Court Opinion

ID: 2705511
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 22:37:04.892167+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:55:36.180421
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Green v. Helms, 2013-Ohio-2075.]

STATE OF OHIO                    )                   IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
                                 )ss:                NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
COUNTY OF SUMMIT                 )

CITY OF GREEN                                        C.A. No.      26371

        Appellee

        v.                                           APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
                                                     ENTERED IN THE
JOEL HELMS, et al.                                   COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
                                                     COUNTY OF SUMMIT, OHIO
        Appellants                                   CASE No.   CV 2011-08-4414

                                DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY

Dated: May 22, 2013

        MOORE, Presiding Judge.

        {¶1}    Defendant Joel Helms appeals the decision of the Summit County Court of

Common Pleas. We affirm.

                                                I.

        {¶2}    At all times relevant to this appeal, Mr. Helms and his wife, Mary Helms, resided

in a single family residential structure located on property (“the property”) that was zoned

industrial in the City of Green. In a previous action commenced in 2006, the City and the

Helmses were involved in a dispute regarding items accumulating on the property outside of the

residential structure. The parties settled the dispute in 2007 by entering into a settlement

agreement that included an arbitration provision.

        {¶3}    Thereafter, another dispute arose between the parties regarding purported litter

and debris on the property. The parties submitted their dispute to arbitration, and the arbitrator

determined that certain items on the property constituted health, welfare, or safety hazards and
                                                 2

ordered the Helmses to remove these items. The City then filed an action in the trial court in a

case numbered CV 2009-07-5683 (“2009 case”), seeking to enforce the arbitration decision. The

trial court issued a judgment entry confirming the arbitrator’s decision and requiring the Helmses

to remove certain items from the property. Thereafter, the City filed a motion for contempt,

arguing that the Helmses had failed to clean the property as required. During a hearing held on

the City’s motion for contempt, Mr. Helms explained that he used several items located in the

yard of the property in his sewer treatment business.

       {¶4}    Based upon Mr. Helms’ testimony in the 2009 case, on August 10, 2011, the City

filed a complaint commencing the instant action. Therein, the City sought declaratory judgment

that the Helmses were violating the City’s zoning ordinances pertaining to home occupations,

and requested the court to order them to cease the illegal operation of the home occupation

outside of the property’s principal structure. The Helmses answered the complaint, denying the

applicability of the legal bases relied upon by the City in its complaint. Thereafter, the City

moved for summary judgment, attaching transcripts of Mr. Helms’ testimony from the 2009 case

in support. On February 28, 2012, the trial court issued an order granting the City’s motion for

summary judgment, and declaring that the Helmses were conducting a home occupation outside

of the principal residential structure in violation of the City of Green Codified Ordinances

(“Loc.Ord.”). The trial court ordered the Helmses to cease the operation of the home occupation

outside of the residential structure and to remove the offending materials.

       {¶5}    On March 30, 2012, Mr. Helms filed a notice of appeal from the trial court’s

order. We initially dismissed the appeal as untimely. However, Mr. Helms then moved this

Court to reconsider our decision dismissing the appeal.             We granted his motion for

reconsideration and reinstated the appeal. Although the appellant’s brief and the appellant’s
                                                3

reply brief appear to be signed by both Joel and Mary Helms, the notice of appeal in this matter

was signed and submitted only by Mr. Helms. Moreover, Mrs. Helms is nowhere referenced in

the body of the appeal, which instead provides, “Now comes Joel Helms giving notice of appeal

* * *.” As such, Mr. Helms is the sole appellant in this matter, and, thus, the foregoing decision

is limited to Mr. Helms. See App.R. 3(D) (“notice of appeal shall specify the party or parties

taking the appeal”). Mr. Helms has raised one assignment of error for our review.

                                               II.

                                 ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

        THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN GRANTING SUMMARY JUDGMENT.

        {¶6}   In his sole assignment of error, Mr. Helms maintains that the trial court erred in

determining that his outdoor storage of business-related materials upon the property was

prohibited by the City’s zoning regulations and in granting summary judgment to the City. We

disagree.

        {¶7}   This Court reviews an award of summary judgment de novo. Grafton v. Ohio

Edison Co., 77 Ohio St.3d 102, 105 (1996). Pursuant to Civ.R. 56(C), summary judgment is

proper if:

        (1) No genuine issue as to any material fact remains to be litigated; (2) the
        moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law; and (3) it appears from
        the evidence that reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion, and viewing
        such evidence most strongly in favor of the party against whom the motion for
        summary judgment is made, that conclusion is adverse to that party.

Temple v. Wean United, Inc., 50 Ohio St.2d 317, 327 (1977).

