Dietrich v. District of Columbia Bd. of Zoning Adjust.

• Decision Date: 17 July 1972
• Docket Number: No. 6222.,6222.
• Citation: 293 A.2d 470
• Parties: Neil K. DIETRICH et al., On behalf of themselves and other residents of their neighborhood organized as Concerned Kalorama Citizens, Petitioners, v. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENT, Respondent. Patrick A. O'Boyle, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Washington, a corporation sole, Intervenor.
• Court: D.C. Court of Appeals

Page 470

293 A.2d 470

Neil K. DIETRICH et al., On behalf of themselves and other residents of their neighborhood organized as Concerned Kalorama Citizens, Petitioners, v. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENT, Respondent Patrick A. O'Boyle, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Washington, a corporation sole, Intervenor.

No. 6222.

District of Columbia Court of Appeals.

Argued May 9, 1972.

Decided July 17, 1972.

David G. Bress, Washington, D. C., with whom Thomas C. Green, Washington, D. C., was on the brief, for petitioners.

Leo N. Gorman, Asst. Corp. Counsel, with whom C. Francis Murphy, Corp. Counsel, and Richard W. Barton, Asst. Corp. Counsel, were on the brief, for respondent.

Nicholas D. Ward, Washington, D. C., with whom George E. Hamilton, III, Washington, D. C., was on the brief, for intervenor.

Before KELLY, FICKLING and NEBEKER, Associate Judges.

FICKLING, Associate Judge:

This is a petition for review of an order of the District of Columbia Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) granting the application of Archbishop Patrick A. O'Boyle, as a corporation sole, for a special exception to the Zoning Regulations to permit a change in the use of property located at 2200 California Street, N. W. We vacate the order of the BZA and remand the case because the BZA's findings are not supported by substantial evidence and because the BZA failed to give full reasons for its decision.

In 1961 the BZA granted a special exception to the Archbishop to use the premises as a "seminary for the education of young men for the priesthood" for a maximum of 120 students.¹ This use continued until 1971 when the Archbishop decided to cease the use as a preparatory seminary and to relocate Mackin School, a regular private boys' high school, in the building. In order to effectuate this change, the Archbishop applied to the BZA for permission to change the use of the property from a private seminary for the education of young men for the priesthood to a high school for 350 students. The BZA conducted a public hearing on the application in October 1971,² at which there was substantial neighborhood opposition to the application. On November 15, 1971, the BZA, in a 4-to-1 decision, conditionally granted the application for a period of three years, limiting enrollment to 300 students.

The property in question is located in an area zoned R-5-B (predominant use — medium density apartment house). The Zoning Regulations permit a private school in such an area only under the following conditions: (1) "where in the judgment of the Board [BZA] such special exceptions will be in harmony with the general purpose³ and intent of the zoning regulations and maps" (Zoning Regs. § 8207.2); (2) the exception "will not tend to affect adversely the use of neighboring property in accordance with said zoning regulations and maps" (Zoning Regs. § 8207.2); (3) the school "is so located that it is not likely to become objectionable to adjoining and nearby property because of noise, traffic, number of students, or otherwise objectionable conditions" (Zoning Regs. § 3101.42(a)) ; and (4) ample parking space is provided to accommodate the students, teachers, and visitors (Zoning Regs. § 3101.42(b)). The majority of the BZA concluded that all of these conditions had been met and therefore granted the exception. The questions before us are whether the BZA's findings support that conclusion and whether there are full reasons to support the BZA's findings.

There is no dispute that the proceeding in the case at bar was a "contested case" within the meaning of the District of Columbia Administrative Procedure Act (APA). D.C.Code 1967, § 1-1509 (Supp. V, 1972). This statute requires:

Every decision and order adverse to a party to the case, rendered by . . . an agency in a contested case, shall be in writing and shall be accompanied by findings of fact and conclusions of law. The findings of fact shall consist of a concise statement of the conclusions upon each contested issue of fact. Findings of fact and conclusions of law shall be supported by and in accordance with the reliable, probative, and substantial evidence. . . . [D.C.Code 1967, § 1-1509(e) (Supp. V, 1972) (emphasis added).]

Petitioner argues, and we agree, that the BZA failed to make express findings of fact on several disputed issues of fact.

As noted above, one of the conditions for the grant of a special exception is that the school "is not likely to become objectionable to adjoining and nearby property because of . . . otherwise objectionable conditions." The BZA found that there was "massive neighborhood opposition" to granting the exception. Three objections, upon which the BZA made no express findings, were raised by the neighbors. These were: (1) an adverse effect on neighboring property values because of the school; (2) a loss of the use of a neighborhood public park (Mitchell Park) to the school's students; and (3) the inadequacy of the site for use as a boys' high school. Similarly, no express finding was made on the neighbors' claim that their property would be adversely affected, not only in a loss of property value but also in a general deterioration of the neighborhood caused by the influx of students indulging in vandalism, drug use, and other objectionable actions.

The BZA and the intervenor argue that we can infer findings on these objections from the findings that the BZA did make. We have consistently rejected such arguments in the past and we will continue to reject them. See Brewington v. District of Columbia Board of Appeals & Review, D.C.App., 287 A.2d 532, 534 (1972), and cases cited therein.

When Congress requires a finding, its instruction is not to be ignored or given only lip service. The need for articulation of findings requires the decision-making body to focus on the value to be served by its decision and to express the considerations which must be the bases of decision. . . . (Footnote omitted.) [Joseph v. F.C.C., 131 U.S.App.D. C. 207, 211, 404 F.2d 207, 211 (1968).]

See also National Geographic Society v. District Unemployment Compensation Board, 141 U.S.App.D.C. 313, 317, 438 F.2d 154, 158 (1970); 2 F. Cooper, State Administrative Law 472 (1965); 2 K. Davis, Administrative Law § 16.07 (1958).

As Professor Davis has pointed out:

The practical reasons for requiring administrative findings are so powerful that the requirement has been imposed with remarkable uniformity by virtually all federal and state courts, irrespective of a statutory requirement. The reasons have to do with facilitating judicial review, avoiding judicial usurpation of administrative functions, assuring more careful administrative consideration, helping parties plan their cases for rehearings and judicial review, and keeping agencies within their jurisdiction. [2 K. Davis, Administrative Law § 16.05, at 444 (1958)]⁴

There can be no doubt that the issues in question were "material" because they are within the conditions to be considered under the Zoning Regulations before an exception can be granted. Compare Minneapolis & St. L. R. R. v. United...