Brief Fact Summary. An easement is the only existing ingress and egress into an 80 acre tract of land. One landowner wants to widen the road, the other wants to keep it undeveloped.
Synopsis of Rule of Law. The size of an appurtenant easement is determined by the intent of the grantor.
It must be exercised in accordance with established legal rules and a sound legal discretion in the application of such rules to the facts and circumstances of each particular case, and in this State is subject to review by an appellate Court.
View Full Point of LawIssue. When an easement appurtenant grants a right of way, will the easement be violated if the intent of the original parties is not followed?
Held. Yes.
The Quill Easement does not contain a restriction that the easement granted is to be appurtenant to the dominant estate only while the estate remains in single possession. So, even though Plaintiffs are dividing the parcel, all of the eventual owners will be able to use the Easement because the original parties intended for the easement to remain even if the land was divided.
The owner of an easement may prepare, maintain, improve or repair the way in a manner to promote the purpose for which the easement was created, as long as an undue burden is not caused on the servient estate.
When the width of the road is not specified in the writing, the conveying instrument must be construed in the light of the facts and circumstances. existing at its date and affecting the property. The intent of the parties is the object of the inquiry. If the intention of the parties at the time of the grant is to keep the road at its original width, later owners cannot widen the road.
Discussion. Appurtenant easements benefit the entire dominant estate and so will be apportionable among subsequent owners when the dominant estate is divided.