Opinion
2015-00175, Index No. 18701/10.
05-04-2016
In the Matter of Town of OYSTER BAY, respondent; BPJ Marine Corporation, doing business as Gus Marine, appellant.
Robert G. Litt, Rockville Centre, N.Y. (Joseph Aufenanger of counsel), for appellant. Leonard Genova, Town Attorney, Oyster Bay, N.Y. (Karen J. Underwood of counsel), for respondent.
Robert G. Litt, Rockville Centre, N.Y. (Joseph Aufenanger of counsel), for appellant.
Leonard Genova, Town Attorney, Oyster Bay, N.Y. (Karen J. Underwood of counsel), for respondent.
REINALDO E. RIVERA, J.P., MARK C. DILLON, RUTH C. BALKIN, and JEFFREY A. COHEN, JJ.
In a condemnation proceeding, the claimant appeals from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Adams, J.), dated April 25, 2014, which, upon a decision of the same court dated December 3, 2013, made after a nonjury trial, adjudged that the claimant would be awarded no additional compensation beyond that already paid by the petitioner as compensation for the taking of the subject property.
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed, with costs.
The measure of damages in a condemnation case “must reflect the fair market value of the property in its highest and best use on the date of the taking, regardless of whether the property is being put to such use at the time” (Chemical Corp. v. Town of E. Hampton, 298 A.D.2d 419, 420, 748 N.Y.S.2d 606 ; see Chester Indus. Park Assoc., LLP v. State of New York, 65 A.D.3d 513, 884 N.Y.S.2d 243 ). “In determining an award to an owner of condemned property, the findings must either be within the range of the expert testimony or be supported by other evidence and adequately explained by the court” (Matter of City of New York [Reiss], 55 N.Y.2d 885, 886, 449 N.Y.S.2d 18, 433 N.E.2d 1266 ; see Matter of Metropolitan Transp. Auth. [Washed Aggregate Resources, Inc.], 102 A.D.3d 787, 790, 958 N.Y.S.2d 405 ).
Here, the appellant contends that the Supreme Court erred in valuing the subject property based upon its continued use as a marina, rather than its value for residential townhouse development. The record shows that a zoning change and area variances would be required for the subject property to be used for residential townhouse development (see Code of the Town of Oyster Bay [hereinafter the Town Code] § 246–5.2). “Generally, upon condemnation, property value should be calculated with due consideration paid to the applicable restrictions upon use” of the property (Basile v. Town of Southampton, 89 N.Y.2d 974, 976, 655 N.Y.S.2d 877, 678 N.E.2d 489 ). When there is a reasonable probability of rezoning, some adjustment must be made to the value of the property to reflect that fact (see id. at 976, 655 N.Y.S.2d 877, 678 N.E.2d 489 ; Matter of City of Yonkers v. Celwyn Co., 221 A.D.2d 437, 438, 633 N.Y.S.2d 578 ; see also Matter of New Cr. Bluebelt, Phase 4, 122 A.D.3d 859, 861–863, 997 N.Y.S.2d 447 ). The property is located in a General Business zoning district, and a 2005 change to the Town Code expressly prohibits the construction of townhouses in General Business districts (see Town Code § 246–5.2). Even if the zoning were to be changed to permit the construction of townhouses, the proposed use of the property would require substantial area variances (see Town Code § 246–5.3). Under these circumstances, the record does not show that there is a reasonable probability that a zoning change and area variances would be granted to allow the use of the property for residential townhouse development (see Matter of Affordable Homes of Long Is., LLC v. Monteverde, 128 A.D.3d 1060, 1062, 10 N.Y.S.3d 283 ; Matter of Allstate Props., LLC v. Board of Zoning Appeals of Vil. of Hempstead, 49 A.D.3d 636, 637, 856 N.Y.S.2d 130 ; cf. Matter of City of Yonkers v. Celwyn Co., 221 A.D.2d at 438, 633 N.Y.S.2d 578 ).
Further, contrary to the appellant's contention, the record does not show that a provision of the Town Code authorizing conversion from one nonconforming use of property to another nonconforming use, under certain circumstances, is applicable here (see Town Code § 246–4.2.5).
We also note that the appellant does not assert that the compensation for the property should have been based on any use other than residential townhouse development.
Further, as the Supreme Court properly found, the Town presented credible evidence as to the value of the property based on its continued use as a marina, and the appellant presented no evidence showing that such valuation was unreasonable. Therefore, the court did not err in finding that the appellant was entitled to no additional compensation beyond the valuation set by the Town (see Matter of Metropolitan Transp. Auth. [Washed Aggregate Resources, Inc.], 102 A.D.3d at 791–792, 958 N.Y.S.2d 405 ; Matter of Board of Commr. of Great Neck Park Dist. of Town of N. Hempstead v. Kings Point Hgts., LLC, 74 A.D.3d 804, 806, 903 N.Y.S.2d 451 ).