DocketNumber: No. CV01 0085538
Citation Numbers: 2002 Conn. Super. Ct. 10629, 33 Conn. L. Rptr. 231
Judges: CREMINS, JUDGE.
Filed Date: 8/20/2002
Status: Non-Precedential
Modified Date: 4/18/2021
On May 24, 2001, the Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider a seventh draft of amendments to its subdivision regulations. Legal notice of the public hearing was published in the New Milford Spectrum. (Return of Record [ROR], Items 14 15.)
Among the amendments considered were changes to: Sections 2.2.1a (5) and 2.2.1b (2) of the regulations to authorize the Planning Commission to require a bond to ensure the completion of all required private driveway and common driveway improvements; Section 2.3.2b of the regulations to prohibits dead end streets within a subdivision with more than twenty lots "unless the Commission determines on the basis of the facts before it . . . that [the street] can accommodate a greater number of lots without endangering the public health, safety, convenience and welfare;" Section 2.8.1a and 2.8.1b of the regulations to authorize the commission to include as a condition of a subdivision approval off site improvements for drainage and sewerage; Section 2.9.1 of the regulations to authorize the commission to require a set aside for open space of not less than fifteen percent of the total area of a proposed subdivision; and 2.9.2 of the regulations to authorize the commission to require "the open space to have direct access to a public street."
On May 30, 2001, the Planning Commission voted to adopt the amendments to the subdivision regulations including the aforementioned amendments that are the subject of this appeal, effective June 2, 2001. The Planning Commission published notice of its decision in the Danbury News-Times on June 1, 2001. (RoR, Item 16.) On June 15, 2001, this appeal followed.
"Classical aggrievement requires a two part showing. First, a party CT Page 10631 must demonstrate a specific, personal and legal interest in the subject matter of the decision, as opposed to a general interest that all members of the community share. Second, the party must also show that the agency's decision has specially and injuriously affected that specific personal or legal interest." Id. "Aggrievement does not demand certainty, only the possibility of an adverse effect on a legally protected interest." Id. A landowner affected by a town's amendments to its subdivision regulations satisfies the classical aggrievement test and thus can bring an administrative appeal even though he has not filed a subdivision application with the planning and Zoning Commission. SeeLewis v. Planning Zoning Commission, supra,
In this case, the court finds that Dunham owns 790 acres of property in the town of New Milford. Approximately, 600 of Dunham's acres are subject to the subdivision regulations. Dunham is the single largest individual landowner in the Town of New Milford. The acreage's fair market value is affected by the town's amendments to its subdivision regulations. Dunham has demonstrated an identifiable legal interest that the community as a whole does not share and have. Dunham has further demonstrated that an economic impact on his property exists and thus a specific personal or legal interest has been specially and injuriously affected. See Lewis v.Planning Zoning Commission, supra,
The court has determined that Dunham is an aggrieved party, however, the mere fact that a party is aggrieved does not mean that standing alone creates a justiciable issue. The regulation states in part that "No CT Page 10632 dead-end streets within a subdivision or street system within a subdivision shall service more that twenty (20) lots not including corner lots at the entrance unless the Commission determines on the basis of thefacts before it. . . . [t]hat it [the subdivision] can accommodate agreater number of lots. . . . (Emphasis added.) Regulation 2.3.2b.
"It is a fundamental rule that a court may raise and review the issue of subject matter jurisdiction at any time." Kizis v. Morse DieselInternational, Inc.,
"Because courts are established to resolve actual controversies, before a claimed controversy is entitled to a resolution on the merits, it must be justiciable." Mayer v. Biafore,
"The justiciability of a claim is related to its ripeness." CumberlandFarms, Inc. v. Town of Groton,
"The existence of an actual controversy is an essential jurisdictional prerequisite . . . It is not the province of our courts to decide moot questions, the determination of which cannot result in the granting of actual or practical relief. . . . In the absence of an actual and existing controversy for us to adjudicate in any sense of the term, the courts of this state may not be used as a vehicle to obtain judicial opinions on points of law." (Citations omitted.) Fromer v. Tree Warden,
Here, the decision as to whether more than twenty lots might be permitted in a particular subdivision is to be determined by the Planning Commission by reviewing the "facts before it." Thus there is no justifiable claim before the court.
Therefore, the appeal as it relates to Section 2.3.2b of the subdivision regulations is dismissed.
