Court Opinion

ID: 4096275
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-11-08 05:43:31.467707+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:46:06.722285
License: Public Domain

2016 NOV 7 An 8: In

      IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

CENTRAL PUGET SOUND REGIONAL
TRANSIT AUTHORITY, a regional transit         No. 75372-0-1
authority, dba SOUND TRANSIT, and
CITY OF SEATTLE,                              DIVISION ONE

                          Respondents,

             v.

STERNOFF L.P., a Washington limited
partnership;
                                              UNPUBLISHED OPINION
                          Appellant,
                                             FILED: November 7, 2016
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.;
W. STERNOFF LLC, a Washington
limited liability company dba BODYGLIDE;
KING COUNTY, a Washington municipal
corporation; and ALL UNKNOWN
OWNERS and UNKNOWN TENANTS,

                          Defendants.

      Becker, J. — This is an appeal from the determination of public use and

necessity authorizing Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (Sound

Transit) to move forward with condemnation proceedings against appellant's

property. Because the Sound Transit board did not engage in arbitrary and

capricious conduct when it approved condemnation and the board's resolution
No. 75372-0-1/2

confers authority to condemn the property for a city of Bellevue (City) street

widening project, we affirm.

                                       FACTS

       In 1992, the Washington State legislature authorized counties in the Puget

Sound area to create a transportation agency "for planning and implementing a

high capacity transportation system within that region." RCW 81.112.010.

Voters later approved a ballot measure creating Sound Transit. Sound Transit

has already completed light rail projects in Seattle and Tacoma. In 2008, voters

approved the Sound Transit 2 plan to extend the existing light rail system to cities

east of Seattle, including Bellevue.

       For the last few years, Sound Transit has been in the final planning and

design stages of the East Link project. In July 2011, Sound Transit selected the

route and station locations by adopting Resolution R2011-10.

       Appellant Sternoff LP is a business owned by William R. Sternoff. Sternoff

owns property along the East Link route located at 1750 124th Avenue Northeast

in Bellevue's Bel-Red area. There are two buildings on the property, each

including office space and warehouse space. The only means of accessing the

property are two driveways on 124th Avenue. Stemoff's tenants require regular

access to conduct business, including to ship and receive goods. One tenant in

particular, a medical device supplier, requires round-the-clock access.

       The East Link alignment will run along and through the south portion of

Sternoffs property. The construction plans for 124th Avenue Northeast include

building Sound Transit's light rail trackway, as well as the City's project of
No. 75372-0-1/3

building a bridge over the trackway. The City also has a long-standing plan to

widen the avenue to provide increased mobility and safety by creating a five lane

section with landscape zones and sidewalks. The new bridge will be constructed

to accommodate the wider roadway.

       In December 2011, Sternoff entered into an agreement with the City that

permitted survey work on the property related to the City's plans to improve

124th Avenue. Sternoff entered into another access agreement in April 2013,

this time with Sound Transit. The agreement permitted Sound Transit to conduct

surveys on the property related to East Link construction. Both agreements

guaranteed that Sternoff and his lessees would have largely unimpeded access

to the property during the survey work. The City assured Sternoff that its

representatives "will not block access to the business park or buildings or impede

access around the buildings." Sound Transit assured Sternoff that "during and

after the expiration of the Term, except as needed and temporarily, Sound

Transit will not block access to the business park or buildings or impede access

around the buildings needed for tenants, clients and deliveries, and will not

otherwise interfere with the day to day business operations of the Property."

       In September 2013, Sound Transit began the process of condemning

properties for East Link construction. At a meeting of the Capital Committee,

Sound Transit's property director presented a proposed resolution, R2013-21,

which identified 60 commercial properties as "necessary for the construction and

permanent location of the East Link Project." This list included Sternoffs

property. The resolution authorized condemnation proceedings "to acquire all, or
No. 75372-0-1/4

any portion thereof, of the properties and property rights." The committee voted

to recommend that Sound Transit's board pass the resolution.

      The board adopted the resolution as part of its consent agenda during a

meeting on September 26, 2013. Sound Transit provided notice of the meeting

to affected property owners, as required per RCW 8.25.290.

