Court Opinion

ID: 3196641
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-04-21 18:07:54.510986+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:37:01.471096
License: Public Domain

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Elwood M. Heller,                        :
                    Appellant            :
                                         :   No. 1444 C.D. 2015
            v.                           :
                                         :   Argued: March 7, 2016
City of Lebanon Zoning Hearing           :
Board                                    :

BEFORE:     HONORABLE PATRICIA A. McCULLOUGH, Judge
            HONORABLE ANNE E. COVEY, Judge
            HONORABLE DAN PELLEGRINI, Senior Judge

OPINION NOT REPORTED

MEMORANDUM OPINION
BY JUDGE McCULLOUGH                                       FILED: April 21, 2016

            Elwood M. Heller (Heller) appeals from the July 8, 2015 order of the
Court of Common Pleas of Lebanon County (trial court) affirming the decision of the
City of Lebanon Zoning Hearing Board (Board) dismissing Heller’s appeal of a
notice of violation/cease and desist order issued by the Zoning Officer for the City of
Lebanon (City). For the following reasons, we reverse.

                           Facts and Procedural History
            Heller owns a parcel of property located at 625 Federal Street, Lebanon,
Pennsylvania, identified as Parcel ID No. 01:2338697-368626-0000, which is
improved by twenty-nine commercial garages that Heller leases to tenants (Property).
The Property is located in the Office Institutional (OI) zoning district, wherein a
“commercial garage” use is permitted by right.1
                On or about October 6, 2014, Heller received a notice of violation from
Karen Zaporozec, the City’s Zoning Officer, relating to the City’s Zoning Ordinance
(hereafter Ordinance).2 (Reproduced Record (R.R.) at 13a-16a.)3 The notice of
violation provided, in pertinent part, that:

                This property is located in the Office and Institutional (OI)
                zoning district and the legal use of record is a commercial
                storage garage which is defined as: “an enclosed or covered
                space leased for the storage of vehicles, personal and
                household items provided that no business, occupation or
                service is conducted for profit therein.” Recent activity at
                this location indicates multiple bays are being used for auto
                repair/painting. This type of activity is in violation with
                Chapter 13 of the [Ordinance]. Any change of use would
                require zoning and building permits to verify compliance
                with both local and state codes. Our records do not show
                any approvals or permits were issued for automotive uses.
                Verbal warnings to current occupants have been ignored.
                All tenants must receive written notification to cease all
                automotive activity immediately and/or vacate the property
                within 30 days. An inspection of all garage bays will take
                place on Monday, November 10, 2014 at 10am to verify
                compliance has been achieved. Please make arrangements
                with all remaining tenants or have a representative available
                to unlock all garages for this inspection.

       1
           Ordinance, §1321.07(c)(7).

       2
           Part 13 of the City of Lebanon Codified Ordinances (Zoning Code).

       3
        We note that the reproduced record does not comport with Rule 2173 of the Pennsylvania
Rules of Appellate Procedure, requiring pagination to include the Arabic number followed by a
lowercase “a.” We will identify the relevant pages in accordance with the proper format set forth in
Pa.R.A.P. 2173.

                                                 2
(R.R. at 15a) (emphasis in original).
             The notice of violation contained the following details.      The City’s
Zoning Officer received a complaint on September 17, 2014, regarding a tenant spray
painting cars at the location.    After performing a site inspection to verify the
complaint, the Zoning Officer notified the tenant that the use was limited to storage
only and that auto repair/painting was not permitted. The next day, the Zoning
Officer observed auto repair activity being performed by a different tenant and
advised the tenant that such activity was not permitted. On October 3, 2014, the
Zoning Officer received another complaint regarding the continued use of the
garage(s) for auto repair/spray painting. Following another site visit and informing a
tenant for the second time that the use of auto repair/painting was prohibited, the
Zoning Officer issued the notice of violation on October 6, 2014. (R.R. at 15a-16a.)
             Heller timely appealed the notice of violation to the Board and requested
a hearing. Specifically, Heller sought an interpretation of section 1303.31 of the
Ordinance, which defines a commercial garage use as:

             “Garage, commercial” means an enclosed or covered space
             leased for the storage of vehicles, personal and household
             items and provided that no business, occupation or service
             is conducted for profit therein.

Ordinance, §1303.31. Heller noted that the issue involved the “[r]epair of vehicles
owned by [t]enants of commercial garages where vehicles are stored,” and contended:

             The zoning officer issued [a] Notice of Violation/Cease and
             Desist Order indicating that commercial garages are for
             storage only. The Zoning Ordinance does not prohibit a
             tenant from repairing their personal vehicles in the
             commercial garage. The intention of the Ordinance is to
             prohibit the conduct of business, occupation or the
             conduct of auto service for profit.

