SHORE OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF CHASE LAKE INC v. PEOPLE (2009)

 Plaintiff commenced this action pursuant to RPAPL article 15 seeking, inter alia, a declaration that defendant the People of the State of New York (State) “be barred from all claims to an estate or interest in” certain roadways surrounding Chase Lake in the Town of Watson, New York.   The State correctly concedes that Supreme Court properly granted that part of plaintiff's motion seeking a declaration that plaintiff is the owner of the roadways in question, but the State contends that the court erred in granting that part of plaintiff's motion seeking declarations with respect to the width of those roadways.   We agree.   In moving for that relief, plaintiff had the initial burden of establishing its entitlement to judgment of a matter of law (see Zuckerman v. City of New York, 49 N.Y.2d 557, 562, 427 N.Y.S.2d 595, 404 N.E.2d 718), and we conclude that plaintiff failed to meet its burden with respect to the width of the roadways.   Indeed, we note that the tax maps and lot line survey relied upon by plaintiff in support of its motion are inconsistent (see generally Morganteen v. Brenner, 28 A.D.3d 725, 726-727, 814 N.Y.S.2d 213, lv. denied 7 N.Y.3d 707, 821 N.Y.S.2d 813, 854 N.E.2d 1277;  Gallas v. Duchesne, 268 A.D.2d 728, 701 N.Y.S.2d 497).

It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment insofar as appealed from is unanimously reversed on the law without costs, the motion is denied in part and the declarations with respect to the width of the roadways in question are vacated.

MEMORANDUM: