John v. Yachats Planning Commission

After the City of Yachats Planning Commission granted Forrester’s and Griffin’s (defendants) application for a building permit to construct a single-family dwelling, plaintiffs brought this action to enjoin the construction. The trial court reached the merits of the controversy and ruled in favor of defendants. Some of plaintiffs appeal. We hold that the court lacked jurisdiction and remand with instructions to dismiss the action.

In 1978, the city enacted a zoning ordinance that contained a “grandfather” clause allowing construction of dwellings of the kind in question here on existing lots…