SECTION 2.8.1a and 2.8.1b — OFF SITE IMPROVEMENTS
Section 2.8 of the amended regulations provides that: "New developments may stress existing infrastructures beyond acceptable limits. The commission may require reasonable off-tract improvement necessitated by new development and, in such instances, shall require their inclusion with approved subdivision plans." Subsections 2.8.1a and 2.8.1b further provide that the commission may require off-site improvements for drainage and improvements to the town's sanitary sewer system in connection with a subdivision application. Dunham argues that these provisions are in excess of the Planning Commission's authority under General Statutes §
A municipal planning commission, as a creature of statute, has only those powers expressly granted to it through Chapter 126 of the Connecticut General Statutes. Smith v. Zoning Board of Appeals,
Similarly, there is nothing in General Statutes §
including the upgrading of any down stream ditch, culvert or other drainage structure which, through the introduction of additional drainage due to such subdivision, becomes undersized and creates a potential for flooding on a state highway. . . .
Section 2.8.1a goes beyond requiring a developer to improve off-site drainage when that drainage flows to a state highway. It provides that in all cases, if the existing system functions inadequately or does not have adequate capacity to accommodate an applicant's stormwater runoff, the Planning Commission may require off-site improvements as part of a subdivision approval, including the installation, relocation or replacement of drains, culverts, catch basins and manholes. Section
With regard to sanitary sewers, Section 2.8.1b authorizes the Planning Commission to require a subdivision applicant to improve the town's sanitary sewer system if the existing system does not have adequate capacity to accommodate the applicant's flow, including the installation, relocation or replacement of collector, trunk, and interceptor sewers, pump stations and associated appurtenances.
In Gonthier v. Watertown Planning Zoning Commission, Superior Court, judicial district of Waterbury, Docket No. 0119318 (July 12, 1995,Fasano, J.), a subdivision applicant appealed the denial of a subdivision application, which denial was based in part on the applicant's refusal to install dry lines off-site to the town's sewer system. The planning commission's regulations required that in areas where public water supply and/or sanitary sewage system are not available, dry lines, shall be installed in new and/or reconstructed streets when in the opinion of the water and sewer authority the extension of lines to the area will be accomplished before the ten year life span of the street pavement.
The trial court reversed the decision of the planning commission, holding that since compliance with this regulation would require construction to an "off-site" area, such regulation is invalid and compliance is not required as a precondition to the granting of an CT Page 10635 application for subdivision. The trial court noted that, though §
The issue of whether or not §
After a review of all the materials cited in both briefs, this court concludes that the regulations in question as applied in this matter exceed the authority of the enabling statute, §
The Planning Commission's regulation concerning off-site improvements to the towns sewer system is also invalid in that the regulation concerns an area over which the Planning Commission has no jurisdiction or control. Municipal sewerage systems are governed by Chapter 103 of the Connecticut General Statutes, Section
For all of the foregoing reasons, the court sustains the Dunham's appeal related to Section 2.8.1 and Section 2.8.1b of the subdivision regulations.
SECTION 2.2.1a (5) and 2.2.1b (2) — BONDS FOR DRIVEWAYS CT Page 10636
Sections 2.2.1a (5) and 2.2.1b (2) of the amended regulations authorize the Planning Commission to require a bond to ensure improvements to private driveways and private common driveways. General Statutes §
General Statutes §
General Statutes §
The powers of a planning commission under Chapter 126 of the General Statutes are strictly construed and planning commissions are not allowed to adopt subdivision regulations or exercise powers unless they are clearly granted by the enabling statutes. Brenton v. Oxford Planning Zoning Commission, Superior Court, judicial district of Ansonia/Milford, Docket No. 32373 (December 7, 1990, Fuller, J.), citing, Avonside Inc.Zoning Planning Commission,
There is no provision in either the regulations or the ordinance requiring the construction of driveways on subdivision lots at the time of subdivision approval. Assuming the Planning Commission could determine whether proposed subdivision driveways could be built, which would meet the requirements of the regulations before approving the lots, the Planning Commission would necessarily have to require construction of the driveways or the obtaining of permits for the driveways as a condition of subdivision approval, a impractical requirement.
The court finds that no statutory authority exists vesting the Planning Commission with the power to require bonds for private subdivision CT Page 10637 improvements. Therefore, the court sustains Dunham's appeal related to Sections 2.2.1a (5) and 2.2.1b (2) of the subdivision regulations.
SECTION 2.9.2 — ACCESS TO OPEN SPACE
Section 2.9.2 of the amended regulations authorizes the Planning Commission to require a subdivision applicant to provide an access area at least ten feet wide through subdivision property for public access to open space land from an existing public street.
As stated above, a municipal planning commission, as a creature of statute, has only those powers expressly granted to it through Chapter 126 of the Connecticut General Statutes. Smith v. Zoning Board ofAppeals, supra,
Section 2.9.2 of the amended regulations exceeds the Planning Commission's statutory authority in that General Statutes §
The court finds that no statutory authority exists vesting the Planning Commission with the authority to require a subdivision applicant to provide public access over subdivision land. Therefore the court sustains Dunham's appeal related to Section 2.9.2 of the subdivision regulations.
SECTION 2.9.1 — OPEN SPACE MIMIMUM
Dunham claims that the amended open space regulation constitutes an unlawful taking of property without just compensation in violation of the
In Dolan the commission granted the plaintiff's application for a building permit, subject to two conditions. The conditions required that the plaintiff dedicate, by deed to the city, land to be used for a greenway for recreational visitors along a creek to minimize flooding and land to be used for a recreational, bicycle pathway to relieve traffic congestion. See Dolan v. City of Tigard, supra,
Consequently, under Dolan, in cases where a zoning agency acts in its adjudicative capacity and conditions approval of a zoning or building application on the applicant's granting of a public dedication, the agency "must make some sort of individualized determination that the required dedication is related both in nature and extent to the impact of the proposed development." Dolan v. City of Tigard, supra,
Dunham's argument that the Planning Commission is required to satisfy the rough proportionality test from Dolan is misplaced. The Planning Commission acts in a legislative capacity when it amends its regulations, not in its adjudicative capacity. See Pierrepont v. ZoningCommission,
The leading Connecticut case on the legality of open space requirements is our Supreme Court's decision in Aunt Hack, supra, and contrary to Dunham's view, this case has not been undermined by the holding of Dolan
in cases involving the exercise of an agency's legislative functions. "The test which has been generally applied in determining whether a requirement that a developer set aside land for parks and playgrounds as a prerequisite to the approval of a subdivision plan is whether the burden cast upon the subdivider is specifically and uniquely attributable to his own activity. Where the requirement is uniquely attributable to the subdivider's activity, it has been held to be a permissible exercise of the police power." Aunt Hack Ridge Estates, Inc. v. PlanningCommission, supra,
Within the framework of Aunt Hack Dunham dose not contend that the commission's adoption of the amended regulation is an excessive or unconstitutional exercise of the commission's police power. Dunham argues that the required set aside of not less than fifteen percent is mandatory in every residential subdivision without any requirement that the Planning Commission consider the need for open space in relation to the impact of the proposed subdivision. The court, however, cannot conclude that this regulation's fifteen percent open space requirement is so large or extreme that it is unconstitutional on its face. See generally, Aginsv. Tiburon, supra,
The plaintiff "has the burden of proof of overcoming" the presumption that the regulation is constitutional, Troiano v. Zoning Commission,
Moreover, it must be emphasized that Dunham has not actually filed applications to subdivide his land. Dunham contends that the open space regulation constitutes a per se or facially offensive violation of his rights and not a violation based on any specific application of the regulation to his land. Thus, the full or actual impact of the regulation on Dunham's land is undetermined, and the law is well-established that the "[g]overnment hardly could go on if to some extent values incident to property could not be diminished without paying for every such change in the general law." (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Dolan v. City ofTigard, supra,
The courts have upheld the constitutionality of fairly significant impacts on private property as part of the government's regulatory or preparatory functions. See, e.g., Santini v. Connecticut Hazardous WasteManagement SVC,
For the foregoing reasons Dunham's appeal related to Section 2.9.1 of the subdivision regulations is dismissed.
By the court, CT Page 10641
_________________ (Cremins, J)
Pierrepont v. Zoning Commission , 154 Conn. 463 ( 1967 )
Aunt Hack Ridge Estates, Inc. v. Planning Commission , 160 Conn. 109 ( 1970 )
Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co. , 47 S. Ct. 114 ( 1926 )
Troiano v. Zoning Commission , 155 Conn. 265 ( 1967 )
Luf v. Town of Southbury , 188 Conn. 336 ( 1982 )