Court Opinion

ID: 5129767
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-11-29 15:09:31.411545+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:23:13.788932
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
                               APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
        This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ." Although it is posted on the
     internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.

                                                        SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                                        APPELLATE DIVISION
                                                        DOCKET NO. A-3211-19

BOROUGH OF CARTERET,
a municipal corporation of
the State of New Jersey,

          Plaintiff-Respondent,

v.

THE CARTERET WAREHOUSE
CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION,
INC., c/o 14 BURMA ROAD
ASSOCIATES,

          Defendant-Appellant,

and

COLUMBIA BANK
FOUNDATION, INC., d/b/a
COLOMBIA BANK,
INVESTORS BANCORP, INC.,
d/b/a INVESTORS BANK, and
BANCORP OF NEW JERSEY,
INC., d/b/a BANK OF NEW
JERSEY,

          Defendants.
            Argued November 9, 2021 – Decided November 29, 2021

            Before Judges Mawla and Mitterhoff.

            On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
            Division, Middlesex County, Docket No. L-8604-19.

            Lisa E. Lomelo argued the cause for appellant
            (Javerbaum Wurgaft Hicks Kahn Wikstrom & Sinins,
            PC, attorneys; Stephen F. Hehl, of counsel; Lisa E.
            Lomelo, of counsel and on the briefs).

            Jason M. Hyndman argued the cause for respondent
            (DeCotiis, Fitzpatrick, Cole & Giblin, LLP, attorneys;
            Jason M. Hyndman, of counsel and on the brief).

PER CURIAM

      Defendant The Carteret Warehouse Condominium Association, Inc.,

appeals from a March 11, 2020 order granting a judgment in favor of plaintiff

Borough of Carteret, to exercise its eminent domain powers to acquire a strip of

land on defendant's property. We affirm.

      The land in question is part of a large lot subdivided in 1987, creating Lots

1 and 2, owned by defendant, and Lots 3.01, 3.02, and 4, owned by plaintiff.

Plaintiff's lots are on the waterfront, which it developed into the Carteret

Waterfront Park and Municipal Marina, opened in June 2019. The park does

not front a public roadway, so access easements between public parking on the

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roadway and the park were created during the subdivision process, permitting

ingress and egress along the border of defendant's property.

      This dispute arose because plaintiff sought to create an auxiliary parking

lot on a portion of defendant's lot to supplement the park's existing public

parking. In May 2019, plaintiff offered to acquire the .252 acre easement for

$8,100, and included an appraisal and survey with metes and bounds explaining

the valuation. Defendant's property manager rejected the offer, advising: "All

four owners have received copies of the appraisal . . . . They have discussed the

situation and have unanimously voted not to sell."

      In July 2019, the Borough Council adopted an ordinance authorizing

acquisition of the property through eminent domain. Plaintiff finalized the

survey, which designated the property being acquired as 0.218 acres and

adjusted its valuation accordingly to $7,500 pursuant to an updated appraisal

completed in September 2019. On November 11, 2019, plaintiff served a formal

written offer on defendant's registered agent. The offer letter advised plaintiff

would initiate condemnation proceedings if no response was received within

fourteen days. Defendant did not respond.

      On December 27, 2019, Plaintiff filed a verified complaint and order to

show cause against defendant. Defendant opposed the application and argued

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the easement was unsafe because it was narrow and traversed by tractor trailers.

Defendant attached an affidavit and traffic safety study by a professional

engineer explaining the dangers to the public accessing the easement in vehicles

and on foot. Defendant also argued plaintiff failed to engage in bona fide

negotiations before filing the complaint because it "presented one offer that was

rejected." It alleged plaintiff did not act in good faith because it served the

registered agent with a lower offer than the one sent to the property manager,

and served "a [single] unit owner that cannot unilaterally act on behalf of

[defendant]." Defendant argued the taking was arbitrary and capricious, and

that discovery was necessary to explore the reasons for the acquisition, traffic

and safety concerns, and the valuation process.

      The trial judge heard oral argument on the order to show cause.

Addressing whether defendant received notice of plaintiff's $7,500 offer,

defendant's counsel conceded "notice is essentially not the issue." Counsel also

conceded defendant did not respond to the $7,500 offer, and argued plaintiff had

"to show an intent to negotiate[,]" which plaintiff failed to do by not responding

to the property manager's rejection of the $8,100 offer. Counsel addressed the

safety concerns and argued defendant would be responsible for anyone injured

on its property because plaintiff had tort claims immunity. Defendant argued a

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plenary hearing was necessary to address these issues and the legality of the

taking.

