Opinion ID: 1208585
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Whether the Commission's Decision is Affected by an Error of Law

Text: Finally, the Kurschners argue that the Commission's decision is unsupported by the evidence, controlled by an error of law, and resulted in a taking without just compensation. We disagree. A decision of a zoning board will not be upheld where it is based on errors of law, where there is no legal evidence to support it, where the board acts arbitrarily or unreasonably, or where, in general, the board has abused its discretion. Peterson Outdoor Advertising v. City of Myrtle Beach, 327 S.C. 230, 235, 489 S.E.2d 630, 633 (1997). In denying the Kurschner's application to subdivide their property the Commission relied on § 156.41(B)(2)(e) of the City of Camden's Land Development Regulations, which provides that historic sites shall be preserved to the extent consistent with the reasonable utilization of the site. The Kurschners contend that this regulation requires that the Commission perform a balancing test to determine whether the proposed subdivision is an unreasonable use of the land and is inconsistent with its preservation. The Kurschners argue that because the Commission failed to apply this balancing standard, the decision was controlled by an error of law. In our view, the Kurschners misinterpret this regulation. The regulation merely directs the Commission to determine whether subdividing the property will negatively impact the historic value of the site. The regulation does not mandate that the Commission apply a balancing test. Byerly v. Connor, 307 S.C. 441, 444, 415 S.E.2d 796, 799 (1992) (holding that the words of a regulation must be given their plain and ordinary meaning without resort to subtle or forced construction to limit or expand the regulation's operation). The Commission found that subdividing Sarsfield would negatively impact the historical value of the property, and evidence in the record supports this finding. Furthermore, in addition to § 156.41(B)(2)(e), the Commission based its decision on several other regulations, as well as the City of Camden's Comprehensive Plan. Thus, the Kurschner's argument with respect to § 156.41(B)(2)(e) addresses only part of the Commission's decision and cannot independently require reversal. Finally, any issues regarding whether this decision constituted a taking without just compensation may not be considered at this time. This is a direct appeal from a decision regarding whether to uphold the Commission's decision denying the Kurschner's application to subdivide their property. Any resulting issues raised by the operation of that decision would be not be ripe for judicial review at this stage, and those issues should be litigated in a separate action. Waters v. S.C. Land Resources Conservation Com'n, 321 S.C. 219, 227, 467 S.E.2d 913, 917-18 (1996) (holding that a justiciable controversy is a real and substantial controversy which is ripe and appropriate for judicial determination, as distinguished from a contingent, hypothetical or abstract dispute). Therefore, we uphold the Commission's decision because it is not controlled by an error of law and it is supported by evidence in the record. See § 6-29-840 (In determining the questions presented by the appeal, the court must determine only whether the decision of the board is correct as a matter of law.).