Opinion ID: 2041081
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Takings Claim

Text: The Bagnalls also contend that denial of their petition for a variance because their lot size does not meet the 1982 requirements constitutes a taking of their property. We need not reach the takings question for two reasons. First, the conclusion that the board lawfully denied the variance because it did not comply with section 810 is sufficient grounds to sustain the denial. Second, as a matter of jurisprudence, we do not decide constitutional issues when a case can be decided on other grounds. Superior Const. Co. v. Carr (1990), Ind., 564 N.E.2d 281. We do not wish to imply, however, that any denial of a building permit for the Bagnalls would pass constitutional muster. We simply cannot tell from the record whether the board, if presented with a petition to construct a home under plans which would protect the dune, would deny the petition solely on grounds that the lot does not conform to the width and square footage requirements of the 1982 ordinance. In this respect, we are reminded of Penn Central Transp. Co. v. New York City, 438 U.S. 104, 98 S.Ct. 2646, 57 L.Ed.2d 631 (1978), a landmark decision in the law of takings. In Penn Central, developers were denied the permits to construct a fifty-story office tower above the historic Grand Central Terminal. The Supreme Court upheld New York City's Landmarks Law and held that an unconstitutional taking had not occurred. The Court also noted: While the Commission's actions in denying applications to construct an office building in excess of 50 stories above the Terminal may indicate that it will refuse to issue a certificate of appropriateness for any comparably sized structure, nothing the Commission has said or done suggest an intention to prohibit any construction above the Terminal ... Since appellants have not sought approval for the construction of a smaller structure, we do not know that appellants will be denied any use of any portion of the airspace above the Terminal. Penn Central, 438 U.S. at 137-138, 98 S.Ct. at 2666. Like the Court in Penn Central, we, too, do not know whether the Bagnalls will be denied any use of their property, since they have not sought approval for plans which might mitigate damage to the dune. There is thus no basis upon which to resolve a takings claim. We reverse the judgment of the trial court and affirm the board. DICKSON and KRAHULIK, JJ., concur. DeBRULER, J., concurs in result. GIVAN, J., would deny transfer.