Petition
for Writ of Certiorari to Review Quasi-Judicial Action, Agencies, Boards,
and Commissions of Local Government: ZONING – variances -
Competent, substantial evidence supported the Board’s decision to deny
the granting of five variances – Proposal to tear down
the existing structures and replace them with a new “less nonconforming” structure
that did not meet zoning requirements - Degree of nonconformity of current
structure irrelevant to the decision to grant or deny the variances where
structure was to be demolished. - Written findings of fact are not required
of an administrative board or agency making quasi-judicial decisions so long
as it can be shown that there was competent substantial
evidence presented to the board to support its ruling. Petition denied.
Saxon v. City of
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT
OF THE SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
OF THE STATE OF
APPELLATE DIVISION
THOMAS W. and CINDY G. SAXON,
Petitioners,
v.
THE CITY OF
A FLORIDA MUNICIPAL CORP., et al,
Respondents.
_______________________________________/
ORDER DENYING PETITION FOR WRIT OF
CERTIORARI
THIS MATTER
is before the Court on a Petition for Writ of Certiorari, pursuant to Fla.
R. App. P. 9.190(b)(3) and 9.100(b), (c) after the Board of Adjustment of the
City of Madeira Beach denied Petitioners’ request for a zoning variance.
The property in question measures 40 x 115 feet, currently contains
two buildings that house a total of three rentals and is located in a R-2
zoning classification to which it does not conform. Petitioners, who are the
owners of the subject property, are seeking to demolish the existing buildings
and replace them with one building that would house two rental units. The
new building, according to the Petitioners, would be “less non-conforming”
than the existing buildings. Specifically, for the Petitioners to follow through
on their plans, they need variances from the Madeira Beach Land Development
Regulations in the following areas: (1) minimum building site area necessary
to construct a duplex; (2) side yard setbacks; (3) rear yard setbacks; (4)
maximum lot coverage; and (5) impervious surface ratio.
On January 7, 2002, the Petitioners’ request for the zoning variances
was summarized before the Madeira Beach Board of Adjustment by the Acting
Building Official; it was noted that no correspondence had been received after
public notice; and Petitioners were granted an opportunity to state their
case. After several questions between Board members and Petitioner Thomas
W. Saxon, and having received no questions from the public, the Board deliberated,
and denied a motion to grant the variances by a vote of 3 to 2. The Board
did not make any findings of fact, but sent a letter, dated February 1, 2002,
to the Petitioners stating simply that their application for a variance had
been denied as of January 7, 2002. The Petitioners have timely invoked the
jurisdiction of this Court by filing a Petition for Writ of Certiorari to
review the decision of the Board of Adjustment.
Review of the quasi-judicial decision of the Madeira Beach Board of
Adjustment is procedurally governed by Fla. R. App. P. 9.190(b)(3),
(c)(4), and 9.030(c)(3) and is limited to a review of (1) whether procedural
due process was accorded; (2) whether the essential requirements of the law
were observed; and (3) whether the administrative findings and judgment were
supported by competent, substantial evidence. Acting in its appellate capacity,
the Circuit Court has no jurisdiction, in certiorari, to make factual findings
or to enter a judgment on the merits of the underlying controversy.
See Evergreen Tree Treasurers of Charlotte County, Inc. v. Charlotte County
Board of County Commissioners, 810 So.2d 526 (Fla. 2d DCA 2002).
The Madeira Beach Board of Adjustment authorizes variances from the
terms of the city land development regulations as not being contrary to the
public interest where, owing to special conditions, a literal enforcement
of the provisions of the land development regulations will result in unnecessary
and undue hardship.
1.
Special conditions and circumstances exist which are peculiar to the
land, structure, or building involved and which are not applicable to other
lands, structures, or buildings in the same zoning district.
2.
Special conditions and circumstances do not result from the action of
the applicant.
3.
Granting the variance will not confer on the applicant any special privilege
that is denied to other lands, buildings, or structures in the same zoning
district.
4.
Literal interpretation would deprive the applicant of rights commonly
enjoyed by other properties in the same zoning district under the terms of
this ordinance and would put unnecessary and undue hardship on the applicant.
5.
The variance granted is a minimum variance that will make possible reasonable
use of the land, and
6.
The granting of the variance would be in harmony with the general intent
and purpose of the City Land Development Regulations, in that such variances
will not be injurious to the area involved or otherwise detrimental to the
public welfare.
Petitioners’ major argument before the Board and in their Petition
is simply that they met their burden of proof and complied with the §2-107
criteria by submitting plans for new structures that “reduced” the existing
nonconformance of the property and that generally improve the neighborhood.
Petitioners apparently have interpreted Ordinance 110-93(3)(a)
which states “Structural changes which decrease the degree of nonconformity
shall be permitted.” as applicable to their proposal to tear down the existing
structures and replace them with a new “less nonconforming” structure.
Since
the Board did not make detailed findings of fact, the Court must review the
record to determine if competent substantial evidence supports the Board’s
decision to deny the variances.
Also, the five variances requested in order to build the new structure do not appear to be the minimum variance that could be requested to make reasonable use of the land. Although the granting of the variances might be in harmony with the general intent and purpose of the City Land Development Regulations, in that such variance would not be injurious to the area involved or otherwise detrimental to the public welfare, this Court finds that competent, substantial evidence supports the Board’s decision to deny the granting of the five variances.
Petitioners also argue that the Board’s failure to set forth detailed
findings of fact constitutes a departure from the essential requirements of
the law. Written findings of fact are not required of an administrative board
or agency making quasi-judicial decisions so long as it can be shown that
there was competent substantial evidence presented to the board to support
its ruling. See Broward County v. G.B.V. International
LTD, 787 So.2d 838 (
Finally, a review of the transcript of the proceeding reveals that
procedural due process was accorded Petitioners and that there was no indication
that undue bias influenced the decision. It is therefore
ORDERED that the above-styled Petition for
Certiorari is denied.
DONE AND ORDERED
in Chambers, at
NANCY MOATE LEY
cc:
Thomas W. and Cindy G. Saxon,
Thomas
J. Trask, Esq., Frazer, Hubbard,