Petition for Writ of Certiorari to Review
Quasi-Judicial Action of Agencies, Boards and Commissions of Local Government: ZONING—Essential Requirements of the Law—Where
special exception is sought, petitioner bears only initial burden of showing it
meets statutory criteria, and then burden shifts to opposing party to
demonstrate that the special exception does not meet relevant standards—The
burden then shifted to the County to demonstrate by competent substantial
evidence that petitioner did not meet the criteria for approval, and, further,
that approval of the Application would be adverse to the public interest-county
did not meet its burden--petition for
writ granted. Patterson v.
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
OF THE STATE OF
APPELLATE DIVISION
TERRIE G. PATTERSON and
JULIE L. PATTERSON, his wife,
Petitioners,
vs. Case No: 51-2003-CA-003490-WS
Respondents.
____________________________/
ORDER GRANTING PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI
THIS CAUSE came before the Court on the Petition for Writ of Certiorari
and the Response. Upon consideration of
the same, the record, and being otherwise fully advised, the Court finds that
the Petition must be granted as set forth below.
The petitioners own a parcel of undeveloped land surrounded by a canal and single family residential dwelling units. The subject parcel is zoned R-4 which provides for duplexes only after a special exception is granted. The petitioners filed an Application for Special Exception requesting that a proposed duplex be approved for the subject parcel. The Pasco County Zoning Administrator, Debra Zampetti, recommended approval of the proposed special exception, subject to conditions. At the Pasco County Planning Commission public hearing on July 9, 2003, the Commission heard the requested special exception. The Commission disagreed with the Zoning Administrator's recommendation and considered the following standards of the Code unmet by the Petitioners:
1. The request is not consistent with the goals, objectives, and policies of an adopted Comprehensive Plan, element, or portions thereof.
2. The requested special exception will result in any substantially adverse economic, noise, glare, or odor effects on adjoining or surrounding properties.
3. The special exception use is not, or will not be, screened and buffered if necessary in order to prevent adverse effects upon adjoining or surrounding property.
The Petitioners appealed the denial to the Board of County Commissioners. At the appeal hearing before the Board on November 4, 2003, the Board denied the appeal, upholding the determination of the Commission to deny the special exception. On December 4, 2003, the petitioner's filed their Petition for Writ of Certiorari with this Court alleging that the County's determination was not supported by substantial competent evidence and was a departure from the essential requirements of law.
In
reviewing the record, the Court finds that petitioners met their initial burden
of showing that its Application met the statutory criteria for granting such
exceptions. Florida Power & Light Co. v. City of
The burden then shifted to the County to demonstrate by competent substantial evidence that petitioner did not meet the criteria for approval, and, further, that approval of the Application would be adverse to the public interest. Florida Power & Light Co., 761 So. 2d at 1091-92. The Court finds that the County did not meet its burden.
The
Court recognizes that the County heard opposition to the application as
expressed by neighbors of the subject property.
As evidence by the testimony of the neighbors, some concerns were
"too much coming in on the street"; "everything else there is
just . . . single family homes"; and "[duplexes] depreciate the value
of the whole area . . . " The neighbors submitted a petition stating
their objections to the proposed duplex.
Although citizen testimony in a zoning matter is perfectly permissible,
lay opinions, unsupported by competent facts, do not constitute competent
substantial evidence. See City of
Accordingly, the Court finds that the decision of the Board must be quashed and this cause remanded.[1]
ORDERED
AND ADJUDGED that the Petition for Writ of
Certiorari is GRANTED and the order
below QUASHED.
DONE
AND ORDERED in Chambers, at New Port Richey,
________________________
Copies furnished to:
Constantine Kalogianis, Esq.
W. Elizabeth Blair, Esq.
[1] When the
order under review is quashed on certiorari, it leaves the controversy pending
before the tribunal, commission, or administrative authority, as if no order or
judgment had been entered, and the parties stand upon the pleadings and proof
as it existed when the order was made with the rights of all parties to proceed
further as they may be advised to protect or obtain the enjoyment of their
rights under the law in the same manner and to the same extent which they might
have proceeded had the order reviewed not been entered.