                                          3
(R.R. at 5a-6a) (emphasis added).
             The Board held a hearing on November 19, 2014. Heller contended that
he investigated the allegations contained in the notice of violation and found that no
auto repair work was being performed on vehicles that were not owned by tenants of
his commercial garage. Heller maintained that no tenants were conducting any type
of business for profit, which was the only activity restricted by the ordinance. Heller
argued that the Ordinance did not restrict his tenants’ ability to service their own
vehicles stored at the garage. (R.R. at 21a-22a.)
             Heller’s testimony can be summarized as follows. Heller first learned of
a potential problem from one of his tenants. After learning that the Zoning Officer
was sending him a letter, he appeared at the office of the Zoning Officer to inquire
about the matter. The Zoning Officer informed him that she was going to perform an
inspection of the garage on November 10, 2014, and did not want to see cars raised
on blocks, tools, and items of that nature. The Zoning Officer advised him that
painting, sanding, performing repairs underneath vehicles, or auto repair of any kind
was prohibited by Ordinance. Minor things such as waxing, changing a tire, and
changing the oil on personal vehicles were also prohibited. Basically, the tenant was
only permitted to pull the vehicle in and back out of the garage. (R.R. at 23a, 30a,
32a-33a, 40a.)
             Heller testified that all of the activities noted as prohibited by the Zoning
Officer were occurring when he purchased the Property. Heller noted that iron posts
were located on the front of each bay and were utilized in combination with cables to
pull vehicles into the garage. Heller was informed that the water hydrant and water
pit on the Property were used for detailing cars. Heller stated that he believed tenants
could perform “small work” on their own vehicles as long as they were not operating

                                            4
a business. Heller rented to tenants for private purposes only and refused rental
requests for businesses. (R.R. at 23a, 28a.)
             Heller testified that when he purchased the Property, cars were
everywhere. After his purchase, he installed surveillance cameras and ensured that
no businesses were operated by his tenants. He testified as to a specific instance in
2011 where he observed a tenant’s sign indicating a business was to open at the
Property and prohibited the tenant from operating the business. (R.R. at 23a-24a.)
             After informing his tenants about the complaint, Heller required them to
report the use each was making of the Property. His investigation revealed that Bill
Zeller, the tenant in bay 4, owned and stored a private vehicle, which was raised on
blocks. Zeller indicated that he advised the Zoning Officer that the vehicle was
privately-owned. Zeller informed Heller that he decided to patch a section of the
door to his vehicle and was sanding the door when the site inspection was performed.
(R.R. at 23a, 25a, 27a-28a, 32a, 35a.) Heller noted that, on a single occasion, he
observed the tenant of bay 5 smear body putty on a black car. Heller never observed
the tenant spray painting a car and the tenant denied operating a business. (R.R. at
25a-26a, 32a, 34a-35a.)
             Heller noted that the “use” provision contained in his lease agreements
provides that:
             The garage/parking spaces [are] for the exclusive use of the
             Lesse[e] and must be used for the parking/storage of motor
             vehicles only. Any motor vehicle maintenance or repair
             performed in the garage/parking space, or any other use of
             the property without the prior consent of Lessor or Lessor’s
             agent, is prohibited.

(Trial court op. at 2; R.R. at 10a, 21a) (emphasis added). Heller noted that, in the
event of a violation, his only recourse would be to evict the tenant. Heller stated that

                                           5
he suffered a loss of income due to the Zoning Officer’s interpretation that minor
repairs and maintenance cannot be performed on the tenants’ personal vehicles, as
many tenants have terminated their lease agreements or failed to renew the same.
(R.R. at 22a-24a, 30a, 38a-40a.)
             Karen Zaporozec, the City’s Zoning Officer, testified that she received
numerous complaints regarding Heller’s Property. Referring to bay 5, she visited the
Property and observed a tenant’s car completely covered in newspaper and ready to
be painted. The Zoning Officer offered two letters of her predecessor pertaining to
the Property, stating that the garages are to be rented only for storage. However,
these letters addressed a time period prior to Heller’s ownership of the Property.
(R.R. at 42a-47a.)
             The Zoning Officer noted that commercial garages are “a nightmare”
citywide because “they’re all doing the exact same thing.” (R.R. at 42a.) She stated
that these garages are a full-time job for her despite all of the landlords’ leases
prohibiting tenants from performing automotive repair.         She explained that she
routinely issues notices of violation. However, the Zoning Officer conceded that
Heller’s garages have not been a huge problem for her in that there are many other
garages located throughout the City that are worse. (R.R. at 27a, 42a-43a, 46a.)
             The Zoning Officer opined that “automotive uses are automotive uses[,]
whether it’s changing the oil or ripping apart an engine.” (R.R. at 43a.) She stated
that tenants frequently remove engines and raise cars on blocks. The tenants will rent
two to four bays in a row, remove the partitions between them, and they have an
“entire automotive repair shop going on in there.” (R.R. at 44a-45a.) The Zoning
Officer assumed that this is why some of Heller’s tenants do not want her to inspect
the garages and why they broke or failed to renew their leases. She stated that, in
these garages, tenants are not just changing the oil and that “this is what the neighbors

