Binder v. Village of Golden Valley

110 N.W.2d 306, 260 Minn. 418, 1961 Minn. LEXIS 590
CourtSupreme Court of Minnesota
DecidedJuly 14, 1961
Docket38,107
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 110 N.W.2d 306 (Binder v. Village of Golden Valley) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Minnesota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Binder v. Village of Golden Valley, 110 N.W.2d 306, 260 Minn. 418, 1961 Minn. LEXIS 590 (Mich. 1961).

Opinion

Thomas Gallagher, Justice.

Action to enjoin the village of Golden Valley and members of its council from approving a proposed plat designated “Adeline Addition” *419 submitted by intervening defendant, Adeline Oys; and from approving dedication of a street as laid out therein designated “Adeline Lane.” At the commencement of the proceedings July 21, 1959, a temporary restraining order was granted on plaintiffs’ motion. On March 22, 1960, the court denied plaintiffs’ motion for a temporary injunction and set aside the temporary restraining order of July 21, 1959. On plaintiffs’ appeal from that order, this court ordered a temporary injunction pending the outcome of the appeal.

The facts are as follows: Plaintiffs are the owners of Lot 1, Block 5, Thotland’s Twin View Terrace, a platted subdivision of the village of Golden Valley. It is zoned for residential purposes only and plaintiffs have completed construction of a single family dwelling thereon at a total cost of $48,482.32. They have occupied this structure as their homestead since its completion in July 1957.

The easterly side of this house faces Sweeney Lake. Its northerly or front side faces Angelo Drive. On this side the house is set back approximately 28 feet from Angelo Drive at its closest point thereto and approximately 41 feet at its farthest point therefrom. The easterly side of the structure is set back about 15 feet from the east lot line. Angelo Drive is 60 feet in width, as are all streets in Thotland’s Twin View Terrace.

The zoning ordinance of the village requires that residential structures on any lots therein are to be set back 15 feet from the side lines of such lot and 35 feet from the front line thereof. In plaintiffs’ case the village authorized the modification of this ordinance as to the required minimum setback from the front lot line so that adjacent homeowners would have a better view of Sweeney Lake. The subdivision requirements ordinance provides that 60 feet shall be the minimum width for neighborhood residential streets and 50 feet for minor residential streets.

The proposed plat of “Adeline Addition” covers a tract of land adjacent to the east line of plaintiffs’ lot. Four lots are indicated thereon, all of which slope eastward down to Sweeney Lake. “Adeline Lane” as shown thereon is a street 40 feet in width adjacent to the east line of plaintiffs’ lot. Approval of the plat with the street as thus indicated would leave plaintiffs’ lot at the comer of Angelo Drive *420 and “Adeline Lane.” The zoning ordinance requires that structures on comer lots be set back 35 feet from each of the intersecting streets so that if the plat is approved as submitted plaintiffs’ house would not comply with such ordinance. 1 The village planning commission recommended that the four lots located in the proposed subdivision might have structures thereon set back only 25 feet from the east line of “Adeline Lane” rather than the 35 feet required by the zoning ordinance.

Ordinances of the defendant village require that proposed plats of subdivisions to the village be first submitted to the planning commission for preliminary approval; thereafter, to the council for preliminary approval or modification; thereafter, again to the planning commission for its final action; and thereafter again to the council for its final approval.

On June 11, 1959, the proposed plat of “Adeline Addition” was first submitted to the village planning commission for preliminary approval. At that time plaintiff Manuel R. Binder appeared before the commission and voiced his objections to the plat on the ground that it did not comply with the ordinances above described. On July 6 the commission nevertheless recommended preliminary approval of the plat if modified in certain respects not material here. On July 7, 1959, as thus approved, it was submitted to and approved by the village council. On July 16, 1959, the planning commission recommended its final approval and acceptance by the village council. Before the latter could act in the matter, plaintiffs instituted the present proceedings.

In denying plaintiffs’ motion for a temporary injunction, the trial court in its findings set forth the following:

“Plaintiffs in reliance on the provisions of the Zoning Code of Golden Valley purchased a lot in the village and built a home at a cost of approximately $50,000.00. They assumed that others building homes or developing land in neighboring residential areas would be required to comply with the Zoning Code. The plat of Adeline Addition, as *421 submitted to the defendant Village for approval by the defendant Adeline Oys, violates the Zoning Code in several respects and makes the location of plaintiffs’ home nonconforming.”

In a memorandum attached to its findings, the trial court stated:

“* * * It is the rule in this state that unless by the passage of the proposed ordinance plaintiff will suffer irreparable injury, or unless a multiplicity of suits is sought to be avoided, or unless the passage of the ordinance will disturb previously existing contractual obligations, a court of equity will not interfere to enjoin the passage of an ordinance.

“The above rule was announced in Basting v. City of Minneapolis, 112 Minn. 306, 127 N. W. 1131 (1910). * * * The Supreme Court * * * [stated] that the general rule, subject to exceptions, was that equity would not enjoin the passage of an ordinance. The Court set forth the exceptions to the general rule as follows:

“ ‘* * * There mere passage of the ordinance in question will not result in immediate irreparable damage or injury to the plaintiffs, involve a multiplicity of suits, nor disturb or violate previously existing contractual relations.’

“These three cases [Sullivan v. City of East Grand Forks, 131 Minn. 424, 155 N. W. 397; Heller v. Schroeder, 182 Minn. 353, 234 N. W. 461; Basting v. City of Minneapolis, supra] adequately illustrate the rule. It is clear that only under unusual circumstances will a court of equity enjoin the passage of an ordinance. The case at bar is not one of those unusual cases. There is no evidence here that immediate irreparable harm will follow the mere passage of the ordinance. Plaintiff’s action is premature, and if the defendant Village does approve the plat, and if the plat is improper, plaintiff will have adequate means of enforcing his legal rights at that time.”

We are of the opinion that the trial court’s determination was correct. It is well established that judicial authority may not be invoked to restrain legislative action threatening individual rights where there is an adequate remedy at law. Basting v. City of Minneapolis, 112 Minn. 306, 127 N. W. 1131; Sullivan v. City of East Grand Forks, 131 Minn. 424, 155 N. W. 397; Heller v. Schroeder, 182 Minn. 353, 234 *422 N. W. 461. In Basting v. City of Minneapolis, supra, it was stated (112 Minn. 308, 127 N. W. 1132):

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115 N.W.2d 734 (Supreme Court of Minnesota, 1962)

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Bluebook (online)
110 N.W.2d 306, 260 Minn. 418, 1961 Minn. LEXIS 590, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/binder-v-village-of-golden-valley-minn-1961.