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Res. 00004-2016 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo Sección VIII · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo Sección VIII · 2016
OutcomeResultado
The Municipality of Belén is ordered to indemnify the plaintiff for the de facto easement; expropriation and remnant damage are denied.Se condena a la Municipalidad de Belén a indemnizar a la actora por la servidumbre de hecho, rechazando la expropiación y el daño al remanente.
SummaryResumen
This ruling addresses Corporación DACAR CF S.A.’s claim against the Municipality of Belén for building a rainwater pipe easement without expropriation proceedings or registry inscription. The Administrative Court distinguishes between easement and expropriation, finding that expropriation does not apply because the easement did not nullify the property’s enjoyment. However, it determines that the Municipality acted via a de facto measure by establishing the easement without the owner’s consent or compensation, and thus orders the local government to pay the value of the affected strip (174.25 m²) plus legal interest from the date the judgment becomes final. The prescription defense is rejected because the easement is continuous. Remnant damage and expropriation are dismissed because the property remains usable. The ruling also notes the coexistence of a non-compensable social limitation because the property lies within a water spring protection area under Art. 33 of the Forestry Law. The other defendants (State, AyA, and SINAC) are dismissed for lack of passive standing.La sentencia analiza la demanda de Corporación DACAR CF S.A. contra la Municipalidad de Belén por la construcción de una servidumbre de tubería para aguas pluviales sin proceso expropiatorio ni inscripción registral. El Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo distingue entre servidumbre y expropiación, concluyendo que no procede la expropiación porque no se demostró que la servidumbre anulara el disfrute del inmueble. Sin embargo, determina que la Municipalidad incurrió en una vía de hecho al constituir la servidumbre sin consentimiento del propietario ni indemnización, por lo que condena al gobierno local a pagar el valor de la franja afectada (174.25 m²) y los intereses legales desde la firmeza de la sentencia. Rechaza la excepción de prescripción por tratarse de una servidumbre continua. Descarta el daño al remanente y la expropiación porque el inmueble sigue siendo utilizable. También destaca la coexistencia de una limitación social no indemnizable por ubicarse dentro del área de protección de una naciente (art. 33 de la Ley Forestal). Los demás demandados (Estado, AyA y SINAC) son absueltos por falta de legitimación pasiva.
Key excerptExtracto clave
The local government did not justify the reason why it failed to register the easement, nor did it explain its omission to pay its value. The sole argument it raises to justify its delay rests on the alleged tolerance of the then-owner of the land; however, it did not demonstrate with proper evidence—despite bearing the burden of proof—that it had the express or tacit authorization or consent of the then-owner to build the pipeline; therefore, the tolerance alleged as a defense is not acceptable. The absence of the owner’s consent or of the procedure set out in the Expropriation Law in the event of the landowner’s opposition leads us to conclude that we are facing a de facto measure, due to the lack of an enabling title that would justify the referenced work, which even twenty years later still crosses the claimant’s land. In light of the above, the time when it was built is irrelevant, because if it is still operating and affecting the claimant’s property today, his right would not be affected by the prescriptive period. The First Chamber goes further and holds that the prescriptive period does not apply in these cases (...). Based on the arguments set out above, the referenced defense is rejected.El Gobierno local no justificó la razón por la cual no inscribió la servidumbre, ni tampoco su omisión de cancelar el valor de la misma. El único argumento que alega para justificar su morosidad, reside en la supuesta tolerancia del entonces dueño del fundo, sin embargo no demostró con prueba idónea pese a que le incumbía la carga probatoria, haber contado con la autorización o consentimiento expreso o tácito del entonces dueño del fundo para construir la tubería, de ahí que la tolerancia que alega como defensa no resulta de recibo. La ausencia del consentimiento del propietario o del procedimiento previsto en la Ley de Expropiaciones en caso de oposición del dueño del fundo, nos lleva a concluir que estamos ante una vía de hecho, por la ausencia de un título habilitante que justificara la referida obra, que aún veinte años después atraviesa el fundo del actor. En atención a lo expuesto resulta irrelevante, el tiempo en que se construyó la misma, pues si en la actualidad la misma sigue operando y afectando el inmueble del actor, su derecho no se vería afectado por el plazo prescriptivo. La Sala Primera va más allá y sostiene que el plazo prescriptivo no opera en estos casos (...). Con fundamento en los argumentos antes expuestos es que se rechaza la referida defensa.
