Detlaff v. Board of County Com'rs of Ward County

136 N.W.2d 835, 1965 N.D. LEXIS 125
CourtNorth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 1, 1965
Docket8211
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 136 N.W.2d 835 (Detlaff v. Board of County Com'rs of Ward County) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering North Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Detlaff v. Board of County Com'rs of Ward County, 136 N.W.2d 835, 1965 N.D. LEXIS 125 (N.D. 1965).

Opinions

KNUDSON, Judge.

The plaintiffs, owners of separate tracts of land in Zoning District No. 1 of Ward County, North Dakota, presented to the Board of County Commissioners and the Planning Commission of Ward County a. petition to amend Ward County Zoning Resolution No. 6 to include and rezone as “C-2, Highway Commercial District,” under Ward County Zoning Resolution No. 6, an area 680 feet in width adjacent to U. S. Highway No. 83, and lying in the West Half of Section 20, the West Half of Section 17, the Southwest Quarter of Section 8, and the Southeast Quarter of Section 7, Township 157, Range 82 (Tatman Township in Ward County), now included in the area of Zoning District No. 1, and to disconnect and exclude said 680-foot area fiom Zoning District No. 1. The petition was rejected by the Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners. The plaintiffs appealed to the district court from the decision of the County Commissioners.

The district court reversed the action of the County Commissioners, holding Ward County Zoning Resolution No. 1 unconstitutional and directing the Board of County Commissioners to grant the petition to re-zcne. The defendants appealed from the judgment and demand a trial de novo in this court.

The Board of County Commissioners of Ward County, on June 10, 1955, adopted a resolution establishing Zoning District No. 1 of Ward County. The United States Air Force was then establishing an air base in Ward County, and requested the Board of County Commissioners to zone the area in the vicinity of the air base to prevent the construction of undesirable buildings, structures, and businesses, and to prohibit places for large congestions of population. The resolution restricted the use of the land to those incident to farming, prohibited any buildings or structures that could be used for mass meetings (enumerating several such places), “or other housing not incident to farming; or any other building or structures where human lives may be jeopardized by operation of said Air Field.”

The full text of the resolution reads as follows:

“WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners by resolution, dated March 17, 1955, did establish the Ward County Zoning Commission, and
“WHEREAS for the purpose of promoting the Health, Safety, Morals, Public Convenience, General Prosperity and Public Welfare of the County; and
“WHEREAS, the United States Air Force has indicated its intention to establish an Airbase in Ward County and in order to permit the orderly development of the County in and around said Airbase, so as to prevent large congestions of population and as to prevent undesirable buildings, structures, businesses or the conduct of undesirable activities around said Airbase and in order to meet the requirements as set forth by the United States Air Force regarding heights of buildings and types of obstructions which would interfere with the operations of said Airbase.
“NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Ward County that there be established Ward County Zoning District #1 which shall include the following described lands:
“All of Waterford Township, (Township 157 N., Rge. 83 W);
“The West half (W½) of Tatman Twp., (Twp. 157 N., Rge. 82 W);
[837]*837“Section 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 23, and 24 in McKinley Twp. (Twp. 156 N., Range 82 W);
“Section 1 thru 12 of Eureka Twp., (Twp. 156 N., Rge. 83 W) ;
“Sec. 1, 2, 11, 12, 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, Kirkelie Twp., (Twp. 156 N., Range 84 W);
“Sec. 1, St. Mary’s Twp., (Twp. 157 N., Rge. 84 W).
“BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in said Zoning District #1 there shall he established the following regulations :
“I. LAND USAGE — There shall he no subdivision or subdivisions or out-lots in said Zoning District #1 except those incident to farming.
“II. STRUCTURAL OCCUPANCY — There shall be no buildings, structures or other edifice erected in said Zoning District #1 which could be used for mass meetings (such as Clubs, Churches, Dance Halls, Schools, Night Clubs, Restaurants, Recreational Centers, Bowling Alleys or Roller Skating Rinks or any Hotels, Motels, apartment houses, trailer courts,) or other housing not incident to farming; or any other buildings or structures where human lives may be jeopardized by operation of the said Air Field.
“HI. TYPES OF STRUCTURES —All structures or buildings other than those prohibited by Section II shall conform to the requirements of the Basic Building Code of the Building Officials Conference of America, Inc., 1950 edition and amendments thereto; said Building Code with amendments thereto, being incorporated by reference as a part of this resolution.
“IV. PERMITS. — As a prerequisite to construction, erection, reconstruction, alteration, repair or enlargement of any building or structure in said Zoning District No. 1 there shall be secured from the Board of County Commissioners a permit, which will be known as a building permit. A fee shall be collected for the issuance of said building permit in the amount to be determined by the County Commissioners, which fee shall be credited to the general fund of the County.
“V. LIMITATION — The foregoing requirements in their entirety shall not apply to any farm buildings.”

The legislative assembly has authorized any county in the state to regulate and restrict the location and use of buildings and structures and the use, condition or occupancy of lands, under Chapter 11-33, North Dakota Century Code, entitled “County Zoning.”

The Board of County Commissioners of Ward County, pursuant to that chapter, adopted the Resolution Establishing Zoning District No. 1.

May the respondents herein challenge the validity of the Ward County Resolution Establishing Zoning District No. 1 as being unconstitutional and void because the restrictions and limitations therein do' not bear a reasonable relationship to the public interest for which zoning may be exercised ?

It is well settled in this State that a person can be heard to question the constitutionality of a statute only when and insofar as it is being, or about to be, applied to his disadvantage. Tooz v. State, 76 N.D. 599, 38 N.W.2d 285, and cases cited. The court in Tooz, quoting from Olson v. Ross, 39 N.D. 372, 167 N.W. 385, said:

“A constitutional question does not irise merely because it is raised and a decision thereon sought. A party who assails the validity of a statute on constitutional grounds must show that he is prejudiced by the alleged unconstitutional provision, and that a decision on the constitutional question is necessary in order to protect him in the enjoyment of the rights guaranteed to him by [838]*838the Constitution. ‘Courts will not assume to pass upon constitutional questions unless properly before them, and the constitutionality of a statute will not be considered and determined by the courts as a hypothetical question.

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Detlaff v. Board of County Com'rs of Ward County
136 N.W.2d 835 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 1965)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
136 N.W.2d 835, 1965 N.D. LEXIS 125, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/detlaff-v-board-of-county-comrs-of-ward-county-nd-1965.