Scharnhorst v. Zoning Board of Appeals

273 N.E.2d 915, 28 Ohio Misc. 37, 57 Ohio Op. 2d 45, 1971 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 235
CourtCourt of Common Pleas of Ohio, Hamilton County
DecidedMarch 29, 1971
DocketNo. A-208692
StatusPublished

This text of 273 N.E.2d 915 (Scharnhorst v. Zoning Board of Appeals) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Common Pleas of Ohio, Hamilton County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Scharnhorst v. Zoning Board of Appeals, 273 N.E.2d 915, 28 Ohio Misc. 37, 57 Ohio Op. 2d 45, 1971 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 235 (Ohio Super. Ct. 1971).

Opinion

Leis, J.

This matter is before the court for decision after testimony was heard on February 8, 1970 in part, and June 12, 1970 in part, and was taken'under advisement by the court. The court has reviewed the transcript of the testimony, the exhibits submitted, and the briefs of counsel.

This matter arose as a result of an application for [38]*38rezoning of property in the city of Sharonville, Ohio, owned by the appellants herein. On April 29, 1964, an application for a hearing before the village council of a “Petition to Rezone Property on Sharon Road” was filed. The application (dated April 1,1964), was filed under the name of Eugene Scharnhorst, and contained in the signatory section to the application the names of the appellants herein. The applicants asked the village of Sharonville Council to rezone their property from Residence B to Business A, giving as their reason the fact that property across the road from them is zoned as Business A, and included in the applicartion were the following statements:

“Question: Special uses desired which are not permitted by present zone classification?
“Answer: For the same purposes as the other side of the street, namely business.
“Question: Special conditions or reasons believed justify change of restrictions?
“Answer: Business — this is at a main thoroughfare and which justifies business on both sides of the street and is no longer at its best use as residential property.”

On June 1, 1964, the application for a hearing was referred to the Sharonville Planning Commission for consideration, and on June 26, 1964, the planning commission was given a written statement of the appellants’ desires relative to the change of zoning of their property. The planning commission on July 8,1964, reported that on June 24 a public hearing was held, and the zoning request was denied, and a letter of recommendation was sent to Sharon-ville City Council recommending that the request for rezoning be denied. On August 24, 1964, the council acted denying the rezoning request of the appellants. Proper notice of appeal was perfected by the appellants, and appeal was made to this court. The case was on the trial calendar of this court many times in regular sequence, and on November 20, 1967, counsel for both sides agreed to reset the case to some date in 1968, and advise the Assignment Commissioner of a new date, “as it is likly that this will be dismissed after January 1, 1968,” The parties could not [39]*39get together on an agreement, and the ease was again regularly scheduled on the trial calendar and heard initially on February 20,1970.

The issue before this court is whether the City Council of Sharonville exceeded its authority in denying the application of the appellants for rezoning.

The property involved here is located immediately adjacent to Interstate 75 on Sharon Road. Interstate 75 at this point runs generally north and south, and Sharon Road east and west. There are exit and entry ramps leading from and to Interstate 75 to Sharon Road. The entry ramp proceeds in the northeast segment of the Interstate from Sharon Road to northbound Interstate 75 and the exit ramp from northbound Interstate 75 is in the southeast segment of the interchange. A bird’s eye view of the area looking toward the north would show the following properties :

NORTHWEST SEGMENT
Princeton High School
Chester Road running north & south, intersecting Sharon Road
Howard J ohnson Motel (Chester Rd)
Service State (Union 76) (“ ”)
SOUTHWEST SEGMENT
Residential and church
NORTHEAST SEGMENT
The area involved herein consisting of open acreage (Appellants’ property)
Residential area of Prince Lane, Woodward Lane and Sharon Meadows Lane
SOUTHEAST SEGMENT
Holiday Inn Motel
Another motel
Golden Tee Golf Center
Two service stations

The area where rezoning is requested is located in the northeast segment. Next to the property herein, which involves at least 5 acres and is immediately adjoining to Interstate 75, are 3 residential lanes with single family residences, and next to these residences is industrial prop[40]*40erty. Prior to the construction of Interstate 75, the property herein was zoned as “residential” but in June of 1969 a master plan was adopted by Sharonville, changing the zoning of the property to “S C’ ’ — shopping center class-sification. Directly across Sharon Road the property under the March 15, 1969 Master Plan indicates its zoning as “M S” — motorist service.

The appellants contend that the new zoning under the master plan further restricts the use of their property to a shopping center classification, and that this classification is contrary to the “best use” theory in land classification. They further argue that their property on the north side of Sharon Road should be the same zone as that on the south side of Sharon Road, namely motor service.

The testimony in the trial brought out the fact that Sharon Road is a heavily travelled motor thoroughfare with many people, not residents of the area, travelling to and from their places of employment, and to other areas both east and west of Interstate 75, as they exit or enter the Interstate. Testimony also shows that many travellers on Interstate 75 exit at the Sharon Road interchange for car service, motel accommodations and recreation.

Mr. Ellis Thompson was called by the appellants as an expert in real estate matters. His testimony, in substance, proposed that the highest and best use of the land was for “highway service” use. He said that, “anything that will accommodate the motoring public on Interstate 75 is badly needed, such as service stations, food facilities and lodging.” He stated that these types of facilities reflected the spirit of the Federal Bureau of Roads when they originally laid out the exit and entrance ramps for Sharon Road, and that the bureau seldom puts an interchange at anything other than a state highway. The Sharon Road Interchange was an exception to the general rule. Mr. Dennis Larkin testified for the city of Sharonville. Mr. Larkin was a Master Plan expert from Cleveland, Ohio, and was associated with the firm that prepared the Master Plan for Sharonville. When asked whether the service stations presently in the interchange area were adequate to handle traf-[41]*41fie on Interstate 75, lie said that “it is difficult for anyone to ascertain whether there are enough, or too many service stations. * * * It is quite possible that additional service stations would be justified at the interchange. * * * It all depends on how these service stations are developed.” He stated that the general plan that was drawn up for Sharon-ville would be looking forward to 1988 for the complete development of its objectives. He said that the main problem during this period would be that of moving heavy traffic.

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273 N.E.2d 915, 28 Ohio Misc. 37, 57 Ohio Op. 2d 45, 1971 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 235, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/scharnhorst-v-zoning-board-of-appeals-ohctcomplhamilt-1971.