Court Opinion

ID: 9728719
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 14:14:57.119815+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:51.323598
License: Public Domain

D. E. Holbrook, Jr., J.
(dissenting). Review of the trial court’s opinion clearly indicates the trial court felt constrained by the standards of Sabo v Monroe Twp, 394 Mich 531; 232 NW2d 584 (1975). In reference to Sabo, the trial judge stated, "the Court sheds a sigh of disappointment at the possible demise of the aged and revered doctrine of presumption of constitutionality of all laws.” The judge concluded the plaintiff had met its burden of showing unconstitútionality under Sabo and that plaintiff had also met its burden in showing the proposed rezoning to office use was "reasonable” under Sabo.
While the trial judge can hardly be faulted for feeling constrained by the then-precedential decision in Sabo, nevertheless in 1976 the Supreme Court expressly overruled the 3-2 decision of Sabo in Kirk v Tyrone Twp, 398 Mich 429; 247 NW2d 848 (1976). In Kirk the Supreme Court returned to the standards for challenging the constitutionality of a zoning ordinance enunciated in Kropf v Sterling Heights, 391 Mich 139; 215 NW2d 179 (1974). The burden placed on one challenging a zoning ordinance is much heavier under Kirk than the "reasonableness” test set forth in Sabo.
One of the four factors in Kropf is giving considerable weight to the findings of the trial judge in equity cases. While the trial judge’s findings could be reviewed de novo I believe the better course is to remand to the trial court for reconsideration in light of Kropf. See Michigan National Bank v Windsor Twp, 76 Mich App 387; 256 NW2d 791 (1977). It is clear the trial court relied heavily upon, and felt constrained by, the Sabo case. I am unable to say what the judge would have done *567under the proper standards and believe the trial court should pass on plaintiffs claims before they are reviewed by this Court.
I would therefore remand for findings under the Kropf standard.