Bloomsburg Town Center, LLC v. Town of Bloomsburg

CourtCommonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
DecidedNovember 5, 2020
Docket905 C.D. 2019
StatusUnpublished

This text of Bloomsburg Town Center, LLC v. Town of Bloomsburg (Bloomsburg Town Center, LLC v. Town of Bloomsburg) 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
Bloomsburg Town Center, LLC v. Town of Bloomsburg, (Pa. Ct. App. 2020).

Opinion

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Bloomsburg Town Center, LLC : : v. : : Town of Bloomsburg, : No. 905 C.D. 2019 Appellant : Argued: September 17, 2020

BEFORE: HONORABLE RENÉE COHN JUBELIRER, Judge HONORABLE MICHAEL H. WOJCIK, Judge HONORABLE CHRISTINE FIZZANO CANNON, Judge

OPINION NOT REPORTED

MEMORANDUM OPINION BY JUDGE FIZZANO CANNON FILED: November 5, 2020

The Town of Bloomsburg (Town) appeals an order of the Court of Common Pleas of the 26th Judicial District, Columbia County branch (trial court), reversing the decision of the Town Council of Bloomsburg (Town Council) that denied Bloomsburg Town Center, LLC’s (BTC) curative amendment challenge to the validity of the Town’s Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance). Upon review, we reverse. In general, a municipality is required to authorize all legitimate non- residential land uses somewhere within its boundaries unless it can establish that the exclusion bears a relationship to the public health, safety, morals, and general welfare. See Beaver Gasoline Co. v. Zoning Bd. of the Borough of Osborne, 285 A.2d 501, 505 (Pa. 1971). Zoning ordinances that exclude uses are categorized as either de jure or de facto exclusionary. MarkWest Liberty Midstream & Res., LLC v. Cecil Twp. Zoning Hearing Bd., 102 A.3d 549, 571 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2014). In a de jure exclusion case, “the challenger alleges that an ordinance on its face totally excludes a use.” Id. at 571-72 (quoting Twp. of Exeter v. Zoning Hearing Bd. of Exeter Twp., 962 A.2d 653, 659 (Pa. 2009)).1 BTC owns a 17.23-acre property located at 595 West 11th Street (Property) within the Town’s Industrial Park (I-P) Zoning District upon which it proposes to construct a substance abuse treatment center. Reproduced Record (R.R.) at 1a, 562a, 585a. On January 27, 2017, BTC submitted a challenge to Town Council, pursuant to Section 609.1 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC),2 asserting that the Ordinance is unconstitutionally exclusionary because it “fails to provide for substance abuse treatment and recovery programs and services” as a permitted use within any of the Town’s zoning districts. R.R. at 1a. While the Ordinance at issue does not allow for medical clinics and hospitals, including outpatient facilities, as permitted uses in the district where the

1 Here, it is undisputed that BTC is raising a de jure exclusion challenge as a drug and alcohol treatment center is not expressly provided for as a defined use category anywhere within the Town. 2 Act of July 31, 1968, P.L. 805, as amended, added by the Act of December 21, 1988, P.L. 1329, 53 P.S. § 10609.1. Section 609.1(a) of the MPC provides, in part:

[a] landowner who desires to challenge on substantive grounds the validity of a zoning ordinance or map or any provision thereof, which prohibits or restricts the use or development of land in which he has an interest may submit a curative amendment to the governing body with a written request that his challenge and proposed amendment be heard and decided as provided in section 916.1. The governing body shall commence a hearing thereon within 60 days of the request . . . .

53 P.S. § 10609.1(a).

2 Property is located, the Town’s Health Care (HE-C) Zoning District and Residential Conservation (R-C) Zoning District permit those uses. The Ordinance defines hospital3 as:

A place for diagnosis, treatment or other care of humans on an around the clock basis, having facilities used primarily for inpatient medical and surgical care and for the treatment of sick and disabled persons.

Ordinance § 27-302; R.R. at 24a. The Ordinance defines “medical clinics” as:

Establishments primarily engaged in furnishing medical, surgical or other services to individuals, including the offices or [sic] physicians, dentists and other health care practitioners, medical and dental laboratories, outpatient care facilities, blood banks and oxygen and miscellaneous types of medical supplies and services.

