization Board Law.” Act of May 22, 1933, P.L. 853, as amended, 72 P.S. § 5020-102. In appeals from assessments, the trial court should make the determination of the market value as of the date such appeal was filed, and the common level ratio applicable in the original appeal. See Section 518.2 of the General County Assessment Law, added by the Act of December 13, 1982, P.L. 1160, 72 P.S. § 5020-518.2. 6 Choice’s motion for post-trial relief does not make clear whether “value” referred to assessed or fair market value, nor did it identify a specific number it considered appropriate. See Choice Mot. for Post-Trial Relief, 3/30/21, ¶¶ 1-3. Rather, Choice took issue with the trial court’s findings of fact regarding value per square foot of the buildings located on the Property and the value and cost of new tanks installed on the Property. See id.

3 Choice Mot. for Post-Trial Relief, 3/30/21, ¶¶ 1-3. Additionally, Choice contended that the trial court had erred by failing to credit and apply the common level ratio at issue in the original appeal to the Board as required by 53 Pa.C.S. § 8854(a)(2)-(3). See id. The trial court heard argument on the motions. However, before the trial court could dispose of either motion, the parties informed the trial court that they were engaged in settlement negotiations for tax years 2020 and 2021. Those negotiations culminated in May 2021, with an email exchange between counsel for the parties and Jason Weisz, Choice’s owner.7 However, an apparent agreement quickly ended when Weisz informed his counsel that he would not agree to the terms proposed. After negotiations broke down, the Township filed a motion to enforce the settlement agreement. The Township argued that Choice had tendered an offer of settlement that was accepted by the Township and that there was no legally valid reason to nullify the agreement.8 See Twp. Mot. to Enforce Settlement, 5/28/21. Choice responded that the parties had not reached an enforceable settlement agreement. See Choice Resp. to Mot. to Enforce Settlement Agreement, 6/16/21. Following an evidentiary hearing and oral argument, the trial court granted the Township’s motion. Thus, the trial court determined that Choice had agreed to a 2020 assessed value of $544,246.43, and a 2021 assessed value of $1,000,000.00. Choice timely appealed to this Court.

7 Attorney Michael Wiley (Wiley) represented the Township; Attorney Scott Williams (Williams or Choice’s counsel) represented Choice and Jason Weisz (collectively, Choice). See Twp. Mot.

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Armstrong Township v. Lycoming County Board of Assessment Appeals and Choice FuelCorp, Inc. ~ Appeal of: Choice FuelCorp, Inc., Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/armstrong-township-v-lycoming-county-board-of-assessment-appeals-and-pacommwct-2024.