        {¶8}   Here, Mr. Helms has not disputed the material facts upon which the City moved

for summary judgment. Instead, he contends that, based upon these facts, the City was not

entitled to judgment as a matter of law because: (1) the law director was required to obtain
                                                   4

legislative approval in order to bring suit against him, (2) the industrial zoning classification of

the property permits Mr. Helms to use the property to conduct his business, (3) the zoning

regulations relied upon by the trial court do not apply to the Helmses’ industrially-zoned

property, and (4) the City failed to first seek arbitration of this dispute in violation of the parties’

2007 settlement agreement. We will address these arguments in turn, combining the second and

third arguments to facilitate our review.

Authority of the Law Director

        {¶9}    Mr. Helms first argues that the City’s law director was not authorized to bring the

action against him without legislative approval. In support, Mr. Helms cites R.C. 733.53, which

provides:

        The city director of law, when required to do so by resolution of the legislative
        authority of the city, shall prosecute or defend on behalf of the city, all
        complaints, suits, and controversies in which the city is a party, and such other
        suits, matters, and controversies as he is, by resolution or ordinance, directed to
        prosecute. He shall not be required to prosecute any action before the mayor of
        the city for the violation of an ordinance without first advising such action.

Based upon this provision, Mr. Helms argues that the law director was not “authorized” to bring

the instant action. However, this statute sets forth the actions that a law director must take

“when required to do so[.]” Section 6.4(B) of the City of Green Charter, authorizes the law

director to take action on behalf of the City, and provides, in part:

        The Director of Law shall be the legal advisor on all legal matters coming before
        the City and shall represent or direct the representation of the City in all litigation,
        cases or suits coming before the City. He shall prepare and review all contracts,
        ordinance, resolutions and other documents or instruments as required by the
        Mayor and Council. He will have other powers and duties performed by
        Directors of Law of general statutory planned cities under the general laws of the
        State of Ohio.

        In addition, the Director of Law shall perform other duties specified for City
        solicitors by the laws of the State of Ohio.

        {¶10} Moreover, pursuant to Loc.Ord. 1230.03(1):
                                                5

       In case any building is or is proposed to be located, erected, constructed,
       reconstructed, enlarged, changed, maintained, or used or any land is or is
       proposed to be used in violation of this Code, or any amendment or supplement
       thereto, City Council, the City’s Law Director, the Zoning Division, or any
       adjacent or neighboring property owner who would be especially damaged by
       such violation, in addition to other remedies provided by law, may institute
       injunction, mandamus, abatement, or any other appropriate action or proceeding
       to prevent, enjoin, abate, or remove such unlawful location, erection, construction,
       reconstruction, enlargement, change, maintenance, or use.

       {¶11} In the City’s complaint, it alleged that the Helmses were conducting an improper

home occupation on the property in violation of the City’s zoning ordinances. Therefore, the

City’s charter and the local ordinance authorized the law director to institute an appropriate

action. Accordingly, Mr. Helms’ argument that the law director lacked authority to institute the

present action lacks merit.

Home Occupations in Industrially-Zoned Districts

       {¶12} Mr. Helms next argues that the industrial zoning designation of the property

allows for Mr. Helms to conduct his business on the property, to use the yard for storage as a use

accessory to that of his sewer treatment business, and to continue to reside in the home as a

permitted non-conforming use of the property. However, even were we to accept Mr. Helms’

arguments in each of these regards, we must conclude that the use of the property amounts to a

“home occupation” subject to the requirements set forth in Loc.Ord. 1226.03(5)(D).

       {¶13} Loc.Ord. 1231.02 defines a “[h]ome [o]ccupation” as “[a]n occupation or

profession for financial gain or profit which is incidental to and carried on entirely within a

dwelling unit located on a lot, exclusive of attached garage or patio areas, by resident occupants

of the dwelling unit and which occupation is clearly incidental to and accessory to the residential

use of the property and is without adverse effect to the property and shall not exceed thirty-five

percent of gross area of structure.” Loc.Ord. 1231.02 defines a “[d]welling [u]nit” as “[a] single
                                                6

unit of one or more rooms providing complete, independent living facilities for one or more

persons including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation but

not including a tent, cabin, hotel, motel, recreational vehicle, or other temporary or transient

structure or facility.”

        {¶14} Pursuant to Loc.Ord. 1226.03(3)(A)(7), certain uses of property, including use as

a home occupation, may be subject to use-specific regulations. “The existence of these use-

specific standards is noted through a cross-reference in the last column of Table 1226-2. These

standards apply in all districts unless otherwise specified.” Id. Table 1226-2 permits “home

occupations” in all district designations, including industrially zoned districts. The table then

cites to Loc.Ord. 1226.03(5)(D) as an additional regulation applying to home regulations.

