Court Opinion

ID: 9685186
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 14:25:43.418119+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:03.113612
License: Public Domain

KELLY, Justice
(dissenting).
I respectfully dissent. I would have this court in this case adopt the standard of review placing upon the municipality the burden of supporting the ordinance as a valid exercise of the police power by findings of fact based upon substantial evidence. I am persuaded by the rationale of Fasano v. Board of County Commrs. of Washington County, 264 Or. 574, 507 P.2d 23 (1973), and Fleming v. City of Tacoma, 81 Wash.2d 292, 502 P.2d 327 (1972), cited in the majority opinion. I would overrule our cases to the contrary.
Furthermore, I think it is illogical to require municipalities to live up to a stricter standard of review in granting or denying a special-use permit than in rezoning a parcel of land. I am not persuaded that characterizing one as legislative and the other as adjudicative in nature is an acceptable answer. Those landowners who buy or improve their lands in reliance on zoning undoubtedly place greater reliance on the zoning of lots as residential than they would on the prospects of getting a special-use permit.
Thus the standard of review should be a higher one for rezoning or at least the same as for securing a special-use permit.
OTIS, J., took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.