Opinion ID: 2279565
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Consistency Argument

Text: The Sagalyns contend that the trial court's definition of subdivided is erroneous because it fails to give meaning to every part of the Easement, thereby creating internal inconsistencies in the document and prohibiting action which otherwise would be permissible. Specifically, they claim that they would have to consolidate the property into one record lot to meet the requirements of 11 DCMR § 3202.3 as a prerequisite for obtaining a building permit which would allow them to take the following actions permitted by the Easement: (1) reconstruct the home in the event of damage; (2) convert the home to other residential uses; and (3) erect a single family-dwelling in the event of total casualty loss. [10] The Foundation responds that § 3202.3 has never been construed to prohibit the reconstruction of a home or its conversion to other residential use. It points out that a modification would be necessary for these actions, but that a destruction of the dwelling because of casualty would change fundamentally the nature of the Conservation Easement. In such a case, the Foundation concedes that [b]y necessity, a modification of the [Easement] may have to be drafted which would permit the [p]roperty to be subdivided, since the subject of the restrictions in the Easement would no longer exist. [11] It is clear that the Easement explicitly permits the Sagalyns to reconstruct, rebuild and change the use of the principal dwelling on the property under specified circumstances, but that they may not subdivide the property. There is no actual inconsistency between these provisions of the document. What creates the problem, according to the Sagalyns, is a local regulation. While these factors may bear upon potential issues as to the enforcement of the provisions for reconstruction and rebuilding, they do not guide the interpretation of the provision under consideration here. Therefore, we are not persuaded that there exists an internal inconsistency in the document which precludes interpretation of the term subdivide as interpreted by the trial court.