Court Opinion

ID: 4089620
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-10-14 12:08:08.633839+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:35:06.644355
License: Public Domain

STATE OF MICHIGAN

                           COURT OF APPEALS

CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF LYON,                                          FOR PUBLICATION
                                                                   October 13, 2016
              Plaintiff-Appellee,                                  9:00 a.m.

v                                                                  No. 327685
                                                                   Oakland Circuit Court
JAMES E. PETTY, JUDITH PETTY, JAMES                                LC No. 2014-141058-CE
PETTY, JR., and PETTY TRUCKING,

              Defendants-Appellants.

CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF LYON,

              Plaintiff-Appellee,

v                                                                  No. 327686
                                                                   Oakland Circuit Court
MARLENE HOSKINS and PAUL HOSKINS                                   LC No. 2014-141059-CE
LANDSCAPING, INC.,

              Defendants-Appellants.

Before: FORT HOOD, P.J., and GLEICHER and O’BRIEN, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

       The Petty and Hoskins families each own property in Lyon Township, which they use as
their primary residences and the sites of their family-owned business operations. Their
commercial uses have violated the township’s zoning ordinance since they opened shop. As the
residential neighborhood developed around them, these uses became problematic and the
township enforced its ordinance by ordering a stop to the business activities. The circuit court,
faced with competing summary disposition motions, upheld the township’s zoning authority.
We affirm.

                                       I. BACKGROUND

      The Petty and Hoskins families each own acreage on Belladonna Road in Lyon
Township. The land has been zoned R-1.0 Residential Agricultural since 1957. The Hoskins

                                               -1-
family purchased their five-acre lot in 1969. The land was vacant and they quickly constructed a
single-family residence. In 1970, the Hoskins family erected a 30 foot by 50 foot pole barn
valued at $3,300. Their building permit application indicated: “Building to be used for storage.”
In 2012 and 2013, the Hoskins family built additions to the pole barn, each valued at $3,500.
The Hoskins family asserts that they have always used the pole barn to store equipment and
material for their landscaping business: Hoskins Landscaping, formerly known as Paul Hoskins
Landscaping.

        The Petty family bought a 13-acre lot neighboring the Hoskins family in 1977. The
previous owners ran Nunday Trenching and Power Washing Company from the property and
stored trucks and commercial equipment on site. The Petty family currently operates a truck
storage facility on the land—Petty Trucking—and also stores materials such as brick pavers.
They have conducted other commercial enterprises in the past. Although James Petty contends
that his family has made “significant investments” and “improvements to the business,” he
provided no further detail in connection with this lawsuit.

        It is undisputed that the Hoskins and Petty families operated their businesses without
township interference for several decades despite that their uses were never permitted under their
zoning classification. Defendants claim that township officials have visited their property
several times over the years and never raised any concerns. Moreover, each presented
commercial personal property tax bills connected with their Belladonna addresses. In the early
days, other property owners on Belladonna Road put their land to similar uses. It is also
undisputed, however, that the neighborhood’s character has changed over time. Satellite images
reveal that a large residential subdivision now runs along the properties’ western borders. On
Belladonna Road, simple farm houses have given way to modern homes of vast square footage
on large lots. It appears that Hoskins Landscaping and Petty Trucking are the last local vestiges
of the rural era.

        Neighbors began complaining about noise and early morning activity at the landscaping
and truck storage businesses. On October 14, 2013, the township sent identical “township
zoning ordinance warning[s]” to Marlene Hoskins and James Petty. The township advised
defendants that their business uses were not permitted in a residential zoning district and
defendants had been in violation of the ordinance since the inception of their commercial
enterprises. The notices continued, “Although portions of your business activities have existed
for years, the Township would like to meet with you to discuss options available to bring your
property into compliance with the zoning ordinance.” Ultimately, the township sought judicial
intervention to force the Hoskins and Petty families to cease their business operations in their
current locations. Defendants filed a joint motion for summary disposition contemporaneous
with their answers and the township responded with a summary disposition motion of its own.
The circuit court agreed with the township’s position and ordered the Petties’ and Hoskinses’
compliance with the zoning restrictions on their land. The Petties and Hoskinses now appeal.

                                 II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

      We review de novo a circuit court’s grant of summary disposition. Zaher v Miotke, 300
Mich. App. 132, 139; 832 NW2d 266 (2013).

                                               -2-
               A motion under MCR 2.116(C)(10) “tests the factual support of a
       plaintiff’s claim.” Walsh v Taylor, 263 Mich. App. 618, 621; 689 NW2d 506
       (2004). “Summary disposition is appropriate . . . if there is no genuine issue
       regarding any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a
       matter of law.” West v Gen Motors Corp, 469 Mich. 177, 183; 665 NW2d 468
       (2003). “In reviewing a motion under MCR 2.116(C)(10), this Court considers
       the pleadings, admissions, affidavits, and other relevant documentary evidence of
       record in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party to determine whether
       any genuine issue of material fact exists to warrant a trial.” Walsh, 263 Mich. App.
       at 621. “A genuine issue of material fact exists when the record, giving the
       benefit of reasonable doubt to the opposing party, leaves open an issue upon
       which reasonable minds might differ.” West, 469 Mich. at 183. [Zaher, 300 Mich
       App at 139-140.]