Pull quotesCitas destacadas
"La ausencia del consentimiento del propietario o del procedimiento previsto en la Ley de Expropiaciones en caso de oposición del dueño del fundo, nos lleva a concluir que estamos ante una vía de hecho, por la ausencia de un título habilitante que justificara la referida obra, que aún veinte años después atraviesa el fundo del actor."
"The absence of the owner’s consent or of the procedure set out in the Expropriation Law in the event of the landowner’s opposition leads us to conclude that we are facing a de facto measure, due to the lack of an enabling title that would justify the referenced work, which even twenty years later still crosses the claimant’s land."
Considerando V. Sobre Fondo
"La ausencia del consentimiento del propietario o del procedimiento previsto en la Ley de Expropiaciones en caso de oposición del dueño del fundo, nos lleva a concluir que estamos ante una vía de hecho, por la ausencia de un título habilitante que justificara la referida obra, que aún veinte años después atraviesa el fundo del actor."
Considerando V. Sobre Fondo
"Resulta fácil concluir que la Institución demandada no puede invocar, como título adquisitivo del terreno donde se ubique el gravamen de este tipo, el simple transcurso del tiempo- usucapión-, tal y como se hizo en el indicado oficio, sin conculcar el principio aludido de legalidad, así como las normas antes transcritas…"
"It is easy to conclude that the defendant institution cannot invoke, as an acquisitive title to the land where this type of encumbrance is located, the mere passage of time—usucapion—without violating the aforementioned principle of legality and the previously transcribed rules…"
Considerando VI. Sobre la Prescripción
"Resulta fácil concluir que la Institución demandada no puede invocar, como título adquisitivo del terreno donde se ubique el gravamen de este tipo, el simple transcurso del tiempo- usucapión-, tal y como se hizo en el indicado oficio, sin conculcar el principio aludido de legalidad, así como las normas antes transcritas…"
Considerando VI. Sobre la Prescripción
"Las limitaciones de interés social no son indemnizables, por no implicar una expropiación, es decir, cuando la propiedad no sufre desmembraciones que hagan desaparecer el derecho."
"Social interest limitations are not compensable because they do not imply an expropriation—that is, when the property does not suffer detachments that make the right disappear."
Considerando IX. Sobre los Daños
"Las limitaciones de interés social no son indemnizables, por no implicar una expropiación, es decir, cuando la propiedad no sufre desmembraciones que hagan desaparecer el derecho."
Considerando IX. Sobre los Daños
Full documentDocumento completo
N°10-00 3342-1027-CA Plaintiff: Coorporación Dacar SF S.A Defendants: Municipalidad de Belén. Instituto Nacional de Acueductos y Alcantarillados. El Estado. Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación Nº4 - 2016 TRIBUNAL CONTENCIOSO ADMINISTRATIVO. SECCIÓN OCTAVA. Anexo A of the Segundo Circuito Judicial de San José. Goicoechea, at nine o'clock on January twelfth, two thousand sixteen.- Proceso de conocimiento established by the company Corporación DACAR CF S.A, legal identification number CED115296, represented by its general attorney-in-fact without limit of sum Mr. Nombre148037, of legal age, married, merchant, identity card number CED115295, resident of Limonal de Orotina, against the Municipalidad de Belén, legal identification number CED115297, represented by the Mayor Mr. Nombre23598, of legal age, single, resident of la Ribera de Belén, identity card number CED77355, the Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación, represented by its special judicial attorney Nombre23673, attorney, single, identity card number CED91177, resident of Desamparados, the State represented by the Procurador Alejandro Arce Oses, attorney, resident of Heredia, identity card number CED55, the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, represented by the Subgerente General Mr. Eduardo Lezama Fernández, civil engineer, married, identity card number CED100474, resident of Tibás.
