Court Opinion

ID: 9734458
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 17:35:21.184059+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:48.815481
License: Public Domain

PEDERSON, Justice,
concurring specially-
Although I concur with all that Chief Justice Erickstad has written, the occasion may arise in which the determination of whether or not the city has exceeded the bounds of police power in adopting a zoning ordinance will have a different posture. No property owners were involved in the suit in City of Fargo v. Fahrlander, 199 N.W.2d 30, 34 (N.D.1972), but this court said:
“... abutting owners are entitled to have the city initiate eminent domain proceedings to ascertain the damages caused....”
An action by a landowner to compel proceedings in eminent domain when there has been a taking or damaging, will require an initial determination by the court that a taking or damaging within the scope of the Constitution has occurred. See generally 30 C.J.S. Eminent Domain § 398. The uncertainty in a specific case, whether or not an act of zoning constitutes a taking or damaging could very well deprive a property owner of a writ in the absence of an authorizing statute.