Opinion ID: 2570796
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Classification of Municipal Land, like Small-Scale Rezonings, Involves a Legislative Rather than Quasi-Judicial Proceeding.

Text: Cabana argues that the Borough Assembly's classification of the Homer parcel was a quasi-judicial proceeding, because the classification of a single parcel of municipal land is similar to a small-scale rezoning, and small-scale rezonings are quasi-judicial proceedings. [6] Cabana's argument must fail, however, not only because the classification of municipal land is unlike a small-scale rezoning, but because this court has previously held that small-scale rezonings are legislative  not quasi-judicial  proceedings. As a general matter, [w]henever an entity which normally acts as a legislative body applies general policy to particular persons in their private capacities, instead of passing on general policy or the rights of individuals in the abstract, it is functioning [in a quasi-judicial capacity]. [7] The classification of municipal land is less likely to be a quasi-judicial proceeding than would be a small-scale rezoning, because classification of public land does not immediately and directly affect the rights of a particular, private landowner. Courts in some other jurisdictions have held that small-scale rezonings should be treated as quasi-judicial proceedings. [8] But we have chosen instead to treat small-scale rezonings as legislative decisions, [9] explicitly defining spot zoning as the legal term of art for a zoning decision which affects a small parcel of land and which is found to be an arbitrary exercise of legislative power. [10] Just as the act of spot zoning is a legislative act, the decision to spot zone is a legislative decision. Even if Cabana were correct that the classification of a single parcel of municipal land resembles a small-scale rezoning, this court's precedent compels the conclusion that classification of municipal land, like small-scale rezoning, be treated as a legislative decision. Because the decision of a legislative body is subject to review by appeal only where the decision is a quasi-judicial one, [11] the superior court correctly dismissed Cabana's appeal. [12]