Heimerle v. Village of Bronxville

168 Misc. 783, 5 N.Y.S.2d 1002, 1938 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1769
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 6, 1938
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 168 Misc. 783 (Heimerle v. Village of Bronxville) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Heimerle v. Village of Bronxville, 168 Misc. 783, 5 N.Y.S.2d 1002, 1938 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1769 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1938).

Opinion

Aldrich, J.

These two actions were tried together. Both involve the same questions. Both are brought to obtain the same relief. In the Heimerle action the plaintiffs are the owners in fee of the real property in question. In the Benedict action the plaintiffs are the lessees of the premises in possession under a lease from the owners, containing an option to purchase. Each action seeks to have it adjudged that the premises in question may be lawfully used for the purposes of an undertaking parlor or funeral home, and to restrain any interference with such use by the defendants, etc. The questions involved relate to the proper interpretation of a building code and a zoning ordinance, and the validity of an amendment to the zoning ordinance adopted on March 8,1937, which prohibits the use of any building or premises for a mortuary, undertaking or embalming parlor, funeral chapel or similar plant or establishment within two hundred feet of any residence zone.

The property is located in the incorporated village of Bronxville. The official lot number is lot 41, block 3, section 2, on the village map. The street number is 105 Parkway road. The lot is fifty feet front and rear by one hundred feet deep. It is located on the west side of the street. The property is zoned in a business “A” district. The southerly line of the lot is the north line of a residence “ D ” district. This residence district across on the east side of Parkway road extends a little further to the north so that the division line between the business “A” district and the residence “ D ” district on that side of the street is about opposite the middle line of this lot. On the east side of the street in the residence district and immediately adjoining the boundary line of the business district is a large apartment house containing forty-one apartments. Further to the south on that side of the street are various other properties zoned and used for residential purposes. Upon the plot adjoining the premises in question in the residence district is a house used for dwelling purposes. Further to the south on the same side of the street are many other buildings likewise used for residence purposes and located in the residence district.

Upon the plaintiffs’ lot there is erected what appears to be from the photographs a rather attractive looking three-story frame building with a wooden covered porch extending across the front. The house was built prior to 1901. Originally it was a two-story and a half one-family house. It was occupied by the owner for [786]*786residential purposes until 1901 and then rented for two years to a private family. The residence use continued for a one-family house purposes until 1916 when it was changed into a three-family house, one apartment on each floor. Both of the upper floors have always been used for residential purposes exclusively. The first floor was used exclusively for residential purposes until January, 1929. From January, 1929, until March 31,1931, the first floor was occupied by a veterinary. Some of the rooms were used for dwelling purposes, some for office purposes, and he was accustomed to give treatments there when necessary but no regular kennels were maintained or anything of that kind. A small sign on the outside of the building indicated his office. After he left, the first floor, like the others, was used exclusively for residential purposes until February 1, 1937. The plaintiffs Benedict became interested in the property in the latter part of 1936 and indicated to the superintendent of buildings their desire to use the premises for a funeral home on the first floor, the other two floors to be used for residence purposes. The superintendent of buildings notified the plaintiffs that the Building Code would not permit the conversion of the building from a residence into a business, because the building was of frame construction and did not conform to the requirements for buildings to be erected in a business district and because the Building Code specified that no change of use should be made of any building or part thereof that was not consistent with the provisions of the ordinance. Notwithstanding this definite warning of a possible violation on February 1, 1937, the plaintiffs Benedict took the lease of the property from the owners, with the option to purchase. By the lease the use of the premises was limited to a private residence except that “ nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent the tenant from using said premises for an undertaking establishment and funeral home conducted by the tenant.” The tenants thereupon proceeded to use the first floor of the premises for a funeral home. It does not appear that any structural alterations. were made, but some redecorating was done inside the building. The tenants used the first floor for the business. The back porch was used for embalming and the other rooms on the first, floor for the accommodation of the body and people coming in, etc. The tenants used the third floor for dwelling purposes and the second floor was left unoccupied except for perhaps some odd pieces of furniture. This use continued from February 1, 1937, until August, 1937. In the meantime these actions were commenced. For this change of use of the first floor from residential purposes to the funeral home, no certificate of occupancy was ever obtained or even applied for by the tenants. There also appears to be upon [787]*787the premises a detached frame building used for a private garage for two cars. This appears to have been rented from time to time to tenants in the house and sometimes to others from outside. Such use appears to have been in accordance with the provisions of the Building Code and the Zoning Ordinance. Whether it was or not, it cannot be urged as any justification for the change of the house from a residence to an undertaking establishment, and the 'subject of the garage need not be further considered. On March 27, 1922, the village of Bronxville adopted a Building Zone Ordinance. This ordinance was amended by the substitution of a new ordinance adopted February 12, 1927. The property in question appears to have been always in a business “A” district. Prior to 1931 this particular business district extended further to the south on both sides of the street. In 1931 the ordinance was amended to make the division line between the two districts where it now is, part of the business district being thereby transferred to the residence district. On December 7, 1926, the village also adopted a Building Code. This Code has never been amended since its adoption. The Zoning Ordinance, so far as it relates to the premises in question, has never been amended except that on March 8, 1937, the amendment was adopted which now provides: “ No building or premises shall be used, and no building shall be erected or altered which is arranged, intended or designed to be used as a mortuary, undertaking or embalming parlor, funeral chapel or similar plant or establishment within two hundred (200) feet of any residence zone.”

The plaintiffs seek the right to use the house upon the lot for a purpose prohibited by this amendment. Their claim is that on the date when the amendment was adopted the building was actually being used for a purpose which the amendment sought to make unlawful, that such use of the property at that time was in fact lawful and not in violation of any provision of either the Building Code or the Zoning Ordinance. That the building was actually being used for an undertaking establishment at that time cannot be doubted. If such use was then a lawful use the plaintiffs would appear to be protected by the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance (Art. 9, §§ 1 and 3).

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
168 Misc. 783, 5 N.Y.S.2d 1002, 1938 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1769, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/heimerle-v-village-of-bronxville-nysupct-1938.