Ordinance § 27-302; R.R. at 25a.4 Along with its challenge, BTC submitted a proposed curative amendment that would revise chapter 27 of the Ordinance and create a Health and Human Service Campus (HHSC) Overlay District encompassing the Property. R.R. at 1a-9a. BTC subsequently submitted a revised curative amendment listing 14 permitted uses within the proposed HHSC Overlay District, only 2 of which are relevant to this appeal, namely “Alcohol and Substance Abuse Addiction Treatment

3 The Ordinance also separately defines the term “medical offices” as “[a]n office of licensed physicians, dentists and other health practitioners.” Ordinance § 27-302; R.R. at 25a. 4 Notably, the Ordinance specifically states all uses not specifically permitted in the HE-C and R-C Zoning Districts—the districts where hospitals and/or medical clinics are permitted—are prohibited. Ordinance §§ 27-501 & 512; R.R. at 33a, 46a.

3 and Recovery Programs, Housing, and Services,” and “Behavioral Health, Wellness, and Substance Abuse Treatment Services.” R.R. at 10a. Town Council conducted hearings on BTC’s curative amendment challenge on March 20, 2017, and May 9, 2017. R.R. at 322a, 357a. Matthew Zoppetti, managing member of BTC and lead developer of the project, testified that BTC planned to provide a comprehensive substance abuse treatment program where individuals would first participate in an inpatient detoxification program for 30 to 90 days, while simultaneously receiving counseling, career training, and physical fitness programming.5 R.R. at 327a-28a. Mr. Zoppetti further testified that the program would provide longer-term living with access to a wide range of facilities including a Navy SEAL-inspired obstacle course, gymnasium, swimming pool, invention center, general store, artisan shop with training in glass, painting and pottery, and an auto body detailing, restoration, and small engine repair shop. R.R. at 328a-29a. Mr. Zoppetti explained that the proposed facility would have a women’s wing with a daycare, as well as an on-site laboratory for drug testing, and individuals would be able to participate in outdoor activities such as gardening, volleyball, bocce, and horseshoes. Id. Mr. Zoppetti confirmed that nurses would be on-site at the detoxification program, and psychologists would provide counseling services, and he assumed physicians may be on-site as well. R.R. at 328a, 336a. He further stated that the facility would be subject to numerous state licensing requirements through the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, and that he intended to hire an

5 BTC’s plans for the proposed facility at the Property include 528 beds for detoxification, inpatient stays, and extensive inpatient and clean living. R.R. at 571a, 587a.

4 operator familiar with state regulations to manage the proposed facility. R.R. at 334a, 337a. On cross-examination, Mr. Zoppetti testified that he had no experience with the operation of a substance abuse treatment center. R.R. at 334a. He also admitted that there was no other facility located in the Commonwealth, or perhaps the entire United States, that was providing the scope of services proposed by BTC for this facility. R.R. at 335a. Alex Poirier, a consultant with experience in hospital administration and a former executive director of a drug and alcohol treatment center, testified as to the community’s need for a comprehensive substance abuse treatment center. R.R. at 340a-43a. Mr. Poirier stated that based upon his experience, substance abuse treatment centers are distinct and different uses from hospitals. R.R. at 343a.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Diversified Health Associates, Inc. v. Zoning Hearing Board
781 A.2d 244 (Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, 2001)
Crystal Forest Associates, LP v. Buckingham Township Supervisors
872 A.2d 206 (Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, 2005)
Cambridge Land Co. v. Township of Marshall
560 A.2d 253 (Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, 1989)
Township of Exeter v. Zoning Hearing Board
962 A.2d 653 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 2009)
Upper Salford Township v. Collins
669 A.2d 335 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1995)
Montgomery Crossing Associates v. Township of Lower Gwynedd
758 A.2d 285 (Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, 2000)
Atiyeh v. BD. OF COM'RS OF TP. OF BETHLEHEM
41 A.3d 232 (Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, 2012)
Piper Group, Inc. v. Bedminster Township Board of Supervisors
30 A.3d 1083 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 2011)
Freedom Healthcare Services, Inc. v. Zoning Hearing Board of New Castle
983 A.2d 1286 (Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, 2009)
Valley View Civic Ass'n v. Zoning Board of Adjustment
462 A.2d 637 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1983)
Ficco v. Board of Supervisors
677 A.2d 897 (Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, 1996)
Thw Group, LLC v. Zoning Board of Adjustment
86 A.3d 330 (Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, 2014)
Markwest Liberty Midstream & Resources, LLC v. Cecil Township Zoning Hearing Board
102 A.3d 549 (Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, 2014)
Beaver Gasoline Co. v. Osborne Borough
285 A.2d 501 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1971)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
Bloomsburg Town Center, LLC v. Town of Bloomsburg, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bloomsburg-town-center-llc-v-town-of-bloomsburg-pacommwct-2020.