City of Keene v. Parenteau

• Court: New Hampshire Supreme Court
• Writing for the Court: LAMPRON
• Citation: City of Keene v. Parenteau, 112 A.2d 667, 99 N.H. 415 (N.H. 1955)
• Decision Date: 25 March 1955
• Parties: CITY OF KEENE v. Antoinette PARENTEAU. Antoinette PARENTEAU v. CITY OF KEENE et al.

Page 667

112 A.2d 667

99 N.H. 415

CITY OF KEENE v. Antoinette PARENTEAU.

Antoinette PARENTEAU v. CITY OF KEENE et al.

Supreme Court of New Hampshire.

Argued March 1, 1955.

Decided March 25, 1955.

Edward J. O'Brien and William H. Kennedy, City Sol., Keene, for City of Keene.

Olson & Olson, Arthur Olson, Keene, orally, for Antoinette and Elphege Parenteau.

Howard B. Lane, Keene, for Rudolph L. Piche, intervenor, furnished no brief.

LAMPRON, Justice.

The main issue in this case is whether the city council acted unreasonably or arbitrarily in denying the amendment to the zoning ordinance sought by Antoinette Parenteau. Brady v. Keene, 90 N.H. 99, 101, 4 A.2d 658.

Upon the hearing before the Court she had the burden of proving that the decision of the city council was unreasonable or unlawful and all findings of the council 'upon all questions of fact properly before it shall be deemed prima facie lawful and reasonable; and the order or decision appealed from shall not be set aside or vacated, except for errors of law, unless the court is persuaded by the balance of probabilities, on the evidence before it, that said order or decision is unjust or unreasonable.' R.L. c. 51, § 65-c, as added by Laws 1949, c. 278; Gelinas v. Portsmouth, 97 N.H. 248, 249, 85 A.2d 896; Carrick v. Langtry, 99 N.H. 251, 253, 108 A.2d 546. We are of the opinion that the Court's findings and rulings and its decree dismissing the appeal are warranted.

There was no evidence that the existing classification of this district as a single residence zone was not a proper exercise of the authority granted by R.L. c. 51, §§ 50-52; Stone v. Cray, 89 N.H. 483, 200 A. 517; Kimball v. Blanchard, 90 N.H. 298, 7 A.2d 394. There was evidence that Antoinette conducted another store nearby from 1935 to 1949 and this one since then and that it would be a financial hardship on her if she was not permitted to continue so doing. Also that it was convenient for some of the people in the neighborhood to have such a store maintained. The evidence also showed that the present store was different in character from the previous one, being more of a general or variety store than a dress shop as the first store originated. It was also testified that traffic conditions in the neighborhood were affected by its maintenance and that papers and cartons from purchases made therein were blown on neighboring lawns and that children cross an adjoining lawn to reach the store. There was testimony that the...