      The trial judge concluded plaintiff did not act arbitrarily or capriciously,

noting the expansion of the parking is part of plaintiff's "continuing

development" of the property and "a reasonable decision by the [borough]

council to make."     The judge rejected defendant's argument regarding the

alleged safety considerations noting "[t]he question is, at this stage . . . i s the

decision to identify this piece of property for potential taking arbitrary and

capricious?" The judge concluded the safety issues would be addressed during

the property's development and entered the March 11, 2020 order in plaintiff's

favor. The order granted plaintiff the right to acquire the property through

eminent domain, appointed commissioners to examine and appraise the

property, and assess damages as a result of the taking and condemnation. The

court also stayed the action for thirty days so the parties could negotiate for the

voluntary transfer of the property, and for other relief not relevant to this appeal.

                                         I.

      Condemnation actions are summary. R. 4:73-1. In a summary action, if

"the affidavits show palpably that there is no genuine issue as to any material

fact, the court may try the action on the pleadings and affidavits, and render final

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judgment thereon." R. 4:67-5. A condemnation complaint must include "the

amount of compensation offered by the condemnor and a reasonable disclosure

of the manner in which the amount has been calculated." R. 4:73-1. Further,

the rule requires the complaint to also include details such as a "map and a

description of the land to be acquired" and a "breakdown" of the methodology

employed to reach the amount of the offer. Ibid. "The condemnation rules

generally follow the requirements of the Eminent Domain of 1971 Act [N.J.S.A.

20:3-1 to -50]." Pressler & Verniero, Current N.J. Court Rules, cmt. 1 on R.

4:73-1 (2022).

      Pursuant to the Act, our "Legislature has delegated broad authority to

municipalities to acquire private property by eminent domain for public uses

. . . ." Twp. of Readington v. Solberg Aviation Co., 409 N.J. Super. 282, 310

(App. Div. 2009) (quoting Deland v. Twp. of Berkeley Heights, 361 N.J. Super.

1, 19 (App. Div. 2003)). We do not interfere with the exercise of eminent

domain unless it is unreasonable and arbitrary. State by McLean v. Lanza, 27

N.J. 516, 530 (1958); see also Twp. of W. Orange v. 769 Assocs., LLC, 172 N.J.

564, 571 (2002) ("It is well-established that a reviewing court will not upset a

municipality's decision to use its eminent domain power 'in the absence of an

affirmative showing of fraud, bad faith or manifest abuse.'" (quoting City of

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Trenton v. Lenzner, 16 N.J. 465, 473 (1954))). "[T]he location [of the property]

is a matter within the discretion of the condemnor." Tex. E. Transmission Corp.

v. Wildlife Press., 48 N.J. 261, 269 (1966); accord State v. Trap Rock Indus.

Inc., 338 N.J. Super. 92, 102 (App. Div. 2001). Our courts therefore grant "wide

latitude" to municipalities in condemnation proceedings. Readington, 409 N.J.

Super. at 310 (quoting W. Orange, 172 N.J. at 572).

      "[T]he burden of proof is upon the party asserting" a claim of "fraud, bad

faith, abuse or arbitrary and capricious action[.]" State by Comm'r of Transp.

v. Malibu Beach, Inc., 209 N.J. Super. 291, 296 (Law Div. 1986). The property

owner must prove the claim by clear and convincing evidence. Readington, 409

N.J. Super. at 311.

      "We review the court's findings as if they were made after a summary

judgment motion." In re Estate of Baker, 297 N.J. Super. 203, 207 (App. Div.

1997). However, "a party is not entitled to favorable inferences such as are

afforded to the respondent on a summary judgment motion . . . ." Grabowsky v.

Twp. of Montclair, 221 N.J. 536, 549 (2015) (citations omitted).

                                       II.

      In Points I and II, defendant argues the trial judge was required to hold a

plenary hearing because there were disputes in fact as to whether plaintiff served

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the offer and negotiated in good faith, the condemnation was arbitrary, or if there

were safety issues concerns related to the taking. We disagree.

      The Act requires a condemnor to engage in "bona fide negotiations with

the prospective condemnee[.]" N.J.S.A. 20:3-6. The negotiations must be in

writing and the offer must include details such as a description of the p roperty,

the interest acquired, the compensation being offered, and a methodology of

calculation of same. Ibid. The condemnee must reject or accept the offer no

"less than [fourteen] days from the mailing of the offer." Ibid.

