Opinion
2014-07-3
In the Matter of Dennis H. KINDRED, Christine C. Delibert, Elizabeth M. Alisankus, Janet R. Connor, J. Grant Esler, Michael J. Carey and Karin Stroh, Petitioners–Plaintiffs–Appellants, v. MONROE COUNTY and Monroe County Fair and Recreation Association, Inc., Respondents–defendants–Respondents.
Bansbach Zoghlin P.C., Rochester (Mindy L. Zoghlin of Counsel), for Petitioners–Plaintiffs–Appellants. Merideth H. Smith, County Attorney, Rochester (Mallorie C. Rulison of Counsel), for Respondent–Defendant–Respondent Monroe County.
Bansbach Zoghlin P.C., Rochester (Mindy L. Zoghlin of Counsel), for Petitioners–Plaintiffs–Appellants. Merideth H. Smith, County Attorney, Rochester (Mallorie C. Rulison of Counsel), for Respondent–Defendant–Respondent Monroe County.
Harter Secrest & Emery LLP, Rochester (Megan K. Dorritie of Counsel), for Respondent–Defendant–Respondent Monroe County Fair and Recreation Association, Inc.
PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., FAHEY, CARNI, VALENTINO AND WHALEN, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
Petitioners-plaintiffs (petitioners) commenced this hybrid CPLR article 78 proceeding and declaratory judgment action seeking, inter alia, to annul the determination of respondent-defendant Monroe County to permit respondent-defendant Monroe County Fair and Recreation Association,Inc. to operate a four-day agricultural festival in a County-owned park and to vacate the County's negative declaration issued with respect thereto under the State Environmental Quality Review Act ( [SEQRA] ECL art 8). Petitioners moved for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction enjoining the festival from taking place during the pendency of the litigation. Respondents-defendants (respondents) filed objections in point of law seeking dismissal of the petition/complaint on the ground, inter alia, that petitioners lacked standing. Supreme Court determined that petitioners lacked standing and dismissed the petition/complaint. We affirm.
Where, as here, the proceeding does not involve a “zoning-related issue ..., there is no presumption of standing to raise a SEQRA challenge” based solely on a party's proximity (Matter of Save Our Main St. Bldgs. v. Greene County Legislature, 293 A.D.2d 907, 908, 740 N.Y.S.2d 715,lv. denied98 N.Y.2d 609, 747 N.Y.S.2d 409, 775 N.E.2d 1288;see Matter of Sierra Club v. Village of Painted Post, 115 A.D.3d 1310, 1311, 983 N.Y.S.2d 380;Matter of Rent Stabilization Assn. of N.Y.C., Inc. v. Miller, 15 A.D.3d 194, 194–195, 789 N.Y.S.2d 126,lv. denied4 N.Y.3d 709, 797 N.Y.S.2d 421, 830 N.E.2d 320). In such a situation, parties seeking to establish standing must establish that the injury of which they complain “falls within the ‘zone of interests,’ or concerns, sought to be promoted or protected” ( Society of Plastics Indus. v. County of Suffolk, 77 N.Y.2d 761, 773, 570 N.Y.S.2d 778, 573 N.E.2d 1034), and that they “would suffer direct harm, injury that is in some way different from that of the public at large” ( id. at 774, 570 N.Y.S.2d 778, 573 N.E.2d 1034;see Matter of Mobil Oil Corp. v. Syracuse Indus. Dev. Agency, 76 N.Y.2d 428, 433, 559 N.Y.S.2d 947, 559 N.E.2d 641). Contrary to petitioners' contention, we conclude that the court properly determined that the environmental effects relied on by each petitioner to establish his or her standing are no different in either kind or degree from that suffered by the general public ( see Matter of Powers v. De Groodt, 43 A.D.3d 509, 513, 841 N.Y.S.2d 163;Matter of Many v. Village of Sharon Springs Bd. of Trustees, 218 A.D.2d 845, 845, 629 N.Y.S.2d 868). We further conclude that the alleged environmentally related injuries are too speculative and conjectural to demonstrate an actual and specific injury-in-fact ( see Matter of New York Propane Gas Assn. v. New York State Dept. of State, 17 A.D.3d 915, 916, 793 N.Y.S.2d 601). Thus, the court did not err in concluding that none of the petitioners has standing ( see Sierra Club, 115 A.D.3d at 1312–1313, 983 N.Y.S.2d 380;Save Our Main St. Bldgs., 293 A.D.2d at 908–909, 740 N.Y.S.2d 715).
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.