Court Opinion

ID: 6755966
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-21 00:27:04.863658+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:02:26.249330
License: Public Domain

Corrigan, J.

ia.

There aré two. points of dispute for OUr resolution in *150this appeal. As asserted by appellant, the first is as follows:
“In an approriation proceeding an expert witness may not testify to a highest and best use that is not allowable under the existing zoning regulations.”
In support of this declared proposition of law, appellant cites the decisions of this court in Masheter v. Wood (1973), 36 Ohio St. 2d 175, and Bd. of County Commrs. v. Thormyer (1959), 169 Ohio St. 291, together with several appellate decisions.
Such reliance is misconceived. In Masheter v. Wood, supra, we decided a single issue in connection with the opinion testimony of expert appraisal witnesses in a land appropriation trial. That decision is unequivocally stated in the syllabus, and holds that such opinion testimony of an expert appraisal witness as to the reasonable probability of a zoning change to a higher and more valuable use classification is not competent, for the reason that such testimony constitutes speculation as to future administrative or legislative action.
The syllabus of a decision of this court states the law of Ohio, but the pronouncement must be interpreted with reference to the facts and questions involved in that case. Williamson Heater Co. v. Radich (1934), 128 Ohio St. 124. Only that which is stated in a syllabus or in a per curiam opinion represents a pronouncement of the law of Ohio by this court. State, ex rel. Canada, v. Phillips (1958), 168 Ohio St. 191.
Obviously, Masheter v. Wood, supra (36 Ohio St. 2d 175), does not support appellant’s first proposition of law.
The second citation, Bd. of County Commrs. v. Thormyer, supra (169 Ohio St. 291), is also ineptly posited as supportive of the first proposition of law. That ease involved an eminent domain proceeding to take certain land that was held under a deed containing restrictions against using the land except for a children’s home and against selling it. The scholarly opinion by Taft, J. (later Chief Justice) was directed solely to the question presented *151therein, namely: Where land held under a deed providing for restrictions as to its use is taken pursuant to the exercise of the power of eminent domain, what consideration is to he given such restrictions in valuing the property taken? That is the chief issue in Thormyer. The only other question of law related to the trial court’s charge. So, the fact situation is totally unlike that in the instant case.
Paragraph one of the syllabus in Thormyer reads:
“In determining the value of land in an appropriation proceeding, the question to be determined is the worth of the property for any and all uses for which it may be suitable, including the most valuable uses to which the land can lawfully, reasonably and practically be adapted.”
That paragraph of the syllabus applies to the facts in that case. Thus, this court decided, inter alia, that under the facts in Thormyer, the restrictions imposed by'the deed may be lawfully disregarded in a land appropriation case.
Therefore, Thormyer, too, fails to support appellant’s first proposition of law.

IB.

Where a parcel of land is taken by eminent domain, the measure of compensation to be awarded the owner is the price-which would be agreed upon at a voluntary sale between an owner willing but not required to sell and a purchaser willing but not required to buy, when both are fully aware and informed of all circumstances involving the value and use of the particular property. In other words, the test is the fair market valué of the land at the time of the taking.
The rule of valuation in a land appropriation proceeding is not what the property is worth for any particular use, but what it is worth generally for any and all uses for which it can reasonably and practically be adapted. Sowers v. Schaeffer (1951), 155 Ohio St. 454.
The take area in this case is zoned for single-family residences under a comprehensive zoning ordinance adopted by Westlake in the early 1950’s. When the zoning code was amended in 1970, Westlake notified the Director of *152Highways ¡that, pursuant:to R. C. 5511.01 it would not rczonA the 16.10 acre, area to -be taken for . Interstate 90. The .-rest of Mr. Kebe’s property,: 21.43 acres, was*'rezoned for'-interchange services in 1970, except for: ¡that small portion ¡.which was rezoned for multi-family.' The zoning circumjacent to the Kebe '37.53 acre tract is multi-family, light industry or commercial. ■ < .
Atxtrial, two professional appraisal witnesses testified for the property owner. The first, Mr. Van. Curen,- gave his Opinion-that-the highest and best use of the property taken arid the logical and natural use of it, assuming;it was not taken;fOr highway purposes, was for multi-family or apartment use.' It was his further opinion that the.value of the property was $242,000 -and that the property owner should be. compensated in that amount. Mr. Smith, -the second appraisal witness for the property owner, likewise was of the. opinion that the highest and best use of the subject property was for apartment building use, and, in his further opinion, the property owner should'be-compensated in the amount of $249,050. The jury returned a verdict in the amount of $210,000.
The- admission of such testimony from' these two witnesses ; Vas ¡perfectly, proper and lawful under Sowers v. Schaeffer, supra (155 Ohio St. 454), and the verdict and judgment, will riot be disturbed. Accordingly, appellant’s first !proposition of law is rejected.

II.

Proposition of 'law No. 2 advanced by appellant reads, as follows:
“Evidence of . the valuerof property for a úse which is not permitted under existing zoning is inadmissible in an appropriation r: proceeding. Property must; be;'evalúated under • the / restrictions of the existing zoning, regulations with consideration given to- the impact upon -the-market valúe in'the likelihood of a change in zoning. (Masheter v. Wood [1973], 36 Ohio St. 2d 175, approved; and follow-: ed.)”
The approval by appellant of our holding in Masheter *153v. Wood, supra, is heartening. However, the proposition.of law urged does not follow the rule of law laid down in the. syllabus of Masheter. We have discussed this rule in. Part 1 A of this opinion, and appellant’s second proposition of law is, therefore, rejected.
Although existing zoning restrictions necessarily, 'constitute an important factor for the appraisal witnessés to consider in connection with the market value of the land, it must be recognized that, as a practical matter, the existing zoning regulation does not and may not control .that market value of the property involved. If, in the opinion of an expert appraisal witness, an informed, willing purchaser would be presently agreeable to pay mofe than an amount justified under existing zoning, such evidence is admissible because it reflects upon the the fair market value of the propefty.
The judgment.of the- Court of Appeals is, therefore, affirmed.

Judgment affirmed.

Herbert, Stillman, Celebrezze, ' W. Brown.' and P. Brown, JJ., concur. A:;.' A
0 ’Neill; C. J., dissents.
StillmanV J., of the Eighth Appellate District, sitting for Stern, J.