      N.J.S.A. 46:8B-25 pertains to service of notice of a condemnation on

condominium associations and states: "If all or any part of the common elements

shall be taken, injured or destroyed by eminent domain, each unit owner shall

be entitled to notice of such taking and to participate through the association in

the proceedings incident thereto."       (emphasis added).       Once service is

effectuated, "the condemning authority has no obligation to continue to

negotiate if the other party refuses to do so." Borough of Merchantville v. Malik

& Son, LLC, 218 N.J. 556, 573 (2014) (citing Cnty. of Monmouth v. Whispering

Woods, 222 N.J. Super. 1, 9 (App. Div. 1987)).

      We reject defendant's argument a plenary hearing was required to address

whether plaintiff properly served its offer and negotiated in good faith.

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Defendant's counsel conceded service was not the problem.             Service was

effectuated because defendant's property manager acknowledged receipt of the

initial offer and plaintiff served the formal offer on defendant's registered agent,

constituting valid service pursuant to N.J.S.A. 46:8B-25.

      We are convinced both plaintiff's offers were in good faith and that

defendant rejected them without engaging in bona fide negotiations. The trial

judge's rulings in this regard are unassailable, and defendant's arguments to the

contrary lack merit. See R. 2:11-3(e)(1)(E). Defendant's argument the verified

complaint was unclear as to the taking also lacks merit because the complaint

attached a survey of the taking area and a metes and bounds description.

      Defendant's argument a hearing was necessary to address safety and

liability issues also fails. Plaintiff cannot assert immunity from negligence

claims arising from its operation or maintenance of a public parking lot. See

N.J.S.A. 40:60-25.5.

      Further, the trial judge correctly held the alleged safety issues did not bar

granting the order to show cause because they were not considered at the initial

stages of the proceedings, and would instead be resolved during development.

See N.J.S.A. 20:3-8 and R. 4:73-1. In Malibu Beach, we held even the failure

to obtain the appropriate permits for the property prior to filing the order to show

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cause did not bar condemnation. 209 N.J. Super. at 296-98 (citing N.J. Highway

Auth. v. Currie, 35 N.J. Super. 525, 534 (App. Div. 1955) (holding a plaintiff

was not required to preemptively obtain the permit to properly proceed with a

condemnation claim)). Plaintiff was not required to provide a fully detailed plan

of development at this stage in the litigation.

      Defendant's reliance on Texas Eastern is likewise misplaced. There, the

plaintiff sought to condemn four tracts of land for its gas pipeline across

property maintained by the defendant. 48 N.J. at 265. The defendant alleged

the condemnation was arbitrary because the plaintiff refused to consider an

alternate route for the pipeline that would "greatly reduce or largely eliminate"

the damage to its property. Id. at 269. The Supreme Court held the defendant

made a prima facie case the condemnation was arbitrary by producing two expert

reports positing an alternate route for the pipeline along an already-existing

public utility easement. Id. at 272. The Court remanded for a plenary hearing,

holding:

            the ultimate burden of proving arbitrariness in the
            choice of route will be on [defendant]. Procedurally,
            however, if it introduces reasonable proof of (1) the
            serious damage claimed to result from installation of
            the pipeline on the path chosen by plaintiff, and (2) an
            apparently reasonably available alternate route or
            routes, which will avoid the serious damage referred to,

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            the burden of going forward with the evidence will shift
            to plaintiff.

            [Id. at 275.]

      Here, the trial judge did not err in declining to hold a hearing to address

the safety issues raised by defendant because the harm alleged was to the public,

not defendant or its property. Moreover, defendant did not demonstrate a

reasonable alternative to condemnation. Indeed, the condemned property was

not only an expansion of existing public parking, but also a means to access the

waterfront park. A hearing was unnecessary because defendant did not make

out a prima facie case of arbitrariness.

                                       III.

      Finally, we reject defendant's argument that the trial court erred by not

dismissing plaintiff's complaint and          by staying the appointment of

commissioners for thirty days so the parties could negotiate a resolution. We

have held that a stay of condemnation proceedings to enable a condemnor to

cure deficiencies after commencing the condemnation proceedings frustrates the

purpose of N.J.S.A. 20:3-6, which must be strictly construed.          Borough of

Rockaway v. Donofrio, 186 N.J. Super. 344, 354 (App. Div. 1982). This is

because "the purpose of the Legislature in enacting N.J.S.A. 20:3-6 was . . . to

encourage entities with condemnation powers to make acquisitions without

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litigation. Such a procedure thereby saves both the acquiring entity and the

condemnee the expenses and delay of litigation." Id. at 353-54.

      A thorough review of the trial transcript here reveals the judge stayed the

order not to enable plaintiff to cure deficiencies in its application, but to allow

the parties the ability to resolve the matter without litigation. The judge's

decision was consonant with the Legislative intent, and dismissal of the

complaint was unwarranted.

      Affirmed.

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