Opinion ID: 848766
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: consequences of the majority holding

Text: The majority of the justices conclude that the superintendent's authority over what goes on within the site itself is unaffected by local zoning, ante at 218, and that local school districts are immune from township zoning ordinances as they affect the content of the site plan itself. Ante at 217. However, the lead opinion does not otherwise explain how broad or how limited it perceives the superintendent's jurisdiction to be. This prompts the obvious questions: precisely what, under the lead opinion, does the superintendent have the authority to do; and precisely what do local officials have the authority to do? By not offering insight into how these questions should be answered, the public is left only to speculate, ensuring that new litigation will be the product. Which types of zoning and land-use matters affect the content of the site plan itself? [10] Do sewage and drainage pipes that extend beyond the site itself and into the surrounding community affect the site plan? Do roads and paths, and means of ingress and egress that extend beyond the site itself and into the surrounding community affect the site plan? Do environmental regulations that affect the community generally affect the site plan? Do noise regulations that have a general effect on the community affect the site plan? Indeed, what generally applicable zoning and land-use regulations might not be perceived, at least under some circumstances, as affecting the site plan? [11] Apart from what affects the site plan, and is thereby within the exclusive determination of the superintendent, what affects the community surrounding the school is also within the exclusive determination of the superintendent. Persons living within the surrounding neighborhood, and within the surrounding community, will, as a result, have diminished effective resort to their local representatives, none of whom will any longer possess authority over matters relating to school sites and the structures upon them.