Summers v. Board of Zoning Adjustment

299 S.W.2d 883, 1957 Mo. App. LEXIS 713
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 7, 1957
DocketNo. 22500
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 299 S.W.2d 883 (Summers v. Board of Zoning Adjustment) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Summers v. Board of Zoning Adjustment, 299 S.W.2d 883, 1957 Mo. App. LEXIS 713 (Mo. Ct. App. 1957).

Opinion

SPERRY, Commissioner.

This is a zoning case arising under the ordinances of Kansas City.

The relators-appellants, hereinafter referred to as relators, instituted this suit to procure a review of the proceedings and order of the Board of Zoning Adjustment, hereinafter referred to as Board, whereby the Visitation Catholic Church, intervenor, was granted a permit to use certain of its property for a parking lot, under certain stated restrictions.

From a judgment affirming the order of the Board, relators appeal to this court.

Intervenor has a church and school, located on the east side of Main Street, between 51st Street and 51st Street Terrace. Diagonally across the street northwest from the church, a distance of less than 500 feet, intervenor owns a rectangular plot of ground facing Main Street, 50 feet north and south and extending west 127.5 feet to a 16 foot alley, which begins at the south line of the property and runs thence north to 51st Street. Intervenor also owns two 25 foot lots directly across the alley, extending westward 127.5 feet, to Baltimore. A'house is located on one of the lots facing Baltimore but the Main Street property is vacant. This" property all lies within an R 2 District, zoned for residential purposes.

[885]*885The Board heard many witnesses on behalf of the respective parties. The evidence was to the effect that the Church had been located there for many years; that 700 families are parishioners; that on Sunday, between the hours of 7:00 a. m., and 1:00 p. m., some 2000 people visit the Church to attend Mass; that all do not come at the same time, that several Masses are celebrated during that time; that the Church has space for parking 25 cars at the Church site; that all other cars of parishioners must be, and are, parked on the adjoining streets during their attendance at Mass; that Main Street is a fire lane and carries heavy traffic; that parked cars add greatly to traffic congestion in that area; that all other property in the area, except that herein mentioned, is occupied by dwelling houses, and none is vacant or available to be used for parking-purposes; that about 20 automobiles can be parked on the property.

There was evidence from two real estate men, one of whom owns property and lives in the immediate vicinity, to the effect that the construction of parking facilities on this property, and its use for that purpose, will not materially depreciate the values of other property in the area; that such use, limited to Sunday morning, would not materially affect the use and enjoyment of other property in the area for residential purposes; that off-street parking, as here provided, would not eliminate the congested traffic conditions due to parking on the streets, but that it would alleviate the condition to some extent.

Relators offered testimony, from a number of resident property owners, to the effect that virtually all resident owners are opposed to the establishment of the facility; that it would result in causing much noise, dust and confusion; that it would be unsightly in a residential area; that it would cause the values of neighboring property to be depreciated; and that it would injure and damage the use of other property, for residential purposes, while doing but little to eliminate parking on the streets.

A plat, shown in evidence, discloses that 5lst Street Terrace extends, from the east, only to Main Street, that it does not extend on through to Baltimore; that the property here under consideration is bounded on the east by Main Street, and on the west by Baltimore; that the first cross street, to the north, is 51st Street, and the first to the south is 52nd Street; and that the alley does not run south from intervenor’s south line.

The evidence was to the effect that the city does not claim the alley and refuses to maintain it; that abutting property owners maintain same for their convenience in bringing in supplies and carrying away waste; that intervenor does not plan to use the alley for ingress or egress to its parking facilities, but will use presently existing ramps leading therefrom to Main and Baltimore; that intervenor will, if permitted, block off said alley at their north property line, so as to prevent its use by people using the parking facilities; that it is planned to hard surface the land, and to build a suitable wall, some 3yi to 4 feet in height, set well back from Main and Baltimore, and set back also from property lines on the north and south, so as to protect the use of the streets by others, and to protect the other property from danger from cars on the lot, while being moved, and from the annoyance of lights, etc.; and that the grade of the land will not be changed.

After a full public hearing the Board made the following findings of fact and conclusions of law, although not requested to make any findings:

“Finding of Fact:
“1. The Board has the legal authority to act in this matter under Section 58-23.
“2. There is extreme need for parking in this vicinity.
“3. There is inadequate off-street parking space at the present time.
[886]*886“4. Under the testimony the value of the surrounding property will not he materially affected.
“Conclusions of Law:
“Sections 58-23 and 58-25 authorizes the Board to act in this matter.”

The permit, as granted, required that the lot 'be “hard surfaced, surrounded by a wall not less than 3J/¿ feet in height and that it set back from Main Street 30 feet and from Baltimore 20 feet, and 6 feet from the north and south property lines. This parking lot shall be kept locked entirely on week days and open only on Sundays from 5 :00 a. m., to 1:00 p. m.”

Relators contend that the Board exceeded its authority in granting the permit. The ordinances governing this case is sections 58-23 and 58-25 of chapter 58, of the Zoning Ordinance of Kansas City. The applicable portions of such sections provide as follows:

“Section 58-25, Powers and Duties of the Board of Zoning Adjustment.
“2. Subject to the above paragraph 1, the Board of Zoning Adjustment may, in specific cases, after due public notice and hearing, and subject to such conditions and safeguards as will protect the appropriate use of neighboring property, determine and vary the application of the use district regulations herein established in harmony with the general purposes and intent of such regulations as follows:
“B. Permit in any district any use not heretofore enumerated which is in general keeping with the uses authorized in such districts.
“Section 58-23, Off-Street Parking and Loading Regulations.
“Existing buildings or structures may provide off-street parking, but must comply with the requirements of this Section as to the location and construction of the parking space for such type of structure. However, the full compliance with the number of spaces required need not be fulfilled. * * *
“Parking For Places of Public Assembly:
“1.

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Related

Waeckerle v. Board of Zoning Adjustment
525 S.W.2d 351 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1975)
Brown v. Beuc
384 S.W.2d 845 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1964)

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Bluebook (online)
299 S.W.2d 883, 1957 Mo. App. LEXIS 713, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/summers-v-board-of-zoning-adjustment-moctapp-1957.