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New York Court of Appeals Finds Zoning Board Abused Its Discretion in Granting Use Variance

By Steven Silverberg and Katherine Zalantis

The New York Court of Appeals in In the Matter of Edward J. Vomero v City of New York, et al has unanimously held that the City of New York Board of Standards and Appeals abused its discretion in granting a use variance to use residentially-zoned property for commercial use. The Court reversed the decision of the Appellate Division, Second Department in which two justices had dissented, and reinstated the original judgment of the Supreme Court, Richmond County. Under the New York City zoning code, a use variance may be granted only if: 1) use of the property for permitted uses would impose practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship because of the unique physical conditions of the property, 2) the owner cannot realize a reasonable financial return from use of the property for permitted uses because of such unique physical conditions, 3) use of the property for non-permitted uses would not alter the essential character of the neighborhood, and 4) the owner did not create the practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship...continue to full post

Full post as published by New York Zoning and Municipal Law Blog on November 22, 2009 (boomark / email).