Collins v. Lonergan

151 Misc. 2d 994
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedAugust 26, 1991
StatusPublished

This text of 151 Misc. 2d 994 (Collins v. Lonergan) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Collins v. Lonergan, 151 Misc. 2d 994 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1991).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

J. Radley Herold, J.

In a case of first impression, this court holds that the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Town of Lewisboro, New York [995]*995erred in its determination and direction that a building permit be issued for the erection of a large skateboarding ramp on residential property in its finding that the erection of such a structure was proper as a matter of right as an accessory use which was customarily incidental to the primary residential use of the land under the town Zoning Ordinance.

This is a CPLR article 78 proceeding whereby petitioners, James R. and Donna C. Collins (Collins), seek a judgment which would reverse, annul and set aside a determination made by respondent, Town of Lewisboro, New York, Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). In this regard, on June 26, 1991, the ZBA, by a 3 to 2 vote determined, inter alla, that the erection of a skateboarding ramp was a "permitted accessory structure” which was "customarily incidental to the principal permitted use” of a residence under the Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Lewisboro (Town). In accordance with its decision, the ZBA directed that the Town’s Building Inspector, corespondent Murray Crandell, issue a conditional building permit to corespondents Charles Fred Yackulic and Margaret N. Yackulic, also known as Margaret Notley (Yackulic). The ZBA’s decision was filed with the Town Clerk’s office on July 16, 1991, however, by order of this court dated July 18, 1991, and by the stipulation of the parties, construction of the skateboarding ramp was stayed pending the determination of this proceeding.

Petitioners’ primary contentions are that, in reaching this determination, the ZBA acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner and that its determination was not supported by substantial evidence. Moreover, petitioners also contend that the ZBA determination was made in violation of lawful procedure, was affected by an error of law and that ZBA failed to perform a duty enjoined upon it by law, acting in excess of its jurisdiction. Respondents have denied these allegations and contend that the ZBA determination was supported by substantial evidence.

With respect to petitioner’s contention that the ZBA determination was not supported by "substantial evidence” (see, CPLR 7803 [4]), this court’s review is limited to a consideration of whether there is "proof within the whole record of such quality and quantity as to generate the conviction in and persuade a fair and detached fact finder that, from that proof as a premise, a conclusion or ultimate fact may be extracted reasonably — probatively and logically” (see, 300 Gramatan Ave. Assocs. v State Div. of Human Rights, 45 NY2d 176, 181). [996]*996Since a determination involving substantial evidence is one of law, the court may not substitute its own judgment for that of the hearing agency or administrative body (see, Matter of Purdy v Kreisberg, 47 NY2d 354, 358). But such a test does require a review of the entire record and a determination as to whether or not there is a "rational basis” in it for the findings of fact supporting the decision of the agency or board (see, 300 Gramatan Ave. Assocs. v State Div. of Human Rights, supra, at 182; see also, Matter of Pell v Board of Educ., 34 NY2d 222; Siegel, NY Prac, § 560 [2d ed 1991]).

Moreover, petitioner’s contention that the ZBA’s decision was "arbitrary and capricious” (see, CPLR 7803 [3]) requires an examination of the record upon which the decision was made. In this regard a determination is "arbitrary and capricious” if it is made "without sound basis in reason * * * without regard to the facts” (see, Matter of Pell v Board of Educ., supra, at 231).

These two standards require the same analysis by the court, inasmuch as "[rationality is what is reviewed under both the substantial evidence rule and the arbitrary and capricious standard” (supra, at 231; see also, Siegel, op. cit., § 561, at 881-882). A review of the record indicates the substance of the evidence upon which the ZBA made its determination:

The respondent Yackulic’s residence is situated on 3.8 acres located in a zoned 2-acre residential district (R2A) on Todd Road in Katonah, Town of Lewisboro, New York. Petitioners Collins are adjoining property owners. In December of 1990 the Yackulics commenced to assemble a large wooden skateboard ramp for erection in the back of their home. The ramp is constructed from plywood sheets with a masonite surface. The ramp is "L” shaped in configuration and incorporates a half-pipe type design which allows a skater to descend and ascend over the half-arc surface. The ramp’s dimensions vary from 3 to 4 feet in height, 8 to 12 feet in width and 28 to 36 feet in length. The skateboard ramp was to be used by the Yackulics’ two teen-age sons and their friends to practice their skills in skateboarding.

Soon after the assembly of the ramp commenced, the Town Building Inspector, corespondent Crandell, informed the Yackulics that the erection of the ramp would require a building permit. However, when the application was made, Crandell denied it on December 14, 1990, stating that the ramp was a [997]*997"structure”1 which was not a "customary [sic] accessory use” under section 321.42 of the Town Zoning Ordinance.

On April 22, 1991, the Yackulics appealed Crandell’s determination to the ZBA, seeking, in the alternative, a variance under section 321.4 of the code. The ZBA conducted open hearings on May 22 and June 26, 1991. Moreover, ZBA members personally visited the proposed site, adjoining properties and two skateboard sites of similar design located out of the Town. In addition, the ZBA noted that there was no wetlands issue involved in the application and that for purposes of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (ECL 8-0101 et seq.) the building of the ramp was a type II exempt action for which no environmental impact statement was needed. Finally the ZBA considered correspondence from local citizens both for and against the proposed project.

During the course of its hearings the citizens of the community, including the Yackulics and Collinses, made known their considerations and concerns to the ZBA which included the following general topics: Potential noise arising from the use of the ramp and methods to lessen the noise; neighborhood appearances and the effect or lack thereof on local property values; lighting used for the ramp and its proposed hours of use; safety concerns of the children of the applicants and their friends; the possibility of increased traffic in the neighborhood and evidence that the Yackulics’ son would use the ramp to practice and perfect his skills in the "sport” of skateboarding which was alleged to be of some popularity nationwide.

In its June 26, 1991 determination, the ZBA found, inter alia, that, based upon the evidence submitted: there was no substantive wetlands issue which would prevent the erection of the ramp; there was no proof that the erection of the ramp [998]*998would result in a diminution of property values; there is a risk of injury to those using the ramp, however the Yackulics indicated that they would provide insurance and supervision of the ramp’s use.

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Related

Presnell v. Leslie
144 N.E.2d 381 (New York Court of Appeals, 1957)
300 Gramatan Avenue Associates v. State Division of Human Rights
379 N.E.2d 1183 (New York Court of Appeals, 1978)
Purdy v. Kreisberg
391 N.E.2d 1307 (New York Court of Appeals, 1979)
Porianda v. Amelkin
115 A.D.2d 650 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1985)

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Bluebook (online)
151 Misc. 2d 994, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/collins-v-lonergan-nysupct-1991.