We review de novo the applicability and merit of the equitable defenses raised by the Hoskins
and Petty families. See Mason v City of Menominee, 282 Mich. App. 525, 527; 766 NW2d 888
(2009).

                                         III. ANALYSIS

       Townships have statutory authority to enact and enforce zoning ordinances for the
orderly planning of their communities. See MCL 125.3101 et seq. Zoning ordinances must be
reasonable and promote “the public health, safety, morals, or general welfare.” Euclid v Ambler
Realty Co, 272 U.S. 365, 395; 47 S. Ct. 114; 71 L. Ed. 303 (1926). Indeed, MCL 125.3201(1) of the
zoning enabling act provides:

       A local unit of government may provide by zoning ordinance for the regulation of
       land development and the establishment of 1 or more districts within its zoning
       jurisdiction which regulate the use of land and structures to meet the needs of the
       state’s citizens for food, fiber, energy, and other natural resources, places of
       residence, recreation, industry, trade, service, and other uses of land, to ensure
       that use of the land is situated in appropriate locations and relationships, to limit
       the inappropriate overcrowding of land and congestion of population,
       transportation systems, and other public facilities, to facilitate adequate and
       efficient provision for transportation systems, sewage disposal, water, energy,
       education, recreation, and other public service and facility requirements, and to
       promote public health, safety, and welfare. [Emphasis added.]

       To achieve these goals, “[i]t is the policy of this state and a goal of zoning that uses of
property not conforming to municipal zoning ordinances be gradually eliminated.” Jerome Twp
v Melchi, 184 Mich. App. 228, 231; 457 NW2d 52 (1990). Whether and when to enforce its
zoning ordinance to effectuate this gradual elimination is a matter within a township’s discretion.
83 Am Jur 2d 893, § 936; Randall v Delta Charter Twp, 121 Mich. App. 26, 32; 328 NW2d 562
(1982) (quotation marks and citation omitted, alteration in original) (“[D]ecisions of a planning
commission, or other similar local agency, concerning whether to enforce zoning ordinances are
decisions which are so basic to the operation of a municipality that any attempt to create liability
with respect thereto would constitute an unacceptable interference with [the municipality’s]

                                                -3-
ability to govern.”). “[A]bsent extraordinary circumstances,” courts will not interfere with such
decisions. 2 Cameron, Michigan Real Property Law, § 23.30, p 1367.

        One such “extraordinary circumstance[]” is the presence of a preexisting “nonconforming
use.” “A prior nonconforming use is a vested right in the use of particular property that does not
conform to zoning restrictions, but is protected because it lawfully existed before the zoning
regulation’s effective date.” Heath Twp v Sall, 442 Mich. 434, 439; 502 NW2d 627 (1993). To
be protected, the nonconforming use must have been legal at one time; a use that violates the
zoning ordinances since its inception does not draw such protection. 1 Anderson, American Law
of Zoning 3d, § 6.14, p 481. Defendants concede that their commercial activities have never
conformed to the uses approved for their properties’ zoning classification. Accordingly,
defendants were required to find other “extraordinary circumstances” to demand the continuation
of their businesses from their residential/agricultural properties.

        In defense of the township’s enforcement actions, the Hoskins and Petty families
contended that the township’s decades-long pattern of ignoring their zoning violations, and the
investments they made in their businesses as a result, precluded the township from taking
enforcement action now. To this end, the Hoskins and Petty families asserted laches and
estoppel defenses. These defenses “are judicially disfavored” because they invite judicial
interference into an area of local “public interest” and are “rarely applied in the zoning context
except in the clearest and most compelling circumstances.” 83 Am Jur 2d 894, § 937. And
relevant to both, a historic failure to enforce a particular zoning ordinance, standing alone, is
insufficient to preclude enforcement in the present. Anno: Right of Municipality or Other Public
Authority to Enforce Zoning or Fire Limit Regulations as Affected by its Previous Conduct in
Permitting or Encouraging Violation Thereof, 119 A.L.R. 1509, 1511, § 111a. See also Marzo v
Abington Twp Zoning Hearing Bd, 30 Pa Commw 225, 230; 373 A2d 463 (1977) (“[M]ere delay
in enforcement does not create a vested right to use property in violation of zoning
regulations.”).

       “The doctrine of laches is founded upon long inaction to assert a right, attended by such
intermediate change of conditions as renders it inequitable to enforce the right.” Boston-Edison
Protective Ass’n v Teahen, 337 Mich. 353, 360; 60 NW2d 162 (1953). “The application of the
doctrine of laches requires the passage of time combined with a change in condition that would
make it inequitable to enforce the claim against the defendant.” Yankee Springs Twp v Fox, 264
Mich. App. 604, 612; 692 NW2d 728 (2004). To merit relief under this doctrine, the complaining
party must establish prejudice as a result of the delay. Id.; Gallagher v Keefe, 232 Mich. App.
363, 369-370; 591 NW2d 297 (1998); City of Troy v Papadelis (On Remand), 226 Mich. App. 90,
96-97; 572 NW2d 246 (1997). Proof of prejudice is essential.

       A township can be equitably estopped from enforcing a zoning ordinance where:

       “(1) a party by representation, admissions, or silence, intentionally or negligently
       induces another party to believe facts; (2) the other party justifiably relies and acts
       on this belief; and (3) the other party will be prejudiced if the first party is
       permitted to deny the existence of the facts. . . .” [Howard Twp Bd of Trustees v
       Waldo, 168 Mich. App. 565, 575; 425 NW2d 180 (1988), quoting Cook v Grand

                                                -4-
       River Hydroelectric Power Co, Inc, 131 Mich. App. 821, 828; 346 NW2d 881
       (1984).]

Just as with a laches defense, prejudice is a mandatory element.

          The prejudice necessary to establish a laches or estoppel defense cannot be a de minimis
harm. As described in 83 Am Jur 2d 894, § 937, the party fighting the zoning enforcement must
show that he or she “made such a substantial change in position or incurred such extensive
obligations and expenses that it would be highly inequitable and unjust to destroy the rights
which he or she ostensibly had acquired.” Courts have also held that the property owner must
establish “a financial loss . . . so great as practically to destroy or greatly to decrease the value of
the . . . premises for any permitted use.” Carini v Zoning Bd of Appeals, 164 Conn 169, 173; 319
A2d 390 (1972). Precedent emphasizes the inadequacy of the evidence in this case.

        In Oliphant v Franzo, 381 Mich. 630; 167 NW2d 280 (1969), a case in which the state
intervened in an action to claim title to the subject land that had once been submerged under
Lake St. Clair, id. at 631, the state “sat on its hands” and “did nothing” for 17 years “while
homes were being built, streets paved, water and sewers installed, [and] taxes collected . . . .” Id.
at 637. This was deemed sufficient prejudice to estop the state’s interference. Id. at 636.

       In Pittsfield Twp v Malcolm, 375 Mich. 135, 137; 134 NW2d 166 (1965), the defendant
constructed and operated an animal kennel contrary to the township’s zoning regulations. The
township building inspector issued a building permit before construction. In reliance on that
permit, the defendant expended $45,000 to erect his building. He then operated the kennel for
nearly a year before the township attempted to stop the use. Id. The Supreme Court estopped
the township from enforcing the zoning ordinance against the defendant. Not only did a
township official issue a building permit (albeit in error) and the township wait 10½ months to
take action, but the defendant also spent significant funds “for a specialty type building of
otherwise doubtful utility.” Id. at 148.

        In contrast, in City of Troy v Papedelis (On Remand), 226 Mich. App. 90, 97; 572 NW2d
246 (1997), the defendant paved a residentially-zoned lot to use as parking for an adjacent
greenhouse business. Although the building inspector “frequently visited the property” and was
aware of the violation, the city waited three years to take action. Id. This Court found evidence
of prejudice lacking:

       Defendants have not demonstrated any prejudice that has resulted from plaintiff’s
       delay in bringing this action to enjoin the use of the residential parcel as a parking
       lot for defendants’ business. Although the evidence indicates that defendants
       paved part of their residential property to provide parking for the greenhouse
       business, there is no indication in the record that this action was taken in reliance
       on plaintiff’s failure to initiate suit earlier. [Id.]

Rather, the defendant constructed the parking lot after the adjacent road was widened,
eliminating several parking spots on the greenhouse parcel. Id. at 93.

       The Hoskins and Petty families brought their motion for summary disposition with
inadequate proof of prejudice. The Petty defendants made no allegation and presented no
                                                  -5-
evidence regarding any expenditure or action to adapt or improve their property to suit their
business. As such, the Petties created no question of fact on the element of prejudice and their
claim fails as a matter of law.

