DEFENDANT’S HOME WAS CONSTRUCTED ABOUT EIGHT FEET FROM THE PROPERTY LINE VIOLATING THE COVENANT OR RESTRICTION REQUIRING TEN FEET; PLAINTIFF, AFTER A BALANCING OF THE EQUITIES, WAS NOT, HOWEVER, ENTITLED TO EQUITABLE RELIEF (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department determined the defendant had violated a covenant or restriction imposed on property owners in a subdivision, but that plaintiff was not entitled to equitable relief. Defendant had constructed the home about eight feet from the property line and the covenant or restriction required ten feet:

… [D]efendant knew, or should have known, of the side setback violation on the right side, yet he chose to construct his house in disregard of the fourth paragraph of the covenants and restrictions, defendant did not act in good faith with respect to that violation, and the hardship was self imposed … . … [E]nforcement of the restriction would have little benefit to plaintiff inasmuch as the violation had no impact on the value of plaintiff’s home, the violation did not detract from any neighbor’s view of the lake, and the violation occurred on the side of defendant’s property that was not adjacent to another residential lot. A balancing of the equities under all the circumstances of the case established that plaintiff was not entitled to injunctive relief for the right side lot line violation … . Kleist v Stern, 2020 NY Slip Op 05652, Fourth Dept 10-9-20