Gibson v. Main ( 1923 )

The Chancellor.

There is no material issue of fact in this case. The stipulation filed in behalf of the parties narrows the questions of law to the single one of whether under the terms of the restriction in his deed the defendant may erect the structure in question. The proposed structure is intended to be used as a private garage. It is intended at the present for the accomodation of the occupants of the defendant’s two houses on East Grant Avenue. These houses are now occupied by the defendant’s lessees, but the defendant testifies that he contemplates occupying one of them himself in the near future, when he will use the garage for the housing of his own automobiles. The garage is designed to accommodate two cars. It is so located as to permit the defendant to erect a bungalow on the same lot, which he testifies he intends to do. It is clear from the evidence, therefore, that the proposed structure is to be used as a private garage.

It appears that there are numerous private garages located within the Union Park Gardens section, constructed for the convencience of residents. This section was developed as a neighborhood scheme. Not all the deeds for lots in the section in question contain the same sort of restriction as to garages as is found in the defendant’s deed. In many of them, the restriction as to garages is that no garage should be built within fifty feet of the building line of any street and that in no case should any “public garage” be erected or permitted during a period of twenty years (except in a certain portion of the tract not important in this connection). The complainants’ deed carries this sort of restriction as do also the defendant’s deeds to the East Grant Avenue lots which are embraced within the Union Park Gardens. The complainants may, therefore, erect a private garage on their lot on McLane Street, next door to the defendant’s lot, and thus do that which they seek to restrian the defendant from doing.

The defendant contends that the restriction in the defendant’s deed for the McLane Street lot (recited at length in the statement of facts) is, so far as it deals with garages, to be construed as applying only to public garages and was not designed and intended to apply to private garages constructed solely for the convenience of the resident householder. In considering restrictions in a deed the general principle is ever to be borne in mind that they are to be construed strictly against the grantor and liberally in favor of the free use of the land by the grantee. A reading of the restriction in this case gives force to the defendant’s contention as to its meaning. The things forbidden to be erected are “slaughterhouse, piggery, smithshop, forge, furnace, foundry, or any other factory of any kind whatsoever, or any brewery, distillery, or any other noxious or dangerous trade or business, and * * * any stores or garages” for twenty years. Everything in this catalogue of things is something which speaks of trade or industry, unless it be “garages.” It was the obvious purpose of the restriction to protect this particular locality which was developed as a purely residential section from the annoyance which the presence of objectionable trades or pursuits would occasion. When in this list of forbidden things “garages” is included, I am constrained to the view that what is meant is garages intended to be used in the way of business. Sullivan v. Sprung, 170 App. Div. 237, 156 N. Y. Supp. 332. In Smyth v. McCarroll, 76 Pa. Super. Ct. 142, it was held that a private garage detached from a residence was not erected in violation of a covenant that “no building except for residence purposes shall ever be built upon said premises.” This ruling was based on the conception that a garage has grown to be so essential to the use and enjoyment of premises as a residence, that it may when intended solely to be used in connection therewith be regarded as a building for “residence purposes.” If this ruling be accepted as sound, then the structure here contemplated, though conveniently described by the parties as a “garage” is nevertheless properly to be regarded as a building for residential purposes and if so regarded would not come within the terms of the restrictive language. I do not rely upon this logic, however. I prefer rather to rest my view upon the reasoning first indicated, viz., that the company of words in which the word “garages” is found indicates that it is meant to apply to such structures only as are identified with trade or business or some quasi public use.

This view is confirmed by the fact that those who have had to do with the development of Union Park Gardens have not seen fit to prohibit other purchasers of lots from erecting what are called private garages, though public garages are expressly forbidden. Evidently the persons responsible for building up this residential section did not conceive that a structure for privately housing the motor car of a resident was such a thing as would destroy the sort of residential character which they desired the neighborhood to possess. Indeed if such private garages were designed to be prohibited, the likelihood is that the class of persons who would be most apt to build attractive homes and thereby make the neighborhood more desirable, would be driven away.

The complainants rely upon Sanford v. Keer, 80 N. J. Eq. 240, 83 Atl. 225, 40 L. R. A. (N. S.) 1090, in support of their contention. That case is clearly distinguishable from this both with respect to the nature of the restriction and the facts surrounding it.

It is pointed out that the City of Wilmington has by ordinance defined the term “public garages” and that the proposed structure falls within this definition. In response to this suggestion, it is sufficient to say that the case presented is not based on any ordinance. It is based solely on the rights of the complainants which are alleged to grow out of the restriction in the deed. In interpreting the language of the deed, arbitrary definitions given to words by the city ordinance are of no significance. Nor does the fact, if it be such, that the building of the garage will impair the value of the complainants’ adjoining premises count for anything, for if the erection of the structure is not forbidden by the deed, it not being unlawful or a nuisance, the defendant is within his rights.'

For the reasons given the bill will be dismissed with costs on the complainants.

Note. On appeal the decree of the Chancellor was affirmed. See post p. 449.