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Taggart Taggart Seed Co. v. City of Augusta

Supreme Court of Arkansas
Mar 14, 1983
647 S.W.2d 458 (Ark. 1983)

Summary

In Taggart Taggart Seed Co., Inc. v. City of Augusta, 278 Ark. 570, 647 S.W.2d 458 (1983), however, we reaffirmed our principle that those things which are of the essence of the thing to be done are mandatory, while those not of the essence of the thing to be done are directory only. 278 Ark. at 574, 647 S.W.2d at 459 (1983) (citing Edwards v. Hall, 30 Ark. 31 (1875)).

Summary of this case from McElroy v. Grisham

Opinion

No. 82-227

Opinion delivered March 14, 1983

1. COURTS — APPELLATE JURISDICTION IN CASE INVOLVING INTERPRETATION OF MUNICIPAL ORDINANCE IN SUPREME COURT. — Appellate jurisdiction is in the Supreme Court where the case involves the interpretation of a municipal ordinance. [Rule 29 (1) (c), Rules of the Arkansas Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, Ark. Stat. Ann., Vol. 3A (Repl. 1979).] 2. APPEAL ERROR — APPELLATE COURT WILL NOT PERFORM RESEARCH FOR APPELLANT — EXCEPTION. — The appellate court will not perform research for an appellant unless it is apparent from the argument that the point is well taken. 3. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS — NO INHERENT AUTHORITY TO ENACT LEGISLATION — AUTHORITY DERIVED FORM CONSTITUTION OR STATUTES OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY. — Cities do not have the inherent authority to enact legislation; the validity of city ordinances depends on authority granted either by the Constitution or the General Assembly. 4. PROPERTY — RIGHTS OF LANDOWNER AT COMMON LAW TO DETERMINE USE OF PROPERTY — STATUTORY RIGHT TO LIMIT USE BY ENACTING ZONING ORDINANCES. — At common law, the property rights of the landowner included the right to occupy his land as he saw fit; in Arkansas, the enabling authority for limiting that right by zoning is statutory. [Act 186, Ark. Acts of 1957, as amended, Ark. Stat. Ann. Title 19, Chapter 28 (Repl. 1980).] 5. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS — ADOPTION OF ZONING ORDINANCES REQUIRING COMPLETE REVIEW BY PLANNING COMMISSION BEFORE BOUNDARIES CAN BE ALTERED — FAILURE OF CITY TO ADOPT ALTERNATIVE METHOD REQUIRING VOTE OF CITY COUNCIL ONLY. — Although Act 186 of 1957, the enabling legislation which in general regulates zoning powers and which required a complete review by a planning commission before the legislative body of the city took action to alter boundaries, was amended in 1959 to authorize a procedure to amend boundaries simply by a vote of the city council, the 1959 amendment merely provided an alternative method for altering zoning boundaries, if enacted by cities, and it does not conflict with the enabling statute authorizing the more extensive planning procedure. Held: Where the city failed to adopt the alternative method for changing zoning boundaries by vote of the city council, its original zoning ordinance providing for extensive planning procedure is still in effect and must be complied with when changing zoning boundaries. 6. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS — ZONING STATUTES — PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENT OF ENABLING STATUTE MANDATORY. — A failure to substantially comply with a procedural requirement of the enabling statute renders a zoning ordinance invalid; and when referral to a planning commission is statutorily required, the requirement is mandatory. 7. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS — ZONING ORDINANCES — NECESSITY TO COMPLY WITH MANDATORY PROCEDURAL RULES OF MUNICIPAL ORDINANCES. — A city is required to comply with the mandatory procedural rules of its own municipal ordinances. 8. WORDS PHRASES — MANDATORY — DIRECTORY. — The Arkansas Supreme Court has adopted the principle that those things which are of the essence of the thing to be done are mandatory, while those not of the essence of the thing to be done are directory only. 9. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS — ZONING ORDINANCE — FAILURE OF CITY TO FOLLOW MANDATORY PROCEDURE IN ATTEMPT TO CHANGE ZONING BOUNDARIES — ORDINANCE INVALID. — The zoning ordinance adopted by the City of Augusta does not provide for the alternative method of amendment of bound by a vote of the city council, but, instead, provides for amendment only through the complete planning procedure; therefore, the attempt by the city to change zoning boundary lines by vote of the city council without first complying with the mandatory procedural requirements of the comprehensive zoning ordinance which the city had adopted is invalid.