RESULTANDO
1.- The claim brought by the plaintiff company is "That by means of judgment it be declared that the property owned by my represented party and registered in the Registro Nacional, Sección Inmueble, partido de Heredia, folio real number CED115298, is affected by a water conveyance easement (servidumbre de conducción de aguas) on the part of the Municipalidad de Belén, without the latter having paid any sum whatsoever for expropriation. That it be declared that the Municipalidad de Belén did not comply with due administrative process and compensation in favor of the owner of the property of partido de Heredia, folio real number 34912-000. I request that a specialized surveyor from the Corte Suprema de Justicia be appointed, to proceed to carry out the study, description, and topographic survey of the easement (servidumbre) existing on the property in question, built by the defendant; likewise, I request that a specialized engineer from the Corte Suprema de Justicia be appointed, to proceed to carry out the respective appraisal of the affected areas, and also to proceed to calculate the amounts of money that must be paid and that the defendant be obligated to pay in favor of my represented party for the concept of land area affected by the expropriation; both the zone crossed by the easement (servidumbre), as well as the land area located between the easement (servidumbre) and the northern boundary of the property, which was totally rendered useless by the constitution of the easement (servidumbre); also that the expert proceed to calculate interest at the legal rate from the date on which the easement (servidumbre) was built and to be calculated from the taking of possession by the Municipalidad of the land until the date of effective payment, furthermore that it calculate the severance damages (daño al remanente) suffered by the property, for the deterioration the property has suffered due to the actions deployed by the defendant with the installation of the easements (servidumbres). I request that the defendant be ordered to pay in favor of my represented party everything indicated in the preceding point. I request that the defendants be ordered to pay the damages caused to the property, which originate from the actions carried out by the defendant of de facto expropriating the property and not paying the compensation consisting specifically of the defendant's non-payment of the following: A.- The non-payment to date of the expropriated lands and those affected by the de facto expropriation. B.- The non-payment of the legal interest generated by said expropriation capital. The same must be calculated from the date on which the municipality took possession of the land more than 20 years ago until the day of effective payment. Nombre147.- The non-payment of the severance damages (daño al remanente) caused to the rest of the property, since the easement (servidumbre) crosses the property across its entire width, excessively affecting the commercial value of the property, and rendering a section of the property useless. The value of these items must be calculated by the specialized expert from the Corte Suprema de Justicia, for which reason I reiterate that the appointment be made immediately. I request that the defendant be ordered to pay the personal and procedural costs of this action." (f. 7-9 court file) 2.- At the Preliminary Hearing held on June 24, 2014, the Case Management Judge warned the plaintiff to present a single statement of claim for all parties to the proceeding, to grant a single transfer. (f. 418-419 court file) 3.- The claim brought by the plaintiff in the brief filed on June 30, 2014, consists of the following: " – That by means of judgment it be declared that the property owned by my represented party and registered in the Registro Nacional, Sección Inmueble, Partido de Heredia, Folio Real number 34912-000 is affected by a water conveyance easement (servidumbre de conducción de aguas) on the part of the Municipalidad de Belén, without the latter having paid any sum whatsoever for expropriation. – That it be declared that the Municipalidad de Belén did not comply with the due administrative process of expropriation and compensation in favor of the owner of the property of partido de Heredia, folio real number 34912-000. – I request that the Municipalidad de Belén be ordered to immediately initiate the due administrative process of expropriation so that my represented party be paid the value of the legal interest, which shall be computed from the moment it took possession of the land until the date of effective payment. Furthermore, that it be ordered to pay for the land area located between the easement (servidumbre) and the northern boundary of the property, which was totally rendered useless by the constitution of the easement (servidumbre). – I request that the defendant be ordered to pay the personal and procedural costs of this action." (f. 423 court file) 4.