Sanford v. Keer

83 A. 225, 80 N.J. Eq. 240, 10 Buchanan 240, 1912 N.J. LEXIS 334

• Court: Supreme Court of New Jersey
• Decided: April 26, 1912
• Status: Published

Opinion

The opinion of the court was delivered by

White, J.

The complainant in her bill expressly repudiates any general or neighborhood scheme of restrictive covenants, and bases her praj^er for relief upon the individual and particular covenant (above recited in full) entered into with her by defendant’s vendor and appearing in his chain of title. It is beyond question and is ■ admitted that 'what defendant has done is a clear violation of the terms of this covenant and that, he purchased .with complete notice of these terms. Under these circumstances standing alone, it is too well settled to require discussion, that complainant (whose remaining property still owned by her is, clearly injured bjr the breach) is, entitled in equity to enforce performance of the covenant against the defendant. Tulk v. Moxhay, 2 Phill. 774; Coudert v. Sayre, 46 N. J. Eq. (1 Dick.) 386; Hayes v. Waverly and Passaic Railroad Co., 51 N. J. Eq. (6 Dick.) 345, and other cases too numerous to mention.

The defendant on the other hand invokes in defence two principles, which, if substantiated by the facts, are almost, if not quite, equally well settled.

The first is, that the covenant in question formed part of a general or neighborhood scheme, and that this scheme in so far as it is involved in this violation, has been abandoned by mutual .consent and acquiescence of all parties in, interest, including the complainant, not only by permitted violations of its requirement in several cases where it did appear in the covenants, but by its entire omission from the covenants upon some of the lots and the substitution in place of it of express consent to such violation. This point, if applicable to the facts, is fatal to the relief asked by complainant. In a neighborhood scheme the burden follows the benefit. It is the mutual benefit accruing to all and to each.which makes it inequitable for anyone so benefited to repudiate the burden to the injury of the others. If, therefore, the parties in interest by express act or passive acquiescence permit such violations of the plan or scheme as destroy wholly or partially the benefit therefrom, they have to a corresponding extent absolved each other from its burdens. Thus, in Roper v. Williams, 1 Turn. & R. 18, Lord-Chancellor Eldon said: "Having lived in Gower street, I have often been in the habit of illustrating my view of such cases by reference to the stipulations contained in the Duke of Bedford’s lease. In the .lease of the houses on the east side of that street is contained a covenant that there.shall be no erection behind .them exceeding a certain height.. The landlord in such a case is stipulating, not only for his own benefit, but for the benefit of all the tenants in that neighborhood. If, therefore, the landlord in. some particular instance, lets loose some of his tenants, he cannot come into equity tó restrain others to whom he has not given such license, from infringing the covenant. He may-have a good case for damages at law; but, if he thinks it is right for him to take away the benefit of Ms general plan from some of his tenants, he cannot, with any justice, come into equity for an injunction against those tenants. It is not a question of mere acquiescence; but in every instance in which the grantor suffers grantees to deviate from the general plan intended for the benefit of all, he deprives others of the right which he had given them, to have the general plan enforced for the benefit of all.” In Peek v. Matthews, L. R. 3 Eq. Cas. 515, it was said: “The vendor in such cases, stipulating for the benefit of himself and others, as a quasi-trustee for them, is bound to enforce the covenant as much against one as against the other.” See, also, Ocean City Association v. Headley, 62 N. J. Eq. (17 Dick.) 322, and Trout v. Lucas, 54 N. J. Eq. (9 Dick.) 361.

Turning now to the present case, the vice-chancellor found as a fact that the 'restrictive covenants contained in the deeds from complainant and her husband for the various lots of this tract which were sold, constituted a general or neighborhood scheme, and an examination of the evidence completely confirms this view. There was a plan of the lots with the streets and avenues laid out thereon exhibited to the purchasers, who were induced to buy by representations that the value of their proposed improvements would be protected by the fact that restrictions were placed on all lots as sold, and the nature and provisions of these restrictions were explained to them according to the particular section in which they proposed to purchase. It is difficult to see how these representations could be made for the purpose of inducing the proposed purchasers to pay higher prices for the lots because of their protected condition, unless it was intended that this protection should inure to the benefit of the purchasers of the lots so protected, and that is the exact test which decides in favor of a general or neighborhood scheme. De Gray v. Monmouth Beach Club House Co., 50 N. J. Eq. (5 Dick.) 329, 338.

