Opinion ID: 2347740
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Existence of Hillview Heights Section 2 Development on January 1, 1970

Text: The defendants maintain that, even if viewed as a separate development, Hillview Heights Section 2 was in existence on January 1, 1970 and within the statutory exemption provided in section 488 of the Site Location Law. In King Resources Co. v. Environmental Improvement Commission, supra, we said that an existing development parallels an existing use and should mean the utilization of the premises so that they may be known in the neighborhood as being employed for a given purpose. Id. at 869. Applying this concept to the present case, we find that Hillview Heights Section 2 could not possibly have been known in the area as being employed for residential purposes on January 1, 1970. Aside from the clearing of an unpaved road and some minor utility work, HH2 existed essentially in an undeveloped state and was merely contemplated as a residential development on that date. As we stated in King Resources, a mere contemplated or intended use is insufficient to give rise to an existing development within the meaning of section 488. Id. at 869.