- The Municipalidad de Belén raised in its defense the defenses of Statute of Limitations (Prescripción) (article 66.1 subsection k of the Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo, article 63 of the Ley de Expropiaciones and article 198 of the Ley General de la Administración Pública), lack of right, lack of standing (falta de legitimación) and lack of current interest, and requested that this claim be dismissed. (f. 133-147 court file) 5.- Acueductos y Alcantarillados raised in its defense the defenses of lack of right, lack of standing (falta de legitimación) and lack of current interest. It requested that this claim be dismissed in all its aspects for being unfounded and improper. (f. 189-197 court file) 6.- The State alleged in its defense the defense of lack of right, lack of passive standing (falta de legitimación ad causan pasiva), and requested that the claim be dismissed in all its aspects with the payment of both costs and the respective interest to be borne by the plaintiff. (f. 200-211 court file) 7.- The Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación raised the defenses of lack of right and lack of passive standing (falta de legitimación ad causan pasiva). It opposed the plaintiff's compensation claims, as well as the award of costs (f. 147-148 court file) 8.- At the oral trial held on December 7, 2015, the testimony of the witness Nombre126859 was received. For purposes of calculating the time limit, it must be taken into consideration that December 11 was the day of the judicial employee, which is why it was declared a holiday, and that December 19 was the last working day for collective vacation, returning to work on January 4, 2016.
9.- All legal requirements have been met in the proceedings and no defects capable of producing nullity or defenselessness of the parties are observed. This matter was declared complex in accordance with article 111 of the Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo and 47 of the Reglamento Autónomo de Organización y Servicio de la Jurisdicción Contenciosa Administrativa y Civil de Hacienda. Following deliberation, this judgment is rendered within the time limit, "By Unanimity." Drafted by Judge García Carballo
CONSIDERANDO
I.- PROVEN FACTS The following probative list is deemed proven:
1.- In the cadastral map (plano catastrado) registered on March 21, 2000 under number H-618538-2000, it is indicated that Mr. Nombre148038 was the owner of a property located in the province of Heredia, cantón de Belén, distrito Asunción, which has an area of 1048.82 m2, as well as a dwelling. A stamp was affixed on the map indicating "For new constructions, a social interest land affectation shall apply for the concept of spring (naciente) protection zone or any type of outcrop (on the northern boundary), in accordance with article 33 of the Ley Forestal and articles 8, 31, 149 of the Ley de Aguas and related laws, this to achieve conditions of human safety and reduce environmental impact according to article 11 of the Ley de Biodiversidad (Precautionary Principle or in Dubio Pronatura)." The property is located in the Province of Heredia, cantón de Belén, distrito Asunción, bounded on the north and on the west by Scott Paper Company, on the south by Nombre148039, and on the east by public street with 30.72 meters of frontage, measures 1048.82 m2. (f. 20, 22 court file) 2.- In the agreement adopted at Sesión Ordinaria N° 67 -2007 of November 6, 2007, the Concejo Municipal de Belén took cognizance of the petition presented by Corporación DACAR CF S.A., which indicated that on the property it owns, registration number Placa29543 (cadastral map Placa29544), on the northern sector eastward, runs a stormwater pipe built by the Municipalidad de Belén. That a legal easement (servidumbre) was never constituted over said property, but rather it was done de facto and for the benefit of the community, limiting its use to cattle grazing, when its nature is for construction. In light of the foregoing, it considers that the local government must compensate it. It was agreed unanimously at Sesión Ordinaria N° 67-2007 held on November 6, 2007, article 28 held on November 6, 2007, to refer the request to the Unidad de Obras for its analysis and recommendation. (f. 1-2 administrative file) 3.- The Dirección Operativo y de Desarrollo Urbano sent memorandum UO-018-2008 of January 18, 2008 to the Concejo Municipal, in which it stated that after conducting an inspection on the property, it was verified regarding property cadastral map H-618538-2000, "1… current passage of stormwater by surface runoff (escurrimiento superficial), in addition to the existence of a permanent water flow of natural origin (spring (naciente)) that affect part of the property in question. 