Livonia Drive-In Theatre Co. v. City of Livonia

109 N.W.2d 837, 363 Mich. 438
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedJune 29, 1961
DocketDocket 48, Calendar 48,936
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 109 N.W.2d 837 (Livonia Drive-In Theatre Co. v. City of Livonia) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Livonia Drive-In Theatre Co. v. City of Livonia, 109 N.W.2d 837, 363 Mich. 438 (Mich. 1961).

Opinion

Carr, J.

This ease involves the alleged right of plaintiff to a license to operate a drive-in theater in defendant city, and to a building permit therefor. Following its incorporation defendant city adopted an ordinance prohibiting the establishment of drive-in theaters within the municipality. In Bzovi v. City of Livonia, 350 Mich 489, it was held that such prohibitory clause of the ordinance was invalid on the ground that its purpose was to prevent the carrying on of legitimate business enterprises. Thereafter the city through its legislative authority adopted certain ordinance amendments permitting the use of lands within the city, zoned as industrial, for drive-in theater purposes, the establishing thereof being subject to certain prescribed conditions. Among other provisions was a requirement that the approval of the city planning commission should be obtained, but such provision was subject to the right of the city council to approve an application for the issuance of a drive-in theater license notwithstanding disapproval thereof by said commission. The controlling ordinance (No 193) also contemplated favorable action by the city department of health and the Livonia police and fire departments. As a matter of procedure in the instant case the city council, in its consideration of plaintiff’s application for *441 a license, also requested approvals from the city-traffic commission, the department of public works, the building department, and the Michigan State highway department. Such approvals were given.

Being unsuccessful in its attempts to procure permission to operate the drive-in theater and a necessary building permit, the plaintiff filed its petition in the circuit court of Wayne county asking for a writ of mandamus to compel the defendant city clerk to issue the license authorizing operation of the drive-in theater and to compel defendant planning commission to issue the building permit. It was alleged in said petition that prior to the incorporation of plaintiff in November, 1958, application had been made by Raymond Schreiber, now plaintiff’s president, for a drive-in theater license for operation on certain land, approximately 30 acres in extent, on the north side of Plymouth road, between Levan and Newburgh roads, which under the city ordinance was zoned for “light industrial, M-l” uses, expressly including drive-in theaters. Plaintiff alleged that the land referred to was purchased at an agreed price of $180,000 of which amount the sum of $50,400 had been paid at the time of the bringing of the action.

Plaintiff further alleged the expenditure of large sums of money in connection with the preparation of plans and specifications for the construction of the theater. Thereafter application was made for a building permit and for approval by the common council of the city of an application for a drive-in theater license. The common council approved the issuance of such license to Raymond Schreiber, but the mayor of the city vetoed the resolution of approval. The council failed to overrule such veto, 5 votes for such purpose being required.

Following the above mentioned events, as alleged in plaintiff’s petition and established by exhibits in *442 trodueed in the ease, Mr. Schreiber assigned to the plaintiff corporation whatever right, title, and interest might be vested in him by virtue of the proceedings to obtain the requisite license and permit. It appears, however, that plaintiff did not rely on the approval by the common council but, apparently for the purpose of avoiding any legal question with reference to such assignment, made a new application for a drive-in theater license on June 4, 1959, paying at the time the sum of $1,200 as a license fee. In such application reliance was had on approvals of municipal authorities obtained by Mr. Schreiber. Following the new application to the city council plaintiff sought the approval of the defendant planning commission, which was refused on the alleged grounds that in its proposed location the land use in question would be injurious to the surrounding neighborhood.

Under date of September 14, 1959, the city council considered the application of plaintiff previously filed on June 4th of said year, and gave approval thereto, authorizing the city clerk to issue the license. The mayor interposed a veto to the resolution and filed with the city council a message setting forth the reasons for his action. Again the council failed to overrule the veto. Thereafter the city clerk declined to issue the license, and plaintiff’s application for a building permit was also denied.

On the hearing of the petition for writ of mandamus the matters in controversy were submitted on a stipulation of facts, the greater part of the stipulation being expressly based on exhibits incorporated therein by reference or by being set forth in full, which exhibits are in accord with the averments in plaintiff’s petition for the writ insofar as the procedure observed was concerned. Following consideration of the stipulated facts and the arguments of counsel with reference to the legal issues raised, *443 the trial judge concluded, as indicated in the opinion filed by him, that plaintiff was not entitled to the relief sought. An order was entered accordingly and, on leave granted by this Court, plaintiff has appealed.

It is the claim of appellant, among other arguments advanced in support of the appeal, that under the charter of the city the mayor had no authority to veto the resolution approving plaintiff’s application. It is argued in substance that the power to exercise the veto is limited by the charter to legislative matters, that the granting of a license for the drive-in theater was purely administrative, and that, in consequence, the action of the council in approving the application was final. Such claim was disputed in the trial court on behalf of defendants, and the trial judge, citing and quoting from pertinent provisions of the charter, rejected the argument advanced by counsel for plaintiff, and concluded that the mayor had the authority to veto the resolution. We are in accord with such conclusion.

Chapter 4, § 22, of the city charter declares that the council shall act only by ordinance or resolution, the latter term being limited to official action in the form of a motion pertaining to the internal affairs of the city government, or specifically provided for by charter or statute. The following section relates to the enactment of ordinances, it being specified that all legislation of the city must be in such form. It thus appears from the provisions of said sections that action on administrative matters was intended to be taken by resolution and in legislative matters by ordinance. The veto power of the mayor is expressly covered in section 24 of said chapter, which reads as follows:

“The mayor shall have the power to veto, except as otherwise in this charter provided, which veto, with *444 his reasons therefor in writing, must be made and filed with the city clerk prior to the time of the next regular meeting of the council, at which said meeting the clerk shall present such veto or vetoes to the council.

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Bluebook (online)
109 N.W.2d 837, 363 Mich. 438, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/livonia-drive-in-theatre-co-v-city-of-livonia-mich-1961.