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2 Zoning Dig. 1 (1950)

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ZONING DIGEST

                      Published by

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PLANNING                OFFICIALS

1313   EAST   60TH  STREET,   CHICAGO 37, ILLINOIS

Volume  2            January, 1950           Pages  1-16



   THE  COURT  WILL  NOT  SUBSTITUTE   ITS JUDGMENT

   The  court will not substitute its judgment for that of the
legislative body. It would seem that this legal maxim or rule
is noted as much for its breach or violation as for its honor -
In a number of the cases when this rule is stated, it is followed
by a substitution of the court's opinion for that of the local
legislative body.
    The violation of the rule takes place with, The court
will not substitute its judgment for that of the local legislative
body BUT--.  Another  legal rule is used to modify the first;
Each zoning case will be examined on its own merits,  or
the court will review the situation to determine whether the
legislative or administrative body has acted arbitrarily, il-
legally or so unreasonably as to have abused its descretion.
It seems to the Editor that the Michigan case involving the
Grand Trunk  Western Railroad Company, in this issue of
the ZONING  DIGEST,  is a good example. The legislative
body of the City of Detroit, representing all of the people,
decided that one type of zoning was suitable for a certain
area.  This zoning was determined, not only in relationship
to the particular property involved, but on the basis of the
plan for the development of the entire city. The action on
zoning was apparently ratified by the legislative body when
it took action to acquire some of the property involved for
urban redevelopment purposes.  In spite of these acts, the
Supreme  Court said that the zoning was improper.
    If each case is to be examined upon its own merits and
the case involves only the particular parcel of property in
litigation, it is quite likely that the court will find for the
property owner as against the city unless the court under-
stands (as some supreme courts do) that the particular piece


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