Western Land Equities, Inc. v. City of Logan

Western Land (plaintiff) sought approval to build single-family homes on land zoned to permit residential use, but the city planning commission (defendant) rejected the application months later, citing access-road and rail-adjacency concerns, and the city then amended its zoning ordinance the following year to prohibit residential use on the property entirely. The trial court found Western had a vested right to develop because its application complied with the zoning rules in effect when filed, and the city appealed.

Whether a developer is entitled to a building permit or subdivision approval when the proposed development complies with the zoning regulations in effect at the time of application, absent a compelling government interest justifying denial.