Rowen v. Emmett S. Hickman Co.
Rowen v. Emmett S. Hickman Co.
Opinion of the Court
This is a second appeal in this case. On the first appeal it appeared that the telephone company had sought from the Board of Adjustment an order (1) granting the right to establish a parking lot in a residential zone, and (2) granting the right to join a telephone exchange and office building by varying a setback requirement applicable to the exchange. The company’s application was granted in both respects, and on appeal to the Superior Court it was affirmed. Upon appeal to us the contention respecting the variance of the set-back requirement was not raised. We reversed the holding as to the parking lot, because there was no evidence showing that a parking lot for employees was a use customarily incidental to a telephone exchange, and no showing of hardship justifying a variance, but we gave leave to the company to present evidence upon the issue of customary use. In remanding the case to the Board we said:
“If the company elects to take no further action the Board should, by appropriate proceedings, modify its determination so as to conform to the principles laid down in this opinion.” 10 Terry 13, 108 A. 2d 667, 675.
Upon remand the company elected to present no further testimony, and the Board then modified its order to eliminate therefrom any references to the parking lot. Its prior order granting the variance in respect of the set-back was left in full force. On appeal to the Superior Court the Board’s decision was affirmed.
Objectors say that the language of our opinion does not necessarily import a limited remand. We think that it does. If there were any doubt upon the matter it would be dispelled by a reference to the written application of the company’s counsel to modify the concluding language of the opinion as originally filed. Counsel urged us to make it clear that the Board’s ruling respecting the joining of the buildings (i.e., the elimination of the set-back requirement) should be permitted to stand regardless of future developments in the case. Of this application objectors had ample notice. They protested that the modification requested would limit the Board’s discretion upon further proceedings, but we granted the application. Clearly, our decision
Objectors frankly concede that if the mandate was a limited one the appeal must be dismissed, as nothing more than an attempt to appeal to us from an order that is, in effect, our own order. Mackall v. Richards, 116 U. S. 45, 6 S. Ct. 234, 29 L. Ed. 558.
The motion is granted, and the appeal is dismissed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Sidney S. Rowen and Ida B. Rowen, below v. Emmett S. Hickman Co., for The Diamond State Telephone Company, below
- Status
- Published