In Re Baptist Fellowship of Randolph, Inc., 481 A.2d 1274 (Vt. 1984). · Go Syfert
In Re Baptist Fellowship of Randolph, Inc., 481 A.2d 1274 (Vt. 1984). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
124 citation events (66 in the last 25 years) across 2 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: In re Laberge Shooting Range (Firing Range Neighborhood Group, LLC, Appellant) (vt, 2018-08-17)
Treatment trajectory · 1989 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1989 2007 2026
Under fire — who is questioning this case
Citations from separate opinions of courts that could overrule this case. This is a warning signal, not a treatment change. The flag color above is unaffected.
Dissent In re Laberge Shooting Range (Firing Range Neighborhood Group, LLC, Appellant) (2018)
“In Baptist Fellowship , this Court rejected the argument that an entity funded by voluntary contributions does not meet the definition of "commercial purpose." 144 Vt. at 639 , 481 A.2d at 1276 .”
Concurrence In Re Spring Brook Farm Foundation, Inc. (1995)
“I agree with the dissent that Rule 2(L) does not apply because the de facto exchange found to exist in In re Baptist Fellowship of Randolph, Inc., 144 Vt. 636 , 481 A.2d 1274 (1984), is not present here.”
Top citers, strongest first. 13 distinct citers. How cited ↗
examined Cited as authority (rule) In re Laberge Shooting Range (Firing Range Neighborhood Group, LLC, Appellant) (3×)
Vt. · 2018 · confidence medium
Id . at 638 , 481 A.2d at 1275 (quotation omitted).
examined Cited as authority (rule) Laberge Shooting Range JO - Decision on the Merits (4×) also: Cited "see"
Vt. Super. Ct. · 2018 · confidence medium
Where “payment” is in the form of donations or contributions, as here, the exchange element is met if the subject of the jurisdictional opinion “could not provide the facilities and services . . . unless it received the contributions and 5 These elements are based on an earlier, identical version of Act 250 Rule 2(C)(4). 6 donations . . . .” In re Baptist Fellowship of Randolph, Inc., 144 Vt. 636, 639 (1984).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Laberge Shooting Range JO
Vt. Super. Ct. · 2017 · confidence medium
In In re Baptist Fellowship of Randolph, Inc., the Vermont Supreme Court looked to Environmental Board Rule 2(L), an earlier and virtually identical version of Act 250 Rule 2(C)(4), to determine whether construction of a meetinghouse by a church is a development with a commercial purpose. 144 Vt. 636, 636 (1984).
cited Cited as authority (rule) N.E. Materials Group LLC
Vt. Super. Ct. · 2014 · confidence medium
“Act 250 speaks to land use and not the particular institutional activity associated with that land use . . . .” In re Baptist Fellowship of Randolph, Inc., 144 Vt. 636, 639 (1984).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Downing Act 250 Application
Vt. Super. Ct. · 2010 · confidence medium
In re: Baptist Fellowship of Randolph, Inc., 144 Vt. 636, 639 (1984).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) In Re Appeal of S-S Corp./Rooney Housing Developments (2×)
Vt. · 2006 · confidence medium
But “Act 250 speaks to land use and not to the particular institutional activity associated with that land use; to exclude [an organization] from the provisions of Act 250 simply because of [the nature of its services] could not be justified on environmental grounds.” In re Baptist Fellowship of Randolph, Inc., 144 Vt. 636, 639 , 481 A.2d 1274, 1276 (1984). ¶ 18.
cited Cited as authority (rule) In Re Vermont Verde Antique International, Inc.
Vt. · 2002 · confidence medium
In re Baptist Fellowship of Randolph, Inc., 144 Vt. 636, 638 , 481 A.2d 1274, 1275 (1984).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) In Re Spring Brook Farm Foundation, Inc. (2×)
Vt. · 1995 · confidence medium
Donations and contributions convey the concept of giving; "a person cannot be required to give a donation in exchange for some consideration [because] by its very definition a gift is a voluntary transfer without consideration." In re Baptist Fellowship of Randolph, Inc., 144 Vt. 636, 639 , 481 A.2d 1274, 1276 (1984).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Vermont Ass'n of Realtors, Inc. v. State (2×)
Vt. · 1991 · confidence medium
In re Baptist Fellowship of Randolph, Inc., 144 Vt. 636, 638 , 481 A.2d 1274, 1275 (1984).
discussed Cited "see" Appeal of Green Meadows Center, LLChttp://www.vermontjudiciary.orghttp://www.vermontjudiciary.org. (Partial Decision and Order Categorizing the Uses proposed in the PUD Applications) (2×)
Vt. Super. Ct. · 2002 · signal: see · confidence high
See In re Baptist Fellowship of Randolph, Inc. 144 Vt. 636 , 481 A.2d 1274 (1984).
examined Cited "see" Huddleston v. University of Vermont (4×)
Vt. · 1998 · signal: see · confidence high
See In re Baptist Fellowship of Randolph, Inc., 144 Vt. 636, 638 , 481 A.2d 1274, 1275 (1984) (validity of agency’s rules and regulations will be upheld if they are reasonably related to purposes of enabling legislation).
discussed Cited "see" In Re BHL Corp. (2×)
Vt. · 1994 · signal: see · confidence high
See In re Baptist Fellowship of Randolph, Inc., 144 Vt. 636, 639 , 481 A.2d 1274, 1276 (1984) (in con- *491 eluding that construction of a church building qualified as “development,” Court holds that “Act 250 speaks to land use and not to the particular institutional activity associated with that land use”).
discussed Cited "see" In re Club 107 (2×)
Vt. · 1989 · signal: see · confidence high
See In re Baptist Fellowship of Randolph, Inc., 144 Vt. 636, 638 , 481 A.2d 1274, 1275 (1984); see also In re Vermont Gas Systems, Inc., 150 Vt. 34, 39 , 549 A.2d 627, 630 (1988) (agency’s rulemaking authority cannot support an expansive interpretation of its own powers); Agency of Administration, 141 Vt. at 75 , 444 A.2d at 1352 (administrative agency may not use its rulemaking power to exceed its legislative' grant of authority); State v. Auclair, 110 Vt. 147, 163 , 4 A.2d 107, 114 (1939) (even when afforded broad discretion, an administrative agency may not act in an “unrestrained” or…
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
In Re Baptist Fellowship of Randolph, Inc.
83-380.
Supreme Court of Vermont.
Aug 3, 1984.
481 A.2d 1274
Peter B. Brittin, Middlesex, for Plaintiff-Appellant., John J. Easton, Jr., Attorney General, and Meredith Wright, Assistant Attorney General, Montpelier, for Defendant-Appellee.
Billings, Hill, Underwood, Peck, Gibson.
Cited by 26 opinions  |  Published
Billings, C.J.

