Fournier v. Kattar

238 A.2d 12, 108 N.H. 424, 1968 N.H. LEXIS 179
CourtSupreme Court of New Hampshire
DecidedJanuary 30, 1968
Docket5607
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 238 A.2d 12 (Fournier v. Kattar) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of New Hampshire primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Fournier v. Kattar, 238 A.2d 12, 108 N.H. 424, 1968 N.H. LEXIS 179 (N.H. 1968).

Opinions

Per curiam.

On December 30, 1948, Joseph I. Melanson acquired the property in question from the Forest Trading Co. In February 1949, he prepared a plot plan which showed the entire shore line subdivided into 103 lots of various sizes and named “Castle Shores.” The remainder of the property, which had no shore frontage and consisted of about 600 acres, was not subdivided on the plan. This plan was recorded January 31, 1950. In May 1950 Melanson conveyed without restrictions Lots 101, 102 and 103 and twenty-three acres of backland adjoining Lot 103. One of these lots has been used for a marina and grocery store. Sometime around April 1952, F. A. Richardson, as agent for Melanson and with his approval, circulated a “Partial Price List,” entitled “Castle Shores” and dated April 1952, which listed 103 lots together with their dimensions and prices. Lots 101, 102 and 103 were listed as “sold” as were certain other lots. Twelve lots were marked “Reserved.” This price list included certain restrictions which it was stated were excerpted “from Standard Deed Form.” These restrictions after imposing certain set-back and building requirements stated in part as follows: “subject to the following restrictions which the grantee by acceptance of this instrument agrees for himself, his heirs, successors or assigns, to keep for the grantor and the succeeding owners of any and all portions of said property known as Castle Shores which lie within one thousand (1,000) feet of any part of the within described property, and all persons who shall acquire directly or indirectly, the grantor’s interest in the promotion and development of any part of said Castle Shores: — The premises conveyed hereunder shall be used for residential purposes only and the usual and natural uses in connection [426]*426therewith. Not more than one dwelling shall be erected, permitted or maintained on the premises conveyed hereunder, which shall be designed for use by not more than one family, but this shall not be construed to forbid the construction and use of a bona fide guest house in connection therewith.”

Restrictions essentially the same as these were included by Melanson in some forty-eight deeds conveying waterfront lots, including those to the plaintiffs. Each deed referred to the recorded plans only for the purpose of identifying the lot conveyed.

At the time Melanson acquired the property, some of the “back-land” had been sold by his predecessor without restrictions. Melanson acquired this land either by purchase or exchange for waterfront lots. Melanson died in 1962 without ever having subdivided any of the backland into lots and not having sold twenty-eight of the waterfront lots. Eight of the twelve lots which had been marked “Reserved” on the price list had been sold with the standard restrictions. Melanson’s executors negotiated to sell the balance of Castle Shores to the defendant. Upon learning of this, plaintiffs ’ attorney advised the executor of their claim that the sale should be subject to the standard restrictions. The executors agreed but the defendant refused to purchase with restrictions. The executors then conveyed without restrictions by deed dated October 9, 1964, but not before the defendant was given notice by the plaintiffs through his attorney that they claimed the existence of mutual equitable servitudes.

The Trial Court found that the defendant had notice of plaintiffs’ claim prior to taking the deed, that the omission of the restrictions in the deed to him was immaterial, and that he acquired title “subject to an equitable servitude in favor of the plaintiffs in accordance with the so-called ‘standard restrictions.’ ”

After acquisition of the property the defendant announced plans to create five community beaches on certain waterfront lots for the benefit of prospective purchasers of back lots, and to provide playground - type structures, docks, wharves, parking areas and picnic facilities thereon. The areas proposed to.be used for these purposes involve only one of the four remaining lots originally marked “Reserved” on the price list.

The Trial Court decreed that the “standard restrictions” were “binding upon and applicable to all the remaining land conveyed by the Melanson Estate to the defendant” and enjoined and [427]*427restrained the defendant from conveying any of the land without inserting the restrictions in each conveyance. No exceptions to these decrees are before us.

The Trial Court, however, ruled, subject to plaintiffs’exception, that the establishment by the defendant of community beaches and other recreational facilities on some of the unsold shore lots was not precluded by the restrictions. It pointed out that Melanson had reserved the right to create a means of access to and from all parts of the development without restriction to waterfront owners and found that the proposed uses • of waterfront lots were “in keeping with the uniform plan of development and ... the residential pattern which was adopted as part of the original general scheme ...” and that they were “ordinary and reasonable as well as natural and incidental to the general scheme calling for overall residential uses in a recreational area for the mutual benefit of the developer and owners.” The Court ruled that it would be inequitable “to deny back land lot owners within the development access to the lake, particularly in the absence of any credible evidence ... so restricting its use” and that it would also be inequitable and a hardship to preclude the developer from making the proposed uses.

We are of the opinion that the findings and rulings of the Trial Court are sustainable upon the record. Its decree enjoining the defendant from conveying any of the unsold land without incorporating in the deeds the so-called standard restrictions is not questioned by the parties. The development of the unsold land could be found to stand upon a different footing. The language of the restrictions indicated with reasonable clarity that die purchasers were agreeing to “keep” or comply with them, “for the grantor and the succeeding owners of any and all portions of said property known as Castle Shores . . . and all persons who shall acquire . . . the grantor’s interest in the promotion and development of any part” of the same.

While the evidence warranted the finding that the restrictions were understood to be for the reciprocal benefit of individual grantees inter se as a part of the general scheme of development, the emphasis of the restrictions was upon benefit “for the grantor” and succeeding developers of “any part” of the tract. That this was a factor in the Court’s decision is indicated by its several references to the intent to perpetuate the general scheme “for the [428]*428benefit of the developer”; the express reservation by the grantor “for his own benefit and for the benefit of ‘succeeding owners’ ”; and “rights . . . reserved for the benefit of the original grantor and his successors in title . . . . ”

The understanding of the parties in this regard was highlighted by the testimony of the developer’s agent, Richardson, called as a witness by the plaintiffs, who testified that it was the developer’s understanding that the restrictions were to “apply to all lots sold” (Emphasis supplied), and that “prospective customers” were advised that they would so apply.

The evidence did not require a finding that property retained by the developer and not subsequently sold for house lots would be restricted to residential use. The understanding of the parties in this respect could be found to fall within the limitations stated in

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Fournier v. Kattar
238 A.2d 12 (Supreme Court of New Hampshire, 1968)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
238 A.2d 12, 108 N.H. 424, 1968 N.H. LEXIS 179, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/fournier-v-kattar-nh-1968.