        {¶15} Loc.Ord. 1226.03(5)(D) sets forth:

        (D) Home occupations – accessory to a dwelling in residential districts.

        1.) A home occupation may be conducted in a dwelling unit provided that the
        following standards are maintained.

        ***

        3.) The occupation shall be conducted wholly within a principal building, and any
        space used for sales, service or production shall occupy no more than thirty-five
        percent of the total floor area of the dwelling.

        ***

        6.) There shall be no change in the outside appearance of the dwelling or other
        visible evidence of the conduct of such home occupation.

        7.) No home occupation, or any aspect thereof, including the storage of materials
        and supplies, shall be conducted in any accessory building or in an open yard.

(Underlining sic.).

        {¶16} In their answer, the Helmses admitted that they resided in a single family

detached home on the property. Further, they admitted that Mr. Helms runs a sewage treatment
                                                    7

business from the property. However, Mr. Helms maintains that Loc.Ord. 1226.03(5)(D) does

not apply to properties in industrially-zoned districts. In support, he has relied heavily upon the

heading of Loc.Ord. 1226.03(5)(D): “Home Occupations – accessory to a dwelling in a

residential district.”   (Underlining sic.).      Mr. Helms contends that this heading limits the

applicability of Loc.Ord. 1226.03(5)(D) to properties in residential districts. We are mindful that

Loc.Ord.    1226.03(3)(A)(7)     directs   that     “additional   regulations,”   including   Loc.Ord.

1226.03(5)(D), “apply in all districts unless otherwise specified,” and, it may appear that this

heading specifies that Loc.Ord. 1226.03(5)(D) applies only to home occupations in residential

districts. However, Loc.Ord. 202.01 provides, in relevant part, that “[c]ode, title, chapter and

section headings do not constitute any part of the law as contained in these Codified

Ordinances.” Therefore, we conclude that the heading to Loc.Ord. 1226.03(5)(D) is not effectual

at limiting its provisions to only those home occupations occurring in “residential districts.” The

substantive language of Loc.Ord. 1226.03(5)(D), which does not specify that its provisions apply

only in residential districts, when read with the plain language of Loc.Ord. 1226.03(3)(A)(7)

(additional use standards apply in all districts unless otherwise specified) provides that the home

occupation use-provisions extend to properties located in all zoning districts. Accordingly, we

agree with the trial court that Mr. Helms’ use of the property is subject to the provisions set forth

in Loc.Ord. 1226.03(5)(D), despite the industrial zoning classification of the property.

        {¶17} Loc.Ord. 1226.03(5)(D)(3) prohibits a home occupation from being conducted

outside of a principal building. Loc.Ord. 1226.03(5)(D)(6) prohibits visible evidence of the

occupation from the outside of the residential structure, and Loc.Ord. 1226.03(5)(D)(7) prohibits

open-yard storage of materials used in the home occupation.              In its motion for summary

judgment, the City referenced and attached Mr. Helms’ testimony from the 2009 case, wherein
                                               8

he attested that he utilized several items located in the yard of the property in conducting his

sewer treatment business, which he ran from his home. Therefore, we conclude that Loc.Ord.

1226.03(5)(D) applied to the facts of the instant case. As the City demonstrated that no question

of material fact existed that Mr. Helms was violating Loc.Ord. 1226.03(5)(D), the trial court did

not err in granting the City summary judgment on this basis.

2007 Settlement Agreement

       {¶18} Lastly, Mr. Helms maintains that, pursuant to the terms of the parties’ 2007

settlement agreement, the City was required to submit this dispute to arbitration. The agreement

contained the following provision:

       Helms[ ]specifically agree to keep their property in compliance with the
       provisions of Green Codified Ordinance Chapter 632 and Ohio Revised Code
       Section 731.51. If Helms[ ]fail to keep their properties in compliance with Ohio
       Revised Code and Green Codified Ordinance, [the City] shall issue a five (5) day
       notice of the violation to Helms. If Helms does not dispute the violation and fails
       to cure the violation, [the City] may enter upon the property pursuant to Section
       731.51 of the Ohio Revised Code and Section 632.15 of Green Codified
       Ordinances; clean up the property; and assess the cost of the clean up as a lien
       against the property. If Helms disputes the alleged violation, and promptly
       notifies [the City], in writing, within five (5) days, the parties shall submit the
       dispute to binding arbitration before a single arbitrator mutually selected by the
       parties pursuant to Chapter 2711 of the Ohio Revised Code. The parties further
       agree that the arbitration shall be held within ninety (90) days of the date of the
       written notice from Helms[ ]objecting to the alleged violation.

       {¶19} The City maintains that the arbitration provision is not applicable to the present

case because the instant complaint did not allege violations of Loc.Ord. Chapter 632 or R.C.

