Harding v. County of Door, 88-2352
| Decision Date | 20 March 1989 |
| Docket Number | No. 88-2352,88-2352 |
| Citation | 870 F.2d 430 |
| Parties | John T. HARDING, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. COUNTY OF DOOR, Defendant-Appellee. |
| Court | U.S. Court of Appeals — Seventh Circuit |
Michael T. Hopkins, Milwaukee, Wis., for plaintiff-appellant.
John Koeppl, Dewitt Porter Huggett Schumacher & Morgan, S.C., Madison, Wis., for defendant-appellee.
Before WOOD, Jr., POSNER and FLAUM, Circuit Judges.
John Harding appeals from the district court's entry of summary judgment in favor of defendant Door County, Wisconsin. We affirm.
In 1983, plaintiff John Harding, decided to develop a tract of land he owned in Door County, Wisconsin. Harding's plan of development contemplated the construction of fourteen single family homes to be sold on a condominium time-share basis. Under this plan, a purchaser of a time slot would have exclusive possession of a particular home for one week during each season of the year. Thus, it was theoretically possible for thirteen different families to reside in a single home during the year.
In accordance with Wisconsin zoning provisions, Harding submitted his plans for the project to a zoning administrator. The zoning administrator determined that the plans complied with the terms of the relevant zoning ordinance and issued the permit. Construction on the first of the houses commenced soon afterwards.
After construction on the project was already underway, a neighboring landowner, concerned about the possibility of multiple tenants occupying a single home, petitioned the Door County Board of Adjustment ("Board") to overturn the administrator's decision. The Board conducted a public hearing on the issue and ultimately determined that single family time-share condominiums were not permitted under the relevant zoning ordinance. As a result, the Board revoked Harding's building permit.
Harding unsuccessfully appealed the Board's decision to the Circuit Court of Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Court of Appeals, however, eventually reversed the lower court and ordered the Board to reinstate the permit. By this time, however, Harding lacked the financial capability to complete the project.
After triumphing in the appellate court, Harding, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1983, filed suit against Door County in the district court alleging that the revocation of his building permit violated his substantive due process rights. The parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment and, in July 1988, the district court granted Door County's motion. Harding appeals from this decision.
Harding's principal argument on appeal is that the Board violated his substantive due process rights by revoking his building permit. A zoning decision denies substantive due process only if it is invidious or irrational. Coniston Corp. v. Village of Hoffman Estates, 844 F.2d 461 (7th Cir.1988). Therefore, Harding must demonstrate that the Board's decision revoking his building permit was invidious or irrational.
Plaintiff argues that the Board's zoning decision was irrational because it lacked authority under Wisconsin law to revoke a building permit once it determined that the building complied with the zoning ordinance's structure or use requirements. This court, however, rejected a similar argument in Coniston stating:
This case presents a garden-variety zoning dispute dressed up in the...
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