       In May 2015, Sound Transit and the City adopted an amended

Memorandum of Understanding, superseding a previous version adopted in

2011. The previous version is not designated as part of the appellate record.

The 2015 memorandum states that pursuant to the 2011 agreement, "the Parties

engaged in a collaborative process for design and development of the East Link

Project" and worked to "identify projects to be completed jointly for reduced

impacts to the public, and overall cost savings and efficiencies." In a section

titled "Project Coordination," under a subsection titled "Shared Cost Agreement,"

the memorandum explains that Sound Transit and the City coordinated their

projects on 124th Avenue:

      The Project[1] is designed to cross under two existing roadways,
      120th Avenue NE and 124th Avenue NE, which will require elevating
      the profile of the roadway as identified in Exhibit M, Section E. The
      City has identified 120th Ave NE, between NE 12th Street and NE
      16th Street (CIP Plan Project PW-R-168), and 124th Ave NE,
      between NE Spring Boulevard and NE 18th Street (CIP Plan Project
      PW-R-166) for widening and other improvements. The City and
      Sound Transit desire to coordinate and share the costs for the
      design, right-of-way acquisition and construction of the two projects
      to improve efficiencies and reduce costs. Upon execution of this
      MOU, the Parties shall enter into the Funding, Right-of-Way

       1 The memorandum defines "Project" as "the segments of the Light Rail Transit
System in the City of Bellevue as described in Exhibit C-1 (Project Description),
attached and incorporated herein, and as may be modified as described in this MOU
[Memorandum of Understanding]."
No. 75372-0-1/5

       Acquisition and Construction Administration Agreement for
       Roadway and East Link Project Improvements at 120th Ave NE and
       124th Ave NE attached hereto as Exhibit N and incorporated herein
       by this reference.

       In April 2016, Sound Transit filed a Petition in Eminent Domain against

Sternoff in King County Superior Court. Sound Transit simultaneously filed a

motion for a finding of public use and necessity. The petition states that certain

real property rights "must be acquired for purposes of Petitioner's Link light rail

project." To construct the East Link, "certain real property and real property

rights are necessary for the City of Bellevue's Bel-Red Transportation

improvements, which includes widening 124th Ave. NE." The petition states that

the 2015 Memorandum of Understanding between Sound Transit and the City

"requires certain real property and real property rights for the 124th Ave NE

project."

       The Sound Transit board authorized condemnation to acquire "all, or any

portion" of Sternoffs property when it adopted R2013-21. The petition did not

seek to take the whole property; rather, it identified 10 interests in portions of

Sternoffs property for condemnation. These included permanent fee and

easement interests, as well as temporary construction easements, as spelled out

in legal descriptions attached to the petition.

       On June 6, 2016, the court held a hearing on public use and necessity.

See RCW 8.12.090; RCW 8.12.100. Sternoff argued the petition should be

dismissed entirely because Sound Transit's board acted arbitrarily and

capriciously in adopting R2013-21 or, in the alternative, Sound Transit should not

be permitted to acquire property for the City's street widening project. On June
No. 75372-0-1/6

7, 2016, the trial court issued findings of fact, conclusions of law, and an Order

and Judgment Adjudicating Public Use and Necessity.

        The court found:

               7. The Condemned Property is necessary to and will be
        used for a public purpose—locating, constructing, operating and
        maintaining the Project.[2]
                8. Petitioner has determined that the construction of the
        Project will serve a public purpose, is necessary for the public
        interest, and that the Condemned Property is necessary for this
        purpose. The Respondents have been served with notice and a
        copy of the Petition.

                10. There was no fraud, actual or constructive, no abuse of
        power, bad faith, or arbitrary and capricious conduct by Sound
       Transit.

       The court concluded:

              5. The taking and damaging of lands, properties and
       property rights in order to locate, construct, operate and maintain
       the Project is for a public use.
              6. The public interest requires the proposed use.
              7. Appropriation of the Condemned Property is necessary for
       the proposed use.
              8. Petitioner is entitled to the issuance of an order finding
       public use and necessity for the taking of the Condemned Property.

       Sternoff appealed. Sound Transit filed a motion for accelerated review,

asserting that possession of Sternoffs property in 2016 is required to keep the

East Link project on schedule and on budget. We granted accelerated review.

