City of White Plains, appellant, v. Amodio's Garden Center and Flower Shop, Inc., et al., respondents. (2010)

Argued-May 27, 2010

DECISION & ORDER

In an action to permanently enjoin the defendants from processing topsoil and mulch at their nursery business, the plaintiff appeals from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Westchester County (Colabella, J.), entered April 17, 2009, which, upon an amended decision of the same court dated February 26, 2009, made after a nonjury trial, finding, inter alia, that the defendants' operation of the nursery business constituted a pre-existing nonconforming use and that the processing of topsoil and mulch did not constitute an expansion of the pre-existing nonconforming use, is in favor of the defendants and against it dismissing the complaint.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed, with costs.

On appeal from a judgment entered after a nonjury trial, this Court “may render the judgment it finds warranted by the facts, taking into account in a close case ‘the fact that the trial judge had the advantage of seeing the witnesses' ” (Northern Westchester Professional Park Assoc. v Town of Bedford, 60 N.Y.2d 492, 499, quoting York Mtge. Corp. v. Clotar Constr.   Corp., 254 N.Y. 128, 133-134;  In a nonjury trial, the evaluation of the credibility of witnesses, as well as the determination of which of the proffered items of evidence are most credible, are matters committed to the trial court's discretion (see Solomon v. Solomon, 276 A.D.2d 547, 548).   We discern no basis here to disturb the Supreme Court's determination (see Town of Clarkstown v. M.R.O. Pump & Tank, Inc., 32 AD3d 925, 927;  Matter of Tartan Oil Corp. v Board of Zoning Appeals of Town of Brookhaven, 213 A.D.2d 486;  Town of Ithaca v. Hull, 174 A.D.2d 911).

DILLON, J.P., BALKIN, ENG and CHAMBERS, JJ., concur.

ENTER:

James Edward Pelzer

Clerk of the Court