Gerrish Township v. Esber

Weaver, J. Plaintiff, Gerrish Township, brought suit seeking the removal of two signs advertising a grocery store owned by defendants Rafic Esber and Linda Esber. The signs are each located approximately one mile from the store on property that the parties concede belongs to the State of Michigan. The signs have been in place since approximately 1946 and 1980. A zoning ordinance was passed in 1960 that prohibited such signs. Following a bench trial, the court ruled that the signs did not constitute a nonconforming use and would have to be removed. Defendants appeal. We affirm. Defendants argue that the signs constitute a nonconforming use that cannot be removed without just compensation being paid, citing MCL 125.583a; MSA 5.2933(1), Wolverine Sign Works v Bloomfield Hills, 279 Mich 205; 271 NW 823 (1937). What defendants overlook in their argument, however, is the fact that the signs are not on their property. Rather, they are on land that defendants believe belongs to the State of Michigan. 1 Permitting the continuation of a nonconforming use is designed to avoid the imposition of hardship upon the owner of property. South Central Improvement Ass’n v St Clair Shores, 348 Mich 153; 82 NW2d 453 (1957). Here, defendants have no *534 property right to be protected, 2 nor have they asserted one. We also note that the presence of the signs on state land violates 1979 AC, R 299.331(l)(f). 3 We affirm. Footnotes [1] The record does not establish which state department or agency controls the property. Although some state land may be exempt from local use regulation pursuant to Dearden v Detroit, 403 Mich 257; 269 NW2d 139 (1978), defendants waived any such possible issue by failing to raise it at trial. [2] Title may not be acquired by adverse possession against the state. Young v Thendara, Inc, 328 Mich 42; 43 NW2d 58 (1950). [3] 1979 AC, R 299.331(1)© provides: Rule 1. (1) On state lands other than state parks and recreation areas, it is unlawful for any person: ffi To post, place, or erect signs; to place or distribute advertising material; to erect a fence or barrier; to construct or occupy improvements or to enclose the lands without proper written permission.