Court Opinion

ID: 4444266
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-10-04 13:11:58.198297+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:27:56.285087
License: Public Domain

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

David Greene,                            :
                     Appellant           :
                                         :
            v.                           :
                                         :
Zoning Hearing Board                     :   No. 1241 C.D. 2018
of Dorrance Township                     :   Argued: September 10, 2019

BEFORE:     HONORABLE RENÉE COHN JUBELIRER, Judge
            HONORABLE PATRICIA A. McCULLOUGH, Judge
            HONORABLE CHRISTINE FIZZANO CANNON, Judge

OPINION NOT REPORTED

MEMORANDUM OPINION
BY JUDGE FIZZANO CANNON                      FILED: October 4, 2019

            David Greene (Greene) appeals from the June 26, 2018 order of the
Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County (trial court) affirming a September 6,
2017 decision by the Zoning Hearing Board of Dorrance Township (Board) that
dismissed Greene’s appeal of a determination made by Dorrance Township’s
(Township) zoning officer that declined Greene’s request to enforce against his
neighbor Michael Medvitz (Landowner) a portion of Township’s Zoning Ordinance
that disallows commercial uses within areas zoned as conservation districts. Upon
review, we affirm.
            Greene and Landowner are neighbors in an area of the Township zoned
as a C-1 conservation district. Landowner moved into the area in 2002 and has run
a commercial auto body repair and paint shop in a garage at his residence since that
time. Greene moved into the district in 2014 and had no notice of Landowner’s
commercial activities within the conservation district prior to purchasing his home.
Upon learning of Landowner’s commercial activity, Greene requested that the
Township enforce its zoning ordinance against Landowner and prevent further
commercial activity. By letter dated April 13, 2017 (Zoning Determination Letter),
the Township’s zoning officer declined Greene’s request, explaining as follows:

            While the Dorrance Township record is silent on the
            operation of an auto body business in the garage in which
            [Landowner] received a zoning permit for in September
            2002, it is my determination that [Landowner] has
            operated his business for the past 15 years with the belief
            that he had acquired vested rights to operate his auto body
            business in that garage. My determination is also based
            upon my understanding that [Landowner] had received
            tacit approval for this business at his home by the Zoning
            Officer at the time of issuing the permit for the garage. It
            has been common knowledge within the neighborhood
            that the business has been operational since construction
            of the garage in 2002. The operation of the business is
            further supported by the fact that [Landowner] received a
            zoning permit for the 10’x10’ addition to the garage in
            which the auto body repair shop was operating. The
            permit for [the] 10’x10’ addition, which was to be used for
            the storage of paint, was issued by the same zoning officer
            that issued the permit for the garage.

            Finally, over the past years [Landowner] regularly
            discussed his business and its activities during his visits to
            the Dorrance Township Zoning Office to obtain zoning
            permits for improvements to his property.

Zoning Determination Letter at 2 (pagination supplied); Exhibit T-2 to the July 13,
2017 Notes of Testimony.

                                          2
             Greene appealed to the Board, which conducted a hearing on the matter.
See Notes of Testimony, July 13, 2017 (N.T.). Greene testified before the Board
that he and Landowner are neighbors and that their properties are located in a
residential neighborhood within an area zoned as a conservation district. N.T. at 11.
Greene explained that, prior to moving into the area, he and his real estate agent
checked the zoning and understood the area was previously zoned as an agricultural
district and then as a conservation district, and that commercial activity was not
allowed therein. N.T. at 28. Further, Greene testified that, when he moved into his
residence, he had no knowledge that Landowner was conducting a commercial
business out of his garage and there were no signs in front of Landowner’s property
indicating that an auto body and paint shop was operating therein. N.T. at 23, 28 &
34. Greene explained that when he spoke with Landowner about the commercial
operation, Landowner acknowledged that he was running a business from his house,
but explained that his auto body/paint shop had been “grandfathered” into the district
for zoning purposes. N.T. at 12 & 23. Greene’s information requests from the
Township produced only a 2002 occupancy permit application and Landowner’s
2002 and 2004 building permit applications for a garage and a garage expansion at
his residence. N.T. at 17. The permit applications listed the use of Landowner’s
land as residential and none referenced any commercial use on Landowner’s
property. N.T. at 17. Ultimately, Greene explained that he requested that the
Township’s zoning officer enforce the zoning ordinance against Landowner, and the
zoning officer declined. N.T. at 17-18.
             Alan Snelson, the Township’s zoning officer, also testified before the
Board. See N.T. at 40-118. Snelson testified that he started as the Township’s
zoning officer in January 2008. N.T. at 40-41. He explained that the Township’s

