Chess v. City of Glen Cove

Benjamin, J. This is an action to declare unconstitutional an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cien Cove in the County of Nassau, on the ground that such amendment is confiscatory as applied to plaintiffs’ 19-acre tract of land known as Pratt Oval. The six plaintiff corporations, Chess, Baymore, Cove, Ralsan, Universal and Nylacore, appeal from so much of a judgment as declared the amendment to be nonconfiscatory and constitutional as applied to their property. The defendants cross-appeal from so much of the judgment as declared the zoning ordinance amendment to be confiscatory and unconstitutional as applied to the property of the two remaining plaintiffs, Cateo, Inc. and Charles J. RoTech. Pratt Oval is comprised of a now-vacant, 4-acre interior portion, largely surrounded by 15 acres, now improved with light factory-type buildings. The Oval is not a planned industrial area, but consists rather of the remains of the stables, service shops, auxiliary buildings and horse practice track of a large estate that is no longer in existence. Prior to 1960 the area was zoned for light industry and the 15-acre perimeter was so used. Beginning about 1950 the residential population of the surrounding areas began to increase. The residents complained about this industrial area; and in 1960 the zoning of Pratt Oval was changed from light manufacturing to an “ R2 residential ” zone. In an R2 zone the permitted uses are one-family houses, municipal buildings, schools, churches, scientific and research laboratories, farms, libraries, museums, and country clubs. [268] By reason of the 1960 zoning change, the existing uses of the perimeter parcels -in Pratt Oval became nonconforming. The owner’s of those parcels, together with the owners of the vacant interior parcels, brought this action to declare the 1960 zoning amendment unconstitutional. Special Term held that it was confiscatory and unconstitutional .as to the vacant interior parcels, but nonconfiscatory and valid as to the perimeter parcels which already had established nonconforming uses. So holding, Special Term noted that this result was “ anomalous, if not absurd,” since thereby the peripheral improved parcels were left remaining in a residential zone while the unimproved interior parcels were in effect rezoned for industrial use (see 38 Misc 2d 555, 561). We agree that such a result is anomalous and untenable. We do not agree that such a self-characterized “ absurd ” result is inevitable and inescapable. We agree that the 1960 zoning amendment is constitutional with respect to the improved 15 acres in the perimeter. We disagree that it is unconstitutional with respect to the unimproved 4 acres in the interior. It is clear from this record that Pratt Oval is an inharmonious, averaged industrial area surrounded by a young, healthy, growing residential area of high character. As the surrounding residential area has grown and will continue to grow, the existing inside industrial area has become 'and will hereafter become progressively less viable. With this natural growth and consequence in mind, it is obvious that .the final result reached by Special Term is not merely inconsistent and anomalous; it is also self-defeating. In sustaining the validity of the zoning change with respect to the improved 15 acres in the perimeter, we are in effect holding that the City of G-len Cove had a right to upgrade its community by taking steps toward the ultimate elimination of the blight of this industrial oval within an otherwise wholly residential area. In other words, we are holding, as did Special Term, that Pratt Oval properly should revert to residential use, as the city’s residents desire and as the city’s legislative body has decided. But this holding would be effectively negated and frustrated were we to affirm Special Term’s determination that the rezoning is invalid with respect to the now-unimproved interior parcels. If that determination were to stand, new factories would arise on the interior 4 acres. And the existence of these new factories would appreciably retard, if not render impossible, the intended gradual phasing-out of the present industrial uses of the adjoining 15 acres in the perimeter, .since those 15 acres [269] could not be expected to become residential while contiguous to new factories on the interior four acres. In short, if we were to affirm Special Term’s determination as to the interior parcels, we would freeze permanently the present industrial uses of Pratt Oval which the rezoning was designed gradually to eliminate— the very same rezoning whose wisdom we claim to be sustaining by our decision in the companion case (Matter of City of Glen Cove v. Buxenbaum, 23 A D 2d 969, decided herewith). Special Term apparently believed that the proof clearly established that the interior parcels could not feasibly be used for any of the purposes permitted in an R2 zone. We disagree. The property owners had the burden of showing that the amended ordinance precluded the use of their property for any purpose to which it was reasonably adapted (Arverne Bay Constr. Co. v. Thatcher, 278 N. Y. 222). We do not think they sustained that burden. One attacking the validity of a zoning ordinance must establish its invalidity beyond a reasonable doubt (Wiggins v. Town of Somers, 4 N Y 2d 215; Summers v. City of Glen Cove, 21 A D 2d 884). These plaintiffs have at most shown that the validity of this ordinance is debatable. Such showing is not enough. Any rezoning program inevitably causes loss to some while it brings profit to others. That is not enough reason to strike down such planning if done in good faith. The loss in property value caused to some landowners by rezoning does not make the rezoning confiscatory and unconstitutional as to them (Levitt v. Incorporated Vil. of Sands Point, 6 N Y 2d 269; Shepard v. Village of Skaneateles, 300 N. Y. 115). The upgrading of this community by the elimination of factories from the heart of a thriving, growing residential area was in our opinion a wise and proper exercise of legislative judgment. We cannot allow it to be frustrated by a strained holding that the rezoning was confiscatory and invalid as to the interior parcels. Accordingly, the judgment, insofar as appealed from by the six plaintiff corporations (Chess et al.) should be affirmed, without costs; the judgment, insofar as appealed from by the defendants, should be reversed on the law and the facts, without costs, and judgment directed, without costs, declaring the zoning ordinance amendment nonconfiscatory and constitutional as applied to the property of the two plaintiffs Cateo and Rorech. Findings of fact contained in the decision (38 Misc 2d 555) which may be inconsistent with this opinion should be reversed, and new findings made as indicated herein.