Sellon v. City of Manitou Springs
Colorado Supreme Court
745 P.2d 229 (1987)
- Written by Tanya Munson, JD
Facts
In 1973, the City of Manitou Springs (the city) adopted a master plan for a parcel of property known as Crystal Hills. The master plan provided that 194 homes could be developed on Crystal Hills. In 1982, David Sellon and two others (Sellon) (plaintiff) purchased Crystal Hills. In the same year, the city adopted an ordinance (the hillside ordinance) to deal with problems of erosion and drainage caused by the city’s hilly terrain. The hillside ordinance created a special hillside low-density residential zone and an equation to calculate the minimum lot size. In 1984, the city adopted a resolution placing Crystal Hills in a low-density residential zone and limited development to 60 units. Sellon appealed the decision to district court. The district court affirmed the city’s action. Sellon appealed, arguing that the hillside ordinance violated the due-process clauses of the Constitution because it was insufficiently related to public health, safety, and welfare objectives of the city and its terms were impermissibly vague.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Kirshbaum, J.)
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