       Sternoff assigns error to findings 7, 8, and 10. He argues that because

these findings are erroneous, conclusions 5 through 8 are not adequately

supported by the court's findings.

        2 Defined by the petition and by the order as "the East Link Extension and its
related facilities."
No. 75372-0-1/7

       We will not disturb findings that are supported by substantial evidence.

Cent. Puqet Sound Req'l Transit Auth. v. Miller. 156 Wash. 2d 403, 419, 128 P.3d
588 (2006). Substantial evidence is evidence that would persuade a fair-minded,

rational person of the truth of the finding, viewed in the light most favorable to the

respondent. Miller, 156 Wash. 2d at 419.

                                   BOARD ACTION

       Sternoff contends the Sound Transit board engaged in arbitrary and

capricious conduct when adopting R2013-21, the resolution authorizing

condemnation proceedings.

       The government must exercise its power of eminent domain through

lawful procedures. Miller, 156 Wash. 2d at 410. The statute governing regional

transit authorities provides that the "right of eminent domain shall be exercised by

an authority in the same manner and by the same procedure as or may be

provided by law for cities of the first class, except insofar as such laws may be

inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter." RCW 81.112.080(2). A city

authority must first pass an ordinance providing that it seeks to condemn

property for public improvements "which will require that property be taken or

damaged for public use." RCW 8.12.050. Once the ordinance is passed, the

condemning authority must file a petition in superior court. RCW 8.12.050.

       The next step is for a court to adjudicate public use and necessity. Miller,
156 Wash. 2d at 410. The court must determine (1) whether the proposed use is

really public, (2) does the public interest require it, and (3) is the property to be

acquired necessary for that purpose. City of Bellevue v. Pine Forest Props., Inc.,
No. 75372-0-1/8

185 Wash. App. 244, 259, 340 P.3d 938 (2014), review denied, 183Wn.2d 1016

(2015). The latter two findings address necessity. Pine Forest. 185 Wash. App. at

259, citing In re Citv of Seattle. 104 Wash. 2d 621, 623, 707 P.2d 1348(1985). It is

undisputed that the East Link project constitutes a public use. See HTK Mgmt.,

LLC v. Seattle Popular Monorail Auth.. 155 Wash. 2d 612, 630, 121 P.3d 1166

(2005). Sternoffs challenges relate to the necessity issue.

       "Necessity" in the eminent domain context does not mean absolute

necessity, but rather that a project will fulfill a genuine need and appropriately

facilitate a public use. Pub. Util. Dist. of Grant County No. 2 v. N. Am. Foreign

Trade Zone Indus.. LLC. 159 Wash. 2d 555, 576, 151 P.3d 176 (2007); Miller. 156
Wash. 2d at 421. A party challenging an agency's finding that necessity exists must

demonstrate actual fraud, or arbitrary and capricious conduct sufficient to

constitute constructive fraud. Miller. 156 Wash. 2d at 417; Pine Forest, 185 Wn.

App. at 262. Arbitrary and capricious conduct is willful and unreasoning action,

without consideration and regard for facts or circumstances. Citv of Tacoma v.

Welcker, 65 Wash. 2d 677, 684, 399 P.2d 330 (1965). When reasonable minds can

differ regarding whether the record supports a trial court's finding of necessity,

we will not disturb the decision of a condemning authority so long as it was

reached honestly, fairly, and upon due consideration of the facts and

circumstances. Pine Forest. 185 Wash. App. at 263. Our Supreme Court has

observed that it has seldom "'found that a condemning authority has abused its

trust in making a declaration of public necessity. This should not be surprising,

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No. 75372-0-1/9

for it is not to be presumed that such abuses often occur.'" Miller. 156 Wash. 2d at

412, quoting State v. Brannon. 85 Wash. 2d 64, 68, 530 P.2d 322 (1975).

       It is undisputed that Sound Transit is a government agency that can

lawfully exercise eminent domain power pursuant to RCW 81.112.080(2). Sound

Transit concluded it was necessary to exercise this authority when the board

adopted R2013-21:

      The Sound Transit Board deems the East Link Extension to be a
      public use for a public purpose. The Board deems it necessary and
      in the best interests of the citizens residing within Sound Transit's
      boundaries to acquire the property identified in Exhibit A as being
      necessary for the construction, operation, and permanent location
      of the East Link Extension, parties to be paid relocation and re-
      establishment costs associated with displacements from the
      properties.

