Opinion ID: 2075958
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The owners seek rezoning to relieve financial burdens.

Text: We see no reason to differentiate between owners seeking rezoning in order to carry out their normal business activities, e.g., developers of row houses, and those who seek rezoning in order to meet financial obligations. Once again, we do not see how this concern transcends the first prong to help satisfy the second prong. The first prong assumes that property owners seeking rezoning are also seeking, and probably receiving, home benefit. We fail to see that it makes any difference that the owner uses that benefit to stave off financial ruin, as opposed to expanding a supermarket or financing its next development project. What matters is that the rezoning serves the public welfare and the comprehensive plan, which is precisely the focus of the second prong on the spot zoning test. No amount of scrutiny or second-guessing of a property owner's motives for seeking rezoning will help us make that inquiry.