Greater Newark Associates v. Comptroller of City of Newark
Greater Newark Associates v. Comptroller of City of Newark
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
This writ is sued out to set aside an assessment for benefits against the property of the prosecutor, for the grading of West End avenue, in the city of Newark.
The total cost of the work was declared by the common council of Newark to be $7,616.72. Of this total cost $6,-672.63 was assessed upon the property owners, and $944.09
The first reason urged why the assessment should be set aside is that certain items were included in the cost of the improvement which were not properly chargeable thereto, and therefore should not have been assessed against the property owners.
We think the objection not well founded.
The prosecutor expressly admits that the assessment against its property was not in excess of the benefits conferred.
It appears that before the street in question was graded a stream of water ran upon part of the street for a distance of about two hundred feet. During the progress of the grading, and in order to facilitate it, this stream was diverted on to the prosecutor's land. The costs of diverting this stream are included in the cost of the improvement and are the only items which are not clearly part of the legitimate cost of grading the street. The testimony shows that the total cost of diverting the stream was $660. Since this sum is less than the amount charged to the city, and the prosecutor admits that it was not assessed in excess of benefits actually received, the prosecutor is not aggrieved. So long as property is not assessed in excess of the benefits conferred, any part of the whole cost of the improvement may be assessed. Frevert v. Bayonne, 34 Vroom 202. The fact that there was included in the cost of the improvement $400 that the municipality expended in building a bridge instead of a culvert at the point where the water crossed the street, is no reason for setting aside the assessment. It was a part of the grading of the street. Read v. Camden, 25 Id. 347, 373.
The next point is that by diverting the stream of water upon the property of the prosecutor the city illegally entered upon and used the prosecutor’s land without compensation. But if this be so, and the prosecutor be entitled to recover damages therefor in an appropriate action, it does not justify setting aside this assessment.
We have examined all other reasons argued, but find no merit in them.
The assessment under review will be affirmed, with costs.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- GREATER NEWARK ASSOCIATES, PROSECUTOR v. COMPTROLLER OF THE CITY OF NEWARK
- Status
- Published