Kowalski v. Shopping Cart, Inc.

56 Pa. D. & C.2d 571, 1972 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 379
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County
DecidedMay 3, 1972
Docketno. 1336
StatusPublished

This text of 56 Pa. D. & C.2d 571 (Kowalski v. Shopping Cart, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kowalski v. Shopping Cart, Inc., 56 Pa. D. & C.2d 571, 1972 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 379 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1972).

Opinion

KELLEY, J.,

This matter is before the court on a complaint in equity asking that the court enjoin defendants from maintaining upon their premises a compactor-container apparatus, which is [572]*572a device for collecting and maintaining trash and garbage, which apparatus plaintiffs allege is in violation of the Philadelphia Zoning Ordinance. Plaintiffs also seek to prohibit defendant from using the areaway in question for the delivery of merchandise by large 40-foot tractor-trailer trucks. Petition for preliminary injunction was withdrawn by plaintiffs and a final hearing was subsequently held.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Plaintiffs, Leon A. Kowalski and Olive Kowalski, own 482-86-88 Green Lane, Philadelphia, Pa., having taken title by three separate deeds in 1945, 1958 and 1960 respectively.

2. Premises 486 Green Lane is occupied on the first floor by medical offices of Dr. Leon A. Kowalski, with the rear of the first floor as an apartment and the second floor for apartments.

3. Premises 482 Green Lane is a two-story dwelling occupied by plaintiffs for their own home.

4. Defendant operates a retail food market which fronts on Ridge Avenue and is numbered 6138-40 Ridge Avenue.

5. Defendant’s property extends westwardly into a warehouse which can be entered through an areaway 20 feet wide by 106 feet, and which lies between 482-86 Green Lane (hereinafter referred to as 484 Green Lane).

6. Premises 482-484-486 Green Lane are zoned “R-5” Residential.

7. On April 18, 1949, an application was filed by the former owner of the premises, 6136-40 Ridge Avenue, to construct in place of the rear lot of the said premises used as open parking area a retail food market with accessory storage and workroom. The [573]*573plan attached to the zoning application, which was approved by the zoning board on May 2, 1949, showed the use of 484 Green Lane zoned “C-Residential— Open Area — 20 ft. X 106 ft. 7% in.,” as a driveway accessory to the food market.

8. The approval by the zoning board of adjustment under certificate VA 942 indicated the drive from Green Lane to continue as an areaway accessory to the food market with an open area of 20 feet by 106 feet, 7% inches.

9. The category “C” Residential has been relabeled “R-5” Residential for the same residential uses.

10. On May 2, 1949, the zoning board of adjustment under certificate VA 943 granted a variance for the use of 484 Green Lane as an extension of the retail food market which is zoned “C-2.”

11. The area 484 Green Lane, namely 20 feet by 106 feet, represented the open area which was the basis for the zoning board of adjustment in 1949 approving a variance to close off the parking area west of the supermarket to build the addition. This area-way, 2,981 square feet, was proposed and approved to remain as an open area.

12. Even though the 1949 variance under certificate VA-943 allows for the extension of a retail food market existing at 6136-38-40 Ridge Avenue into Green Lane, the variance does not allow for any additional structures to be placed here. This would infringe on the open area requirements allowed under certificate VA-942.

13. In May of 1970, defendant placed at the head of this areaway at 484 Green Lane, a stationary garbage and trash collecting apparatus, commonly referred to as a compactor-container.

14. The compactor is approximately 38 inches long, 56 inches wide and 32 inches in height. It is [574]*574powered by a 7V% horsepower motor and a hydraulic pump.

15. The container is a steel cube approximately 22 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 8 feet high.

16. Debris from the grocery store is moved from the supermarket and the loading platform to the front of the compactor which pushes the matérial through the compactor into the container and, as a result, the material is compacted as it fills the container.

17. When the container is loaded, it is separated from the compactor and loaded on a vehicle for removal and is replaced by an empty container.

18. The container is removed once a week and replaced by an empty container.

19. The compactor-container apparatus, which is situated apart from the premises of the retail grocery business, is, under the Philadelphia Zoning Ordinance, a “structure”, and therefore could not be installed contrary to the Philadelphia Zoning Ordinance unless an exception or variance were first obtained.

20. The compactor-container unit as installed and in the position that it is installed creates a noise which is annoying to the normal sensitivities of a person trying to sleep in an area immediately adjacent to the compactor-container apparatus.

21. The noise attendant to the continuing use of the compactor-container and the noise of the shifting of the full container which is replaced by an empty container is excessive and loud and interferes with the medical practice of Dr. Kowalski to the effect that he has difficulty hearing his patients over the noise of the compactor and it causes his medical instruments to malfunction.

22. The smell of the drippage and seepage and stench of garbage onto the areaway, with the [575]*575presence of insects and vermin attracted by the conpactor-container is a continuing annoyance and discomfort and prevents the normal enjoyment and peaceful use by plaintiffs of their own home at 482 Green Lane.

23. The tenants at 486 Green Lane have much difficulty in using their apartments because of the noise, smell and discomfort and the attraction of the compactor-container to rodents and other vermin.

24. Defendant uses 484 Green Lane for the delivery of supplies to its store by 40-foot tractor-trailer trucks.

DISCUSSION

Plaintiffs, Dr. Leon A. Kowalski and Olive Kowalski, his wife, reside at 482 Green Lane, Philadelphia, Pa. Dr. Kowalski has his offices at 486-88 Green Lane. Defendant corporation operates a retail food market at 6138-40 Ridge Avenue (through to Green Lane) which consists of two one-story brick buildings and an area-way extending to Green Lane which separates the properties 482 and 486 Green Lane from one another (hereinafter referred to as 484 Green Lane). Plaintiffs own the properties on either side of 484 Green Lane.

On or about May 1, 1970, defendant, Shopping Cart, Inc., opened a retail grocery store at 6138-40 Ridge Avenue and 'installed in 484 Green Lane a compactor-container system. This system is independent of the grocery store building and is bolted directly into the areaway by four %-inch concrete reinforcing rods to a depth of about 3 or 4 inches.

The compactor-container unit is located adjacent to plaintiffs’ home at 482 Green Lane. This trash collection unit contains a motor which switches on and off at various intervals and in switching on and [576]*576off it makes a loud disturbing noise which is clearly heard in plaintiffs’ home and offices.

Plaintiff's seek to enjoin defendant from using this compactor-container unit in said areaway (484 Green Lane) alleging it is in violation of the Zoning Ordinance of Philadelphia, and that it is a nuisance.

Plaintiff's seek also to prohibit the use of 484 Green Lane for large tractor-trailer trucks to make deliveries at defendant’s store.

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

Related

Altman v. Ryan
257 A.2d 583 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1969)
Fitzgerald v. Merard Holding Co.
138 A. 483 (Supreme Court of Connecticut, 1927)
Houghton v. Kendrick
132 A. 166 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1925)
Sprout v. Levinson
148 A. 511 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1929)
Hannum v. Gruber
31 A.2d 99 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1942)
DeBlasiis v. Bartell & Oliveto
18 A.2d 478 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1940)
McCaffrey's Appeal
105 Pa. 253 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1884)
Krocker v. Westmoreland Planing Mill Co.
117 A. 669 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1922)
Edmunds v. Duff
124 A. 489 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1924)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
56 Pa. D. & C.2d 571, 1972 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 379, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kowalski-v-shopping-cart-inc-pactcomplphilad-1972.