Hydraulic Press Brick Co. v. Council of City of Independence

A landowner applied to the city’s planning commission for permission to drill a gas well on its property. After extended proceedings, the planning commission approved that request pursuant to authority created by the city’s zoning code. The city council then reviewed the planning commission’s decision and decided to deny the landowner’s request without specifying its reasons.

The landowner appealed that action as an administrative decision to the common pleas court, which affirmed the council’s action. On landowner’s appeal from the adverse common pleas court judgment, we conclude that the…