Title: In the Matter of John Gebbie v. David Mammina

State: new-york

Issuer: New York Appellate Court

Document:

This memorandum is uncorrected and subject to revision before
publication in the New York Reports.
No. 184  SSM 20
In the Matter of John Gebbie,
            Respondent,
        v.
David Mammina, &c., et al.,
            Appellants.
Submitted by Richard S. Finkel, for appellants.
Submitted by William A. DiConza, for respondent.
MEMORANDUM:
The order of the Appellate Division should be reversed,
with costs, and the judgment of Supreme Court reinstated.
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SSM No. 20
In view of the broad discretion afforded zoning boards
considering applications for area variances (see Matter of
Pecoraro v Board of Appeals of Town of Hempstead, 2 NY3d 608,
612-613 [2004]), the denial of petitioner's application for area
variances to subdivide his lot to create two nonconforming lots
had a rational basis and was not arbitrary and capricious.  The
Board of Zoning Appeals rationally balanced and weighed the
requisite statutory factors, and the Appellate Division
erroneously substituted its judgment for that of the agency (see
Town Law § 267-b [3] [b]).  
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On review of submissions pursuant to section 500.11 of the Rules,
order reversed, with costs, and judgment of Supreme Court, Nassau
County, reinstated, in a memorandum.  Chief Judge Lippman and
Judges Ciparick, Graffeo, Read, Smith, Pigott and Jones concur.
Decided August 27, 2009
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