Appeal from Woodruff Chancery Court; Harvey L. Yates, Chancellor; reversed.

Jim Petty and Joe Peacock, for appellant.

John D. Eldridge, III, for appellees.


In 1963 the City Council of Augusta passed a comprehensive zoning ordinance. It provides that before the city council may act upon a proposed change in the boundary of a zoned area the matter must be submitted to the city planning commission. In 1982 the city council, by ordinance, extended the boundary of a zoned area even though the proposed change was never submitted to the planning commission. The boundary changes resulted in a zoning classification which prevented completion of a metal grain storage facility on appellant's property. Appellant filed suit in chancery court seeking to enjoin the city from enforcing the 1982 ordinance. While many issues are argued, the pivotal one is whether the city council may disregard the procedural requirements of its zoning ordinance and change a boundary without any preliminary action before the planning commission. The resolution of the issue turns on whether the procedural requirements of the comprehensive zoning ordinance are mandatory or discretionary. Jurisdiction is in this Court as the case involves the interpretation of a municipal ordinance. Rule 29 (1) (c). The chancellor upheld the 1982 ordinance amending the boundary. We reverse since the city did not substantially comply with the mandatory procedural provisions of the comprehensive zoning ordinance of 1963.

Before deciding this case we were faced with a difficult appellate procedural problem. While appellant makes a two and one-quarter page argument on the pivotal issue it does not give one citation of authority. In effect, we have been asked to research the law for appellant. In contrast, the appellee city has submitted an excellent brief.

In Dixon v. State, 260 Ark. 857, 545 S.W.2d 606 (1977) we stated that we will not perform research for an appellant unless it is apparent from the argument that the point is well taken. Here, it is clear that the appellees did not follow the procedure set out in its ordinance. After deliberation we have decided that justice requires our consideration of the issue.

Cities do not have the inherent authority to enact legislation. The validity of city ordinances depends on authority granted either by the Constitution or the General Assembly. City of Little Rock v. Raines, 241 Ark. 1071, 411 S.W.2d 486 (1967). In addition, at common law the property rights of the landowner included the right to occupy his land as he saw fit. In Arkansas the enabling authority for limiting that right by zoning is statutory. Ark. Stat. Ann. Title 19, Chapter 28 (Repl. 1980). The enabling legislation which in general regulates exercise of zoning powers today is Act 186 of 1957. Wright, Zoning Law in Arkansas: A Comparative Analysis, 3 U. Ark. Little Rock L. J. 421 (1980). The 1957 Act, before a later amendment, required a complete review by a planning commission before the legislative body of the city took action to alter boundaries. There were no exceptions. However, the enabling legislation was amended in 1959 to authorize an alternative procedure to amend boundaries simply "by a vote of the city council." Ark. Stat. Ann. 19-2830 (b) (Repl. 1980). It was after this 1959 alternative procedure had been statutorily authorized that Augusta, in 1963, adopted its comprehensive zoning ordinance. The ordinance adopted does not provide for the alternative method of amendment of boundaries, but, instead, provides for amendment only through the complete planning procedure. That choice of procedures does not conflict with the enabling statute for it simply continues to authorize the more extensive planning procedure.

