Case ID: colo_15/html/0598-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Per Curiam.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

In re House Resolutions Concerning Street Improvements.
    Expense oe Grading and Paying Public Streets. — The supreme court declines, in. response to legislative questions, and upon ex parte arguments, to overrule its former decisions denying the power of the legislature to provide for the grading and paving of public streets at the expense of the abutting lot-owners.
    The opinion of the court is in response to certain questions by the house of representatives, as follows:
    “ Whereas, there have been introduced, into both branches of the general assembly bills concerning amendments to the city charter of the city of Denver, providing that wherever the owners of the majority of lots abutting on a street or alley or a section thereof sliaE petition the city council for the paving or grading, or either or both, or wherever the board of public works shall order the same and shall notify the city council, such paving or grading, either or both, shall be ordered by ordinance, two-tliirds of the total expenses thereof shall be assessed and be a lien upon the property abutting upon the same, and one-third of such expense shall be borne by the city; and providing that the city council shall assess such two-thirds of the total cost as a special tax against the lots so improved and in proportion as the respective frontage of each lot bears to the frontage of all the lots so improved; and
    “ Whereas, doubts exist as to Avhether or not such bills, if enacted into laws, will be constitutional,—
    “ Therefore, be it resolved by the house of representatives that the honorable supreme court of the state of Colorado be and are hereby respectfully requested to give its opinion of such bills containing such provisions upon the constitutionality of such laAvs —
    “ First, as to whether such improvements can, under such laws, be legally ordered by the joint action of the board oí public works and the city council alone, and the assessments duly made for the cost thereof collected from the abutting property.
    
      “ Second, as to whether such improvements can, under such laws, be legally ordered upon such petition of such number of property owners, and the assessments duly made for the cost of such improvements be a lawful lien against the abutting property of those who did not petition therefor, in the district wherein such improvements were ordered made.”
   Per Curiam.

Hpon the submission of the foregoing preamble and resolution from the honorable the house of representatives, able arguments were heard before the court in favor of the constitutionality of the proposed legislation. Ho one appeared in opposition thereto.'

It is well understood that during the last ten years this court has rendered several decisions (commencing with Palmer v. Way, 6 Colo. 106, decided in 1881) denying the power of the general assembly under the constitution to provide for the grading and paving of public streets (except as to sidewalks) at the special expense of the abutting lot-owners. That there are decisions by the courts of other states in opposition as well as in support of the doctrine thus announced must be admitted. But we are decidedly of the opinion that the decisions of this court, deliberately announced in actual litigated cases, ought not to be overruled upon ex $a/rte arguments in response to legislative questions. ¥e are impressed with the consideration that while the city of Denver and its representatives have been zealous to procure a judicial opinion in support of legislation favorable to street improvements at the expense of abutting lot-owners, the owners themselves have not been heard upon the subject. Evidently the owners feel that they may reasonably rely upon this court not to reverse its former decisions to their prejudice, without giving them opportunity to be heard in some appropriate action or proceeding in which their constitutional rights shall be thoroughly considered upon pleas and arguments submitted in their behalf as well as in behalf of the public.

Without intimating in any manner what conclusion might be reached, in case the questions now presented should be brought b efore the court in the regular course of litigation, we do not deem it proper to express any further opinion at this time.