Zubli v. Community Mainstreaming Associates, Inc.

102 Misc. 2d 320, 423 N.Y.S.2d 982, 1979 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2867
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 11, 1979
StatusPublished
Cited by15 cases

This text of 102 Misc. 2d 320 (Zubli v. Community Mainstreaming Associates, Inc.) 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
Zubli v. Community Mainstreaming Associates, Inc., 102 Misc. 2d 320, 423 N.Y.S.2d 982, 1979 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2867 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1979).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Douglas F. Young, J.

This court is presented with motions by the various parties in the above-entitled action. Each of the defendants moves to dismiss the complaint and/or for summary judgment (Motion Nos. 100, 101, 102 and 103) and plaintiffs cross-move for summary judgment (Motion No. 104).

This action was initially commenced by plaintiffs against the defendants to enjoin permanently the threatened use by the defendant Community Mainstreaming Associates, Inc. ("CMA”) of the easement over plaintiffs’ driveway for a purpose other than its express use, to wit; as a means of egress and ingress to a single-family residence. Plaintiffs amended the complaint to sue for damages for violation of said easement and to attack the constitutionality of section 41.34 of the Mental Hygiene Law.

PARTIES

Plaintiffs are the owners of the premises at 161 Station Road, Kings Point, New York, a one-family dwelling (referred to herein as "Zubli property”). The Zubli property was pur[323]*323chased in March, 1978 and plaintiffs reside there with their three children.

Defendants Ira Cavrell and Sadie R. Cavrell were, at the time of the commencement of this action, the owners of an adjoining property, also a one-family dwelling (referred to herein as "Cavrell property”).

Defendant CMA is a corporation formed pursuant to the Not-For-Profit Corporation Law and with the approval of the Department of Mental Hygiene. CMA’s purpose is to acquire a home to be used as a "community residential facility for the disabled” as defined in section 41.34 of the Mental Hygiene Law ("Padavan Law”). This home would be used as a group home for no more than 12 functionally retarded and mentally disabled adults.

Defendant Thomas A. Coughlin, III, is the Commissioner of the New york State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. He is authorized by law to operate and license community residential facilities for mentally disabled persons.

Defendant Eastern Federal Savings and Loan Association of Sayville ("Eastern”) holds a first mortgage on the Cavrell property and consented to the assumption of said mortgage by CMA.

BACKGROUND

Plaintiffs commenced this action by serving the summons and complaint together with an order to show cause for a preliminary injunction. Plaintiffs sought an order pendente lite enjoining the defendants Cavrell from conveying title to their premises to CMA. The Cavrell property was benefited by an easement over the Zubli property’s driveway as a means of egress and ingress to Station Road. Plaintiffs argue that since 1955 the Cavrell house had been used as a single-family residence and that the subject easement was intended to benefit that use only. Since a group home would not be within the scope of the easement, they contended in the original complaint, the proposed use by CMA of the Cavrell property would violate the easement.

On May 11, 1979 this court (Young, J.) denied plaintiffs’ application holding that the proposed use would constitute a "family unit”, that the easement was unambiguous and without limitation and that plaintiffs failed to meet their burden [324]*324for obtaining preliminary injunctive relief. Instead, the parties were directed to proceed to trial.

Shortly thereafter plaintiffs served an amended complaint which realleges the cause of action contained in the original complaint and adds five additional causes of action. The first cause of action alleges that CMA’s proposed use of the premises as a community residential facility will violate the terms of CMA’s easement over the Zubli property. The second, third and fourth causes of action allege that Sadie R. Cavrell, CMA and Eastern are each answerable to plaintiffs for the breach of a restriction in the mortgage between Cavrell and Eastern and which mortgage has been assumed by CMA. The fifth and sixth causes of action allege that the threatened acts of Coughlin violate plaintiff’s constitutional rights and that the Padavan Law as applied in this case is unconstitutional.

FACTS

The facts in this case are not in dispute.

Plaintiffs are the owners in fee simple of the premises known as 161 Station Road, Village of Kings Point, New York, which is a one-family dwelling in an A-2 residential zoning district which, according to the village’s zoning ordinance, is restricted for single-family use. The Zubli property fronts on Station Road, a public street.

The premises known as 165 Station Road is contiguous to the rear of the Zubli property. This property, at the time this action was commenced, was owned by Sadie R. Cavrell who, in 1969, acquired title by a deed from herself and her husband, Ira Cavrell. In 1971 Sadie R. Cavrell executed a mortgage to Eastern which provided, in part, that the premises are to be improved by a one- or two-family dwelling only. The Cavrell property does not front upon a public street and access to Station Road is over the driveway of the Zubli property.

The Cavrell and Zubli properties were, at one time a single tract of land. When this tract was subdivided the common grantor conveyed what is now the Zubli property to plaintiffs’ predecessor in title and retained for himself that portion which is the Cavrell property. He did, however, reserve a right of way through the Zubli property by way of an easement over the driveway on the Zubli property for egress and ingress to and from Station Road. Because of the hilly topography of the Cavrell property the easement is the only means of getting to [325]*325and from Station Road. Said easement reads as follows: "Reserving to the parties of the first part, their heirs, successors and assigns, an easement running to the contiguous lands of the grantors over the present driveway near the north line of said Parcel C for egress and ingress including the right to erect and maintain two (2) signs containing thereon the occupants’ names and/or addresses on the northerly stone column at the entrance of said driveway, said easement to run with the land forever.”

This driveway is a partially unpaved private way approximately 8 feet in width, with no shoulders or walkways. It is maintained by plaintiffs. When the Zubli’s took title to their property they did so subject to the easement. The Cavrell property had, prior to plaintiffs taking title, been occupied and used as a single-family dwelling.

On or about March 29, 1979 Sadie R. Cavrell entered into a contract with CMA for the sale of the Cavrell property. CMA was interested in acquiring this property and obtaining, pursuant to the Padavan Law, the appropriate license from the defendant Coughlin to use the premises as a community residential facility for the care, maintenance and treatment of up to 12 mentally retarded, functionally disabled adults. The proposed use would also require two resident supervisors and other support personnel from time to time. The Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities gave preliminary assent to CMA’s proposed use and notice was given to the Village of Kings Point of CMA’s plan. The village, after public hearings, gave its approval to the proposed use subject to certain conditions.

Plaintiffs commenced this action and moved to enjoin the closing of title. As discussed above, the pendete lite relief was denied and the matter was set down for trial.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
102 Misc. 2d 320, 423 N.Y.S.2d 982, 1979 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2867, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/zubli-v-community-mainstreaming-associates-inc-nysupct-1979.