Court Opinion

ID: 9688335
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 17:43:43.956242+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:06:10.286944
License: Public Domain

HENDERSON, Justice
(specially concurring).
Although I agree that it appears there was “substantial evidence” to sustain the Board’s decision, it would be better procedure to enter findings which would permit this Court to more adequately review a decision based upon the facts (as found) and the basic legal tenet(s) under which the Board took action. Re: Appeal of David Fiori Realtor, Inc., 55 Pa.Commw. 59, 422 A.2d 1207 (Pa.Commw.1980). Nor should the language of a statute be parroted. Findings should be more explicit. 4 Anderson Law of Zoning, 822.44, p. 124-125 (3d Ed.1986). Indeed, the Board so theorized, too, for it belatedly entered its reasons for denial “after the fact.” These reasons were, in essence, social upheaval to a residential neighborhood, traffic problems, inadequacy of access, impeding the development of the city’s property, construction of a fire hall, and a creation of general congestion.
Deadwood must grow orderly, with the advent of its rebirth in the gaming industry, and to my way of thinking, the city fathers were attentive to that goal. These board hearings, as this panorama of rebuilding and change precipitates, cannot be empty gestures, nor can they be a rubber *779stamp for a mere outlet of neighborhood opinion. A rule of law must prevail and, in my opinion, although I join the majority opinion, in the future the city of Deadwood should isolate its thinking into findings of fact in a more explicit manner. Thereby, this Court, or the circuit court, could review in a thorough and analytical manner.
Historical Note: The historic city of Deadwood, located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, was a meeca for early western frontiersmen. Some of the famous characters of the Old West were erstwhile residents of Deadwood. These characters included such notables as Wild Bill Hick-ock, Calamity Jane, Poker Alice, and Potato Creek Johnny. Deadwood is an old frontier town, nestled in Deadwood Gulch. It was opened to settlement because of the discovery of gold. Gambling flourished but was ultimately extinguished by prose-cutorial edict, based upon interpretation of the then existing State Constitution. In 1988, the people of South Dakota, via initiative, changed the constitution of South Dakota.* See, S.D. Const, article III, § 25 which amended the State Constitution to provide:
... [I]t shall be lawful for the Legislature to authorize by law, limited card games and slot machines within the city limits of Deadwood, provided that 60% of the votes of the City of Deadwood approve legislatively authorized card games and slot machines at an election called for such purpose. The entire net Municipal proceeds of such card games and slot machines shall be devoted to the Historic Restoration and Preservation of Deadwood.
Per the initiative ballot, there were 197,745 votes for this amendment and 106,444 against it. Source: see, Historical Note, article III, § 25. Deadwood then resoundingly voted to turn the City of Deadwood into, once again, a gambling community. Population: 1,830 people; Source: 1990 Census Population and Housing by United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census, South Dakota State Library; judicial notice taken thereof. Gambling flourishes again in the old historic City of Deadwood, while legendary characters lie buried at the Mt. Moriah Cemetery, a United States flag perched above the city at the cemetery. It is a unique scene in America. With thousands of tourists and gamblers invading Deadwood, for a look at its history and beauty, plus a gambling yen, and with the buildings and houses crowded in this old gulch, cultural lag and social problems abound; and with it, a plethora of problems for the city fathers to solve. Preserve the old historic city, they are commanded by State Constitution to accomplish, yet take care of the new problems by virtue of the hundreds of thousands of people who pour into the gulch. It is an awesome task now. It was daunting to the earlier fathers in the days of Deadwood Dick and Calamity Jane. All asleep now at Mt. Moriah, it troubles them not.

 See, Baker v. Jackson, 372 N.W.2d 142 (S.D.1985) (South Dakota was the first state in the Union which approved a constitutional amendment reserving legislative powers to its citizens).