2. Given the topographic conditions in the area, and according to what was indicated by neighbors and municipal officials who know the site and its evolution, surface runoff waters caused by rains have constituted a de facto passage over the years. Furthermore, the area has always presented the existence of underground waters whose outcrop has generated a natural permanent channel of runoff, affecting the lands or properties of the sector, a situation that is not verified on the submitted cadastral map by the topographical professional. 4. In that sense, and due to the topographical characteristics, the runoff of stormwater (product of precipitation) is directed through the same runoff channel of the waters of natural origin. 5. It was also possible to verify the existence within the property in question of infrastructure works whose purpose was to improve the capture and channeling of waters through the property (grate-type catch basin and concrete pipe whose approximate diameter is 60 cm). There is no reliable record or information on who executed said works. 6. Therefore, it is the criterion of this Unit to consider that the current runoff of stormwater through the property of Mr. and Mrs. Nombre148037 was constituted in fact by the prevailing topographic conditions in the area and the development of the area itself. And that at some point, an attempt was made to improve the functioning and reduce the affectation of the land through the construction of small channeling and water conveyance works …" (f. 4-5 administrative file, the underlining is not from the original) 4.- The Dirección Jurídica of the Municipalidad de Belén presented the recommendations on the case of the plaintiff company on July 29, 2008 and concluded: "…In effect, due to the topography of the area, surface runoff caused by rains has constituted a de facto water passage through the land in question. There is even a contribution of natural waters of permanent origin that begin on adjacent lands and flow through the underground pipe that crosses the property of the complaining company. It is important to note that according to what was recorded in the inspections carried out, in front of the land it can be seen that there are infrastructure works within the property (grate-type catch basin and concrete pipe of approximately 60 cm.), whose purpose is to improve the capture and channeling of waters through the property. This situation denotes that the land bears a burden for the benefit of the other lands and buildings in the sector, since underground waters flow that drain through the ditches or drains located on Dirección17936 and even coming from other roads and adjacent sectors. In the same way, water of natural origin that flows from adjacent lands runs through said underground pipe. Another relevant aspect that should not be overlooked is that on the adjacent land on the northern boundary of the property in question, owned by the company Scott Paper (Nombre141584), a spring (naciente) is located, which has an impact on this case on the protection zone that must be respected… On the other hand, it is necessary to clarify that regarding the limitation or burden borne by the property, due to the passage of stormwater by surface runoff (escurrimiento superficial), it has not been constituted as an administrative or legal easement (servidumbre), nor registered. It is a situation that has been consolidated over time and due to the need to avoid the presence of floods, and so that constructions and infrastructure do not collapse due to the saturation of the land in the winter or rainy season (… ) Conclusions and Recommendations ( …) 2) That the land owned by the company Corporación Dacar CF S.A. is affected by the current passage of stormwater by artificial runoff originating in the sector of Dirección17936 and adjacent areas and additionally by the passage of a permanent water flow of natural origin coming from other lands. This passage of two types of water is channeled by means of an underground pipe that crosses the property to drain into a storm drain. 3) That in the present case, an appraisal or expert report must be requested to define the possible infringement of the property right by the passage of stormwater from the sector, through the land owned by the requesting company, and by the passage of natural waters coming from a tributary that runs through neighboring properties, until both types of water cross the property in question underground. Furthermore, the incidence that the delimitation of the protection zone (article 33 of the Ley Forestal) may have on said land must be assessed due to the springs (nacientes) that exist on the neighboring or adjacent land on the northern boundary (property owned by Scott Paper Company) (…) All for the purpose of establishing an objective and comprehensive assessment in the present case to determine what damages must be compensated to the registered owner." (f.12- 16 administrative file) 5.- In the sketch prepared by the Municipalidad de Belén, with survey date April 23, 2008, it was recorded that the property of the plaintiff company is crossed by a concrete pipe of 73.66 cm. from east to west, which discharges into a storm drain, in addition to having a manhole at the beginning of the pipe facing the public street. The area is established as 274.47 m2 (f. 21 administrative file) 6.