It is true that these restrictions varied in different sections in accordance with the designs of the promoters for the character of such sections, respectively, but this does not interfere with the integrity of a neighborhood scheme. Hnder such circumstances, the covenants applicable to each section become, to a certain extent, a separate scheme for that section, the various covenants on the different sections forming a general scheme for the whole, only in so far as all contain features common and beneficial to all. Morrow v. Hasselman, 69 N. J. Eq. (3 Robb.) 612.

What, then, was the essential and beneficial' neighborhood scheme for the lots on the east side of South Tenth street between Clinton and Madison avenues which the purchasers of those lots became protected in their right to enjojq and the destmetion of which would deprive them of the benefit in return for which they submit to the reciprocal burdens? We think it was to have those lots used and improved during the time limited by the restriction, for residential purposes, with one dwelling-house for occupation by one family only on one lot, such dwelling-house to set back from the street in accordance with the line established by the restrictions, and to cost at least about $5,000 to build; that as incidental to this general purpose there was also a start made to restrict against outbuildings of any character, but that this part of the restriction where it was imposed has been modified by mutual acquiescence by the insertion, in place of it, in some of the conveyances in connection with the dwelling-house covenants, of the phrase “with necessary or desirable outbuildings,” and by its violation in one or more instances by the erection of a garage on the rear of a lot upon which a dwelling-house was constructed in conformity with the dwelling-house restrictions. We do not think, however, that this modification of this incidental feature is of such a nature as to destroy or impair the mutual benefit to the lot owners of the essential general dwelling-house scheme upon the protection of which they Telied. So far as the modification of what may be called the incidental “no outhouse scheme” is concerned, of course, defendant’s covenant is likewise modified so ihat his burden will correspond with his benefit, but as to the main essential purpose of the neighborhood dwelling-house scheme, we think defendant’s lot continues to participate in its benefit, and, consequently, remains subject to its burden.

This being the case, the question arises, does the construction of the defendant’s garage, not on the rear of his lot behind a dwelling-house constructed thereon in conformity with the covenant, but instead of that, constructed without any dwelling-house on the lot at all, and in the very place fixed oy the covenant for the dwelling-house to go, fall' within the modification of the incidental outhouse covenant so as to be protected by such modification ? We not only think that it does not, but, on the contrary, that it is a violation of the essential and beneficial purpose and effect of the neighborhood dwelling-house scheme. This scheme gave each lot owner wiio paid a higher price for his lot with that in view and constructed his dwelling-hoírse in accordance with the covenant, the right to expect that the improvement upon his neighbor’s lot in close proximity to his own dwelling-house and fronting upon an uniform building line, would be a similar dwelling or one at least of the designated cost. The advantages to him of such an arrangement are too obvious to require discussion. Instead of this, he finds, as the neighboring improvement,, a sheet-iron'garage building of probably comparatively trifling expense as compared with the cost of the improvement -which he had a right to expect, and doubtless of such displeasing appearance as to quite justify the taste of the owner in placing it beside someone else’s dwelling-house instead of beside his own.

While we entirely agree, therefore, with the view of the vice-chancellor that there was in this instance a neighborhood scheme, we think he erred in his conclusion that it had been abandoned in such essential features as to justify its violation in the manner in which defendant has violated it.