                                          3
zoning ordinance regulates both uses and structures within the Township. N.T. at
81. He further testified that neither an auto body shop nor a repair shop are permitted
uses in an area zoned as a conservation district, and that such a use in a conservation
district would require a variance. N.T. at 82-84.
               Snelson testified that in approximately early 2017 he had multiple
conversations with Greene regarding Landowner’s use of his property as an auto
body shop.1 N.T. at 42-43. Then, on April 3, 2017, Snelson received a letter from
Greene requesting that he determine whether Landowner had a permit to conduct the
auto body business located at Landowner’s property. N.T. at 42; see also Greene’s
April 3, 2017 Letter (Permit Inquiry Letter), Exhibit T-1 to the July 13, 2017 Notes
of Testimony. In response to the Permit Inquiry Letter, Snelson examined the
Township’s files2 and found three permits issued to Landowner before Snelson
became zoning officer. See Greene’s February 14, 2017 Right to Know Request
Form, Exhibit A-2 to the July 13, 2017 Notes of Testimony; July 29, 2002
Occupancy Permit Application and Permit (Occupancy Permit), Exhibit T-3 to the
July 13, 2017 Notes of Testimony; September 23, 2002 Garage Building Permit
Application and Permit (Garage Permit), Exhibit T-4 to the July 13, 2017 Notes of
Testimony; March 2, 2004 Garage Addition Building Permit Application and Permit
(Garage Addition Permit); Exhibit T-5 to the July 13, 2017 Notes of Testimony.
Snelson explained that the first of these permits was a simple occupancy permit
issued when Landowner purchased his home in July 2002. N.T. at 46-47; see also

       1
        Snelson testified that, prior to the events of this litigation, he was unfamiliar with either
Landowner’s or Greene’s property and had not even heard of Landowner’s property until contacted
by Greene. N.T. at 43 & 45.
       2
         Snelson described the files, originally created by a prior and now-deceased Township
zoning officer and maintained by two or three other Township zoning officers prior to Snelson’s
appointment, as “very sparse.” N.T. at 44-45, 97.
                                                 4
Occupancy Permit. He further testified that the second permit issued a few months
later on September 23, 2002 was for the construction of a garage. N.T. at 49; see
also Garage Permit. The Garage Permit listed Landowner as the applicant, was
signed by Landowner, and listed the present use of the structure as a single family
home and the present use of the land as “residential.” N.T. at 48-50 & 78-79; see
also Garage Permit. Additionally, Snelson explained that a box used to indicate a
change of use was not checked on the Garage Permit. N.T. at 79; see also Garage
Permit. Snelson further testified that the Garage Permit did not refer to an auto body
shop or a commercial business in any way. N.T. at 79; see also Garage Permit.
             Snelson testified that the third document contained in the Township’s
files was a March 2, 2004 permit application seeking permission to build a 10-foot
by 15-foot addition to the garage. N.T. at 50-51; see also Garage Addition Permit.
Snelson explained that, as with the Garage Permit, the Garage Addition Permit listed
the present use of the structure as a single family home and the present use of the
land as residential, left blank the box provided for change of use, and did not refer
in any way to auto body work, painting, or any other commercial use. N.T. at 79-
80; see also Garage Addition Permit.
             Snelson testified that the previous zoning officer who had issued these
permits to Landowner was the late Joseph Krivak. Snelson speculated that Krivak
may have filled out the permit applications on behalf of Landowner and that, in any
event, he assumed that Krivak, not Landowner, would have had control over how
the applications were filled out. N.T. at 90. Snelson testified that he found no
documents, notes, or recordings that evidence Krivak’s thought process regarding
the issuance of any of these permits. N.T. at 81.

