Meyerstein v. City of Aspen

282 P.3d 456, 2011 WL 915747, 2011 Colo. App. LEXIS 407
CourtColorado Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 17, 2011
DocketNo. O9CA1651
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 282 P.3d 456 (Meyerstein v. City of Aspen) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Colorado Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Meyerstein v. City of Aspen, 282 P.3d 456, 2011 WL 915747, 2011 Colo. App. LEXIS 407 (Colo. Ct. App. 2011).

Opinion

Opinion by

Judge GABRIEL.

Plaintiff, Arnold Meyerstein, as trustee of the Meyerstein Trust, appeals the district court's summary judgment for defendants, City of Aspen (City), Aspen/Pitkin County Housing Authority (Authority), and Music Associates of Aspen (MAA), on his claims for declaratory relief and for review pursuant to C.R.C.P. 106(a)(d). Meyerstein also appeals the district court's dismissal on statute of limitations grounds of both his takings and 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claims. We conclude that the need for further factual development precludes summary judgment on Meyerstein's claim that the deed restriction at issue contains an illegal rent control provision. We further conclude that the district court partially erred in holding, as a matter of law, that Meyerstein's cause of action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 was time barred. According ly, we reverse the portions of the district court's judgments relating to those claims and remand for further proceedings. We affirm the judgments in all other respects.

I. Background

In 1997, Meyerstein's predecessor in interest applied to Pitkin County for approval of a planned unit development (PUD) called Aspen Highlands Village (the property). As part of the PUD approval process, deed restrictions were placed on the property requiring, among other things, that certain units be reserved for affordable housing. As pertinent here, the deed restrictions included limits on the rents that could be charged for the reserved units and required the owner of the property to qualify certain tenants for those units through the Authority. Another deed restriction (the MAA provision) concerned certain "seasonal dorm units." This provision stated:

These units may be occupied by [MAA] music students and/or faculty in the summer months of June, July, August, and winter seasonal employees from October through April. The seasonal beds will be occupied in the off-season months of May and September as demand warrants. The winter seasonal employees shall be qualified under [Authority] Guidelines and procedures prior to occupancy. Employment is the only requirement for the seasonal dorm units. The [property owner] has the right to select a qualified tenant of his or her choice. Summer occupancy does not have to be approved by the [Authority].

Meyerstein purchased the property on September 15, 2005. On January 25, 2008, the Authority issued a notice of violation (NOV) to him, alleging that he failed (1) to rent the allotted units to MAA during the previous two summers or make them available to MAA for the upcoming summer (all parties referred to the rights described in the MAA provision as belonging to MAA, as opposed to its students and faculty, and we will employ that same convention), (2) to have winter seasonal employees and long-term tenants qualified prior to occupancy, and (8) to provide the Authority with copies of leases, as required under the deed restrictions. The NOV informed Meyerstein that he could request a hearing before the Authority board.

Meyerstein responded to the NOV by, among other things, challenging the Authority's interpretation of the MAA provision. In Meyerstein's view, he was permitted to rent to MAA at his option, but was not required to do so. In addition, Meyerstein asserted that the Authority board lacked jurisdiction to interpret or determine the enforceability of the deed restrictions. Nonetheless, in or[461]*461der to avoid litigation, he indicated a willingness to discuss these issues and requested a hearing to do so.

The Authority board subsequently held a hearing to review Meyerstein's objections to the NOV. Meyerstein was represented by counsel at this hearing, and counsel questioned witnesses and presented arguments on Meyerstein's behalf.

After the hearing, the board issued Resolution No. 2008-04, "constituting its findings of fact and conclusions of law based upon the evidence." The board concluded that it had the authority to hear Meyerstein's appeal of the NOV, that the requirements of procedural due process had been met, and that MAA had a right, at its option, to occupy the designated rooms during the summer months.

Several weeks later, Meyerstein filed a complaint in the district court. In his complaint, he sought a declaration that (1) the rent controls imposed by the deed restrictions were void and unenforceable; (2) the word "may" as used in the MAA provision was permissive, not mandatory; and (8) the Authority lacked the authority to conduct the hearing and to interpret the MAA provision as it did, and otherwise denied him due process. Meyerstein further asserted a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging a violation of his right to the exclusive and other lawful use of the property, and a claim alleging an unconstitutional taking. Finally, in the alternative, Meyerstein timely sought review, pursuant to C.R.C.P. 106(a)(4), of the Authority board's decision.

The Authority moved to dismiss Meyer-stein's section 1983 and takings claims on the basis of the applicable statutes of limitation. The district court granted this motion. The parties then eross-moved for summary judgment on Meyerstein's remaining claims. The court granted defendants' motion and awarded attorney fees and costs to the Authority and MAA pursuant to the terms of the deed restrictions.

Meyerstein now appeals.

II. Standard of Review

We review de novo an order granting or denying a motion for summary judgment. Vail/Arrowhead, Inc. v. Dist. Court, 954 P.2d 608, 611 (Colo.1998). Summary judgment is proper only when the pleadings and supporting documents show that there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. C.R.C.P. 56(c); Jenkins v. Panama Canal Ry. Co., 208 P.3d 238, 240 (Colo.2009). A party opposing summary judgment "may not rest upon mere allegations or denials in its pleadings, but must provide specific facts demonstrating the existence of a genuine issue for trial." Sender v. Powell, 902 P.2d 947, 950 (Colo.App.1995); accord C.R.C.P. 56(e).

We likewise review de novo a district court's order granting a motion to dismiss on statute of limitations grounds. See SMLL, L.L.C, v. Peak Nat'l Bank, 111 P.3d 563, 564 (Colo.App.2005). Such a motion is properly granted if the "bare allegations" of a plaintiffs complaint reveal the untimeliness of its claims and the plaintiff fails to meet his or her burden of establishing otherwise. See id.

IIL Rent Controls

Meyerstein contends that the district court erred in granting summary judgment for defendants on his claim that the deed restriction limiting the amount of rent he was permitted to charge violated the then-existing version of Colorado's anti-rent control statute. For the reasons set forth below, we conclude that section 38-12-8301, C.R.8.2010, as amended, applies here, and we hold that the need for further factual development precludes summary judgment on this claim.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
282 P.3d 456, 2011 WL 915747, 2011 Colo. App. LEXIS 407, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/meyerstein-v-city-of-aspen-coloctapp-2011.