Opinion ID: 2172972
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Landowner's Property Value Testimony

Text: Mrs. Eck asserts that the district court erred in refusing to allow her to testify as to the value of her property for residential purposes. It is unnecessary for this Court to determine whether or not Mrs. Eck should have been allowed to testify in this regard because, under the circumstances of this case, the failure to admit such evidence could not constitute prejudicial error. It is well settled that a zoning ordinance is not invalid merely because it prohibits the highest or best use of the property. Goldblatt v. Town of Hempstead, New York, 369 U.S. 590, 82 S.Ct. 987, 8 L.Ed.2d 130 (1962); Eck v. City of Bismarck, 283 N.W.2d 193 (N.D.1979). In view of the determination that agriculture was a reasonable use for Mrs. Eck's property the validity of the zoning ordinance would not have been affected even though we assume that Mrs. Eck would have testified, and the evidence would have established, that the highest and best use of her property was for residential development. In accordance with the views expressed in this opinion, the judgment of the district court is affirmed. VANDE WALLE, PEDERSON, PAULSON and SAND, JJ., concur.