Coates v. Durham Cty.
Coates v. Durham Cty.
Opinion
*271 Hubrich Contracting, Inc. (Respondent) appeals from an Order reversing the decision of the Durham City-County Board of Adjustment (BOA) to grant a Minor Special-Use Permit (Permit) to Respondent. We, however, determine the Order that Respondent appeals from is an interlocutory order that does not affect a substantial right of Respondent. Therefore, we dismiss this appeal.
Factual and Procedural Background
On 7 November 2016, Respondent commenced this proceeding by filing an application for the Permit with the Durham City-County *272 Planning Department, which Permit would allow Respondent to construct a middle school on certain property in Durham County. Following a hearing before the BOA on 28 February 2017, the BOA issued an order granting the Permit on 28 March 2017. On 25 April 2017, Rhonda Coates, Timothy Ellis, Patrick and Marie Mahoney, Kenneth Price, Bryan and Angela Sarvis, James Ventrilla, and James Wolak (Petitioners) petitioned the Durham County Superior Court for review by way of a writ of certiorari . The Durham County Superior Court granted Petitioners' petition on 25 April 2017 and ordered a hearing.
The hearing occurred on 11 September 2017, and after the hearing concluded, the presiding judge took the matter under advisement. On 28 August 2018, the trial court entered its Final Order and Judgment (Order). In its Order, the trial court reversed the BOA's decision to grant the Permit to Respondent and remanded the matter to the BOA with instructions to, inter alia , reopen the public hearing on Respondent's application for the Permit. Respondent appeals from this Order.
Jurisdiction
Although neither party raises this issue, we must address whether this appeal is properly before this Court.
See
Akers v. City of Mount Airy
,
"An interlocutory order ... is one made during the pendency of an action which does not dispose of the case, but leaves it for further action by the trial court in order to settle and determine the entire controversy."
Cagle v. Teachy
,
[T]his Court has consistently held that an order by a superior court, sitting in an appellate capacity, that remands to a municipal body for additional proceedings is not immediately appealable. See, e.g. , Heritage Pointe Builders[ v. N.C. Licensing Bd. of General Contractors] , 120 N.C. App. [502,] 504, 462 S.E.2d [696,] 698 (1995) (appeal of superior court's remand to a licensing board for rehearing dismissed as interlocutory);
*273 Jennewein v. City Council of the City of Wilmington ,46 N.C. App. 324 , 326,264 S.E.2d 802 , 803 (1980) (appeal of superior court's remand to a city council *394 for a de novo hearing dismissed as interlocutory).
Akers
,
Here, Respondent appeals from an Order reversing the BOA's decision to grant Respondent the Permit. In its Order, the trial court instructs the BOA to reopen the public hearing on Respondent's application for the Permit after following certain notice procedures and orders the BOA to conduct a new hearing on Respondent's application. Because this Order "remands to a municipal body for additional proceedings[,]" this appeal is interlocutory.
See
A party may appeal an interlocutory order if either: (1) the trial court certifies there is no just reason to delay appeal under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1A-1, Rule 54(b) or (2) if delaying the appeal would affect a substantial right.
Jeffreys v. Raleigh Oaks Joint Venture
,
A substantial right has consistently been defined as "a legal right affecting or involving a matter of substance as distinguished from matters of form: a right materially affecting those interests which one is entitled to have preserved and protected by law: a material right."
Gilbert v. N.C. State Bar
,
As discussed
supra
, Respondent's appeal is interlocutory, and in its brief, Respondent offers no substantial right that would be affected absent a review prior to a final determination on the merits. However, Rule 28(b)(4) of our Rules of Appellate Procedure requires that "[w]hen an appeal is interlocutory, the statement [of the grounds for appellate review in the appellant's brief] must contain sufficient facts and argument to support appellate review on the ground that the challenged order affects a substantial right." N.C.R. App. P. 28(b)(4). Our Court has noted
*274
that in the context of interlocutory appeals, a violation of Rule 28(b)(4) is jurisdictional and requires dismissal.
See
Larsen v. Black Diamond French Truffles, Inc.
,
At oral argument, when confronted with the possibility that this Order was interlocutory, Respondent offered two arguments in support of finding a substantial right. Respondent first contended that "it [was] simply a matter of time" that would be lost if its appeal was dismissed. However, our Court has recognized that "avoidance of a rehearing or trial is not a 'substantial right' entitling a party to an immediate appeal."
Blackwelder v. Dept. of Human Resources
,
Respondent next asserted that
PHG Asheville, LLC v. City of Asheville
, --- N.C. App. ----,
Consequently, because the trial court's Order reversed the BOA's grant of the Permit and remanded the case to the BOA for further proceedings, this appeal is interlocutory. Further, Respondent has failed to show that a substantial right would be lost absent appeal. Therefore, we
*275
must dismiss this appeal.
See
Akers
,
Conclusion
Accordingly, for the foregoing reasons, we dismiss the appeal for lack of appellate jurisdiction.
APPEAL DISMISSED.
Judges STROUD and YOUNG concur.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.