Triangle Fraternity v. City of Norman, Ex Rel. Norman Board of Adjustment

2002 OK 80, 63 P.3d 1, 73 O.B.A.J. 2914, 2002 Okla. LEXIS 81, 2002 WL 31357266
Supreme Court of Oklahoma·Decided October 15, 2002·No. 96,363·Published·Cited by 19 cases

Opinions

KAUGER, J.

¶ 1 The dispositive issue presented is whether a fraternity’s proposed use of a property as a fraternity house constitutes the same use as the property’s former use as a retired women’s boarding house which would entitle the fraternity to an extension of the existing nonconforming use under the City of Norman’s zoning ordinances.1 We hold that because the fraternity’s use of the property is substantially the same as the property’s former use, the fraternity is entitled to an extension of the existing nonconforming use.

FACTS

¶ 2 This cause concerns a dispute over the zoning and use of a house known as the Kirkpatrick Manor, located at 702 S. Laho-ma, in Norman, Oklahoma. On September 29, 2000, the appellant, the University of Oklahoma Chapter of Triangle Fraternity (fraternity), purchased the house from a group affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (Church). The house was originally built for the Pi Kappa Psi Fraternity in 1930. It is undisputed that at the time the house was built, the property was zoned a U-l [3] Residence District which allowed use of the property as a fraternity or sorority house.2

¶ 3 In 1932, the Pi Beta Phi Sorority (sorority) purchased the property, and it occupied the house until 1958. In 1954, the property was re-zoned to a R-l District, a category which restricted use of the property to single family dwellings, as well as several semi-public uses such as churches, schools, and libraries, etc.3 However, under the City of Norman’s (City) 1954 zoning ordinances, because the house had been a fraternity or sorority house since it had been built, it continued as a legal, but non-conforming use.4

¶4 In October of 1958, the sorority, in anticipation of selling the property to the Church, sought to have the property rezoned from a R-l District to a R-2 District which specifically allowed boarding and rooming houses.5 The Church planned to use the property as a women’s retirement home.6 It appears that the City Manager was of the opinion that the proposed use of the property was an entirely different use than a sorority house, and he recommended re-zoning.7 The City Planning Commission, [4] concerned that the property might be used as a rest home or convalescent home, denied the request. Instead, it decided that the property could be used as a private club, with restrictions — a permissive use in the R-l District.8 An ordinance was passed on November 11, 1958, which reflected the commission’s decision.

¶ 5 In 1962, the Church applied for rezoning of the lot next to the house because it wanted to expand, but the application was denied. The term “private club” was not a defined term in the City’s ordinances, and that designation as a special use was eliminated from the ordinances in 1985. Even though the Church never sought a rooming and boarding license, the Church operated the retired women’s home as a boarding house until it sold the property to the fraternity. After the fraternity purchased the property, it sought a rooming/boarding house license, which the City requires from all fraternities and sororities. Although the property was not zoned for a rooming/boarding house, the fraternity sought the permit under the theory that its use of the property was a continuation of the use made by the Church and that it qualified as a nonconforming use under the City’s ordinances.9

¶ 6 Staff for the City of Norman initially agreed with the fraternity. However, several neighbors objected. After the City uncovered the minutes from the 1958 meeting and the old ordinance which had declared the property a private club, the appellee, Board of Adjustment (Board) determined on December 13, 2000, that the fraternity’s proposed use of the property was not a legal nonconforming use, and that the fraternity must seek to have the property re-zoned.

¶ 7 The fraternity appealed to the district court and the neighborhood association intervened. The district court, after a de novo10 review, affirmed the Board. It determined, [5] as a matter of law and fact, that the fraternity’s proposed use of the property differed from the Church’s use of the property, and that it was not the same nonconforming use. The fraternity appealed, and on April 5, 2002, the Court of Civil Appeals affirmed. We granted certiorari on June 5, 2002.

¶ 8 BECAUSE THE FRATERNITY’S PROPOSED USE OF THE PROPERTY IS SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME AS THE PROPERTY’S FORMER USE, THE FRATERNITY IS ENTITLED TO AN EXTENSION OF THE EXISTING NONCONFORMING USE.

¶ 9 A nonconforming use of property relates to the use of land which existed prior to the enactment or change of a zoning ordinance. It is a use which is impermissible under the zoning code, but allowed because the use existed lawfully before the use restrictions became effective.11 Once a lawful nonconforming use of property is established in the City of Norman, it may continue from one owner to another, as long as the nonconforming use remains the same.12

¶ 10 The City and the neighborhood association assert that the fraternity’s proposed use of the property as a fraternity house is a change in use from the retirement home for elderly women and, as such, is prohibited. The fraternity insists that its proposed use is the same as the current lawful nonconforming use, and that because its use will not change, it is entitled to an extension of the existing nonconforming use. The City also argues that there is a presumption of correctness in the Board’s decision, and that we must affirm the trial court because its decision was neither against the weight of the evidence nor arbitrary or capricious.

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Triangle Fraternity v. City of Norman, Ex Rel. Norman Board of Adjustment, 2002 OK 80, 63 P.3d 1, 73 O.B.A.J. 2914, 2002 Okla. LEXIS 81, 2002 WL 31357266 (Okla. 2002).

2002 OK 80 (Triangle Fraternity v. City of Norman, Ex Rel. Norman Board of Adjustment) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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