The Baptist Fellowship of Randolph, Inc. (Church) appeals from an order of the Orange Superior Court granting the Vermont Agency of Environmental Conservation’s (State) motion for summary judgment. In granting the State’s motion, the court found that the Church’s construction of a meetinghouse was subject to the requirements of Chapter 151, Title 10, Vermont Statutes Annotated (Act 250).

In early 1981, the. Church commenced construction of its meetinghouse. The project called for the construction of a 36' by 80' two-story church on a one acre lot within a 33.6 area tract of land owned by the Church. In July, 1981, the State advised the Church to cease construction until all necessary permits were received, pursuant to 10 V.S.A. §§ 6003-6004. The Church, in order to complete construction, entered into an “assurance of discontinuance” agreement with the State, wherein it agreed to submit to the Act 250 process while reserving its right to appeal the issue of the Act’s jurisdiction over its construction project. In return, the State agreed to refrain from prosecuting. The Church received a land use permit in September, 1981. Subsequently, it filed its notice of appeal and, pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 6089 (a), its notice of removal of the appeal from the State Environmental Board to the superior court. In March, 1983, the parties entered into a stipulation of facts and agreed that the case could be decided on cross-motions for summary judgment. V.R.C.P. 56.

In July, 1983, the court issued its findings of fact, conclusions of law and judgment. The court concluded that the Church’s plans to construct a church fell within the definition of “de[*638] Vélopment” as used in 10' V.S.A. § 6001(3), and that, therefore, the State “had proper jurisdiction to review the Church’s plans in light of the criteria contained in. 10 V.S.A. § 6086 and either grant or deny a land use permit under 10 V.S.A. § 6081(a).”

