Opinion ID: 2347740
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Single Development

Text: The defendants' first argument is that Hillview Heights Section 1 and Hillview Heights Section 2 constitute a single development within the meaning of the Site Location Law. All parties to this controversy agree that HH1 is exempt from regulation under the statute, as that part of the development was unquestionably in existence, in possession of applicable licenses to operate, or under construction on January 1, 1970. The defendants contend that HH2 also must be viewed as exempt under section 488, because of its integrated connection with HH1. However, after hearing the evidence and passing upon the credibility of the witnesses and the persuasiveness vel non of the exhibits, the presiding Justice rejected the defendants' argument and held that Hillview Heights Sections 1 and 2 constituted separate and distinct developments. Such findings of fact at the trial level will be affirmed on appeal, unless shown to be clearly erroneous. See Boynton v. Adams, Me., 331 A.2d 370 (1975); Leighton v. Leighton, Me., 329 A.2d 164 (1974); McKenna v. Peddle Land Developments, Me., 229 A.2d 332 (1967); Rule 52(a), M.R.Civ.P. Tested against this standard, the defendants' argument is without merit. The fact that Leroy Waycott obtained the planning board's preliminary approval for the entire 63-acre tract indicates that he may originally have conceived of Hillview Heights as a single development. The trial Justice, however, was justified in concluding that, when Waycott later divided the tract into two separate segments and in 1968 obtained final planning board approval, and proceeded with the development, of only Hillview Heights Section 1, the original unitary concept of the development had been abandoned. In fact, application for final planning board approval of HH2 was not made until over two years later. We cannot say that the presiding Justice was clearly wrong in deciding from the totality of the evidence that Waycott chose to develop the property in two separate developments. We hold that Hillview Heights Section 2 is not exempt from the Site Location Law on the basis of a unitary development with Hillview Heights Section 1.