Supreme Court of the United States
Williamson County Regional Planning Commission v. Hamilton Bank of Johnson City
June 28, 1985473 U.S. 172
Summary
The Court held that the landowner's regulatory-takings claim was not ripe because the planning commission had not reached a final decision on the permissible development of the property and the landowner had not sought available variances. The claim was also premature because the landowner had not pursued Tennessee's procedure for obtaining compensation for an alleged taking. The Court therefore reversed the Court of Appeals and remanded without deciding whether the regulations effected a taking or violated due process.
Holding
- Finality of the regulatory decision. A regulatory-takings claim is not ripe until the government entity charged with applying the regulations has reached a final, definitive decision concerning the property's permissible use. Rejection of the proposed plat was not final because available variances could have resolved several objections, and the owner had not sought them.
- Failure to pursue state compensation procedures. A state regulatory-takings claim is premature under the Just Compensation Clause until the property owner has used an adequate state procedure for obtaining compensation and has been denied compensation.
- Merits of the alleged taking or due-process violation. The Court did not decide whether the regulations effected a taking or violated due process because the claim was premature under either constitutional theory.
Docket 84-4
Cited authorities
- Tenn. Code Ann. § 27-9-101
- Tenn. Code Ann. § 13-7-101
- 42 U.S.C. § 1983
- 91 Stat. 447
- 30 U.S.C. § 1201
- 42 U.S.C. § 1983
- Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 27-8-101
- 28 U.S.C. § 1491
Cited by
- Ryan v. City of Lincoln
- Anthony Palazzolo v. State of Rhode Island, by and Through Its General Treasurer, Paul J. Tavares
- City of El Paso, Texas, a Municipal Corporation and City Plan Commission, El Paso, Appellants v. Madero Development…
- Harford County, Maryland v. Maryland Reclamation Associates, Inc.
- Wayside Church, an Illinois Not-For-Profit (ecclesiastical) Corporation; Myron W. Stahl; Henderson Hodgens…
- Avenue A Holdings, Inc. v. Springfield, City of
- Provident Mutual Life Insurance Company of Philadelphia, Plaintiff v. City of Atlanta, Defendant
- James Edward Hoefling, Jr., Plaintiff-Appellant v. City of Miami, Ricardo Roque, Jose Gonzalez, Defendants-Appellees