Slevin v. Long Island Jewish Medical Center

66 Misc. 2d 312, 319 N.Y.S.2d 937, 1971 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1709
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedApril 6, 1971
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 66 Misc. 2d 312 (Slevin v. Long Island Jewish Medical Center) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Slevin v. Long Island Jewish Medical Center, 66 Misc. 2d 312, 319 N.Y.S.2d 937, 1971 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1709 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1971).

Opinion

Bertram Harnett, J.

We have a zoning case involving a “ center ” for drug problems of young people conducted at the Christ Episcopal Church Parish House in Manhasset by arrangement with Long Island Jewish Hospital.

Neighbors object to the drug center, claiming that under existing zoning the church’s right to use its property is for religious uses only and there is no right to have a drug center. They further argue that even if the drug center is a religious use, it is, under the circumstances, dangerous and unhealthful and cannot be tolerated.

The neighbors have brought suit against the church and the hospital to enjoin the drug center use. The church and the hospital move here for summary judgment in that injunction action and, in turn, the neighbors cross-move for summary judgment themselves. Technically, such motions made before joinder of issue are deemed motions to dismiss the complaint, but may be treated on appropriate papers as motions for summary judgment. (See CPLR 3211, subd. [c]; 3212.)

Earlier, the activity was referred to as a drug ‘1 rehabilitation ” center. Now it is called a day care center”. The neighbors pointedly suggest that the new nomenclature is con[313]*313cerned less with accuracy than with coming under the label of the child care unit for working mothers recently ruled a church use in Matter of Unitarian Universalist Church v. Shorten (63 Misc 2d 978) by Mr. Justice Meyer here in Nassau County. But, no matter how aggravating to those opposing or balming to those proposing, the niceties of characterization are not particularly significant.. The realities of existence must control, and for this purpose the court will characterize the activity simply as “ the drug center ”, and look to the actual incidents.

The church is located at the intersection of Northern Boulevard and Piándome Road in the unincorporated Manhasset area of the Town of North Hempstead. Both roads, particularly Northern Boulevard, an east-west State road, are heavily traveled. A chapel building, a parish house, and other structures occupy the church property which is in a Residence B District zoning category under the Town of North Hempstead Building Ordinance. This classification authorizes churches or other buildings used exclusively for religious purposes, and also specifies the permissibility of parish houses and parochial schools.

The parish house provides about 3,000 square feet for a class meeting and music rooms, as well as a gymnasium, kitchen, and bowling alley. The drug center is located on the third floor of the parish house. On the submission date of this motion, 23 participants were accepted in the program. Eight live in Manhasset, the balance in surrounding communities. Thirteen are to be full-time attendees and 10 will attend after their regular school day. All range between ages 13 and 21. It is not known how many, if any, are church members. While it is not clear how many participants are now actually in attendance, it seems agreed there are at least two.

The drug center program is designed to reach nonaddicted youngsters in early stages of experimentation with marijuana and so-called “ soft ” drugs. Addicts, users of “ hard drugs, and prolonged drug users are to be excluded. There is no residential facility, nor are any medications or drugs for detoxification, withdrawal, or maintenance to be provided. The effort is to help the troubled drug abusers find their way early while still functioning acceptably at home and in society. Participation of their parents is to be encouraged.

A paid staff of social, medical, nursing, psychiatric, educational, and vocational counseling personnel will be maintained. The entire project will be financed, staffed, and supervised by the hospital. The church minister will be in daily contact with the staff and program participants.

[314]*314Activities will include organizational meetings, work therapy, schooling, seminars, reality confrontation groups, drug education, and both individual and group counseling of educational, vocational, individual, and-family matters. Hours are planned from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Applicants are to be screened and referrals will be accepted from community groups, hospitals, doctors, schools, religious institutions, social agencies, and private. individuals. Certain security measures have been undertaken.

Literature and considerable public attention have been focused on the project.

The geographic vicinity is very busy. It is in a sense a hub of activity, a principal gateway to Manhassett, at the western end of the Manhasset “ Miracle Mile ” shopping area. The church itself sits in a cluster of religious institutions which extend out to major commercial street frontage. Many nearby residences wrap around the area. Diagonally across Northern Boulevard from Christ Episcopal Church are St. Mary’s Church and its schools with a student population of 2,200. The Manhasset Public Library is nearby, as is public transportation.

There is the factual setting. The legal problems organize into three principal inquiries.

(i) Do the neighbors have standing to sue?

(ii) Is the drug center a religious use?

(iii) If the drug center is a religious use, is it so dangerous or unhealthful to the public that it cannot be permitted?

I. Standing to Sue

It is clear that an action may be maintained by a municipality itself to enjoin a violation of its zoning laws. (See Town Law, § 268 ; Town of Greenburgh v. Buser, 285 App. Div. 1090.) The authority to enforce the ordinances may be delegated to a building official or inspector (Willets v. Quinto, 225 N. Y. S. 2d 301), and this has been done by the Town of North Hempstead. (See Matter of Slevin v. Siegel, 65 Misc 2d 3.)

But where, after a written request by a resident taxpayer, the appropriate board or officer has not taken action to enforce the ordinance, any three taxpayers of the town may institute an action to enjoin the alleged violation. (Town Law, § 268, subd. 2 ; Monsey Mfg. Co. v. Ocko, 14 A D 2d 925, reconsidered on other grounds 16 A D 2d 958, revd. on other grounds 13 N Y 2d 623.) It is undisputed here that the neighbors have properly requested the town officials to take steps to enforce the ordinance and that those officials have refused or neglected to do so. The [315]*315neighbors are therefore proper parties to maintain this action and they have standing to sue.

Moreover, the neighbors would have the requisite standing, assuming the allegations of the complaint to be true, even had they not requested the town to enforce the ordinance. (See Lesron Junior v. Feinberg, 13 A D 2d 90 ; Rapasadi v. Phillips, 2 A D 2d 451.) In order to maintain an action for injunctive relief, a plaintiff must show that he has a special interest which will be substantially damaged by the use which he seeks to enjoin. (Barnathan v. Garden City Park Water Dist., 21 A D 2d 832 ; Meadows v. Binkowski, 50 Misc 2d 19, affd. 27 A D 2d 706.) Here, the plaintiffs have alleged such damage, and their averments are taken as true on this motion, especially in the absence of statement to the contrary in the moving papers. (Kober v. Kober, 16 N Y 2d 191.)

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66 Misc. 2d 312, 319 N.Y.S.2d 937, 1971 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1709, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/slevin-v-long-island-jewish-medical-center-nysupct-1971.