731.51. We agree.

       {¶20} The complaint here alleged violations of Loc.Ord. 1226.03, pertaining to home

occupations. Nowhere within the instant complaint does the City maintain that the Helmses

were in violation of Loc.Ord. Chapter 632 (regarding litter) or R.C. 731.51 (regarding noxious

weeds and litter). Accordingly, as the allegations of the complaint did not fall within the terms
                                                 9

of the above arbitration provision, Mr. Helms’ argument that the City was required to submit this

dispute for arbitration lacks merit.

                                                III.

       {¶21} Mr. Helms’ sole assignment of error is overruled. The judgment of the Summit

County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.

                                                                              Judgment affirmed.

       There were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

       We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Court of Common

Pleas, County of Summit, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy

of this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.

       Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of

judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the

period for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(C). The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is

instructed to mail a notice of entry of this judgment to the parties and to make a notation of the

mailing in the docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.

       Costs taxed to Appellant.

                                                       CARLA MOORE
                                                       FOR THE COURT

BROGAN, J.
CONCURS.
                                                 10

CARR, J.
DISSENTING.

       {¶22} I respectfully dissent. As the property at the center of this dispute is located in an

area zoned for industrial use, I would hold that Loc.Ord. 1226.03(5)(D) is inapplicable.

       {¶23} The record reflects a long history of litigation between these parties. The cases

have spanned state and federal courts over the past two decades. Although the City’s efforts

over the years to make Helms’ property conform with the City’s zoning requirements is an

understandable and a laudable goal, the property rights of the individual have long been

recognized by the Ohio and United States Constitutions as fundamental rights and protected by

the courts. State ex rel. Merrill v. Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources, 130 Ohio St.3d 30, 2011-

Ohio-4612, ¶ 60. “[T]he founders of our state expressly incorporated individual property rights

into the Ohio Constitution in terms that reinforced the sacrosanct nature of the individual’s

‘inalienable’ property rights, Section 1, Article I [Ohio Constitution], which are to be held

forever ‘inviolate.’ Section 19, Article I.” (Footnote deleted.) Norwood v. Horney, 110 Ohio

St.3d 353, 2006-Ohio-3799, ¶ 37. This state “has always considered property rights to be

fundamental and concluded that ‘the bundle of venerable rights associated with property is

strongly protected in the Ohio Constitution and must be trod upon lightly, no matter how great

the weight of other forces.’” Merrill at ¶ 60, quoting Norwood at ¶ 38.

       {¶24} The City’s zoning ordinances create a tension between the rights of the property

owners to use their property as they see fit and the City’s land use planning. “In interpreting a

zoning ordinance, a court must strictly construe restrictions on the use of real property in favor of

the property owner.” Akwen, Ltd. v. Ravenna Zoning Bd. of Appeals, 11th Dist. No. 2001-P-

0029, 2002 WL 480041 (March 29, 2002), citing BP Oil Co. v. Dayton Bd. of Zoning Appeals,

109 Ohio App.3d 423 (2d Dist.1996). This is because “[z]oning resolutions are in derogation of
                                                 11

the common law and deprive a property owner of certain uses of his land to which he would

otherwise be lawfully entitled.” Saunders v. Clark Cty. Zoning Dept., 66 Ohio St.2d 259, 261

(1981).

          {¶25} Here, in addition to the fact that the heading of the Loc.Ord. 1226.03(5)(D) states

that it applies to home occupations that are “accessory to a dwelling in residential districts,” I

would conclude that the substantive language of the regulations seem to suggest that it is only

applicable to residential districts. For example, the home occupation provision requires that

“[t]he occupation shall not generate a significantly greater volume of traffic that would normally

be expected in a residential area * * *.” Loc.Ord. 1226.03(5)(D)(5). The provision further

demands that “[t]he occupation shall be conducted only by members of the family residing in the

dwelling, and no one from outside the family shall be employed within the dwelling unit[,]” and

that “[h]omes [shall not] serve as a gathering point for employees engaged in [] business that

takes place off the premises[.]” Loc.Ord. 1226.03(5)(D)(2),(4).

          {¶26} While these restrictions seem to be reasonably aimed at maintaining the character

and manner of residential districts, the same policy considerations do not exist in districts

specifically zoned for industrial activity. This Court must strictly construe the City’s zoning

regulations on the use of real property in favor of the property owner. Based on this high

standard and my reading of the City’s zoning regulations, I would sustain Mr. Helms’

assignment of error.

(Brogan, J., retired, of the Second District Court of Appeals, sitting by assignment pursuant to
§6(C), Article IV, Constitution.)

APPEARANCES:

JOEL A. HELMS, pro se, Appellant.

STEPHEN J. PRUNESKI, Attorney at Law, for Appellee.