Flying J., Inc. v. City of New Haven, Board of Zoning Appeals

855 N.E.2d 1035, 2006 Ind. App. LEXIS 2160, 2006 WL 3071377
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedOctober 31, 2006
Docket02A03-0510-CV-492
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 855 N.E.2d 1035 (Flying J., Inc. v. City of New Haven, Board of Zoning Appeals) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Flying J., Inc. v. City of New Haven, Board of Zoning Appeals, 855 N.E.2d 1035, 2006 Ind. App. LEXIS 2160, 2006 WL 3071377 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006).

Opinion

OPINION

HOFFMAN, Senior Judge.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

Appellant-Petitioner Flying J, Inc. ("Flying J") appeals the trial court's order, which denied Flying J's motion for summary judgment and granted summary judgment to the Appellee-Respondent City of New Haven Board of Zoning Appeals (CBZA") after affirming the BZA's decision that all of Flying J's proposed real estate uses were not permitted in New Haven's C-1 zoning district. We reverse and remand.

ISSUE

Flying J raises three issues, which we consolidate and restate as whether the trial court erred by denying Flying J's motion for summary judgment and entering summary judgment in favor of the BZA.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Flying J owns 53.3 acres of land in the northwest quadrant of the 1-469/U.8. 30 interchange in New Haven, Indiana ("the Site"). The Site is located in an area of New Haven zoned as a "C-1 General Commercial District." Appellant's App. at 168, 217. The New Haven Zoning Code, specifically § 151.098 ("C-1 Zoning Ordinance"), explains the purpose and permitted uses of the C-1 District as follows:

(A) Purpose. The General Commercial District is established to include areas that are appropriate to all types of retail and service establishments primarily using inside display areas, which offer a complete range of goods and services to consumers.
(B) Permitted uses. All uses permitted in the C-1A District plus the following.
* # # x * *
(2) Automobile service, including but mot limited to the following.
(a) Service station, but not including major automotive, mechanical, or body repair or refinishing.
(b) Tire and accessory store.
(c) Self-service automobile wash.
(3) Business service, including but not limited to the following.
(a) Bank.]
(b) Travel bureau, taxi station.
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(d) Commercial office.
(4) Clothing service, including but not limited to the following.
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(c) Self-service laundry[.]
(5) Equipment service, including but not limited to the following.
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(b) Electrical appliance, radio store. (e) Photo supply store.
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(6) Food Service, including but not limited to the following.
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(b) Bakery goods outlet.
(c) Iee cream or candy shop.
(d) Grocery, supermarket, fruit or vegetable store, meat market, delicatessen.
(e) Restaurant[.]
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(8) General retail service, including but not limited to the following.
(a) Book store, hobby shop, gift store, antique shop, and art store.
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(c) Drug store, stationery or newsdealer store, cigar store.
(d) Department store notion store.
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(g) Haberdashery, shop. ready-to-wear
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(m) Variety store[.]
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(9) Amusement enterprise, including but not limited to the following.
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(b) [Plenny arcade.
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(10) Hotel, motel, private club or lodge.
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(13) Accessory uses.

Appellant's App. at 163-165, 227-229 (emphases added). The Zoning Ordinance defines an "accessory use" as including a "building or use subordinate to another structure or use located on the same lot and which does not change or alter the character of the premises." Appellant's App. at 161, 218.

Flying J wanted to develop 17.7 acres of the Site by building a travel plaza, in which it could "offer a wide range of amenities for both the traveling public and the professional driver in one comprehensive facility." Appellant's App. at 230. In February 2005, Flying J sought a determination from Brian Yoh, the New Haven Planning and Economic Development Director ("the Zoning Director"), as to whether its proposed uses for the travel plaza development would be permitted in the C-1 District. The proposed uses for the travel plaza development included: a convenience store; a country market; a full service, 24-hour restaurant; a fast food court; a service station with gasoline and diesel fuel dispensers for passenger cars, recreational vehicles ("RVs"), and trucks; travelers' rest facilities, including restroom, showers, laundry, TV lounge, and video games; accommodations for *1038 business needs, including ATMs, fax capabilities, telephones, computer and internet access, and overnight delivery drop boxes; RV services, including waste tank disposal and propane refueling; and separate parking for RVs and trucks.

In response, the Zoning Director informed Flying J that some but not all of the proposed uses of the travel plaza were permitted in a C-1 District. Specifically, the Zoning Director determined that the restaurant, convenience store, country market store, food court, business services, service station, and travelers rest facilities were permitted uses in the C-1 District while the "fueling stations for tractor-trailer vehicles, service for RV's, including waste tank disposal facilities and propane at RV islands, and 24[-Thour parking for up to 11 recreational vehicles and 187 trucks at a time" were not permitted uses. Appellant's App. at 178.

Flying J then appealed the Zoning Director's determination to the BZA. Following a public hearing, the BZA agreed that the fueling stations for trucks, RV services regarding waste tank disposal and propane, and parking for RVs and trucks were not permitted uses and then issued written findings of fact, in which it approved the Zoning Director's determination. In its written opinion, the BZA indicated that the fueling stations for trucks were distinguishable from the permitted use of a service station contained in the C-1 Zoning Ordinance. The BZA also determined that the RV services of waste disposal and propane and parking for RVs and trucks were not accessory uses that would be allowed under the C-1 Zoning Ordinance.

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855 N.E.2d 1035, 2006 Ind. App. LEXIS 2160, 2006 WL 3071377, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/flying-j-inc-v-city-of-new-haven-board-of-zoning-appeals-indctapp-2006.