■■ The other principle invoked by the defendant to justify his violation of this covenant is that by reason of other similar constructions (garages), in alleged similar locations, with reference to complainant’s remaining property, the violated covenant, in so far as it is violated, has ceased to have any beneficial value to complainant’s property, and, consequently, can form no ground for equitable relief. This principle, if applicable, would also be decisive. The foundation for equitable relief in these cases is that the first vendor, having arranged by the covenant to accept a part of the consideration for his grant in a benefit to accrue to his remaining property by the performance of the covenant, it would be unconscionable to permit the covenantor-vendee’s assignee with notice to cheat the vendor out of this portion of Ms consideration by depriving him of the benefit which he would receive by the performance of the covenant. If, however, there was no benefit, or the benefit lias ceased to exist, there is no basis for equitable intervention. Thus, in Brewer v. Marshall, 19 N. J. Eq. (4 C. E. Gr.) 537, it was held that a covenant not to dig-marl on one tract of land was not a benefit to the use of the adjoining tract (the probable purpose tp prevent competition being unlawful because in restraint of trade), and, consequently, would not be enforced in equity; and, in Trustees of Columbia College v. Thacher, 87 N. Y. 311 (followed in Page v. Murray, 46 N. J. Eq. (1 Dick.) 325, and in numerous other cases), it ivas held that “equity would refuse to enforce a covenant not to devote certain property to business purposes, where there had been such a change in the character of the neighborhood by the building of an elevated railroad and the increase of business houses, as to defeat the object and purpose of the agreement and render it inequitable to deprive such owner of the privilege of using his property as its surroundings required.” Pomeroy states this principle as follows:

'“Specific performance not being an absolute right, the fact that enforcement would be of little or no benefit to the complainant, and a burden upon- the defendant, is sufficient to constitute performance oppressive, and it will not be given.” 6 Pom. Eq. Jur. 1316.

The facts in this case, however, fall very far short of bringing it within the operation of this doctrine. It is quite true that complainant, whose interest (aside from what should be her natural desire to- protect the purchasers of her ground in a general scheme of improvements upon which she had induced them to rely) is in the value of the mansion-house property directly opposite the lot in question, and in which she lives, and in the value of her other unsold lots, has permitted the erection of garages upon the rear of the Jots and bade of the dwelling-houses which front toward her property on South Tenth street, and having done so, it would be difficult to see what possible benefit she could have in preventing the defendant from constructing his garage on the rear of his lot and behind a dwelling-house built thereon in conformity with the dwelling-house restrictions. But this, so far as her property is concerned, situate as it is, is a very different proposition from substituting the probably unsightly outhouse garage instead of and in the exact location of a dwelling-house to cost' at least $5,000, for which she stipulated. Her benefit which is invaded by what defendant has done not only equals, but is even greater than that of the neighboring lot owners, because if defendant may lawfully do what he has done, it can only be because both the dwelling-house general scheme and the dwelling-house individual covenants have become inoperative, and in that case all the other dwellings constructed on the east side of South Tenth street may be turned-into factories, or built out to the street line in the shape of stores, and the entire residential character of the neighborhood which, by reason of her larger remaining interests, is obviously more valuable to complainant than to anyone else, may be completely destined.

The suggestion has also been made that because complainant is using as a garage a stable which existed on the mansion-house property before any of the lots in the entire tract were laid out' and sold, she is not in a position to ask relief in a court of equity against the construction of defendant’s garage. We cannot see the relevancy of this suggestion. This building was in existence at the time complainant sold defendant’s lot, and, consequently, at the time the covenant in question was entered into. There Avas no reciprocal covenant either for the removal of this building, or to regulate its use, and its use as a garage does not seem in any Avay to affect either the beneficial result to the complainant of the performance of the covenant in question in particular, or the integrity and beneficial effect of the neighborhood scheme as established by the covenants in general.

Eor the reasons above stated the decree of the court of chancery is reversed and the case is remanded to that court in order that a decree may be entered in accordance Avith the opinion herein expressed.

For affirmance-,—Hone.

For reversal—The Chief-Justice, Garrison, Savayze, Teenchakd, Parker, Bergen, Voorhees, Kalisch, Bogert, Yredenburgh, Yroom, Congdon, White, Treacy—14.