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<br />Zoning Bulletin
<br />
<br />Nonconforming Use - Property owner seeks
<br />
<br />continued operation of mobile home park in
<br />
<br />commercial zone
<br />
<br />New permits denied after all but one home was removed
<br />
<br />Citation: Cook v. City of Columbiana, 2007 WL 80491 (Ala. Civ. App. 2007)
<br />ALABAMA (01/12/07) - In 1990, Cook purchased land in the city of Columbiana
<br />that had been being used as a mobile home park. After the city annexed the land,
<br />it passed an ordinance zoning the land commercial - a designation that prohibited
<br />the operation of a mobile home park. However, there was a grandfather clause that
<br />allo";ed Cook to continue to nul the park as a nonconforming use.
<br />The grandfather clause contained conditions under which the legal status of a non-
<br />conforming use would be terminated. Under the clause, a nonconforming use would
<br />cease to exist if the use: was changed to another nonconforming use; lapsed for longer
<br />than a year; was expanded; or was rebuilt after fire or damage exceeding its full value.
<br />By 2004, all but one of the mobile homes on Cook's property had been removed.
<br />Seeking to replace the homes, he requested building permits for the installation of ad-
<br />ditional sewer lines from the city's director of public works. His request was denied
<br />based on the ordinance; the city saw Cook's request as an expansion of the noncon-
<br />forming use.
<br />Cook sued the city, claiming that the city "iriolated his civil rights by barring him
<br />from using his property for a lawful nonconforming use. Cook argued that he was not ~
<br />expanding the use, but simply operating the grandfathered use la1Nful1y. The city asked )
<br />the court to :find in its favor without a trial.
<br />
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<br />Hcensed topractke l-av.. ifia partii:ular jilrisd~ction.., The publistier-~s not engaged in r_enderiflglegal
<br />.or other professioDal ad'JiCeandthis .pwbHcation is not a substitUte f-or ~e advice of an att-orney.
<br />If you (ecl'uire iega'I.of o-tlier eXpert advice, you should seek the services of a comp~tentattorney
<br />or other I?rofesslona1.
<br />toning Bulletin is published and copyrighted byTnomsonAlVest. 610 Opperman Drive, P.O. Box 54526
<br />5-t. ratl~ MN '55164-0526. For subscription infon:nation: car! (SOG) 229-2084, or write West, Credit
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