Case Title: State v. City of Albuquerque

Citation: 355 P.2d 925, 67 N.M. 383

Docket Number: 

State: new-mexico

Court: New Mexico Supreme Court

Date: 1960-10-06T00:00:00Z

Document:
355 P.2d 925 (1960) 67 N.M. 383 STATE of New Mexico ex rel. STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION of New Mexico, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE, a municipal corporation, Defendant-Appellee. No. 6626. Supreme Court of New Mexico. October 6, 1960. *926 Donald B. Moses, Albuquerque, Charles S. Solomon, Santa Fe, for appellant. Frank Horan, Malcolm W. deVesty, James L. Parmelee, Jr., Stanley P. Zuris, Albuquerque, for appellee. CHAVEZ, Justice. Suit was filed by the State of New Mexico, ex rel. State Highway Commission, appellant herein, against appellee, the City of Albuquerque, praying for a declaratory judgment. Appellant asserts the right to the occupation and use of the lands hereinafter described, for a controlled access highway, without the payment of compensation to appellee. The land involved is Block 13 of the Terrace Addition to the city of Albuquerque, commonly known as Highland Park, and the westerly 60.83 feet of the land involved. Appellant claims that said westerly 60.83 feet of land was originally designated as a public street although used as a portion of said public park. Appellee denied appellant's claimed rights and affirmatively alleged that the lands involved are owned by appellee in its corporate or proprietary capacity and are under the protection of Art. II, § 20, New Mexico Constitution. Appellee further affirmatively alleges that under § 14-37-1, N.M.S.A., 1953 Comp., that it is appellee's duty to keep the public park open and that it will be required to provide additional space for a park if the lands involved are taken from it. After considering the evidence and arguments of counsel, the trial court dismissed appellant's complaint with prejudice and entered judgment for appellee. From said judgment, this appeal is taken. The stipulated facts show that the lands involved were deeded in fee simple absolute by the Terrace Addition Improvement Company, a corporation, to appellee, on January 28, 1909. Lot 5, Block 13, of said addition was deeded in fee simple by Solomon L. Burton to appellee on January 28, 1909. Said land is and has been used as a public park for many years and the facilities therein include lawns, trees, shrubbery, and a children's wading pool. No admission fees are charged for the use of said park. Appellant is the proper authority to construct public highways within the state of New Mexico, including the highway involved through the city of Albuquerque, and appellant intends to use said lands for a controlled access highway. The controversy is whether appellant can occupy and use the lands involved for highway purposes without the payment of compensation to appellee. The trial court concluded that the land involved is owned or operated by appellee in its corporate or proprietary capacity and protected by Art. II, § 20 of the Constitution of New Mexico. Appellant relies on eight points for reversal. Appellant's contentions under points I, II, III and VIII are without merit as the matters raised are disposed of by the pleadings, the trial court's findings of fact, or are harmless to appellant. Appellant's other claimed errors will be discussed jointly. Under these claimed errors, appellant contends that the trial court committed error in refusing to grant its requested conclusion of law number seven, that appellant's right to construct, operate and maintain a public highway is paramount and superior to appellee's right to use said land as a public park. Error is also claimed in the trial court's refusal to grant appellant's requested conclusion of law number six, that in creating and maintaining said public park, appellee is exercising a governmental function, and error is further claimed due to the court's refusal to grant appellant's conclusion of law number eight, that appellant may occupy and use the westerly 60.83 feet of the real estate involved *927 for public highway purposes, without the payment of compensation. This is a case of first impression in New Mexico. "Private property shall not be taken or damaged for public use without just compensation." The State Highway Commission was created by Art. V, § 14 of the Constitution of New Mexico and is empowered and charged with the duty of determining all matters of policy relating to state highways, and it has general charge and supervision of all of the highways and bridges, and has complete charge of all matters pertaining to the expenditure of state funds for the construction and maintenance of public roads and bridges, and said article then provides: Sec. 55-10-5, N.M.S.A., 1953 Comp., provides: Appellant cites 29 C.J.S. Eminent Domain § 86, p. 877, as follows: Appellant argues that appellee is committed to the position that if the land in question is owned and operated in its governmental capacity, that appellant may acquire the lands without the payment of compensation. Appellee denies that it is so committed. Nichols on Eminent Domain, 3rd Ed., Vol. 1, § 2.225 [1], pp. 177, 178, 179, states the rule as follows: The case cited in support of the citation in 29 C.J.S. Eminent Domain § 86, p. 877, is State Highway Commission v. City of Elizabeth, 102 N.J. Eq. 221, 140 A. 335. This case is discussed in State by State Highway Com'r v. Cooper, 1957, 24 N.J. 261, 131 A.2d 756, from which we quote the following: We find nothing in our statute, § 55-10-5, N.M.S.A., 1953 Comp., expressly authorizing the State Highway Commission to acquire either private property, or public property held in a proprietary capacity, other than by purchase or condemnation. Our statutory provision evidences the legislative intent that the State Highway Commission may acquire private as well as municipal land so utilized, yet must proceed either by purchase or under the Eminent Domain Act, 1953 Comp. § 22-9-1 et seq., which provides for payment of the fair and reasonable value of the land taken. It is not necessary, however, for us to decide this case on the above theory. It is settled in this jurisdiction that the establishment and maintenance of a municipal park is a corporate or proprietary function, as distinguished from a governmental function. Murphy v. City of Carlsbad, 66 N.M. 376, 348 P.2d 492. With reference to the 60.83 feet of land acquired by appellee, appellant in its brief, admitted that such strip was used as a public park for many years and that the same principles of law would apply as to the remainder of the park. Accordingly, it has been so treated by this court. Finding no error in the record, the judgment of the district court is affirmed. It is so ordered. COMPTON, C.J., and CARMODY and MOISE, JJ., concur. NOBLE, J., not participating.