Opinion
2001-03463
Argued January 31, 2002.
March 25, 2002.
Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to review a determination of the respondent Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Development Disabilities, dated September 12, 2000, which, after a hearing, rejected the petitioner's objection to the establishment of a community residential facility for the developmentally disabled in the Town of Mt. Pleasant.
Thacher Proffitt Wood, White Plains, N.Y. (Kevin J. Plunkett of counsel), for petitioner.
Eliot Spitzer, Attorney-General, New York, N.Y. (Michael S. Belohlavek and Ann P. Zybert of counsel), for New York State respondents.
Wood Rafalsky Wood, New York, N.Y. (Philip Onorato of counsel), for respondent Opengate, Inc.
Before: FRED T. SANTUCCI, J.P., MYRIAM J. ALTMAN, GABRIEL M. KRAUSMAN and GLORIA GOLDSTEIN, JJ.
ADJUDGED that the petition is dismissed insofar as asserted against the respondent Teresa Toulon, Hearing Officer; and it is further,
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed and the proceeding is otherwise dismissed on the merits; and it is further,
ORDERED that one bill of costs is awarded to the respondents appearing separately and filing separate briefs.
The petitioner has not raised any claims against the respondent Teresa Toulon, a Hearing Officer, and does not oppose dismissal of the petition as to her. Accordingly, we dismiss the petition as against that respondent.
The determination of the Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Development Disabilities (hereinafter the Commissioner) is supported by substantial evidence and was not arbitrary and capricious (see Mental Hygiene Law § 41.34[c][5]; Matter of Jennings v. New York State Off. of Mental Health, 90 N.Y.2d 227). Contrary to the petitioner's contention, Matter of Jennings v. New York State Off. of Mental Health (supra), does not mandate the Commissioner to define the "designated area" considered in reaching his determination. Moreover, in evaluating whether the establishment of the proposed facility would result in an overconcentration of the same or similar facilities so as to substantially alter the nature and character of the area, the Commissioner was not required to consider the entire town. Rather, "the Commissioner may properly focus on the potential impact upon direct `neighbors'" (Matter of Jennings v. New York State Off. of Mental Health, supra, at 241).
Furthermore, the petitioner failed to meet its burden of adducing clear and convincing proof that the establishment of this facility would result in an overconcentration of the same or similar facilities so as to substantially alter the nature and character of the area (see Matter of Town of Brookhaven v. State of New York Off. of Mental Retardation and Dev. Disabilities, 261 A.D.2d 408; Matter of Town of Southampton v. New York State Off. of Mental Health, 237 A.D.2d 614). The petitioner's claim that there is a disproportionate distribution of community residential facilities for the disabled in the Town of Mount Pleasant and that it has more than its fair share of such facilities was insufficient to meet its burden (see Matter of Town of Oyster Bay v. Maul, 231 A.D.2d 579). The concerns raised by the Town and its residents regarding, among other things, erosion of its tax base, the burden on its emergency services, increased traffic, suitability of the proposed site, and the safety of the facility's residents were properly rejected by the Commissioner since they were speculative and undocumented (see Matter of Town of Oyster Bay v. Maul, 247 A.D.2d 545; Matter of Town of Mount Pleasant v. New York State Off. of Mental Health, 200 A.D.2d 576).
The petitioner's remaining contentions are either unpreserved for judicial review (see Johnson v. Coughlin, 205 A.D.2d 537, 538; Matter of Town of Bedford v. State of New York Off. of Mental Retardation Developmental Disabilities, 144 A.D.2d 473, 475) or without merit (see Paino v. Webb, 152 A.D.2d 699; Matter of Town of Oyster Bay v. Webb, 111 A.D.2d 760; Town of Pleasant Val. v. Wassaic Developmental Disabilities Servs. Off., 92 A.D.2d 543).
SANTUCCI, J.P., ALTMAN, KRAUSMAN and GOLDSTEIN, JJ., concur.