Forrey v. SCBA

CourtSuperior Court of Delaware
DecidedJune 7, 2017
DocketS16A-04-002 ESB
StatusPublished

This text of Forrey v. SCBA (Forrey v. SCBA) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Superior Court of Delaware primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Forrey v. SCBA, (Del. Ct. App. 2017).

Opinion

SUPERloR COURT OFTHE

STATE OF DEI_AWARE

E_ SCQTT BRAD|_EY SUSSEX COUNTY COuRTHOuSE JL/nc:&' 1 THE C|RCLE, SUITE 2 GF_ORGEYOWN, DEl_.AWARE \9947 June 7, 2017

TELEPHONE t302) 856-5256

Paul G. Enterline, Esquire David C. Hutl, fisquire 1 13 S. Race Street R. Eric Hacl

Georgetown, DH 19947 Jamie P. Sharp, Esquire l\/loore & Rutt, P.A. 122 West l\/larket Street P.O. Box 554 Gcorgetown, DE 19947

RE: .Iohn F()rrey, et. aI., v. Sussex County Board ofAdjustment and C anal Corkmn, LLC, and Jungle Jl`m ’s lnc., d/b/a Jung[e .lim ’sAmusement Park C.A. No.: 16A-04-002-ESB Dear Counsel:

'l`his is my decision on the appeal liled by Appellants John Forrey, et. al., ofthe Sussex County Board ol`Adjustment’s decision granting an lS-t`oot height variance for a 6()-1`001 high water slide to be constructed at .ltmgle Jim’s Amusement Park. Jtmgle Jim’s is a 1`1 1`teen-acre amusement park complex located at 36944 Country Club Road, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Jungle Jim’s applied to the Board ot`

Adjustment for an lS-|`oot variance from the 42-1`001 height limit in order to add 21

new 60-foot high water slide. The proposed water slide has two platforms and live

water tubes. The lower platform has three water tubes. The lower platform and its canopy appear to be well below the 42-foot height limit. The taller platform has two water tubes. The taller platform is at 47 feet and its canopy is at 60 feet. The Appellants are neighboring homeowners to Jungle Jim’s Amusement Park. The Appellants are opposed to the variance because they claim Jungle Jirn’s property is not unique, that it can be developed without a variance, that the proposed Water slide will alter the character of the neighborhood, and that the height of the proposed water slide will reduce the privacy of their backyards. After a hearing on the application, the Board approved Jungle Jim’s application for a variance The Appellants now appeal the Board’s decision to this Court. The Board Hearing

The Board held a public hearing on Jungle Jim’s application on February 15, 2016. Present at the hearing for Jungle Jim’s were David C. Hutt, Esquire, William D. Lingo (“Bill”), T. William Lingo, and John Barwick. The Board received two letters in support ofJungle Jim’s application and one letter in opposition to it.

Hutt presented Jungle Jim’s application to the Board. Hutt told the Board that Jungle Jim’s sought to add a new water slide to the amusement park in the area where a go-cart track Was located. Specifically, Hutt told the Board that Jtmgle Jim’s sought

an 18-foot variance from the 42-foot height restriction in Section 115~82C of the

Sussex County Code.

Hutt detailed the history of.lungle Jim’s Amusement Park, starting with its origin in 1974, Hutt told the Board that Jungle Jim’s is a lS-acre parcel of land that is zoned C~i. Duc to a change in the Sussex County Code in 1992, an amusement park was no longer a permitted use and instead became a conditional use. llutt informed the Board that the current owners purchased the property in 1998.

In 2002, Jungle Jim’s, through the purview of the Planning and Zoning Commission, added two water slides to the park, the Anaconda and the Stampede. lncluding their canopies, the Anaconda and the Stampede have a height ol` approximately 60 feet. ln 2008, Hutt told the Board that Jungle Jim’s added a spray area to the park through a commercial site plan review by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Hutt stated that Jungle Jim’s is once again looking at keeping the park modern and attractive to its guests.

Hutt told the Board that the most complained-about feature ofJungle Jim’s are the go-cart tracks due to the noise and their hours of operation Since 201 1, Jungle Jim’s began eliminating the go-cart tracks to help alleviate some ol`the noise for the neighbors Hutt told the Board that jungle Jim’s sought to replace the final go-cart track with a water slide.

Ai`ter discussions with the water slide manufacturing company1 Hutt told the

Board that it was determined that the minimum height at which the proposed water slide could function and safely transport a rider from the top to the bottom ofthe slide would be 47 feet. ln addition to the height ofthe water slide, the platform would also require a l3-foot canopy. Hutt also told the Board that the distance from the property line to the back ofthe slide was approximately 80 feet and then another 40 feet or so from the property line to the back of the nearest neighbor’s house. Hutt stated that it would not be feasible to relocate the proposed water slide to another area of the park.

During the hearing Hutt addressed the standards for granting a variance Hutt stated that ( l ) the property is unique because it is a pre-existing, non-conforming use as an amusement park and that because ofthe topography ofthe property no portion of the water slide can be placed below grade, (2) the property can not be otherwise developed and the variance is necessary to enable the reasonable use ofthe property, (3) Jungle Jim’s did not create the need for the variance, (4) the addition ofa water slide will not alter the essential character ofthe neighborhood, and (5) the variance sought is the minimum necessary that will afford relief.

'l`. William Lingo testified that he is a principle in Jungle Jim’s Amusement Park and a certified general real property appraiser. l\/lr. l,ingo stated that he also has

been an expert witness in Chancery Court and Family Court. l\/lr. lsingo testified that

when the park was developed in 1973 it was surrounded by undeveloped property. Based upon this, l\/lr. Lingo testified that when the properties surrounding the park were developed, any negative impact the park would have had on those properties would have taken place at the time of development. Mr. Lingo also testified that he would be willing to plant a row oftrees along the rear ofthe property to help reduce the sound coming from the park.

John Barwick testified on behalfofJungle Jim’s. Mr. Barwick is a consulting engineer with Karins and Assoeiates. l\/lr. Barwick testified that based upon the height of the proposed platform and the sight lines into the neighboring yards, it would be impossible to see through or into an outside shower enclosure. l\/Ir. Barwick also testified that, as it was explained to him, the proposed height of`the platform was necessary in order to make the slide into a thrill ride.

Bill Lingo testified on behalf of Jungle Jim’s. Bill Lingo is the general manager and runs the day-to-day operations of the amusement park. Bill Lingo testified that the proposed water slide would not create any more noise than what currently exists. Bill Lingo also testified that the removal of the go-cart tracks has done away with the noise complaints from the neighbors.

Esther Downs and Bruce Powell spoke in opposition to Jungle Jim’s

application Esther Downs testified that she lives in a house which borders the

southern end of`Jungle Jim’s property. l\/lrs. Downs testified that the proposed slide serves no altruistic benefit to the community and will negatively impact the neighboring residents for years to come. Mrs. Downs testified to her concerns about the proposed water slide in relation to a nearby storm water drainage pond. Mrs. Downs also testified to her beliefthat the quality oflife to the neighboring residents will be detrimentally impacted due to noise and privacy concerns

Bruce Powell testified that he believes the placement of the proposed water slide would be in the worst possible location with respect to noise and the neighboring properties Mr.

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Forrey v. SCBA, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/forrey-v-scba-delsuperct-2017.