DeFalco v. DeChance

949 F. Supp. 2d 422, 2013 WL 2658641, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 83417
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. New York
DecidedJune 13, 2013
DocketNo. 11-CV-05502 (ADS)(ETB)
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 949 F. Supp. 2d 422 (DeFalco v. DeChance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
DeFalco v. DeChance, 949 F. Supp. 2d 422, 2013 WL 2658641, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 83417 (E.D.N.Y. 2013).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION AND ORDER

SPATT, District Judge.

This action arises out of the denial by the Defendant Board of Zoning Appeals for the Town of Brookhaven of the Plaintiff Michael DeFalco’s application for a variance on his property in Brookhaven. On November 30, 2011, DeFalco and William Mathews (“the Plaintiffs”) filed an amended complaint against the Defendants Paul M. Dechanee Chairman of the Board of Zoning Appeals for the Town of Brook-haven, the Board of Zoning Appeals, and the Town of Brookhaven (collectively the “Defendants”), alleging violations of their substantive and procedural due process rights and equal protection rights under the United States Constitution. Presently pending before the Court are a motion by the Defendants for judgment on the pleadings pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure (“Fed.R.Civ.P.”) 12(c) and a motion by the Plaintiffs pursuant to Fed. R.Civ.P. 56 for partial summary judgment on the due process causes of action. For the reasons that follow, the Defendants’ motion for judgment on the pleadings is granted; the Plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgment is denied as moot; and the complaint is dismissed in its entirety.

I. BACKGROUND

For purposes of the motion for judgment on the pleadings, the following facts are drawn from the amended complaint and construed in a light most favorable to the Plaintiffs.

The Plaintiffs are the owners of certain improved real property on Fire Island located on the south side of Ocean Walk, 165 feet east of Nautilus Walk, Fire Island Pines in the Town of Brookhaven. The Defendant Paul M. DeChance (“DeChance”) is the Chairman of the Board of Zoning Appeals for the Town of Brookhaven (“the Board”). Pursuant to the Town Law of the State of New York, the Board is charged with hearing and deciding appeals from and reviewing any order, requirement, decision, interpretation, or de[426]*426termination made by the administrative official charged with the enforcement of any ordinance or local law.

The property at issue, measuring 6,600 feet, is improved with a two-story wood frame. In 1996, the Plaintiffs obtained title to the property for use as a summer home. The existing dwelling measures 1,224 square feet and accounts for 19% of the lot occupancy. Existing amenities account for an additional 23.6% lot occupancy for a total of 42.6% lot coverage. All existing structures are recognized in valid certificates of occupancy.

In 2010, DeFalco applied to the Board seeking certain variances, including: front yard setback and minimum and total yard side variance; a proposed second-story balcony and second-story residence addition; minimum and total side yard variances for a proposed south side second-story balcony and proposed deck addition; and an eight-foot high fence on both side yards. Lastly, DeFalco sought permission to exceed the 35% lot occupancy. In particular, DeFalco proposed to remove decking on the east and west side of the dwelling and replace it with the proposed decking on the south side of the dwelling and was therefore proposing to maintain the same 42.6% lot occupancy.

At a public hearing, DeFalco’s agent testified in support of his application. De-Falco’s request was opposed by a neighboring property owner, Craig Schlossberg. The Board also received letters from the Fire Island Pines Property Owners Association; the Department of the Interior; and the Brookhaven Division of Environmental Protection, which were read into the record.

On May 12, 2011, the Board granted the application in part with respect to the proposed second story residence addition and second story balcony. However, as to the lot coverage request, the Board found as follows:

A. Applicant submitted no evidence of prior grants in the area maintaining 42.6% lot coverage. As the applicant is seeking to significantly alter the existing dwelling, the lot occupancy that currently exists on the subject lot is no longer protected by the Town of Brookhaven certificates described above. As such, the Board finds that the request is outside the nature and character of the community and would have a negative and precedent setting effect if granted.
B. Applicant requests permission to maintain 42.6% lot coverage where 35% is permitted. The Board finds this excessive coverage to be a substantial request when compared to the Code and what presently exists on the ground.
C. The applicant can feasibly conform to the Code’s requirements without losing any of the dwelling space, as the existing structure accounts for only 19% of the lot occupancy. Allowing for some relief in lot occupancy, at 37%, would provide the applicant approximately one thousand square feet of accessory structures on the subject parcel. The Board finds that the applicant, in constructing the decks to the side yard setbacks described above, could feasibly provide adequate accessory area while maintaining lot occupancy at 37%. This would be in close conformity to the Code requirement of 35% than the 42.6% requested herein.
D. The Board finds that the precedent setting nature of 42.6% lot coverage would set a negative precedent and would create a cumulative effect [427]*427which would have a negative impact on the sensitive physical and environmental conditions of the neighborhood.
E. Though the Board recognizes that the applicant is seeking to maintain the same lot coverage as presently exists in the parcel, the Board finds that the applicant’s hardship is self-created in nature as the applicant is proposing structural alterations to the dwelling as defined by the Code but choosing not to return the parcel to the Code required lot coverage of 35%.
As such, the Board finds that the applicant’s request to maintain 42.6% lot coverage, where 35% is permitted, is not the minimum relief necessary and would have a negative effect on the health, safety and welfare of the community. The Board further finds that this detriment will be mitigated by the granting of 37% lot coverage as an alternative to the applicant’s request.

(Def.’s Reply Exh. 6).

A. State Court Action

Prior to the filing of this federal action, DeFaleo commenced a proceeding, DeFalco v. DeChance, Index No. 11-17102, in the New York State Supreme Court, Suffolk County, pursuant to Article 78 of the New York State Civil Practice Law and Rules (CPLR) against the Defendants and related parties. As relevant here, DeFaleo challenged the Board’s decision to the extent it required him to reduce his lot coverage from 42.6% to 37%. In this regard, DeFaleo contended that the Board’s determination revoked his existing certificates of occupancy and compliance with respect to the existing dwelling and structures on his property, thereby effecting an unconstitutional taking of his property and violating his due process right to a hearing.

By decision dated September 4, 2012, Supreme Court, Suffolk County (Lasalle, J.), rejected this argument, reasoning that “[the Boardj’s determination did not affect [DeFalco’]s right to continue to live on his property with the dwelling and structures thereon as is.” (Def.’s Reply, Exh. 2).

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

Related

YU v. GILMORE
D. New Jersey, 2024
Handsome, Inc. v. Monroe
D. Connecticut, 2023
Komondy v. Gioco
253 F. Supp. 3d 430 (D. Connecticut, 2017)
Cunney v. Board of Trustees
56 F. Supp. 3d 470 (S.D. New York, 2014)
Ahmed v. Town of Oyster Bay
7 F. Supp. 3d 245 (E.D. New York, 2014)
Sirob Imports, Inc. v. Peerless Insurance
958 F. Supp. 2d 384 (E.D. New York, 2013)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
949 F. Supp. 2d 422, 2013 WL 2658641, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 83417, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/defalco-v-dechance-nyed-2013.