City of Mobile v. Cardinal Woods Apartments, Ltd.

727 So. 2d 48, 1999 Ala. LEXIS 4, 1999 WL 6997
CourtSupreme Court of Alabama
DecidedJanuary 8, 1999
Docket1961894
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 727 So. 2d 48 (City of Mobile v. Cardinal Woods Apartments, Ltd.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
City of Mobile v. Cardinal Woods Apartments, Ltd., 727 So. 2d 48, 1999 Ala. LEXIS 4, 1999 WL 6997 (Ala. 1999).

Opinion

COOK, Justice.

The City of Mobile appeals from a judgment declaring that an ordinance passed by the Mobile City Council was invalid. We affirm.

This dispute began when Saad Development Corporation, owned by Gregory Saad, began planning to develop a 12-acre parcel of property owned by JCC, L.L.C., that is, the Jewish Community Center, a “limited liability company” (hereinafter “JCC”). The property is located in the City of Mobile. At the outset, the 12-aere parcel (“the JCC property”) was located in an area zoned for residential use. On July 24, 1995, Gregory Saad filed with the Mobile City Planning Commission an “Application for Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance.” In it he sought action rezoning the JCC property to “B-l (Buffer Business)” and “B-2 (Neighborhood Business), upon which a restaurant is a permitted use.” Brief of Appellant, at 1. The application also contained a provision stating:

“11. DESCRIBE BRIEFLY THE CONTEMPLATED USE AND CHARACTER OF IMPROVEMENTS TO BE CONSTRUCTED ON THIS PROPERTY:
“Construct a Restaurant on Lot 1 and a Professional Office Park on Lots 2 & 3.”

(Emphasis added.)

Gregory Saad then sent letters dated July 26, 1995, to owners of property adjacent to, or in the neighborhood of, the JCC property, one of which was Cardinal Woods Apartments, Ltd. (“Cardinal Woods”). Those letters stated in pertinent part:

“I am writing in an effort to provide you with information regarding the zoning and subdivision applications submitted by my company to the City of Mobile for the above referenced property. It is our goal to provide you with as much information as is reasonably possible and to make myself available to address your questions regarding these applications.
“The property consists of approximately twelve acres of land which is currently being used by the YMCA as a day camp on a temporary basis. In the years past, this property was part of a larger parcel which was known as the ‘Highland Country Club.’
“Our application for subdivision is requesting a three lot subdivision. As outlined on the enclosed plat, Lots 1 and 2 each have approximately 230 feet on Airport Boulevard. Lot 1 is planned for a specialty retail development for small specialty retail shops. Lots 2 and 3 are planned for professional office use. The office development is currently planned to provide approximately 60,000 square feet of office space located on Lot 3, which is considered the rear parcel. Lot 2 is being requested for B-l and will be a landscaped parking area.
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“I will be at the Jewish Community Center on August 10, 1995, between 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm so that I can meet you and address your questions in the event you and I have not had an opportunity to discuss the applications prior to this date. However, please feel free to call me at 478-7223 if you wish to discuss the applications. I want you to know that I am a lifetime resident of Mobile and I have a vest[50]*50ed interest in helping to develop our community in a positive way.”

The record contains two additional letters concerning the same subject matter, one dated August 8, 1995, addressed to Kerry Heg-wood, and one dated August 12, 1995, addressed to Bill Gillerlain. The August 8 letter, like the July 26 letter, referred to the proposed development only as a “professional office project” and a’ “retail project.” The letters indicate that neighborhood meetings were held to discuss Saad’s proposals. Also, in a letter dated July 28, 1995, the Planning Commission notified neighborhood property owners of a “public hearing [to be held] on August 17, 1995, ... to consider [Saad’s] application.”

At the August 17, 1995, meeting of the Planning Commission, the three letters dated July 26, 1995, August 8, 1995, and August 12, 1995, were discussed. The parties refer to these three letters as “letters of agreement.” Brief of Appellees, passim; see also Brief of Appellant, at 17-18.

On August 18, 1995, the Planning Commission issued Saad a “Letter of Decision,” stating in pertinent part:

“At its meeting on August 17, 1995, the Planning Commission considered your request for a change in zoning from R-l to B-l and B-2 for retail shops and professional offices. After discussion it was decided to recommend the approval of this change in zoning to the City Council subject to the following conditions:
“(1) submission and approval of a PUD application for the entire site;
“(2) provision of buffer protection along the north, east and west property lines, including a 15’ buffer along the east property line;
“(3) provision of a 6’ privacy fence along the east property line;
“(4) developer to be responsible for turn lane and deceleration lane improvements;
“(5) limited to thé revised site plan submitted at the meeting, as required to be revised by this approval;
“(6) design modifications for realignment of the drive to be worked out with the Traffic Engineering Department;
“(7) compliance with- the letters of agreement as submitted by the applicant at the meeting.”

On September 8, 1995, and again on September 15, 1995, notices were published in the Mobile Press Register, stating in pertinent part:

“NOTICE OF HEARING “ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE “ZONING ORDINANCE
“Notice is hereby given that the City Council of Mobile proposes to consider the adoption of the attached amendment to the Ordinance adopted on the 16th day of May 1967, and known as the ‘Zoning Ordinance.’ The adoption of such amendment will be considered by the City Council of Mobile in the Auditorium of the Government Plaza, located at 205 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama, on the 3rd day of October 1995, at 12:00 noon. At such time and place, all persons who desire shall have an opportunity to be heard in opposition to, or in favor of the amendment. Furthermore, the City Council at this public hearing may consider zoning classifications other than that sought by the applicant for this property.
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“BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOBILE AS FOLLOWS:
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“The classification of said property is hereby changed ... to B-l Buffer Business (Parcel 1) District and B-2, Neighborhood Business (Parcel 2) District, and it shall hereafter be lawful to construct on such property any structures permitted by the ... Zoning Ordinance, and to use said premises for any use permitted by the terms of said Ordinance in B-l, Buffer Business (Parcel 1) District and B-2, Neighborhood Business (Parcel 2) District, provided, however, that the plans for any [51]

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
727 So. 2d 48, 1999 Ala. LEXIS 4, 1999 WL 6997, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/city-of-mobile-v-cardinal-woods-apartments-ltd-ala-1999.