                                           6
have to live with when these, quote, garages are allowed to be used for automotive
work.” (R.R. at 43a-45a.)
            The Zoning Officer testified that zoning looks at the activity being
conducted and the impact to the neighborhood. She stated that these garages are for
storage. The Zoning Officer testified that, with respect to zoning, it does not matter
whether one makes a profit or not. The Zoning Officer explained that there are strict
regulations in the City that automotive uses are not permitted because “when it rains,
all that stuff gets into our, you know, sewer systems, and we get hammered with
that.” (R.R. at 44a-45a.) She said that none of these garages comply with the
building code or Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regulations. (R.R.
at 44a, 45a-46a.)
            On cross-examination, the Zoning Officer explained that she was not
referencing Heller’s Property when she referred to the multiple bays where partitions
were taken down, and that she just assumed Heller’s garages were set up the same
way. She admitted that she has not visually inspected his garages, but that her
opinion was based on other garages that she has inspected, which are set up like
automotive repair shops. (R.R. at 49a-50a.)
            The Board issued a decision on December 18, 2014, effectively
dismissing Heller’s appeal. The Board made a factual finding that “[t]enants on the
Property were servicing vehicles for commercial and personal use.” (Board’s
decision, Finding of Fact at No. 3) (emphasis added). The Board’s sole conclusion of
law provided that “[c]ommercial rental storage garages [are] for the storage of
vehicles, personal, and household items only.” (Board’s decision at 3) (emphasis
added). Without analysis, the Board determined as follows:

            Upon motion made, seconded, and unanimously carried, the
            Zoning Hearing Board interprets Section 1303.31 “Garage
            Commercial” means an enclosed or covered space leased

                                          7
              for the storage of vehicles, personal, and household items
              only[.] [A] commercial garage under this Section is for
              storage only. No repair of any type of vehicles is permitted
              on the premises and includes, but [is] not limited to, oils
              [sic] changes, changing the tire and the like.

(Board’s decision at 4.)
              Heller appealed the Board’s decision. (R.R. at 65a-67a.) In a decision
and order dated July 8, 2015, the trial court affirmed the Board’s decision. (Trial
court order, at 1.) The trial court determined that the Board did not err in its
interpretation of commercial garage, as defined in section 1303.31 of the Ordinance,
and found that the Board’s decision was based on substantial evidence. The court
specifically analyzed the portion of the definition of commercial garage that states
“provided that no business, occupation, or service is conducted for profit therein.” Id.
at 9-12. Heller contended that this phrase enlarged or extended the preceding clause,
which described the permitted use of a commercial garage as “the storage of vehicles,
personal and household items.” Id. at 9. The trial court rejected Heller’s argument
and applied the rules of statutory construction to conclude that the provision placed a
limitation on the preceding language. Id. at 11. Therefore, the trial court concluded
that the permitted use was limited to personal storage and that the provision at issue
“was meant to prohibit the ‘storage of vehicles, personal and household items’ as part
of any ‘business, occupation or service for profit.’” Id. at 12.

                                          Discussion
              On appeal to this Court,4 Heller argues that the Board committed an
error of law in interpreting the definition of commercial garage as prohibiting the

       4
         When the trial court takes no additional evidence, our scope of review is limited to
determining whether the zoning hearing board committed an error of law or an abuse of discretion.
(Footnote continued on next page…)

