Opinion ID: 2135973
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: analysis of whitehead oil's cross-appeal

Text: In its cross-appeal, Whitehead Oil contends that the damages awarded by the district court are inadequate, for it has not been able to put its land to any viable economic use. In its words: [I]t cannot be expected that any person would put the property to an office use during this litigation, unless they were willing to forever surrender their right to put the property to a retail use. It cannot be expected that a person would build an office building with the idea of demolishing or remodeling the building upon final success in the litigation. Likewise, nobody can be expected to pay rent for the land for offices during this litigation. Brief for appellee at 50. It is true that it would be impractical to develop the property for office uses and then destroy it or modify it for use as a convenience store which sells, among other things, gasoline. However, Whitehead Oil made the business decision that it was better to wait upon the resolution of this controversy to develop the property as a convenience store rather than put it to office uses. Under the circumstances, all Whitehead Oil is entitled to receive is compensation for the diminution in the value of its property due to the changed zoning regulation; that is, the difference in the value under the B-2 zoning designation allowing retail use and the O-3 zoning designation disallowing such uses.