Board of Adjustments of City of Richmond v. Flood

• Decision Date: 21 November 1978
• Citation: 581 S.W.2d 1
• Parties: BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS OF the CITY OF RICHMOND, Kentucky, et al., Movants, v. Charles Bracelen FLOOD et al., Respondents.
• Court: United States State Supreme Court — District of Kentucky

Page 1

581 S.W.2d 1

BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS OF the CITY OF RICHMOND, Kentucky, et al., Movants, v. Charles Bracelen FLOOD et al., Respondents.

Supreme Court of Kentucky.

Nov. 21, 1978.

Rehearing Denied June 12, 1979.

Foster Ockerman, Martin, Ockerman & Brabant, Lexington, John D. Sword, Sword & Floyd, Richmond, for movants.

John F. Lackey, Lackey & Lackey, Richmond, for respondents.

LUKOWSKY, Justice.

The issue presented for decision is whether the circuit court has jurisdiction of an appeal from a final action of the board of adjustments if the planning commission was not made a party to the appeal within thirty days of the final action. We answer the question in the negative.

Exxon and Cracker Barrel filed an application before the Board of Adjustments of the City of Richmond seeking a height variance for a sign. The application was heard by the Board on June 17, 1976. The application was granted and the Floods and the Burnams appealed to the Madison Circuit Court on July 14, 1976 naming as appellees the Board, Exxon and Cracker Barrel. On July 30, 1976, Exxon and Cracker Barrel filed a motion to dismiss the appeal to the circuit court asserting the failure to include the Richmond, Kentucky, Planning and Zoning Commission as a party.

On August 24, 1976, sixty-eight days after the final action of the Board on June 17, the Floods and the Burnams joined the Commission as a party and had summons issued for it. The Madison Circuit Court held that the failure to make the Commission a party within thirty days was a fatal jurisdictional fault and dismissed the appeal. The Court of Appeals reversed with one member of the panel dissenting.

There is no appeal to the courts from an action of an administrative agency as a matter of right. When grace to appeal is granted by statute, a strict compliance with its terms is required. Where the conditions for the exercise of power by a court are not met, the judicial power is not lawfully invoked. That is to say, that the court lacks jurisdiction or has no right to decide the controversy. Kentucky Utilities Co. v. Farmers Rural Electric Corporative Cooperation, Ky., 361 S.W.2d 300 (1962); Roberts v. Watts, Ky., 258 S.W.2d 513 (1953).

KRS 100.347 provides:

"(1) Any person or entity claiming to be Injured or aggrieved by any Final action of the planning commission or Board of adjustments may appeal From the action to the circuit court of the county in which the land lies. Such appeal shall be taken Within thirty (30) days after the final action of the commission or board. Final action shall not include commission's recommendations made to other governmental bodies.

(2) All appeals shall be taken in the appropriate circuit court Within thirty (30) days after the action or decision of the planning commission or board of adjustments and All decisions which have not been appealed within thirty (30) days shall become final. After the appeal is taken the procedure shall be governed by the Rules of Civil Procedure. When an appeal has been filed, the clerk of the circuit court shall issue a summons to All parties, including the planning commission in all cases, and shall cause it to be delivered for service as in any other law action." (Emphasis added)

It is as plain as a billboard that the legislature has granted to persons aggrieved by the final action of the board of adjustments the grace of appeal to the circuit court provided they perfect that appeal by filing it in the circuit court...