126 N.Y.S. 728 | N.Y. App. Div. | 1911
The petitioner and respondent lipón this appeal -seeks to recover damages to his premises in changing the grade of a street upon which the premises front. The proceeding is brought under section 159 of the Village Law (Gen. Laws, chap. 21 [Laws of 1897, chap. 414], as amd. by Laws of 1901, chap. 68; revised in Consol. Laws, chap. 64; Laws of 1909, chap. 64.)
At the .time the grade was changed and the proceedings instituted the village of North Olean was in existence, and the street in question was one of the streets of that village. By chapter .369 of the Laws of 1908 the village of North Olean was merged in the city of Olean, its territory included within the bounds of the city, and all the liabilities of the village imposed upon the city. The city now contests the claim of the petitioner.
The change of grade seems to have been occasioned by the paving of the street, but the trial judge iinds, and the evidence seems to support his conclusion, that the change was not a correction of irregularities existing in the grade before the street was paved, hut was a change of the general grade.
It is now contended that because the petitioner joined in the petition for paving the street he-is estopped from claiming damages for changing the grade. I think not. . At the time the petition
Section 159 of the Village Law empowers a village to change the grade of a street, but provides that; “ If such change of grade shall injuriously affect any building or land adjacent thereto, or the use thereof, the change of grade, to the extent of the damage resulting therefrom, shall be deemed the taking of such adjacent property for a public use.” '
And it further provides that a claim . for damages may be presented within sixty days after such change of grade is effected. It permits the board of trustees to compromise the claim, or if the claim is not compromised an application may be made for the appointment of commissioners, as was done in this case. ' Other ¡irovisions relating to the procedure are contained in the' act, but they have no relation to the question involved upon this appeal.
There is evidence to sustain, the finding that the change in .the' grade injuriously affected the premises, but in view1 of some of the testimony upon the question of damages, it may be proper to suggest that in determining that question the statute requires the commissioners to make an allowance for the benefits, if any, derived by the claimant from the improvement;
The‘point is made on behalf of the appellant city that the claim was not presented within sixty days- after the change of grade was effected. The determination of that question depends upon whether the time for the- presentation of the claim commenced to run immediately after the street was cut down, or after the brick had been laid and the improvement completed. Until the brick Were laid and the improvement completed, the grade could be changed. The cutting down of the street and the laying of the pavement was one •entire piece of work — that of paving the street — and I think the
The Order should be affirmed, with costs.
AH concurred.
Order affirmed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements.