DocketNumber: Nos. CV98-0488051S, CV99-0495681S, CV99-0495682S
Citation Numbers: 2000 Conn. Super. Ct. 1398
Judges: KREMSKI, JUDGE TRIAL REFEREE.
Filed Date: 1/31/2000
Status: Non-Precedential
Modified Date: 7/5/2016
Thereafter, the city, pursuant to the statutory provisions of General Statutes §
The Economic Development and Manufacturing Assistance Act of 1990, §
The plaintiffs, however, must also show they will suffer irreparable harm if injunctions are not issued. "[I]rreparable harm arises when there exists no legal remedy furnishing full compensation or adequate redress for a wrong done to or sustained by an individual. The injury or wrong complained of must be serious or material and not adequately reparable by damages at law in that, such damages will not restore the complaining party to the position in which the party formerly stood." Allshouse v.Farmer, Superior Court, judicial district of Stamford-Norwalk at Stamford, Docket No. 153327 (March 10, 1997, Tierney, J.). "Although absolute certainty is not required, it must appear that there is a substantial probability that but for the issuance of the injunction, the party seeking it will suffer irreparable harm." Silitschanu v. Groesbeck,
Our Supreme Court has repeatedly held that "the issuance of an injunction rests within the sound discretion of the trial court."Anderson v. Latimer Point Management Corp.,
The plaintiffs requested temporary and permanent injunctions, by their complaint and by their motions in the condemnation cases. "A temporary injunction is a preliminary order of the court granted at the outset or during the pendency of an action, forbidding the performance of the threatened acts described in the original complaint until the rights of the parties respecting them shall have been finally determined by the court." Deming v.Bradstreet,
Because a certificate of taking was not recorded, the condition of the parties has remained as it was before the commencement of any of the actions. Therefore, because the status quo has been preserved, temporary injunctions are no longer in issue. The homeowners, however, also requested permanent injunctions restraining the city from taking the properties.
"Permanent injunctions can be granted only after a final hearing on the merits and last indefinitely." 42 Am.Jur.2d, Injunctions § 9 (1969); see also Doublewal Corp. v. Toffolon, supra,
While this court is sympathetic to the homeowners' situation, this court, in its discretion, does not find the harms the homeowners allege constitute serious or material injuries. Also, this court does not find that there is a substantial probability that but for the issuance of the injunctions, the homeowners will suffer irreparable harm. However sympathetic the homeowners' and their concerns might be, this court notes that injunctive relief may not lie where it is predicated on the fears and apprehensions of the parties applying for it. CT Page 1403
The homeowners also claim federal and state constitutional rights violations due to the city's use of eminent domain allegedly to benefit a private individual or entity, thereby constituting an abuse of the public trust and a taking of privately owned property for a private purpose.20 It is well established that the takings clause of the
Even construing authority to condemn in the homeowners' favor, based on the evidence presented, this court finds the city's condemnation of the homeowners' properties is not in violation of any constitutional right. The evidence shows the city approached the homeowners with the intention to purchase their properties for the purpose of building an industrial park.23 Although the city had numerous discussions with and made plans to have Yarde Metals as an anchor tenant in the proposed industrial park, no agreement or contract, written or oral, was made with Yarde Metals. Furthermore, and more telling, the evidence shows the city plans on developing the industrial park whether or not Yarde Metals indeed becomes a tenant. This court notes that even if Yarde Metals becomes the hoped-for anchor tenant, it will have to comply with the developmental plan as approved by the Bristol's Developmental Board and City Council. Therefore, this court finds that the homeowners' claims of constitutional right violations CT Page 1404 are without merit.
This court finds the homeowners do not meet the second prong alleging irreparable harm and this court finds that damages at law by way of fair compensation for their properties can adequately restore the homeowners. Even assuming, however, that the homeowners' allegations constitute irreparable harm or demonstrate a substantial likelihood thereof, granting the homeowners' requests for injunctions must be compatible with the equities of the case. In the following section, this court undertakes a review of the competing interests of the parties with particular focus on the hardships to the city should the homeowners' injunctions be granted. After balancing the equities, this court comes to the same conclusion that the homeowners' injunctions should be denied.
A. No Other Suitable Industrial Property in Bristol.
Our courts have consistently reaffirmed the principle that each parcel of real property is recognized to be in some ways unique. See French v. Clinton,
1. Direct Access to Interstate 84 and Other Major Routes
Evidence was presented that the location of the homeowners' properties location on Middle Street (also known as State Route 229) provides direct motor vehicle access to Interstate Route 84. (See Defendant's Exhibit C, current plan, existing conditions; site description.) Access to Interstate Route 84 is critical because the city expects that proposed tenants at the industrial park will be involved in manufacturing, thereby utilizing large trucks. Evidence shows the homeowners' properties also have access to State Route 72, approximately one mile north and U.S. Route 6, approximately 2.2 miles to the north. Both these routes provide east-west access to the city of Bristol. State Route 229 provides north-south access to the homeowners' properties. The homeowners' properties are located approximately 3.5 miles from Interstate 84, as accessed via State Route 72. Interstate 84 provides east-west access for central and northern Connecticut.
Evidence shows that there are 290 industrial acres available in Bristol. Evidence shows some that of the 290 acres were given to the Nature Conservancy and that some land is currently in farm use. Although some of these other industrially zoned acres are of sufficient size to accommodate the city's proposed industrial park, evidence shows that none of these other parcels provide direct highway access. Testimony repeatedly reaffirms the city's need for highway access for the proposed industrial park tenants. None of the other 290 available acres zoned for industrial CT Page 1406 development in the city of Bristol provide such direct access to Interstate 84. This direct access alone makes the homeowners' properties uniquely suitable for industrial development.
2. Properties Are Located Adjacent to an Already Existing Industrial Development
The homeowners' properties are located adjacent to property of a manufacturer, DANA/Warner Electric Company (formerly Superior Electric). The DANA/Warner Electric Company (DANA/Warner) property, which lies to the south of the homeowners' properties, is an industrial use property with room for expansion. DANA/Warner owns the adjacent industrial zoned property encompassing approximately sixty-eight acres. DANA\Warner is cooperating with the city allowing for combined development of approximately fourteen of its acres with the homeowners' properties. (See Defendant's Exhibit C, current plan). The homeowners' properties are located in the southeast part of Bristol, one of the major industrial areas of the city where there is much development. There are no comparable quality parcels to the homeowners' properties when combined with DANA/Warner's parcel for purposes of development.
Also, evidence shows that the homeowners' properties, in combination with the DANA/Warner property, are of sufficient width and depth to provide adequate access for large trucks. Testimony reveals that the city expects to have tenants involved in manufacturing who will utilize large trucks for distribution. These trucks need adequate room to maneuver, and incoming, outgoing and handling sections are needed for these trucks. The homeowners' properties are uniquely suitable for industrial development because they are located adjacent to an already existing industrial development with room for expansion of sufficient width and depth to provide adequate access for large trucks.
3. Visibility of the Proposed Park from Middle Street
Testimony shows that prospective tenants to industrial parks regard visibility of their expensive facilities as important, and that visibility is part of the total setting of the industrial park. The homeowners' properties front Middle Street, a four lane bi-directional principal arterial road. (See Defendant's Exhibit C, current plan, existing conditions.) There are visibility constraints to the north by approximately thirty single family CT Page 1407 homes and a well treed area. Testimony shows that taking the homeowners' properties and removing all the residential structures located along the Middle Street frontage provides for better, unimpaired visibility of the industrial park. Furthermore, testimony reaffirms the importance of frontage in creating an attractive and visible industrial park and increasing its marketability.
Also, the city is concerned with the present and future appearance of the property, including landscaping, and having control over the property in order to properly maintain its appearance. Currently the homeowner's properties are zoned residential. A ranch-style residential home rests on the approximately .3 acre plot at the 269 Middle Street location. Testimony shows that the residence at 269 Middle Street is currently in good condition. If this relatively small property is not taken along with the 299 Middle Street property, there is evidence problems would arise with carving out a piece of the industrial park. Such problems include the city's need to provide adequate buffer zones because the state requires a fifty foot buffer zone around the industrial park. Buffer zones in turn implicate issues of landscaping and grading of the area. Zoning issues would also arise relating to nonconforming uses within the proposed industrial zoned area for the park.
The property at 299 Middle Street encompasses approximately forty acres in a long, narrow rectangular shape. There is a two story multi-family residence with a detached three car garage located directly at the Middle Street entrance; however, the majority of the property is utilized as a Christmas tree farm.24 The city is proposing to take thirty-two acres of the property beginning at the narrow end of the rectangle shape of the property fronting Middle Street. (See Exhibit C, current plan; see also Exhibit G, aerial view photograph with overlay.) The house at 299 Middle Street is not in the best of conditions.25 As with the other parcel, the 299 Middle Street frontage provides needed visibility to the proposed industrial park, and the same issues of appearance, control thereof and marketability of the park arise here. Visibility of the proposed park contributes to making the homeowners' properties uniquely suitable for industrial development.
4. City Services Already Accessible
Evidence shows that both the homeowners' properties already CT Page 1408 have access to major utilities, including city water and sanitary sewers, storm sewers, gas, telephone and electric. (See Defendant's Exhibit C, current plan, existing conditions.) Therefore, the time involved and the costs to the city in developing the homeowners' properties are both substantially lessened. Also, the homeowners' properties are largely vacant, except for the two houses. The financial savings to the city by accessing already existing utilities on the homeowners' properties also contributes to making the homeowners' properties uniquely suitable for industrial development.
Because there is nothing comparable to the homeowners properties within the city of Bristol and their properties are uniquely suitable for industrial development, as discussed above, it would be an inequitable hardship to the city if homeowners' injunctions are granted.
B. No Bond Posted by the Homeowners
In connection with their complaint (docket number 488051) and pursuant to General Statutes §
C. City's Monies Are Tied Up in Deposits Not Earning Interest
On May 25, 1999, the city separately deposited $90,000 and $1.2 Million with the clerk of the Superior Court, as required by General Statutes §
D. Increased Burden on City Services if Properties Developed Residentially
Testimony shows the majority of the 299 Middle Street property is used as a Christmas tree farm, which allows for reduced taxes. Taxes for the 299 Middle Street property (the house and the remaining approximately thirty-nine acres) are assessed at $2100 per year. The property as currently zoned allows for development of small, relatively inexpensive homes. Testimony shows that if the properties are developed as currently zoned, without a counterbalance of industrial development, there would be a net loss to the city because of costs of providing services, particularly schools. If the properties are developed under the proposed industrial zoning by building an industrial park, testimony shows the park would provide the city with acquisition monies from selling the park lots to private entities as well as provide the city with a substantial increase in tax base. If the homeowners' injunctions are granted, the city would suffer inequitable hardship by the increased burden on city services if the properties are developed as currently zoned.
E. Need for New Jobs
Manufacturing employment has steadily declined in Bristol since 1979. The rate of decline from 1990 to 1996 was sixteen percent.29 Unemployment rates in Bristol in the 1990s have been consistently greater than state and regional averages. (See Defendant's Exhibit C, current plan, employment overview.) Also, there have been many shutdowns and downsizings of companies since the 1970s, many in the last few years,30 which decreased the number of manufacturing jobs in Bristol.
The Economic Development and Manufacturing Assistance Act of 199031 distinguishes between the level of funding that might be available for particular categories of cities and towns within the State based on their financial status. Under the Act, the city of Bristol qualifies as a "targeted investment community" because of its poverty criteria. The city of Bristol has an Enterprise Zone, so under the Act it is eligible for up to ninety percent of funding from the State. Without this status, the maximum amount of funding the State could provide for the proposed industrial park project is fifty percent. Furthermore, the city of Bristol is a public investment community within the CT Page 1410 State of Connecticut because it is among the twenty-five percent poorest Connecticut towns.
Evidence shows the proposed industrial park would provide the city of Bristol with a needed increase in jobs and tax revenues. Evidence also shows the city currently has poverty status and that the Economic Development and Manufacturing Assistance Act could provide the city with a substantial boost in funding the proposed project. These factors, combined with the lack of other suitable industrial development property comparable with the homeowners' properties, would make it an inequitable hardship for the city if the homeowners' requests for injunctions are granted.
Also, as discussed herein, this court finds, based on the evidence submitted, that the balancing of equities does not justify granting the homeowners injunctive relief over the hardships to the city of Bristol due to the unique suitability of the homeowners' properties for development as an industrial park and because the damage to the city by the granting of the injunctions would be greatly disproportionate to the homeowners' injuries. This court determines that just compensation for the two properties to be taken provides an adequate remedy for the homeowners. Therefore, the homeowners' requests for permanent injunctive relief are hereby denied.
Kremski, J.T.R.
Fishman v. City of Stamford , 159 Conn. 116 ( 1970 )
Moore v. Serafin , 163 Conn. 1 ( 1972 )
Broadriver, Inc. v. City of Stamford , 158 Conn. 522 ( 1969 )
Gohld Realty Co. v. City of Hartford , 141 Conn. 135 ( 1954 )
Deming v. Bradstreet , 85 Conn. 650 ( 1912 )
Stocker v. City of Waterbury , 154 Conn. 446 ( 1967 )