Opinion ID: 2526
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Island Park's Alternate Grounds for Affirmance

Text: As alternate grounds for affirming the district court, Island Park argues that the State Defendants deprived it of its property interest in the crossing without due process of law and that the closure order effectuated a taking of its property without just compensation. Specifically, as to due process, it asserts that because the State did not also initiate condemnation proceedings under the New York Eminent Domain Procedure Law (EDPL), [15] the closure of the crossing violated due process.
Island Park's due process argument erroneously conflates two distinct state law proceduresthe condemnation proceedings set forth in EDPL and the rail crossing alteration/closure proceedings in N.Y. Railroad Law § 97(3). The question of whether the closure order at issue was entered pursuant to a process that comported with due process is one separate from whether the crossing closure was also a taking triggering state condemnation proceedings. Island Park cannot demonstrate that its due process rights were violated in the closure proceeding context by simply alleging that NYSDOT did not additionally initiate a condemnation proceeding under EDPL. In any event, this claim is more properly directed to a New York state court in a proceeding for judicial review under article 78 of the N.Y. Civil Practice Law and Rulesa remedy Island Park has already invoked. See Hellenic Am. Neighborhood Action Comm. v. City of New York, 101 F.3d 877, 881-82 (2d Cir.1996). [16] To the extent Island Park's argument can be viewed as a challenge to the constitutional adequacy of the procedures set forth in N.Y. Railroad Law § 97(3), the argument lacks merit. Island Park was clearly afforded pre-deprivation notice and an opportunity to be heard. The record before us demonstrates that NYSDOT conducted four days of hearings on the question of whether the rail crossing should be altered or closed and discontinued. In those proceedings, Island Park appeared with counsel, cross-examined witnesses, presented evidence, and submitted memoranda in support of its position. Island Park does not point to any additional procedural safeguard that would have enhanced the decision-making process. The pre-deprivation notice and extensive hearings gave Island Park ample opportunity to be heard at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner. See generally Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319, 335, 96 S.Ct. 893, 47 L.Ed.2d 18 (1976); Brody v. Vill. of Port Chester, 434 F.3d 121, 136 (2d Cir.2005).
We have previously held that a takings claim is not ripe if a remedy potentially is available under the state constitution's provision. Villager Pond, Inc. v. Town of Darien, 56 F.3d 375, 380 (2d Cir.1995); see also Williamson County Reg'l Planning Comm'n v. Hamilton Bank of Johnson City, 473 U.S. 172, 187-88, 105 S.Ct. 3108, 87 L.Ed.2d 126 (1985). Before a federal takings claim can be asserted, compensation must first be sought from the state if it has a `reasonable, certain and adequate provision for obtaining compensation.' Villager Pond, 56 F.3d at 379-80 (quoting Williamson, 473 U.S. at 194, 105 S.Ct. 3108). A plaintiff must pursue relief under a state compensation procedure ... even where it remains unsure and undeveloped. Id. at 380 (internal quotations marks omitted). Ripeness is a jurisdictional inquiry, and thus we must consider it at the outset. Murphy v. New Milford Zoning Comm'n, 402 F.3d 342, 347 (2d Cir.2005). Under the New York State Constitution, [p]rivate property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation. N.Y. Const., Art. I, § 7(a). State law vests the Court of Claims with jurisdiction to determine claims arising from the acquisition of real property by the State of New York. See N.Y. Em. Dom. Proc. Law § 501(A). Assuming for purposes of this argument that the closure order effectuated a taking, the district court properly rejected Island Park's claim as unripe because it failed to seek compensation from the State before commencing this action.