Duckworth v. City of Bonney Lake

586 P.2d 860, 91 Wash. 2d 19, 1978 Wash. LEXIS 1145
CourtWashington Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 16, 1978
Docket44779
StatusPublished
Cited by90 cases

This text of 586 P.2d 860 (Duckworth v. City of Bonney Lake) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Washington Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Duckworth v. City of Bonney Lake, 586 P.2d 860, 91 Wash. 2d 19, 1978 Wash. LEXIS 1145 (Wash. 1978).

Opinion

Stafford, J.

This is an appeal from a summary declaratory judgment holding unconstitutional a portion of the Bonney Lake zoning ordinance.

*21 Respondents, Mr. and Mrs. S. Lloyd Duckworth (Duckworths), own a lot in the RS zone of appellant City of Bonney Lake. In 1976, the City granted a building permit which authorized the Duckworths to place a mobile home on their lot. Thereafter the City apparently revoked the permit on the ground that placement of mobile homes in the RS single family residence zone is not a permitted use. The Duckworths sought a declaratory judgment that there is "no prohibition in the Bonney Lake Ordinances nor could such a prohibition constitutionally exist, prohibiting placement of plaintiffs' mobile home as a single family residence" on their lot.

At the close of all pleadings the Duckworths moved for a summary judgment to declare that there is no legal prohibition against their placement of the mobile home on their lot. After considering "the pleadings, the statements of counsel . . . the briefs . . . and any admission [s] . . . made," the trial court entered findings of fact and conclusions of law. Based thereon, the trial court granted the Duckworths' motion and entered a summary judgment declaring that the zoning code is unconstitutional insofar as it excludes mobile homes from RS zones (single family residence areas).

The City has appealed.

I

Factual Matters

Initially it is necessary to clarify those facts which are properly before us. Although the Duckworths rely heavily upon the trial court's findings of fact and conclusions of law to support the summary judgment, this reliance is misplaced. The function of a summary judgment proceeding is to determine whether a genuine issue of material fact exists. It is not, as appears to have happened here, to resolve issues of fact or to arrive at conclusions based thereon. State ex rel. Zempel v. Twitchell, 59 Wn.2d 419, 424-25, 367 P.2d 985 (1962). Consequently, the findings of fact and conclusions of law entered here are superfluous *22 and may not be considered to the prejudice of the City. Washington Optometric Ass'n v. County of Pierce, 73 Wn.2d 445, 438 P.2d 861 (1968); State ex rel. Carroll v. Simmons, 61 Wn.2d 146, 377 P.2d 421 (1962); State ex rel. Zempel v. Twitchell, supra at 425. See Gwinn v. Church of the Nazarene, 66 Wn.2d 838, 405 P.2d 602 (1965).

One who moves for summary judgment, in this case the Duckworths, must prove by uncontroverted facts that no genuine issue of material fact exists. This is true whether the opponent, i.e., the City, has the burden of proof on the issue at trial. Hudesman v. Foley, 73 Wn.2d 880, 441 P.2d 532 (1968); Peninsula Truck Lines, Inc. v. Tooker, 63 Wn.2d 724, 388 P.2d 958 (1964); American Universal Ins. Co. v. Ranson, 59 Wn.2d 811, 370 P.2d 867 (1962); Preston v. Duncan, 55 Wn.2d 678, 349 P.2d 605 (1960). In support of a motion for summary judgment the movant may rely on pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, affidavits and admissions on file to determine whether there is a genuine issue as to any material fact. CR 56(a), (b), (c).

In the instant case there are no depositions, answers to interrogatories, affidavits, or admissions on file to establish the requisite uncontroverted facts. Moreover, although the trial court considered factual matters raised solely in the Duckworths' trial brief and oral argument, it was not entitled to give weight to them to resolve factual issues. 6 J. Moore, Federal Practice ¶ 56.11[1.08], at 56-202 (2d ed. 1948).

The Duckworths have made many broad, interesting, and self-serving statements in their pleadings, trial briefs and appellate brief. Nevertheless, those which are not supported by uncontroverted facts are not properly before us on summary judgment. Thus, our review must be limited to considering only the uncontroverted facts developed by the pleadings, or by factual concessions made in the City's brief.

The uncontroverted facts before us on appeal are the following: Bonney Lake is a third class city incorporated in Pierce County. In 1967 the City adopted a zoning code *23 which was amended in 1969. Insofar as applicable the code provides:

§ 2. Location. Mobile homes shall be permitted in the City of Bonney Lake . . . only in those areas designated by the comprehensive plan or ordinances to be mobile home areas.

Bonney Lake zoning ordinance No. 295 (1969).

R.S. — Single Family Residential Districts.
22- 01 Uses Permitted Outright. The following uses may be . . . permitted outright in an R.S.-Zone . . .
(a) Single family residences,
(b) Churches . . .

Bonney Lake zoning ordinance No. 241 (1967).

R.D. — Duplex and trailer residential district.
23- 01 Uses Permitted Unconditionally. The following uses may be operated as uses permitted unconditionally in an R.D.-Zone . . .
(a) Single family residences,
(b) duplexes (two family residence),
(c) trailers (mobile homes)

(Italics ours.) Bonney Lake zoning ordinance No. 241 (1967).

The zoning code does not define "mobile home" but it does provide that words are to be "given their usual and customary meanings except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning." Bonney Lake ordinance No. 241, ch. 11(c) (1967).

The Duckworths own a city lot which is zoned R.S. (single family residence). On October 28, 1976, the City issued the Duckworths a building permit authorizing them to place a 24- by 64-foot mobile home on their lot. The mobile home has a living area of approximately 1,500 square feet and was manufactured in compliance with state and federal construction safety standards for such homes. See RCW 43.22.340-.420; 42 U.S.C. 5401

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Bluebook (online)
586 P.2d 860, 91 Wash. 2d 19, 1978 Wash. LEXIS 1145, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/duckworth-v-city-of-bonney-lake-wash-1978.