Opinion ID: 2610900
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: dairy operation under 1984 (pre-amended) jerome county zoning ordinance

Text: The issue of the pre-amended ordinance limiting dairies was not raised, either in the complaint for declaratory judgment filed by the county, or in the answers filed by either Vanderham or the Holloways. Nor was it raised in the motion for summary judgment filed by the plaintiff county, which only requested a summary judgment declaring the validity or invalidity of the portions of the Jerome County Zoning Ordinance. While the parties apparently did discuss this issue in arguments before the district court, that issue was not raised by the pleadings or the summary judgment motion, and accordingly the district court's summary judgment discussing that issue was dicta and unnecessary to decide the issues which were raised by the pleadings and by the motion for summary judgment. Whether or not the Vanderhams' request for a special use permit met the requirements of the pre-amended ordinance is an issue which should have been pursued before the county zoning authorities under the procedures of the pre-amended ordinance and the Local Planning Act, I.C. § 67-6501 et seq., and not by the district court through declaratory judgment. Gordon Paving Co. v. Blaine County Bd. of County Com'rs, 98 Idaho 730, 572 P.2d 164 (1977); West Boise 87 v. L & S Dev. Co., 108 Idaho 449, 700 P.2d 71 (Ct.App. 1985); Palmer v. Board of County Com'rs, 117 Idaho 562, 790 P.2d 343 (1990). The Vanderham application for the special use permit was pending before the county board at the time that this declaratory judgment proceeding was commenced by the county to obtain a declaration concerning the validity of the 1985 amendment to the zoning ordinance. While the district court had jurisdiction to issue its declaratory judgment regarding the validity of the enactment of the 1985 amendment to the zoning ordinance, [i]t is the county through its planning and zoning commission and the county commission that should make the decision whether a special use permit should be issued. Only after the exhaustion of remedies provided under the Act [the Local Planning Act of 1975] and under local ordinances may an unsuccessful applicant or an affected person seek judicial review. Palmer v. Board of County Com'rs, 117 Idaho at 565, 790 P.2d at 346. Accordingly, we vacate that portion of the trial court's ruling holding that the 1000-foot restriction of the pre-amended Jerome County Zoning Ordinance does not apply to dairies.