Nectow v. City of Cambridge

Nectow (plaintiff) had a contract to sell his land for commercial use, but before the sale closed, the City of Cambridge (defendant) passed a zoning ordinance placing a 100-foot strip of his property in a residential district, causing his buyer to back out. Nectow sued for an injunction letting him build regardless of the ordinance. The trial court upheld the ordinance and denied relief, even while finding the residential restriction did not actually serve public health, safety, morals, or welfare on this particular strip.