Opinion ID: 2587482
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Size

Text: ¶ 26 The second prong of the Little test for spot zoning focuses on the size of the area in which the requested use is to apply, but is not limited to the physical size of the parcel. It also includes analysis of how many separate landowners stand to benefit from the proposed zoning change. The District Court found that the Duck Creek parcel was small in relation to the Hebgen Lake Zoning District-the 323 acres at issue comprise a mere 2% of the District's 13,280 acres. The District Court further found that the Duck Creek parcel was owned by a single entity. ¶ 27 Duck Creek Properties admits that the property is owned by one individual but points to other instances where this Court held that the rezoning of parcels owned by a single owner was not spot zoning. This contention, however, only establishes that zone changes for property owned by one person are not always spot zoning pursuant to the Little test. ¶ 28 More importantly, the Little test focuses on the number of owners who stand to benefit from the zoning change. Little, 193 Mont. at 346, 631 P.2d at 1289. It is undisputed that the parcel in question is owned by one owner-Duck Creek Properties. Furthermore, it is undisputed that Duck Creek Properties requested a rezone in order to increase the development options on and value of the property. Finally, the Plaintiffs' land use planning expert testified that only one landowner, Duck Creek Properties, benefitted from the rezone. Consequently, we conclude that the District Court's findings regarding the size of the area in question are not clearly erroneous and it's conclusion that those findings satisfy the second prong of the Little test is correct.