                                               8
repair of any personal vehicles, e.g., changing the oil, tires, etc. Heller contends that
the Board disregarded the plain, unambiguous language of the Ordinance, and that the
Board’s interpretation gives no effect to the part of the definition that states “and
provided that no business, occupation or service is conducted for profit therein.”
Heller maintains that this provision expands the permitted use broader than solely for
storage, as long as that use is private.        Heller also contends that the Board’s
interpretation produces a result that is absurd and unreasonable.
             The Board maintains that it did not err in its interpretation of section
1303.31 because the purpose of the same is to permit the storage of vehicles, personal
and household items, and the provision following the initial clause of the ordinance
does not extend the right to repair vehicles. The Board refers to testimony of the
Zoning Officer that prohibiting repair of vehicles was necessary to protect the vitality
of the surrounding neighborhood due to the difficulty in enforcing an ordinance that
restricted only commercial repair. The Board also notes that the language in Heller’s
lease agreements comport with the Board’s interpretation of section 1303.31.
             In interpreting a zoning ordinance, we are guided by the Statutory
Construction Act of 1972, 1 Pa.C.S. §§1501-1991. Patricca v. Zoning Board of
Adjustment, 590 A.2d 744, 747 (Pa. 1991). The primary objective in interpreting a
zoning ordinance is to determine the intent of the governing body that enacted the
ordinance. Tri-County Landfill, Inc. v. Pine Township Zoning Hearing Board, 83
A.3d 488, 509 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2014).           The ordinance’s plain language generally
provides the best indication of legislative intent. Id. If the ordinance language is

(continued…)

Riverfront Development Group, LLC v. City of Harrisburg Zoning Hearing Board, 109 A.3d 358,
363 n.8 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2015).

                                            9
unambiguous,5 the language is applied directly as written and the letter of the
ordinance may not be disregarded under the pretext of pursuing its spirit. Id. at 509-
10.
               We begin by an examination of the text itself, noting that “[w]ords and
phrases shall be construed according to rules of grammar and according to their
common and approved usage.”               Patricca, 590 A.2d at 747-48.             Moreover, the
ordinance shall be construed, if possible, to give effect to all of its provisions so that
no provision is “mere surplusage.” Tri-County Landfill, Inc., 83 A.3d at 509.
               We also note that while a zoning hearing board has discretion in
interpretation of zoning regulations, it must adhere to the words of the zoning
ordinance.     Riverfront Development Group, LLC v. City of Harrisburg Zoning
Hearing Board, 109 A.3d 358, 367 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2015). A zoning hearing board
must apply the terms of the ordinance as written, and are not permitted to deviate
from its terms based on an expressed policy. Id. It is axiomatic that “[z]oning boards
. . . must not impose their concept of what the zoning ordinance should be, but rather
their function is only to enforce the zoning ordinance in accordance with applicable
law.” Id. at 364.6

       5
          If the ordinance provision is ambiguous, then the legislative body’s intent is determined by
statutory analysis, where numerous relevant factors are considered. Tri-County Landfill, Inc., 83
A.3d at 510. An ambiguity exists where the ordinance provision is subject to two or more
reasonable interpretations, and not merely because the parties have submitted two conflicting
interpretations. Id.

       6
         The Ordinance provides the stated intent of the governing body with respect to the
applicable OI (Office Institutional) zoning district:

               The regulations of this district are designed primarily to facilitate
               office and institutional uses and to provide a transition zone between
               the central business district, the manufacturing districts and the
               residential districts. In essence, this is a zone for a wide variety of
(Footnote continued on next page…)

                                                 10
              Further, a zoning hearing board has an obligation to construe the words
of an ordinance as broadly as possible to give the landowner the benefit of the least
restrictive use when interpreting the zoning code. Id. at 366. Any doubt must be
interpreted in favor of the landowner.         Id.   A zoning hearing board abuses its
discretion when it narrows the terms of an ordinance, further restricting the use of
property. Id.
              The text of section 1303.31 of the Ordinance provides as follows:

              “Garage, commercial” means an enclosed or covered space
              leased for the storage of vehicles, personal and household
              items and provided that no business, occupation or service
              is conducted for profit therein.

Ordinance, §1303.31 (emphasis added). Such language is plain and unambiguous,
and we need not go further than the text of the definition to determine the intent of
the governing body in enacting the zoning ordinance provision.
              Without any reasoning for its determination, the Board interpreted
section 1303.31 as follows:

              “Garage Commercial” means an enclosed or covered space
              leased for the storage of vehicles, personal, and household
              items only[.] [A] commercial garage under this Section is
              for storage only. No repair of any type of vehicles is
              permitted on the premises and includes, but [is] not limited
              to, oils [sic] changes, changing the tire and the like.

(continued…)

              uses, normally indigenous to urban areas, which are compatible
              among themselves, but do not necessarily fit into any other zoning
              districts.

Ordinance, §1321.04(g) (emphasis added).