In reviewing the act of an administrative agency, this Court begins its reviewing process with the presumption that the act complained of “is correct and that the orders and decisions of the administrative body are valid and reasonable.” In re Devoid, 130 Vt. 141, 148, 287 A.2d 573, 577 (1972). Where an agency’s enabling legislation authorizes it to promulgate rules and regulations to carry out its statutory responsibilities, the validity of those rules, and the interpretations which the agency gives to them, will be upheld if they are reasonably related to the purposes of the enabling legislation. Committee to Save the Bishop’s House, Inc. v. Medical Center Hospital of Vermont, Inc., 137 Vt. 142, 150, 400 A.2d 1015, 1019 (1979); In re Brooks, 130 Vt. 83, 85-86, 286 A.2d 279, 281 (1971). And, since the Church does not contest the findings of the superior court, these findings are controlling and “will be read to support the judgment if they reasonably may be.” Brattleboro Child Development, Inc. v. Town of Brattleboro, 138 Vt. 402, 406, 416 A.2d 152, 155 (1980).

. The sole issue on appeal is whether the Church building is a “development” under Act 250. Under 10 V.S.A. § 6001 (3) development is defined as:

the construction of improvements on a tract or tracts of land, owned by or controlled by a person, involving more than 10 acres of land within a radius of five miles of any point on any involved land, for commercial or industrial purposes. (Emphasis added.)

Pursuant to- 10 V.S.A. § 6025, the State has adopted certain rules to assist in the interpretation and administration of Act 250. Environmental Board Rule 2(L) defines commercial purpose, as used in 10 V.S.A. § 6001 (3), as:

the provision of facilities, goods or services by a person other than for a municipal or state purpose to others in exchange for payment of a purchase price, fee, contribution,' donation or other object having value.

[*639] The Church concedes that, under Rule 2 (L), it provides a facility to others for purposes that are neither municipal nor state. It contends, however, that the phrase “in exchange for” imposes a requirement that the facility be available only to those who, wishing to use the facility, pay to the Church a “purchase price, fee, contribution, donation or other object having value.” Since the court found that the Church does not require the users of its church facility to make any payment of any kind, the “in exchange for” phraseology of Rule 2(L) does not include the activities of the Church.

The Church’s construction of “in exchange for,” however, would impermissibly render the terms “contribution” and “donation” superfluous. See State v. Tierney, 138 Vt. 163, 165, 412 A.2d 298, 299 (1980) (defendant’s proffered construction of statute would render statute’s “specific enumeration ... superfluous”) . Both these terms connote the act of giving; a person cannot be required to give a donation in exchange for some consideration since by its very definition a gift is a voluntary transfer without consideration. Williamson v. Johnson, 62 Vt. 378, 380-81, 20 A. 279, 280 (1890).

The court, while finding that none of the Church’s parishioners were required to make a payment in exchange for using the Church’s facilities, also found that the majority of the Church’s income was derived from the contributions and donations of its members. Based on this uncontested finding, the court concluded that “[w]hile there is no quid pro quo exchange involved, it is clear that the Church could not provide the facilities and services to its members unless it received the contributions and donations from its members.” In other words, there is a de facto exchange of the Church’s facilities and services for donations and contributions.

This de facto interpretation of the “in exchange for” wording of Rule 2 (L) appears to us to be in keeping with both the purpose and spirit of Act 250. See Town of Cambridge v. Bassett, 142 Vt. 171, 177, 453 A.2d 413, 416 (1982) (true rule of construction is to look to subject matter, effects and consequences and to reason and spirit of the law). Act 250 speaks to land use and not to the particular institutional activity associated with that land use; to exclude a church from the provisions of Act 250 simply because of its evangelical services could not be justified on environmental grounds. See findings[*640] and declaration of intent, 1969, No. 250 (Adj. Sess.), § 1. Under 10 V.S.A. § 6001 (3) there are certain land uses that are expressly excluded from the definition of development; neither religious nor other nonprofit uses, such as hospitals, are so excluded.

Affirmed.