265 Penn Realty Corp. v. City of New York

REINALDO E. RIVERA

Harris Beach PLLC, Uniondale, N.Y. (William J. Garry of counsel), for petitioner. Michael A. Cardozo, Corporation Counsel, New York, N.Y. (Rochelle Cohen, Amy McCamphill, and Leslie Wright of counsel), for respondents.
REINALDO E. RIVERA, J.P., DANIEL D. ANGIOLILLO, CHERYL E. CHAMBERS, and SHERI S. ROMAN, JJ.

Proceeding pursuant to EDPL 207 to review a determination of the respondent City of New York dated September 27, 2011, made after a public hearing, authorizing the condemnation of certain real property for the continued use as a New York City Fire Department Emergency Medical Service station.

ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, with costs, the petition is denied, and the proceeding is dismissed on the merits.

The principal purpose of EDPL article 2 is to insure that an agency does not acquire property without having made a reasoned determination that the condemnation will serve a valid public purpose ( seeEDPL 201; Matter of Jackson v. New York State Urban Dev. Corp., 67 N.Y.2d 400, 417–418, 503 N.Y.S.2d 298, 494 N.E.2d 429;Matter of Aspen Cr. Estates, Ltd. v. Town of Brookhaven, 47 A.D.3d 267, 271, 848 N.Y.S.2d 214,affd.12 N.Y.3d 735, 876 N.Y.S.2d 680, 904 N.E.2d 816,cert. denied––– U.S. ––––, 130 S.Ct. 96, 175 L.Ed.2d 30;Matter of Woodfield Equities LLC v. Incorporated Vil. of Patchogue, 28 A.D.3d 488, 489, 813 N.Y.S.2d 184). A party aggrieved by the condemnor's determination may seek judicial review; however, the scope of that review is limited to “(1) whether the proceeding was in conformity with the federal and state constitutions, (2) whether the proposed acquisition is within the condemnor's statutory jurisdiction or authority, (3) whether the condemnor's determination and findings were made in accordance with the procedures set forth in EDPL article 2 and [the State Environmental Quality Review Act], and (4) whether the proposed acquisition will serve a public use, benefit, or purpose” (Matter of Woodfield Equities LLC v. Incorporated Vil. of Patchogue, 28 A.D.3d at 490, 813 N.Y.S.2d 184;seeEDPL 207[C] ). The condemnor has “broad discretion to decide what land is necessary to fulfill its purpose, and its rational determination in that regard will not be disturbed” (Matter of Stankevich v. Town of Southold, 29 A.D.3d 810, 811, 815 N.Y.S.2d 225;see Matter of Gyrodyne Co. of Am., Inc. v. State Univ. of N.Y. at Stony Brook, 17 A.D.3d 675, 676, 794 N.Y.S.2d 87).

Here, as the petitioner acknowledges, the continued use of the subject real property as a New York City Fire Department Emergency Medical Service station serves a legitimate public purpose. While the petitioner contends that taking the property in fee is excessive, it failed to sustain its burden in this regard. Under the circumstance of this case, the determination that acquisition in fee was necessary to achieve the desired public purpose was rational, and there is no basis upon which to disturb it ( see Matter of Arbern Sutphin Props., LLC v. City of New York, 85 A.D.3d 1158, 1160, 926 N.Y.S.2d 636;Matter of Aspen Cr. Estates, Ltd. v. Town of Brookhaven, 47 A.D.3d at 278, 848 N.Y.S.2d 214,affd.76 N.Y.2d 923, 563 N.Y.S.2d 50, 564 N.E.2d 660;Matter of Gyrodyne Co. of Am., Inc. v. State Univ. of N.Y. at Stony Brook, 17 A.D.3d at 676, 794 N.Y.S.2d 87;Matter of Wechsler v. New York State Dept. of Envtl. Conservation, 153 A.D.2d 300, 303, 550 N.Y.S.2d 749). Moreover, the petitioner's unsubstantiated allegations fall far short of the “clear showing” necessary to establish that the condemnor acted in bad faith ( see Matter of Stankevich v. Town of Southold, 29 A.D.3d at 811, 815 N.Y.S.2d 225;Matter of Woodfield Equities LLC v. Incorporated Vil. of Patchogue, 28 A.D.3d at 490, 813 N.Y.S.2d 184;Matter of Three P. Corp. v. Town of E. Hampton, 287 A.D.2d 511, 731 N.Y.S.2d 391;cf. Matter of Zutt v. State of New York, 99 A.D.3d 85, 949 N.Y.S.2d 402).

The petitioner's contention that the condemnor failed to fulfill its obligations under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (hereinafter SEQRA) is also without merit. SEQRA requires that agencies “minimize or avoid adverse environmental effects” when considering proposed actions (ECL 8–0109 [1]; see 6 NYCRR part 617). In a full environmental assessment prepared in connection with the condemnation, no adverse environmental impacts were identified. Moreover, it is undisputed that the premises has been used in the same manner as is currently proposed since 1987, and the petitioner has failed to assert any significant potential for environmental harm that might result from the condemnation. Accordingly, the issuance of a negative declaration under SEQRA was appropriate and the preparation of an environmental impact statement was unnecessary ( see6 NYCRR 617.7[a][2]; Matter of Aspen Cr. Estates, Ltd. v. Town of Brookhaven, 47 A.D.3d at 274, 848 N.Y.S.2d 214,affd.12 N.Y.3d 735, 876 N.Y.S.2d 680, 904 N.E.2d 816;Matter of Woodfield Equities LLC v. Incorporated Vil. of Patchogue, 28 A.D.3d at 490, 813 N.Y.S.2d 184;Matter of McCarthy v. Town of Smithtown, 19 A.D.3d 695, 696, 797 N.Y.S.2d 555).

The petitioner's remaining contentions are without merit.