City of Pepper Pike v. Landskroner

371 N.E.2d 579, 53 Ohio App. 2d 63, 95 A.L.R. 3d 364, 7 Ohio Op. 3d 44, 1977 Ohio App. LEXIS 6975
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJuly 21, 1977
Docket35796
StatusPublished
Cited by33 cases

This text of 371 N.E.2d 579 (City of Pepper Pike v. Landskroner) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
City of Pepper Pike v. Landskroner, 371 N.E.2d 579, 53 Ohio App. 2d 63, 95 A.L.R. 3d 364, 7 Ohio Op. 3d 44, 1977 Ohio App. LEXIS 6975 (Ohio Ct. App. 1977).

Opinion

Krenzlek, J.

On May 15, 1975, Patrolman Raymond Walters ;of. .the. Pepper Pike Police Department filed a sworn-, complaint in the Municipal Court of Shaker Heights against the defendant-appellant, Lawrence Lands-kroner, hereinafter referred to as the appellant, in which he alleged that .on or about May 1, 1975, at 2460 Snowberry Lane/in the City of Pepper Pike* Cuyahoga. County, Ohio, the-.-appellant. did store, a. house trailer in. .the .open , and on a- premise where a single-family dwelling existed in. viola *65 tion of Section -1143.02 of the Codified Ordinances of-the city of Pepper Pike. 1

The appellant filed a motion to qnash the complaint .oh-the basis that ordinance 1143.02 does not apply to him because it prohibits house trailers from being stored in the' open on single-family premises and that his vehicle is á self-: propelled motor home and not a house trailer. The appellee argues that R. C. 4501.01(d), 2 which at the time this *66 action was brought, defined house trailers as including both nonself-propelled and self-propelled vehicles, is applicable to ordinance 1143.02.

The trial court overruled the motion to quash and held that as a matter of law the definition of house trailer contained in R. C. 4501.01 (J) was applicable to the Pepper Pike ordinance.

*67 The ease was tried to the court on October 16 and November 3, 1975, which on December 1, 1975, found the appellant guilty and fined him $250 and costs, with $175 oí the fine suspended and placed him on inactive probation for one year. 3

In its decision, the trial court found that the appellant was charged with a violation of Section 1143.02 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Pepper Pike, which prohibits the storing of a commercial vehicle or trailer, including house trailers, in the open on any premises where a single-family dwelling has been erected.

The court further found that the appellant’s house trailer, also described as a recreational vehicle, was for some period of time and up to the time of trial observed by the city officials standing in the open on the premises of the appellant which premises contain a single-family dwelling.

The trial court stated that the appellant’s primary argument was that the ordinance was unenforceable and invalid on the basis that its purpose was based on aesthetic considerations and not related to health, safety, morals or general welfare of the community. The court found that there was no evidence adduced to substantiate that express motive or intent.

The court further held that there was a lack of evidence to overcome the presumption of the validity of the ordinance. The trial court found that Section 1143.02 of the Codified Ordinances of the city of Pepper Pike is a valid exercise of the powers of the city council and that it bears, a substantial relationship to the health, safety, morals and welfare of the community.

The appellant has taken this appeal and has three assignments of error:

“I. The trial court erred in not finding Section 1143.02 of the Pepper Pike Planning & Zoning Code to be both *68 cm its face and as applied an unconstitutional denial of property without due process of law.
“II. The trial court erred in not finding Section 1143.-02 of the city of Pepper Pike Planning and Zoning Code unconstitutionally vague in that it fails to adequately define the meaning of the term ‘house trailer.’
“III. The trial court erred in not finding Section-1143.-02 of the city of Pepper Pike Planning and Zoning Code unconstitutionally vague in that it fails to adequately define the meaning of the term ‘store.’ ”

We have before us only the original papers, exhibits and docket of the journal entries. The appellant did not file a verbatim or narrative transcript of testimony nor did he file an agreed statement of evidence as provided for in App. R. 9(B), (C) and (D).

In his three assignments of error, the appellant raises three issues regarding the validity of ordinance 1143.02. The first is that the ordinance is unconstitutional on its face and as applied to the appellant because it is not based on the health, safety, morals or general welfare of the community but that its primary purpose is one of aesthetic considerations. The second is that the ordinance is unconstitutional as applied to him because it only pertains to trailers and house trailers and that the vehicle observed upon his premises is a self-propelled motor home which is not a proscribed vehicle. His third reason is that the ordinance is unconstitutionally vague because it does noi properly define the term “store” and is unconstitutional as applied to the appellant because his vehicle was not stored on his premises.

In this case, we are dealing Avith a municipal ordinance that prohibits outside storage of trailers on single-family premises. Many municipalities have enacted similar ordinances which prohibit outside parking or storage of trailers and other types of recreational vehicles in residential neighborhoods. These ordinances variously pertain to different types of vehicles and equipment such as trailers, house trailers, travel trailers, campers, vans, motor homes, truck campers and others which we shall refer to eollec *69 tively as recreational vehicles. Some municipalities, such as Pepper Pike, permit the storage of these vehicles in a residential neighborhood if the vehicle is enclosed or screened.

These ordinances are generally enacted as a part of the zoning regulations of the municipalities. The authority for a municipal corporation to enact zoning regulations is contained in Section 3, Article XVIII of the Ohio Constitution, which provides that municipalities shall have authority to exercise all powers of local self-government and to adopt and enforce within their limits such local police, sanitary and other similar regulations, as are not in conflict with general laws.

Zoning ordinances which in their enactment and application are rationally based on the objective of promoting the health, safety, morals or general welfare of a community are constitutionally within the police power of a municipal government. Village of Euclid v. Ambler Real ty Co. (1926), 272 U. S. 365; Mobil Oil Corp. v. Rocky River (1974), 38 Ohio St. 2d 23; Pritz v. Messer (1925), 112 Ohio St. 628. That a particular zoning act is based upon these legitimate purposes is usually specifically stated in the enabling legislation. Section 1131.01 of the Pepper Pike ordinances provides that city council finds that the public health, safety, convenience, comfort, prosperity and general welfare will be promoted by the regulations and restrictions enacted in the zoning code.

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Bluebook (online)
371 N.E.2d 579, 53 Ohio App. 2d 63, 95 A.L.R. 3d 364, 7 Ohio Op. 3d 44, 1977 Ohio App. LEXIS 6975, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/city-of-pepper-pike-v-landskroner-ohioctapp-1977.