Isla Verde International Holdings, Inc. v. City of Camas

990 P.2d 429, 99 Wash. App. 127, 1999 Wash. App. LEXIS 2219
CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedDecember 17, 1999
DocketNo. 23225-1-II
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 990 P.2d 429 (Isla Verde International Holdings, Inc. v. City of Camas) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Isla Verde International Holdings, Inc. v. City of Camas, 990 P.2d 429, 99 Wash. App. 127, 1999 Wash. App. LEXIS 2219 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999).

Opinion

Seinfeld, J.

This case involves a challenge to a city’s open space set-aside ordinance and to a city requirement that a developer construct a secondary access road as a condition of approval for its subdivision application. The superior court found that the road requirement violated due process and RCW 64.40 and that the set-aside ordinance provided for an unconstitutional taking. The City of Camas appeals.

Because there is no evidence that the set-aside ordinance is roughly proportional to the impact of the proposed development, we agree that it is constitutionally defective. But the record does indicate that legitimate fire safety concerns led to the road requirement and that the road is [130]*130reasonably necessary for public safety. Further, the developer failed to show that the requirement is unduly oppressive. Thus, this requirement violates neither the constitution nor statute. Consequently, we affirm the trial court’s ruling regarding the set-aside ordinance, but reverse the ruling regarding the road requirement.

Facts

Isla Verde International Holdings, Ltd., initially proposed a 32-lot subdivision (Dove Hill) in the City and later amended its proposal to 51 lots. Sierra Lane, the only road leading into Dove Hill, enters the subdivision at its southeastern corner, snakes through the proposed lots, and terminates at the north edge of the development. According to Isla Verde’s engineer, plans provide for Sierra Lane to continue northward with the future development of adjoining property.

The City Planning Commission considered Isla Verde’s application at two meetings. Numerous local residents spoke in opposition to the subdivision, particularly complaining about traffic, runoff, and fire safety, pointing out that Sierra Lane often becomes impassible in winter snow and ice, thus hindering emergency vehicle access. The Fire Department also expressed concern about emergency access. Noting the City’s ordinance against cul-de-sacs longer than 400 feet, the subdivision’s proximity to “wild land fuels,” and the steep slopes approaching the site, the Fire Department asked the City to require a secondary access road for emergency purposes.

Following the second hearing, the Planning Commission approved the subdivision, subject to Isla Verde’s construction of a secondary limited-access road. The Planning Commission also recommended that Isla Verde set aside 30 percent (4 acres) of the subdivision as open space, pursuant to Camas Municipal Code (CMC) 18.62.020,1 and pay impact fees pursuant to CMC 3.88.070, which provides for two sep[131]*131arate fees for: (1) park and recreational facilities; and (2) open space.

The City Council next considered the application. The Fire Department characterized access into Dove Hill as “a very bad situation” that necessitated a secondary road. Isla Verde objected to the proposed secondary road, complaining that it would be unable to obtain the necessary easements from landowners, one of whom had already stated that she would not grant an easement for such a road. As an alternative, Isla Verde proposed a “looped road system” to ease access concerns.

Isla Verde also objected to the open space set-aside requirement. It proposed a “buy down,” i.e., a payment in lieu of dedication, to make up for the shortfall in open space. It also objected to the impact fee provision as a multiple exaction because the City was requiring the dedication of land to open space or a “buydown” in addition to payment of an open space fee and a parks fee.

After initially voting to deny the application because of fire safety concerns, the City reconsidered its decision and approved the subdivision application subject to the condi[132]*132tions recommended by the Planning Commission. But the City’s written decision imposing the secondary access road and the open space requirement did not mention the impact fees.

