Crystal Avenue Decision Lost on Appeal
The plaintiffs challenged an amendment to the Springfield zoning
ordinance, rezoning a parcel of land
on Crystal Avenue from residential to business use to be used by Belmont Laundry
for a processing plant
and for parking. "The plaintiffs claimed that the amendment constituted
"spot zoning," i.e., an unlawful
singling out of land in a zoning district without relation to the furtherance
of general objectives of zoning.
Following a trial, a Superior Court judge concluded that the amendment
is valid."
This decision was appealed. The Opinion stated that "the plaintiffs have
failed to satisfy the burden of
proof necessary to overcome the presumption of validity of the contested zoning
amendment.
The judgment is affirmed."