                                          5
             Snelson also testified regarding the circumstances surrounding two
permits that he himself issued to Landowner. Snelson explained that, in February
2012, he issued a replacement home permit following a fire in Landowner’s home.
N.T. at 102; see also February 2, 2012 New Residential Structure Permit Application
and Permit (New Residential Structure Permit), Exhibit A-3 to the July 13, 2017
Notes of Testimony. Snelson also explained that he permitted the construction of a
storage shed to be located on the side of Landowner’s existing garage based on a
permit application filed by Landowner on April 22, 2014. N.T. at 106; see also April
22, 2014 Storage Shed Building Permit Application and Permit (Storage Shed
Permit), Exhibit A-4 to July 13, 2017 Notes of Testimony. Snelson acknowledged
that Landowner signed the storage shed permit application. N.T. at 106; see also
Storage Shed Permit. Snelson further acknowledged that the storage shed permit
application had the “No” box checked next to the question “Is this a commercial
activity?” N.T. at 106; see also Storage Shed Permit. Snelson testified that
Landowner informed him that Landowner intended to use the storage shed for his
“toys.” N.T. at 106; see also Storage Shed Permit.
             Snelson also testified that, on April 13, 2017, he sent the Zoning Officer
Determination in reply to Greene’s Permit Inquiry Letter. N.T. at 44; see also
Zoning Officer Determination. Snelson explained that he declined to enforce the
zoning ordinance against Landowner because he ultimately concluded that
Landowner’s business had been operating without impact on the neighborhood since
2002. N.T. at 66-67. Snelson further explained that he based his conclusion on the
fact that, despite having been the Township’s zoning officer since 2008, he had never
heard of Landowner’s business nor received any complaints pertaining thereto. N.T.
at 67-68. Snelson explained that he first became aware of Landowner when

                                          6
Landowner sought the later permits for his home rebuild and storage shed. N.T. at
67-68. He explained that Landowner regularly discussed his business with the
Township during his visits to the Township office. N.T. at 68. Snelson opined that
he felt that Landowner was not hiding anything from the Township. N.T. at 68.
               During his testimony, Snelson conceded that no public record is
available to anyone that would indicate that Landowner’s property is used for
anything other than residential use. N.T. at 81. He testified that he found no
Township record stating that Landowner’s property was at least partially used for
commercial or business purposes and that no signage at the property indicates a
business operates inside. N.T. at 65 & 110. Snelson also conceded that, due to the
sparse nature of the available file, his conclusions required “educated guessing and
inquiries made with people to – to try to get the whole story.” N.T. at 70-71. He
speculated that the Township knew that Landowner was using the garage and garage
addition for an auto body and paint business from about 2004. N.T. at 92. Snelson
conceded, however, that he was not present in 2002 or 2004 and cannot say whether
Landowner acted in good faith when filing the applications for the Garage or Garage
Addition Permits. N.T. at 99.
               Landowner also testified before the Board.3 See N.T. at 121–48.
Landowner explained that he moved into his property in 2002, and that the property
has been his and his family’s residence since that time. N.T. at 131-33. Landowner
explained that the property has value to him as a residence, which he testified is
worth significantly more now than when he purchased it in 2002 for $123,000.00.
N.T. at 134 & 147.

      3
          Landowner intervened in this matter prior to the hearing before the Board.
                                                7
             Landowner testified that the previous zoning officer, Krivak, filled out
the occupancy permit, the Garage Permit, and the Garage Addition Permit, and that
he had no control over which boxes Krivak checked or did not check. N.T. at 135-
36 & 138. Landowner testified that he told Krivak that the garage was for auto paint
and body work and that the addition was to expand his paint business. N.T. at 136
& 138. He explained that he expended a lot of money on his auto body and paint
business.4 N.T. at 136. Landowner testified that he believed he was permitted from
2002 to conduct his business.       N.T. at 137.    He explained that he made his
expenditures in reliance on that belief. N.T. at 138 & 144. He further explained that
the business supports himself and his family, and that he would experience
significant hardship if he was no longer permitted to operate. N.T. at 144-45.
             Landowner testified that he explained the business to Snelson when he
went for the later-issued permits. N.T. at 140. He stated that he never hid from the
Township the fact that he had an auto body and paint shop on the premises, that the
Township has known what was going on since 2002, and that the Township has
never done anything to try to stop him. N.T. at 140-43. Landowner therefore
testified to his belief that he has acted in good faith regarding the permitting and use
of his property. N.T. at 144.
             Based on this evidence, on September 6, 2017, the Board issued a
decision denying Greene’s appeal and affirming the decision of the Zoning Officer.
See Decision of the Zoning Hearing Board of Dorrance Township, dated September
6, 2017 (Board Decision). The Board Decision concluded that Landowner was
entitled to a variance under the theories of variance by estoppel, vested rights, and
equitable estoppel. See Board Decision at 2 (pagination supplied). Greene appealed

      4
         Landowner testified he expended approximately $100,000.00 on the garage and
$60,000.00 for equipment in the garage in furtherance of his business. N.T. at 137.
                                           8
to the trial court, which affirmed the Board Decision by order dated November 5,
2018 without taking further evidence. See Trial Court Opinion & Order dated
November 5, 2018 (Trial Court Decision); see also Trial Court Supplemental
Opinion & Order dated January 31, 2019 (Trial Court Suppl. Decision). Greene
timely appealed to this Court.5
               Initially, we note that the Township has an enacted zoning ordinance
that, in Section 501, outlines the uses permitted and prohibited in areas zoned as C-
1 conservation districts within the Township. See Dorrance Twp., Pa., Zoning
Ordinance art. V., § 501 (2007) (Zoning Ordinance); Reproduced Record (R.R.) at
275a-76a. We further acknowledge that no dispute exists in this matter that, in the
absence of a variance, Landowner’s commercial auto body repair and painting
activity is a non-permitted use under the Zoning Ordinance by virtue of the activity
occurring within a C-1 conservation district within the Township. See Trial Court
Suppl. Decision at 2.
               On appeal, Greene contends that the trial court erred by affirming the
Board Decision because Landowner failed to establish a right to operate a
commercial business in a conservation district under any of the theories of variance
by estoppel, vested rights, or equitable estoppel. See Greene’s Brief at 10-21.
Because we conclude that Landowner has established the necessary elements to
prevail under the theory of equitable estoppel, we begin with that issue and address
only that issue, as it is determinative.

       5
          “Where, as here, the trial court does not take additional evidence, our scope of review is
limited to determining whether the [Board] committed an error of law or a manifest abuse of
discretion.” W.J. Menkins Holdings, LLC v. Douglass Twp., 208 A.3d 190, 194 n.11 (Pa. Cmwlth.
2019) (internal quotations and citations omitted). “A zoning hearing board abuses its discretion
only if its findings are not supported by substantial evidence.” Id. “Substantial evidence is such
evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Id.

                                                 9
             In the absence of a variance granted by a relevant zoning authority,
individuals in the Commonwealth may acquire a right to continue a use that is
otherwise not permitted under a number of different, equity-based legal theories
including equitable estoppel. Lamar Advantage GP Co. v. Zoning Hearing Bd. of
Adjustment of City of Pittsburgh, 997 A.2d 423, 441 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2010). Equitable
estoppel is an unusual remedy granted only in extraordinary circumstances. Id. To
establish equitable estoppel, a landowner must prove that “the municipality
intentionally or negligently misrepresented its position with reason to know that the
landowner would rely upon the misrepresentation.” Id. Additionally, the landowner
must establish the following elements of good faith action on his part: “‘1) that he
relies to his detriment, such as making substantial expenditures, 2) based upon an
innocent belief that the use is permitted, and 3) that enforcement of the ordinance
would result in hardship, ordinarily that the value of the expenditures would be
lost.’” Id. (quoting Vaughn v. Zoning Hearing Bd. of Twp. of Shaler, 947 A.2d 218,
224–225 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2008)) (internal brackets omitted). A landowner must prove
these essential factors by clear, precise and unequivocal evidence. See Pietropaolo
v. Zoning Hearing Bd. of Lower Merion Twp., 979 A.2d 969, 980 (Pa. Cmwlth.
2009). Additionally, we acknowledge that:

             [T]his Court may not substitute its interpretation of the
             evidence for that of the Board, the fact-finder in this case.
             The Board is the sole judge of the credibility of witnesses
             and the weight to be afforded their testimony. Thus, it is
             the Board’s function to weigh the evidence before it. If
             the record contains substantial evidence, this Court is
             bound by the Board’s findings that result from the
             resolution of credibility and conflicting testimony.

