Little v. Town of Fabius Zoning Board of Appeals

Memorandum: Petitioners, the owners of real property in the Town of Fabius (Town), commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding challenging the determination, issued following a public hearing, that upheld the Town Zoning Officer’s 2010 issuance of a certificate of compliance for occupancy of a mobile home by tenants named in a lease agreement with the owners of neighboring property (owners). In 1993 respondent had issued a special permit to the owners for the placement of the mobile home on their property for the use of a full-time agricultural employee. As a preliminary matter, we agree with petitioners that this proceeding was improperly transferred to this Court inasmuch as petitioners do not challenge a determination made as a result of an evidentiary hearing directed by law (see CPLR 7803 [4]; 7804 [g]; Matter of Halperin v City of New Rochelle, 24 AD3d 768, 770-771 [2005], lv dismissed 6 NY3d 890 [2006], lv denied 7 NY3d 708 [2006]). Nevertheless, we review petitioners’ contentions in the interest of judicial economy (see Matter of W.K.J. Young Group v Zoning Bd. of Appeals of Vil. of Lancaster, 16 AD3d 1021 [2005]). “A determination of a zoning board made after a public hearing should be sustained if it has a rational basis and is supported by evidence in the record” (Matter of Haberman v Zoning Bd. of Appeals of Town of E. Hampton, 85 AD3d 1170, 1171 [2011]). Pursuant to article VI, § 15 (C) (5) (a) of the Town of Fabius Zoning Law, the owners were permitted to maintain a mobile home on their property as long as it was “used as a dwelling by employees of an active farm operation.” “Under a zoning ordinance which authorizes interpretation of its requirements by the board of appeals, specific application of a term of the ordinance to a particular property is . . . governed by the board’s interpretation, unless unreasonable or irrational” (Matter of Frishman v Schmidt, 61 NY2d 823, 825 [1984]). Here, respondent’s determination that the property at issue was an “active farm operation” and that the tenants occupying the mobile home were “employees” of that operation is not unreasonable or irrational (cf. Matter of Kinderhill Farm Breeding Assoc. v Walker, 54 AD2d 811 [1976], affd 42 NY2d 919 [1977]). Contrary to petitioners’ contentions, moreover, respondent adequately explained the rationale for its determination and afforded petitioners an opportunity to be heard at the September 2010 public hearing on their appeal challenging the Town Zon 1365 ing Officer’s issuance of the certificate of compliance for occupancy. Although the notice for respondent’s subsequent hearing in December 2010 stated that members of the public would be permitted to be heard, that statement was made in error inasmuch as the record of the September hearing expressly provides that this matter was “concluded” at the September hearing. Thus, at the December hearing, “ [a]ll that arguably remained was a vote on the matter and petitioners were not entitled to be heard further” (Matter of Litz v Town Bd. of Guilderland, 197 AD2d 825, 827 [1993]). Finally, contrary to the contention of petitioners, respondent’s answer was not deficient (see CPLR 7804 [d]). Present — Smith, J.R, Centra, Garni, Green and Martoche, JJ.