      Sternoff argues the board's conduct was arbitrary and capricious because

the board appears not to have considered the access agreements when deciding

to adopt R2013-21. He asserts that Sound Transit staff "never disclosed to the

Board the Sound Transit Access Agreement" and concludes the "Access

Agreements and related negotiations and assurances are exactly the 'facts and

circumstances' that Sound Transit was obligated to evaluate in reaching an

honest, fair and reasoned decision regarding the 'necessity' of the Sternoff

Property." The agreement states that Sound Transit will not block Sternoffs

access during or after the survey work.

      An agency cannot contract away its power of eminent domain. State ex

rel. Devonshire v. Superior Court. 70 Wash. 2d 630, 637, 424 P.2d 913 (1967).

Under this principle, Sound Transit's agreement with Sternoff did not control the

board's decision whether to exercise its eminent domain power with respect to
No. 75372-0-1/10

his property. Sternoff, aware of this principle, does not argue that Sound Transit

was estopped from exercising its condemnation authority based on the contract.

Rather, he contends the agreement contained information relevant to the East

Link project and the board's failure to consider this information renders its

conduct arbitrary and capricious. Sternoff cites no authority for the proposition

that a condemning authority's failure to consider access agreements is relevant

to the arbitrary and capricious inquiry, let alone dispositive. He had notice of the

meeting at which R2013-21 would be decided and thus had the opportunity to

present these issues to the board. He was not entitled to rely on the board to

consider them otherwise.

       Sternoff suggests that the short amount of time the board spent

considering R2013-21 renders its decision arbitrary and capricious. Sternoff

contends the board "rubber stamped" the resolution. The board adopted the

resolution during a consent agenda. According to Sternoff, "the total Board

consideration of R2013-21 amounted to four minutes of time—to take 60

properties." Sternoff cites no authority for his position that the amount of time

devoted to a topic at a hearing is relevant to determining whether an agency's

decision was arbitrary and capricious. Legislative bodies routinely adopt

resolutions during consent agendas. Adoption on a consent agenda does not

mean that the decisions included were arbitrary or uninformed.

       The board's adoption of R2013-21 substantially supports the finding that

Sound Transit "determined that the construction of the Project will serve a public

purpose, is necessary for the public interest, and that the Condemned Property is

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No. 75372-0-1/11

necessary for this purpose." The resolution also supports the finding that the

"Condemned Property is necessary to and will be used for a public purpose—

locating, constructing, operating and maintaining the Project." The trial court was

entitled to rely on Sound Transit's determination of necessity in the absence of

proof of actual or constructive fraud. Miller. 156 Wash. 2d at 417. Sound Transit

supported its eminent domain petition with evidence demonstrating its decision to

condemn was based on considerations regarding the East Link's alignment and

trackway. Viewing this evidence in the light most favorable to Sound Transit, we

affirm the finding that there was no arbitrary and capricious conduct by Sound

Transit.

                          STREET WIDENING PROJECT

       Sternoff contends condemnation of his property for the City's street

widening project is unconstitutional because there has never been an explicit

finding by the City or Sound Transit that his property is necessary for this project.

       The petition states that to construct the East Link extension and its related

facilities, Sound Transit seeks to acquire portions of Stemoff's property deemed

necessary for the City's project of widening the roadway. The petition mentions

the Memorandum of Understanding by which the City and Sound Transit agreed

to a collaborative process:

       Certain real property and real property rights must be acquired for
       purposes of Petitioner's Light rail project in order to permanently
       locate, construct, operate and maintain the East Link Extension and
       its related facilities (the "Project"). In order to construct the Project,
       certain real property and real property rights are necessary for the
       City of Bellevue's Bel-Red Transportation improvements, which
       includes widening 124th Ave NE. As part of the agreement to
       expand light rail to Bellevue, Petitioner and the City of Bellevue

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No. 75372-0-1/12

       entered into a Memorandum of Understanding for
       Intergovernmental Cooperation for the East Link Project which
       requires certain real property and real property rights for the 124th
       Ave NE project.

The order identifies some of Sternoffs property interests being acquired as

"COB" (city of Bellevue) takes.