        The Hoskins family presented building permits for their original pole barn construction as
well as two additions. These documents recite $10,300 in improvements. We first note that the
issuance of building permits in this case did not establish knowledge on the part of the township.
Marlene Hoskins and her now deceased husband applied for the original building permit only
one year after erecting a single-family home on the property. The application indicated merely
that the pole barn would be used for storage. The later permit applications for the additions
include even less information. Accordingly, township officials had no reason to believe the pole
barn would be used for commercial purposes. The documents reflect the construction of a pole
barn for storage uses incident to a residential structure. Compare Fass v City of Highland Park,
326 Mich. 19, 27-28; 39 NW2d 336 (1949), citing Building Comm’n of the City of Detroit v
Kunin, 181 Mich. 604; 148 N.W. 207 (1914) (in which the property owners sought city approval of
their land use but then extended their uses to ones prohibited in the zoning district); Valparaiso
Bd of Zoning Appeals v Beta Tau Housing Corp, 499 NE2d 780 (Ind Ct App, 1986) (where the
defendant’s 1971 variance application and 1973 and 1974 official discussions with city officials
notified the city that the defendant intended to use the subject properties for a fraternity house,
and the defendant expended $15,000 to remodel thereafter, the city was estopped from
preventing the use); Utah Co v Young, 615 P2d 1265 (Utah, 1980) (allowing the county to
enforce its zoning ordinance where the defendants applied for a permit to construct a “barn” on
their agricultural property valued at $1,600 but then expended $23,000 to outfit the building as a
public auction house).1

        Moreover, neither set of defendants made any allegation that their property cannot be
used for other purposes allowed under the zoning classification. A pole barn can be used for any
number of activities, including serving as a garage for a residential structure. Similarly, a dirt
parking area, like that on the Petty property, can be put to various uses. Accordingly, neither can
establish that their expenditures were wasted or that their property is unfit for any use within the
zoning classification. See Mazo v City of Detroit, 9 Mich. App. 354, 361; 156 NW2d 155 (1968)
(holding the defendant would not be estopped from enforcing the zoning ordinance where the
plaintiff spent $6,500 in reliance on erroneous approval from city officers, but there were no
allegations that “her expenditures rendered her premises useless except as a bar”).

        The Hoskins family also presented no evidence that they expended $10,300 on their pole
barn as a result of the township’s inaction. In her affidavit submitted with the summary
disposition motion, Marlene Hoskins averred, “We built a pole barn with Lyon Township’s

1
  Both sets of defendants also presented personal property tax assessments in an attempt to
establish the township’s knowledge of their commercial uses of their property. These
assessments merely show that the taxpayer who lives at a particular address owns commercial
personal property, not that the taxable personal property is located or used at the taxpayer’s
address.

                                                -6-
building permits specifically for our landscaping business and there was no problem with
building inspections or the building’s use.” This statement contradicts the 1970 building permit
application, which indicated simply that the pole barn would be used for storage. Given this
plain and clear documentary evidence, the Hoskins family cannot show that they consulted with
township officials regarding the legality of running their business from their property before its
inception and therefore cannot establish a causal relationship for their initial investment.

        In relation to the 2012 and 2013 additions, Ms. Hoskins alleged that “various Township
Officials,” including a former township supervisor, “have visited the property for a host of
reasons” over the decades and yet raised no concerns regarding the Hoskins family’s commercial
enterprise or its compliance with the zoning ordinance. Ms. Hoskins contends that this
complacency lulled her into believing it would be acceptable to extend the pole barn to create
more room for Hoskins Landscaping’s equipment. This case is distinguishable from Papedelis
(On Remand), 226 Mich. App. 90, in that no intervening cause, such as road construction, appears
to have influenced the Hoskins family’s recent expansion.

       However, as a matter of law, $7,000 worth of additions to a storage barn fall short of the
“substantial change in position” or “extensive obligations and expenses” necessary for equity to
overcome a township’s zoning authority. 83 Am Jur 2d 894, § 937. The 2012 and 2013
additions and their attendant costs are not comparable to the construction of a business facility
open to the public as in Malcolm, 375 Mich. at 137, or the planning and construction of an entire
neighborhood like in Oliphant, 381 Mich. at 637. See also City of North Miami v Marguilies, 289
So 2d 424 (Fl App, 1974) (finding a $650,000 investment sufficient to estop the city from
enforcing its zoning ordinance). The enforcement of the township’s zoning ordinance will work
an inconvenience to the defendants who have operated their businesses for years without the
expense of owning or leasing commercial property. That inconvenience, however, does not
overcome the township’s statutory authority to ensure that neighboring parcels maintain
compatible uses.

        Ultimately, both sets of defendants chose to pursue summary disposition based on their
laches and estoppel defenses. Their evidence did not establish the prejudice necessary to
continue their commercial enterprises on land surrounded by quiet residential property.
Therefore, the circuit court properly determined that Lyon Township could enforce its zoning
ordinance and order an end to defendants’ commercial uses, which had always been prohibited
on their residential/agricultural land.

       We affirm.

                                                            /s/ Karen M. Fort Hood
                                                            /s/ Elizabeth L. Gleicher
                                                            /s/ Colleen A. O'Brien

                                               -7-