Isla Verde petitioned the superior court for review of the City’s decision under the Land Use Petition Act (LUPA), RCW 36.70C. The trial court entered an order stating in pertinent part:

1. The Court finds the City’s condition of subdivision approval requiring Petitioners to obtain a property right to provide a secondary access to Petitioners’ property is a violation of substantive due process under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and is a violation of Chapter 64.40 RCW because the condition is impossible to satisfy, is unduly burdensome on the property owner, is arbitrary and capricious and because it denies Petitioner all viable, economic uses of their property. Petitioners shall be required to submit a revised plan to ensure that it complies with any applicable code provisions.
2. The Court finds that the City’s condition of subdivision approval requiring Petitioners to set aside 30% of their land as open space is an unconstitutional takings under the state constitution, and a violation of § 82.02.020 RCW and Chapter 64.40 RCW, because the City has not made an individualized determination that this condition is necessary to mitigate an impact of this development, the condition is disproportionate to any impact caused by this subdivision and because the City has not demonstrated a need for any additional open space within the city limits, whether it is 30% of Petitioners’ land or otherwise, which need arises because of this development.
3. The Court finds that the City’s imposition of a parks impact fee and an open space impact fee for each lot created by Petitioners violates § 82.02[ J.020 RCW and is a violation of substantive due process if the City’s capital facilities plan in effect at the time Petitioners’ land use application vested shows a surplus of parks and open space.

Clerk’s Papers at 650-51.

The City moved for reconsideration and for the admission of the declaration of a city planner and city planning [133]*133records. This additional evidence indicated that the set-aside ordinance was based on conclusions in a 1991 land use study that 30.5 percent of potential development area contained slopes between 15 and 45 percent and forested areas, which are most likely to contain significant wildlife habitat. The trial court refused to consider the additional evidence and denied reconsideration.

I. Review Under LUPA

Under LUPA, the superior court may grant relief from a land use decision if the petitioning party can show, among other bases, that ££[t]he land use decision violates the constitutional rights of the party seeking relief.” RCW 36.70C.130(l)(f). ££ £A decision to grant, deny or impose conditions upon a proposed plat is administrative or quasi judicial in nature.’ ” Snider v. Board of County Comm’rs, 85 Wn. App. 371, 375, 932 P.2d 704 (1997) (quoting Miller v. City of Port Angeles, 38 Wn. App. 904, 908, 691 P.2d 229 (1984)). In reviewing an administrative decision, the appellate court stands in the same position as the superior court. Biermann v. City of Spokane, 90 Wn. App.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Kimberly A. Zerens, V James E. Carlson
Court of Appeals of Washington, 2022
Tazmina Verjee-van & Brian Van v. Pierce County
Court of Appeals of Washington, 2018
In Re The Welfare Of: Q.t., Corrie Rosier v. Dshs
Court of Appeals of Washington, 2017
Kathryn Landon v. The Home Depot
365 P.3d 752 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2015)
Kittitas County v. Vern Thompson
Court of Appeals of Washington, 2013
Families of Manito v. City of Spokane
291 P.3d 930 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2013)
Isla Verde Intern. Holdings, Ltd. v. City of Camas
196 P.3d 719 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2008)
Isla Verde International Holdings, Ltd. v. City of Camas
147 Wash. App. 454 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2008)
J.L. Storedahl & Sons, Inc. v. Cowlitz County
103 P.3d 802 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2004)
Isla Verde Intern. Holdings v. CAMAS
49 P.3d 867 (Washington Supreme Court, 2002)
Isla Verde International Holdings, Inc. v. City of Camas
49 P.3d 867 (Washington Supreme Court, 2002)
Pilcher v. State
49 P.3d 947 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2002)
Pilcher v. Department of Revenue
112 Wash. App. 428 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2002)
Miller v. City of Bainbridge Island
43 P.3d 1250 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2002)
UNITED DEVELOPMENT v. City of Mill Creek
26 P.3d 943 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2001)
United Development Corp. v. City of Mill Creek
26 P.3d 943 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2001)
ISLA VERDE INTERN. v. City of Camas
990 P.2d 429 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2000)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
990 P.2d 429, 99 Wash. App. 127, 1999 Wash. App. LEXIS 2219, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/isla-verde-international-holdings-inc-v-city-of-camas-washctapp-1999.