                                             11
(Board decision at 4) (emphasis added).          Essentially, the Board added its own
language to the definition in its interpretation that “no repair of any type of vehicles is
permitted on the premises and includes, but [is] not limited to, oils [sic] changes,
changing the tire and the like.” Id. In doing so, the Board impermissibly deviated
from the plain, express language of the definition of “garage, commercial.” By doing
so, the Board gives effect to only a portion of the definition, modifying it to read as
follows:

             “Garage, commercial” means an enclosed or covered space
             leased for the storage of vehicles, personal and household
             items[.]

This interpretation would entirely remove the remainder of the language contained in
the definition, which states “and provided that no business, occupation or service is
conducted for profit therein.” As noted above, the Ordinance must be interpreted to
give effect to all of its language. The Board’s interpretation would render the final
phrase of the definition mere surplusage.
             The final phrase of the definition serves to restrict the activities relating
to such storage. No for-profit business, occupation or service can be conducted in the
space that is leased for vehicle, personal and household item storage. In other words,
all activities relating to vehicle storage must be of a personal nature and not
conducted as a for-profit business or service. It is clear from the plain, unambiguous
language of the Ordinance that only commercial, and not personal, activities relating
to such storage are prohibited. The Board erred and abused its discretion in its
interpretation of Section 1303.31.
             This is reflected in and consistent with the City’s Ordinance defining
“private garage” as “an enclosure or covered space for the storage of not more than
three vehicles provided that no business, occupation or service is conducted for profit

                                            12
therein.” Ordinance, §1303.30 (emphasis added). It is clear that the City did not
preclude private garage owners from conducting personal activities related to vehicle
storage, but rather prohibited a for-profit business or service from being conducted
therein. The City chose the same language for the definition of “commercial garage.”
It cannot expect a different result with application of the same language without
further distinction.
              In this appeal, the Board was limited to the plain language of the
Ordinance in its interpretation of Section 1303.31 and was required to construe the
language as broadly as possible to give the landowner the benefit of the least
restrictive use of the property. The Board went beyond the plain language of the
Ordinance and its interpretation served to further restrict the landowner’s use of the
property.7 Moreover, to the extent the Board ignored the text of the Ordinance in
favor of the Zoning Officer’s testimony regarding the City’s “policy” of prohibiting
all automotive uses in the OI district, and the problems the City would have with the
enforcement of its own Ordinance, the same would constitute an abuse of discretion.
              In addition, the Board found that “[t]enants on the Property were
servicing vehicles for commercial and personal use.” (Finding of Fact at No. 3)
(emphasis added). However, there is no evidence in the record that could substantiate
a finding of “for-profit” activity, i.e., commercial.           Heller testified that he has
restricted tenants from conducting commercial operations out of the garage. Further,
Heller’s lease agreements provide that tenants are prohibited from performing repair
or maintenance to their vehicles or conducting any other use without Heller’s prior
consent. The Zoning Officer confirmed that her testimony regarding purported
commercial activity pertained to commercial garages that were not owned by Heller.
       7
         The Board’s interpretation prohibits even minor and routine maintenance of one’s personal
vehicle, which are incidents of ownership.

                                               13
She conceded that her belief that automotive repair shops were being operated out of
Heller’s garages was based on an assumption. Accordingly, the Board abused its
discretion in finding that the tenants’ vehicles on Heller’s Property were being
serviced for commercial use.

                                      Conclusion
             The Board was required to construe the words of the Ordinance as
broadly as possible to give Heller the benefit of the least restrictive use. Here, the
Board disregarded the portion of the Ordinance which limits, rather than prohibits,
the types of services that may be performed. Because the definition of “Garage,
commercial” restricts the storage of vehicles to personal use, to the exclusion of
businesses, occupations, or services for profit, the Board abused its discretion and
committed an error of law in its interpretation of Section 1303.31. Further, the
Board’s finding that tenants on the Property were servicing vehicles for commercial
use is unsubstantiated by the record. Therefore, we reverse the trial court’s decision.

                                           ________________________________
                                           PATRICIA A. McCULLOUGH, Judge

                                          14
         IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Elwood M. Heller,                     :
                    Appellant         :
                                      :    No. 1444 C.D. 2015
            v.                        :
                                      :
City of Lebanon Zoning Hearing        :
Board                                 :

                                   ORDER

            AND NOW, this 21st day of April, 2016, the order of the Court of
Common Pleas of Lebanon County, dated July 8, 2015, is hereby reversed.

                                          ________________________________
                                          PATRICIA A. McCULLOUGH, Judge