Wilson v. Board of County Commissioners

2007 WY 42, 153 P.3d 917, 2007 Wyo. LEXIS 44, 2007 WL 755182
CourtWyoming Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 14, 2007
DocketNo. 05-213
StatusPublished
Cited by15 cases

This text of 2007 WY 42 (Wilson v. Board of County Commissioners) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wyoming Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wilson v. Board of County Commissioners, 2007 WY 42, 153 P.3d 917, 2007 Wyo. LEXIS 44, 2007 WL 755182 (Wyo. 2007).

Opinion

HILL, Justice.

[T1] On May 7, 2004, Appellants, Phillip and Freddie Wilson (Wilsons), filed a declaratory judgment action seeking a declaration from the district court; (1) That Division 4300 of the Teton County Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Regulations (LDR or LDRs) (entitled "Open Space Standards"), which requires a developer to set aside open space within any proposed residential subdivision development is facially unconstitutional (as a taking without compensation) and, hence, unenforceable; (2) that Section 4880.D.8., which requires the developer to convey an easement for any open space within the residential subdivision development to a qualified organization (giving that organization authority to enforce the open space restriction), is unconstitutional on its face; (8) that Section 4880.D.8. of the LDRs (if not unconstitutional) is ultra vires and beyond the powers conferred upon Teton County by law; and (4) that Section 49440 of the Teton County LDRs (entitled "Caleulation of Affordable Housing Standards for Residential Development") is facially unconstitutional (as a taking without compensation) and, hence, unenforceable. In addition, the Wilsons sought a court order enjoining Teton County from further enforcing the provisions of the disputed LDRs.

[¶2] By order entered on March 21, 2005, the district court granted Appellee's, Board of County Commissioners of the County of Teton (Teton County), motion to dismiss Counts 1, 2, and 4 pursuant to W.R.C.P. 12(b)(6) (failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted). With respect to Count 3, Teton County filed a motion for summary judgment and on July 18, 2005, the district court entered its order granting that motion. We will affirm the district court's orders on the basis that the Wilsons' claims are untimely, and they do not currently have standing to make a facial challenge to the constitutionality of the Teton County LDRs or to otherwise challenge the orders of the district court.

ISSUES

[¶3] The Wilsons raise these issues:

A. Whether the United States Supreme Court's standards with regard to the conditional granting of a development permit, as set forth in Nollan v. California Coastal Commission, 483 U.S. 825, 107 S.Ct. 3141, 97 L.Ed.2d 677 (1987) and Dolan v. City of Tigard, 512 U.S. 374, 114 S.Ct. 2309, 129 LEd.2d 304 (1994), apply [919]*919to Teton County's regulations conditioning subdivision approval?
B. Whether [Wilsons'] takings challenge is ripe for review even though Teton County has not been provided an opportunity to avoid an "unconstitutional application" of the challenged regulations?
C. Whether Teton County's subdivision regulations fail to substantially relate to a legitimate government interest?
D. Whether Section 4800.D.3 of Teton County's subdivision regulations provides for an unlawful physical appropriation of property?
E. Whether Teton County has express or implied authority to require the conveyance of rights to enforce open space restrictions to an organization qualified and dedicated to preserving the values intended by the open space restrictions?
F. Whether [Wilsons'] claims and allegations are barred by the statute of limitations, the doctrine of equitable estoppel, or laches?

Teton County offers this statement of the issues:

1. Whether the heightened judicial scrutiny required by Nollan v. California Coastal Commission ... and Dolan v. City of Tigard ... applies to Teton County's open space and affordable housing regulations, which are legislatively adopted, non-discretionary (formula-based or quantitative) land use regulations?
2. Whether the "rough proportionality" and "individualized determinations" standards of Dolan can ever be challenged facially ? '
3. Whether a challenge to the facial constitutionality of a land use regulation is ever tenable where the very terms of the challenged regulation permit those who administer it to avoid an unconstitutional application?
4. Whether the Wilsons' taking and substantive due process claims are barred by laches?
5. Whether Teton County's open space and affordable housing regulations comply with substantive due process?
6. Whether Section 4330.D. results in a physical invasion of property under the Takings Clause?
7. Whether Wyo. Stat. § 18-5-201 impliedly authorizes Teton County to require the conveyance of rights, in perpetuity, to enforce open space restrictions to an organization qualified and dedicated to preserving the values intended by the restrictions?
8. Whether the 'conveyance of such rights in perpetuity unlawfully deprives future boards of county commissioners from acting in the public good?
9. Whether there is anything about requiring the conveyance of rights, in perpetuity, to enforce open space restrictions pursuant to a development option that contravenes public policy?
10. Whether the statute of limitations bars the Wilsons' witra vires claims?
11. Whether equitable estoppel bars the Wilsons' ultra vires claims?

FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS

[T4] The Wilsons filed. a complaint for declaratory relief on May 7, 2004, seeking to declare portions of the Teton County LDRs "unconstitutional, witre vires, and consequently unenforceable." It is undisputed that the LDRs at issue were adopted by Teton County on May 9, 1994. The Wilsons contended that, on the face of the matter, the LDRs effected an uncompensated taking of private property (denied Wilsons the economically beneficial use of their property or were a physical taking) and, therefore, were facially unconstitutional. The Wilsons also contended that the LDRs did not "substantially advance a legitimate state interest, maintain an 'essential nexug' with a legitimate state interest, or bear some roughly proportional relationship to the burden on the landowner." The Wilsons asked the district court to enjoin Teton County from "further use, implementation, or enforcement" of the LDRs. One of the central complaints voiced by the Wilsons was that, under the LDRs, approval of their Hog Island Subdivision (Subdivision) was contingent upon them setting aside ten acres of mandatory open [920]*920space and approximately five acres for affordable housing units.

[¶5] The Subdivision consists of approximately forty acres and is located in Teton County about eight miles south of Jackson along U.S. Highway 89. The plat for the Subdivision was approved on October 19, 1999. As approved, the Subdivision was split into a thirty-acre parcel for residential development and ten acres of mandatory open space. The thirty residential acres were divided into eighteen residential lots. Three of the lots were sold as "affordable housing" (value set by Teton County at $40,000, $50,000, and $60,000). Three of the lots were sold as "attainable housing" ($80,000 apiece). Lot eighteen is reserved for current occupation and use by the Wilsons' construction business. The business enjoys grandfathered status at that location.

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Bluebook (online)
2007 WY 42, 153 P.3d 917, 2007 Wyo. LEXIS 44, 2007 WL 755182, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wilson-v-board-of-county-commissioners-wyo-2007.