Township of White Lake v. Amos

371 Mich. 693 (1963)

124 N.W.2d 803

TOWNSHIP OF WHITE LAKE v. AMOS. SAME v. RACEWAYS, INC.

Calendar Nos. 71, 72, Docket Nos. 49,444, 49,445.

Supreme Court of Michigan.

Decided December 2, 1963.

Paul M. Mandel, for plaintiff.

Milton M. Maddin, for intervening plaintiff.

Smith & Pratt (Clarence L. Smith, of counsel), for defendants.

SMITH, J.

Plaintiff commenced suit in 2 separate actions to enjoin defendants from proceeding with *696 preparations for the operation of a drag[*] strip. It is undisputed that the operation of the proposed drag strip would be violative of the provisions of a township zoning ordinance which became effective April 14, 1955. Twin Lakes Improvement Association, a group of property owners in the vicinity of the site in question, was allowed to intervene as party plaintiff in each action. Defendant Pontiac Speedway was subsequently dismissed as a party to the litigation. The 2 cases were consolidated for trial and a decree entered permanently enjoining defendants from further preparing to operate or operating the proposed drag strip and from using subject property in any manner inconsistent with the township zoning ordinance. From such decree, defendants appeal.

The present litigation involves 3 adjoining parcels of land located in the township of White Lake, Oakland county, Michigan, hereafter referred to as A, B, and C. Parcel A, consisting of approximately 16 acres, was acquired by defendant Amos in 1952 and converted into an auto race track. At the time of acquisition, the property was zoned for commercial purposes and presently retains such classification. Parcel B is contiguous to parcel A to the north, and consists of approximately 9 acres; under the present ordinance it is zoned for "suburban farm" purposes. Parcel C is a tract consisting of approximately 15 acres, and adjoins parcel B on the north: it is zoned for "suburban farm" purposes. The area to the north of parcel C is residential in character as is the property to the south of parcel A. In the area to the south of parcel A a redevelopment project has taken place and there presently exists in such subdivision approximately 25 homes, with values ranging between $20,000 and $35,000. Between this *697 subdivision and the subject 3 tracts there exists a commercial area which includes a small manufacturing plant. Approximately 200 feet to the east of parcel C is a swampy area including a small private dump. To the east of parcels A and B is a farming area on which is located a small gravel pit. The area west of parcels A, B, and C consists of wooded picnic grounds and a trailer park.

Defendants acquired parcels B and C in June, 1959, and commenced to convert the race track into a drag strip covering all 3 parcels of land in question. The record further discloses that approximately $63,000 has been expended on this project. Evidence was introduced at trial which tended to show the undesirability of establishing homes on parcels B or C, such evidence indicating that the proximity of the area to the auto racing on parcel A would make this undesirable. Defendants contend that the "suburban farm" classification implied residential use only and thus contend the ordinance is unreasonable as to the 2 parcels in question. The trial court held:

"The ordinance clearly permits use and uses of said parcels B and C, other than for residential purposes and clearly permits other uses to be made of suburban farm areas not as accessory to residential use."

A reading of the applicable portion of the ordinance tends to support this finding. Article 7 of the aforementioned zoning ordinance provides in part:

"The provisions of this article shall be applicable to suburban farms district, and, except as otherwise provided in this ordinance, no building or land shall be erected or used in said district except for 1 or more of the following specified uses.

"(a) Uses set forth and described in section 6.1 hereof. [Relates to residential uses.]

*698 "(b) Nurseries, small greenhouses and truck gardening.

"(c) Raising and keeping of fowl and/or rabbits for commercial purposes, and keeping of [sic] personal use of domestic animals or other livestock, provided they are properly housed and fenced so as not to become nuisance [sic]."

The evidence fails to show that parcels B and C could not be beneficially used under "suburban farm" classification. Although the testimony of witnesses indicated the undesirability of using such tracts for residential purposes only, there was no evidence that subject property could not be advantageously used as permitted by the ordinance for purposes other than residential. Mere diminution of value is not confiscation. There will always exist a disparity in values between residential and commercial uses. Brae Burn, Inc., v. City of Bloomfield Hills, 350 Mich 425, 433. The zoning ordinance is presumed to be valid and the burden is upon the party attacking to prove the ordinance an arbitrary and unreasonable restriction upon the owner's use of his property. Janesick v. City of Detroit, 337 Mich 549. We agree with the lower court, for reasons cited above, that defendants failed to meet this burden.

Appellants further contend that plaintiffs by their actions became estopped from prosecuting this action for injunction. The injunction suit was instituted under authority of the 5-member township board. It is alleged that subsequent to the commencement of suit defendant Amos was assured by 3 members of the board that the suit would be dismissed. It is further alleged that in reliance upon such assurances defendants proceeded with construction, expending an additional $5,000 before being notified that the suit would not be dismissed. In Fass v. City of Highland Park, 326 Mich 19, 30, this Court quoted with approval from Magruder v. City *699 of Redwood, 203 Cal 665 (265 P 806), wherein the California court held (p 675):

"An ordinance of a municipality when once legally adopted becomes binding upon all the citizens thereof, officers as well as private citizens, and it is the sworn duty of those officers, charged with its enforcement, to prosecute all violations thereof. This duty is not a personal duty that can be waived at their will, nor can they be estopped by any action of theirs from the faithful performance of the same."

For the reasons expressed therein, we hold that the claim of estoppel will not lie.

Defendants further contend that a nonconforming use existed with respect to the southernmost 50 feet of parcel B. The record discloses that a portion of parcel B was used as a pit area in conjunction with the operation of the race track on parcel A. The record further shows that such area was used by race drivers to park their cars prior to being called up for the race. The only improvements to the area consisted of a small amount of grading and the installation of a single light pole. The trial court held:

"The testimony relative to the extent of the use of the claimed nonconforming use and the testimony relating to the area covered, if any, at the time of the enactment of the zoning ordinance is so meager that the court is unable to say that a nonconforming use under the law applicable existed."

The lawful use of property existing at the time of enactment of a zoning ordinance may be continued with the provisions of such ordinance. (CL 1948, § 125.286 [Stat Ann 1958 Rev § 5.2963 (16)]). The undisputed testimony of defendant Amos was that the southernmost 50 feet of parcel B was essential to the operation of the race track, and that such area was used continuously, during the racing season only, until issuance of the injunction precluding such *700 use. This Court has held that where an occupational use is seasonal there remains effective use during periods of inactivity between seasons. Adams v. Kalamazoo Ice & Fuel Co., 245 Mich 261.

The appeal being from an equity decree it is heard in this Court on the record de novo. Although great weight is to be given to the findings of fact of the trial judge (Hartka v. Hartka, 346 Mich 453), a review of the record presently before us indicates the trial court erred in finding insufficient evidence to support the existence of a nonconforming use.

The decree of the lower court shall be modified to include recognition of the nonconforming use, otherwise affirmed. No costs, parties not having succeeded fully.

CARR, C.J., and DETHMERS, KELLY, KAVANAGH, SOURIS, and O'HARA, JJ., concurred with SMITH, J.

BLACK, J., concurred in result.

[*] Drag. An acceleration contest between automobiles. Webster, New International Dictionary (2d ed), Addenda, p cvii. REPORTER.