The doctrine of implied repeal applies to ordinances as well as statutes. Helena v. Russwurm, 188 Ark. 968, 68 S.W.2d 1009 (1934). However, the 1982 ordinance is not repugnant to the 1963 original zoning ordinance as the 1982 ordinance does not mention the failure to properly administer the proposed zoning boundary change. Likewise, the 1982 ordinance does not contain any language indicating an attempt to repeal, expressly or by implication, the administrative procedure set out in the original zoning ordinance. Thus, the original zoning ordinance providing for the extensive planning procedure is still in effect.

We have held that a failure to substantially comply with a procedural requirement of the enabling statute renders a zoning ordinance invalid. Searcy v. Roberson, 224 Ark. 344, 273 S.W.2d 26 (1954). Where referral to a planning commission was statutorily required, we held the requirement to be mandatory. City of Corning v. Watson, 252 Ark. 1277, 482 S.W.2d 797 (1972).

A city is required to comply with the mandatory procedural rules of its own municipal ordinances. Welch v. Niagara Falls, 210 App. Div. 170, 205 NYS 454 (1924); Pima County v. Clapp, 23 Ariz. App. 86, 530 P.2d 1119 (1975); see 1 R. Anderson, American Law of Zoning, 4.03 4.04 (2d ed. 1976). To hold otherwise would encourage the arbitrary use of power which could result in discrimination in administration.

The issue then becomes whether the procedural requirements of the 1963 comprehensive zoning ordinance are mandatory or directory. The same principles for determining whether statutory provisions are mandatory or directory have been applied to determine the mandatory or directory import of city ordinances. 2A C.D. Sands Sutherland Statutory Construction 57.13 (1973). In Edwards v. Hall, 30 Ark. 31, 37 (1875), we first adopted our principle that those things which are of the essence of the thing to be done are mandatory, while those not of the essence of the thing to be done are directory only.

Here, the essence of the comprehensive zoning ordinance is planning for the coordinated development of the municipality and its environs. In order to accomplish that objective the planning commission is to prepare plans for zoning, land use, streets and community facilities, make recommendations on development, prepare regulations, prepare ordinances for the city legislative body to pass to implement the plan, and generally to advise the city government. The ordinance was drafted so that the city legislative body could rely on the findings and recommendations of the planning commission. Upon adoption of the 1982 boundary change there was a total failure by the city to comply with the essence of the original zoning ordinance. Therefore, there was a failure to comply with the mandatory requirements of the comprehensive zoning ordinance where private property rights were involved. The attempt in 1982 to change the boundary without first complying with the mandatory procedural requirements of the comprehensive zoning ordinance was invalid.

Reversed.


Summaries of

Taggart Taggart Seed Co. v. City of Augusta

Supreme Court of Arkansas
Mar 14, 1983
647 S.W.2d 458 (Ark. 1983)

In Taggart Taggart Seed Co., Inc. v. City of Augusta, 278 Ark. 570, 647 S.W.2d 458 (1983), however, we reaffirmed our principle that those things which are of the essence of the thing to be done are mandatory, while those not of the essence of the thing to be done are directory only. 278 Ark. at 574, 647 S.W.2d at 459 (1983) (citing Edwards v. Hall, 30 Ark. 31 (1875)).

Summary of this case from McElroy v. Grisham

In Taggart Taggart Seed Co. v. City of Augusta, 278 Ark. 570, 647 S.W.2d 458 (1983), we struck down a city's attempt to bypass completely its planning commission in the face of its ordinance requiring that zoning matters be presented first to the planning commission and then to the board.

Summary of this case from Mings v. City of Fort Smith

In Taggart, the Court stated in essence that the referral requirement was designed to give the municipal governing body the benefit of the planning commission's expert advice and recommendations.

Summary of this case from Opinion No. 2009-194
Case details for

Taggart Taggart Seed Co. v. City of Augusta

Case Details

Full title:TAGGART TAGGART SEED COMPANY, INC. v. The CITY OF AUGUSTA, Arkansas et al

Court:Supreme Court of Arkansas

Date published: Mar 14, 1983

Citations

647 S.W.2d 458 (Ark. 1983)
647 S.W.2d 458

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