Friedenburg v. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

3 A.D.3d 86, 767 N.Y.S.2d 451, 2003 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 12447
CourtAppellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
DecidedNovember 24, 2003
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 3 A.D.3d 86 (Friedenburg v. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Friedenburg v. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 3 A.D.3d 86, 767 N.Y.S.2d 451, 2003 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 12447 (N.Y. Ct. App. 2003).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

S. Miller, J.P.

This appeal presents us with the opportunity to address issues arising from the application of New York State wetlands regulations, as administered by the appellant, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (hereinafter the DEC), which have virtually eliminated the ability of the petitioners to utilize waterfront real property. The ultimate question to be answered is whether the application of these regulations rises to the level of a taking, thereby requiring the payment of monetary compensation. Under the circumstances of this case, we agree with the Supreme Court that a taking has occurred.

I

The parcel of real property at the center of the instant controversy, is approximately 2.5 acres in area, located on the north side of Meadow Lane in the Village of Southampton. The property is situated within a residential zone, pursuant to the zoning ordinance of the Village of Southampton. The lot fronts upon the south shore of the Shinnecock Bay and is immediately east of the adjacent Southampton helicopter landing pad. All but a small upland portion of the parcel has been classified as tidal wetlands.

[88]*88Insofar as relevant to this appeal, the property was purchased in 1962 by the late Gwendolyn Londino, who died on October 12, 1983. It is now owned by her estate, under the control of the petitioners who are the executors thereof.

It is generally acknowledged that at the time of purchase, the wetland areas on the property could legally have been filled in, and there were essentially no restrictions to prohibit the construction of a single family home. In 1973, New York State adopted the Tidal Wetlands Act (ECL art 25; L 1973, ch 790). Pursuant thereto, the DEC determined that virtually all of the subject parcel should be designated as tidal wetlands. In or about 1987, the petitioners applied for a tidal wetlands permit for the construction of a single family residence. After extensive administrative proceedings, the DEC denied the application via a written decision dated April 14, 1995, because, inter alia, the septic system of the proposed project would cause the release of sewage effluent containing pathogenic bacteria and viruses into the waters of Shinnecock Bay and into the nearby wetlands.

Concomitantly, in October of 1989, the Village of Southampton adopted wetlands regulations as part of its zoning code in article III (A) entitled “Wetlands.” The wetlands code is administered by the Village’s Zoning Board of Appeals (hereinafter the ZBA). Contemporaneous with the proceedings for a wetlands permit before the DEC, the petitioners applied for a village wetlands permit. The ZBA denied the application without prejudice, on the ground that the DEC’s denial of the application for a state wetlands permit precluded the ZBA from granting approval for a village permit (see ECL 25-0302 [1]).

II

The petitioners thus commenced this proceeding in 1995 for an order annulling the DEC’s April 14, 1995, determination and directing the issuance of the state wetlands permit. In the alternative, the petitioners prayed, inter alia, that the DEC’s action be regarded as a taking of property without just compensation, and that pursuant to ECL 25-0404, the DEC be ordered to commence condemnation proceedings.

The DEC moved to dismiss the proceeding; the motion was denied by order of the Supreme Court dated February 1, 1996. For procedural reasons, this Court modified the order in Matter of Friedenburg v New York State Dept. of Envtl. Conservation (240 AD2d 407 [1997]), to the extent of dismissing the petition[89]*89er’s cause of action seeking to annul the April 14, 1995, determination. However, this Court sustained the remainder of the petition, including the taking claims, finding that those claims stated valid causes of action.

On July 11, 1997, the DEC issued a letter pursuant to Spears v Berle (48 NY2d 254 [1979]), according to which the DEC indicated it would permit the following activities on the property:

“1. The uses listed in 6 NYCRR 661.5 as a use not requiring a permit (NPN) for a particular tidal wetland zone or adjacent area provided such activity does not involve a regulated activity (see 6 NYCRR 661.7 [a]);
“2. Installation of a four foot wide catwalk and associated pier with a 6 X 20 foot floating dock for water/boat access to the waters of Shinnecock Bay subject to the submission of depth soundings to calculate where 3 foot mean low water is located ... A floating dock and ramp can be used for mooring and docking up to three boats. The catwalk can extend approximately 380 feet from the tidal wetlands boundary to navigable water;
“3. Installation of a 1,000 square foot pervious parking area parallel to Dune Road located 75 feet landward from the most landward edge of the tidal wetland;
“4. Installation of a 225 square foot structure such as a deck, garage, gazebo or storage shed for storage of boating equipment and other items 75 feet landward from the most landward edge of the tidal wetlands boundary;
“5. Permanent or seasonal mooring of a single family house boat at the dock described in #2 above provided there is sufficient water depth and provided there is a demonstrated means for handling septic and waste water via a commercial marina pumpout facility or on-site portable pumpout;
“6. Use as a parking or storage facility for the Village of Southampton’s helicopter landing pad, subject to the conditions set forth in Nos. 3 and 4 above.”

[90]*90On January 18, 2000, the Supreme Court denied the DEC’s subsequent summary judgment motion.

Ill

A hearing was held on the petition in the Supreme Court on April 3, 4, 6, and 7, 2000. Ronald Haberman, a licensed real estate appraiser testifying for the petitioners, stated that using a comparable sales approach the market value of the property prior to enforcement of the tidal wetlands regulations on April 14, 1995, was $665,000, and after enforcement there was either no market value or the value was nominal. Haberman indicated that in determining the postenforcement value, he considered the uses enumerated in the Spears letter but could find no competitive market for property with those limitations. Edward Deyermond, the Tax Assessor of the Town of Southampton, applying the equalization rate to the assessment in the Village of Southampton’s memorandum of taxes, testified that the market value of the parcel was $802,208 in 1993, $674,396 in 1994, and $664,761 in 1995.

John Holden, a professional engineer, confirmed that a septic system to serve a home could be built on the property under pre- and post-1995 Suffolk County health regulations. Anthony Tohill and Gilbert Flanagan, attorneys, testified that there was a great likelihood that local zoning approval to construct a house would be given to the petitioners if the DEC issued a permit.

Stanley Friedenberg, sued herein as Stanley Friedenburg, one of the executors for the estate of Gwendolyn Londino, testified that during the time he had been involved with the property, no one had approached him for the purpose of acquiring the property for any purpose associated with the helicopter landing pad.

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Bluebook (online)
3 A.D.3d 86, 767 N.Y.S.2d 451, 2003 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 12447, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/friedenburg-v-new-york-state-department-of-environmental-conservation-nyappdiv-2003.