       Sternoff contends that Sound Transit's East Link extension and the City's

road improvement plan are separate projects. In his view, R2013-21—which

does not specifically mention widening 124th Avenue—does not confer authority

to condemn property for the City's street widening project. He argues that either

Sound Transit or the City had to make an explicit, separate finding of public use

and necessity for the street widening project to support condemning his property

for that purpose.

       Sternoff submitted deposition testimony by Sound Transit staff and board

members in which they agreed that the East Link extension and the City's road

improvement plan are "separate" projects. He argues this demonstrates that

R2013-21 does not apply to the street widening project. Deposition testimony

characterizing the two projects as separate does not control our analysis of this

issue. What is relevant is whether Sound Transit properly authorized the

condemnation of property for the street widening project.

       A government agency may exercise its power of eminent domain only if it

first determines the public use and necessity requirements are met and a court

later adjudicates public use and necessity. Miller, 156 Wash. 2d at 410. Sternoff is

correct that neither Sound Transit nor the City adopted a resolution of public use

and necessity that specifically addresses the City's street widening project.

                                             12
No. 75372-0-1/13

Thus, Sound Transit's petition to acquire property for improving 124th Avenue is

supported only ifthe authority granted by R2013-21 extends to the City's project.

We conclude that it does.

       The property interests the petition seeks to acquire are tied to the East

Link extension. R2013-21 authorizes Sound Transit to acquire "all, or any portion

thereof, of the properties and property rights ... for the purpose of constructing,

owning, and operating a permanent location of the East Link Extension and light

rail guideway." This language confers broad authority to condemn properties

identified in the resolution when, in the agency's judgment, doing so is necessary

to facilitate the East Link project.

       The 2015 Memorandum of Understanding demonstrates that Sound

Transit made a judgment that acquiring property for the street widening project

would facilitate the East Link project. The memorandum states, "the City and

Sound Transit desire to coordinate and share the costs for the design, right-of-

way acquisition and construction" of the East Link and street widening projects to

"improve efficiencies and reduce costs."

       Sternoff argues that the court's finding of public use and necessity

regarding his property is invalid because Sound Transit adopted the resolution in

2013 and only later identified a plan to coordinate the East Link with the City's

street widening project, as specified in the 2015 memorandum. A condemning

authority must have a general outline of intended improvements so that a court

can know what particular part of the property is necessary for the stated public

use. Port of Everett v. Everett Improvement Co., 124 Wash. 486, 492-94, 214 P.
13
No. 75372-0-1/14

1064 (1923). There is no requirement that an agency must "have in place a

definitive use plan for the entire life of the property." Monorail, 155 Wash. 2d at 638

n.21.

        This court recently upheld an order of public use and necessity in a

different condemnation action involving the East Link and road improvement

plans of the City. Pine Forest. 185 Wash. App. at 269. Condemnation of property

for the City's road improvement project and for East Link construction was

authorized by a resolution of the Bellevue City Council. Pine Forest. 185 Wn.

App. at 250. The ordinance authorizing condemnation specifically referred both

to the road project and to the East Link in finding necessity for the acquisition.

Pine Forest does not hold that an ordinance must identify a particular project for

that project to be covered by the grant of authority to condemn. Sound Transit

made a finding that acquisition of Sternoffs property was necessary for

construction and location of the East Link. This finding suffices to support the

order authorizing condemnation of property interests that will be conveyed to the

City to facilitate widening a road that approaches and crosses the East Link

trackway.

        Because Sternoff has not proved arbitrary and capricious conduct, Sound

Transit's finding is conclusive. The trial court properly issued an order on public

use and necessity which includes property interests for the City's road

improvement project.

        Sternoff requests an award of attorney fees pursuant to RCW 8.25.075(1).

Because we deny Stemoff's request for relief, we deny his request for fees.

                                             14
No. 75372-0-1/15

       The city of Seattle intervened in this action because it owns interests in

Sternoffs property—two easements for the construction, operation, and

maintenance of an electrical transmission system. At Seattle's request, we

confirm that our disposition of this appeal does not affect Seattle's property

interests.

       Affirmed.

                                                      itWi^e ^1
WE CONCUR:

                                                               v4 ogv;

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