                                          10
MarkWest Liberty Midstream & Res., LLC v. Cecil Twp. Zoning Hearing Bd., 102
A.3d 549, 555 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2014) (quoting Oxford Corp. v. Zoning Hearing Bd. of
the Borough of Oxford, 34 A.3d 286, 295 n.9 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2011)) (emphasis
omitted).
                 Greene argues that the trial court erred by affirming the Board’s
application of equitable estoppel to the instant matter because the evidence does not
illustrate that Landowner relied on a misrepresentation by the Township. See
Greene’s Brief at 19-21. We do not agree.
                 As stated, to attain a variance by equitable estoppel, a landowner must
prove, among other things, the “municipality intentionally or negligently
misrepresented its position with reason to know that the landowner would rely upon
the misrepresentation.” Lamar, 997 A.2d at 441. Additionally, we note that, unlike
the considerable hardship burden placed on an applicant in a traditional variance
application,6 the hardship required to apply equitable estoppel may take the form of
the loss of expenditures made in reliance on a municipality’s misrepresentation or
the loss of sources of income that would result from the enforcement of a zoning
ordinance. See Vaughn, 947 A.2d at 225 (finding that substantial expenditures to
build a retaining wall and the anticipated cost of removal of the wall satisfied the

       6
           In a traditional variance application matter,

                 [t]o show unnecessary hardship an applicant must prove that either:
                 (1) the physical features of the property are such that it cannot be
                 used for a permitted purpose; or (2) the property can be conformed
                 for a permitted use only at a prohibitive expense; or (3) the property
                 is valueless for any purpose permitted by the zoning ordinance.

Lamar, 997 A.2d at 443. Further, “[t]he applicant must show the hardship is unique or peculiar to
the property as distinguished from a hardship arising from the impact of zoning regulations on the
entire district.” Id.

                                                  11
hardship requirement for the application of equitable estoppel); Dombroski v. Dallas
Twp. Zoning Hearing Bd. (Pa. Cmwlth., No. 1050 C.D. 2018, filed May 21, 2019),7
slip op. at 15 (loss of expenditures to convert first floor of building to apartment and
continued rental income satisfied the hardship requirement for the application of
equitable estoppel).
              Here, Landowner testified that Krivak, then the Township’s zoning
officer, assured Landowner that he would be able to conduct his business at his
property provided he did not put a sign on his property. Of course, because
commercial businesses are not allowed in the Township’s conservation districts,
Krivak’s representation that Landowner could operate his business from his home
was a misrepresentation. See Zoning Ordinance art. V., § 501. Landowner testified
that he relied on this misrepresentation, however negligent, and expended
considerable sums of money in furtherance of his business. He also testified that,
were the ordinance enforced, he would lose the income from the business that
supports himself and his family. Implicit in the Board’s conclusion that equitable
estoppel applies to this case is that the Board credited Landowner’s testimony and
gave it more weight than the permits themselves, which did not indicate any
permitted commercial activity. We may not substitute our interpretation of the
evidence for that of the Board. See MarkWest. Landowner’s testimony represents
clear, precise and unequivocal evidence that he operated his business and made
substantial expenditures in reliance on a misrepresentation by the Township, and that
he would suffer the hardships of loss of substantial expenditures and continued
income were the ordinance enforced. Therefore, the Board properly applied the

       7
          Pursuant to Commonwealth Court Internal Operating Procedure 414(a), 210 Pa. Code §
69.414(a), unreported panel decisions of this Court, issued after January 15, 2008, may be cited
for their persuasive value.

                                              12
theory of equitable estoppel to this matter and the trial court did not err in affirming
the Board’s affirmance of the decision of the Township’s zoning officer.
               Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s order.8

                                               __________________________________
                                               CHRISTINE FIZZANO CANNON, Judge

       8
         We acknowledge Greene’s argument that the Trial Court Supplemental Decision does not
provide sufficient reasons to support affirmance. See Greene’s Brief at 21-24. We observe,
however, that the Trial Court Supplemental Decision discusses the procedural and factual posture
of the instant matter, clearly outlines the issues involved, and explains the trial court’s reasoning
behind its decision with appropriate citations to the record and case law. See generally Trial Court
Suppl. Decision. We note simply that Greene’s disagreement with the trial court’s interpretation
of the cases cited in support of its decision or their application to the facts of this matter does not
render the Trial Court Supplemental Decision deficient.
                                                 13
        IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

David Greene,                        :
                 Appellant           :
                                     :
           v.                        :
                                     :
Zoning Hearing Board                 :   No. 1241 C.D. 2018
of Dorrance Township                 :

                                ORDER

           AND NOW, this 4th day of October, 2019, the June 26, 2018 order of
the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County is AFFIRMED.

                                   __________________________________
                                   CHRISTINE FIZZANO CANNON, Judge