- The Concejo Municipal at Sesión Extraordinaria N° 53-2008 of September 4, 2008 agreed to refer the report of the Dirección Jurídica to legal advisor Luis Álvarez for his analysis and recommendation. (f. 23 -27 administrative file) 7.- On October 17, 2008, Lic. Luis Álvarez sent report MB-079-2008 to the Concejo Municipal, in which he concluded that he shares what was expressed by the legal advisory, and that therefore it would be possible to compensate the individual following the procedure of previously requesting an appraisal or expert report to define the possible infringement of the property right by the passage of storm and natural waters coming from the tributary. However, he disagrees regarding the possibility of compensating the protection zone area, in application of article 33 of the Ley Forestal, since regarding protection areas it is not appropriate. (f. 29-32 administrative file) 8.- In the land use certification of the property cadastral map H-618538-2000 corresponding to the procedure of October 26, 2009, the Municipalidad de Belén indicated that the non-permitted uses were: industry, warehouses, truck parking and in general any use that has a potential risk of contamination, unhealthiness and insecurity, commercial establishments that cause nuisance to the neighborhood, such as bars, cantinas, dance halls, billiard halls, vehicle repair shops and similar. As requirements, it was established that the minimum area would not be less than 150 m2, and the minimum frontage shall not be less than 8.00 m2, the front setback (retiro frontal) shall not be less than 2 meters from a 3-meter national road, the maximum building coverage (cobertura) 70% of the lot area. In addition, it was recorded as a note that the property is affected by the current passage of stormwater and surface runoff (escorrentía superficial), by the passage of a permanent flow of natural origin coming from other lands, a passage that is channeled by means of an underground pipe that crosses the property to drain into a storm drain. (f. 34 administrative file) 9.- The Área Operativa y de Desarrollo Urbano of the Municipality requested from the Ministerio de Hacienda through official letter DO.030-2009 of October 26, 2009, the appraisal of the property, for the purpose of using the property as an environmental reserve property. Through official letter SV-ATH-3-2010 of January 12, 2010, the Coordinator of the Área de Valoración of the Ministerio de Hacienda, Engineer Vargas Murillo, reported that the appraiser expert Nombre148040. Nombre148041, after investigating the values of the area, consulting the homogeneous zones map, in addition to taking into account the characteristics of the area, the land tenure regime, the socioeconomic characteristics of its inhabitants, the nature of the parent property and the lot to be segregated, access to services in the area, location in front of a public street, use restrictions and current use, finally determined that in that part of the property the value was ₡ 35,000.00 colones per square meter, and that the 274.47 m2 area of the easement (servidumbre) had a total value of ₡9,606,450 colones. The appraiser makes the observation that the present report did not consider the affectation due to the presence of the pipe for stormwater drainage, by virtue of the fact that the pipe is not registered as a lien, and therefore can be removed at the convenience of the owner. Nor were severance damages (daño al remanente) considered, since given the characteristics and location of the lot, the affectation to the parent property covered is totally covered by the established value. (f. 37-42, administrative file) 10.- Through a note dated March 11, 2010, the representative of the plaintiff company expressed his disagreement with the valuation of his property carried out by the Ministerio de Hacienda, and asked the Municipality to conduct a review of the value. (f. 43 administrative file) 11.- In the inspection of the property carried out by the same expert on May 20, 2010, considering the same factors stated in the previous inspection, he established a unit value of ₡45,000 colones m2 over the area, and gave the 274.47 m2 area a value of ₡ 12,351,150 colones. (f. 47- 50 administrative file) 12.- On June 24, 2010, the representative of the plaintiff company requested from the Concejo Municipal de Belén the authorization for the purchase of that area of land that affects his property, and stated that he was in agreement with its value, authorizing the Mayor to carry out the registration in the Registry of the stormwater easement (servidumbre de agua pluvial). (f. 53 administrative file) 13.- The Concejo Municipal at Sesión Ordinaria N° 51-2010 held on August 24, 2010 and ratified on September 7, 2010, agreed "to reject the request submitted by the representative of the company Corporación DACAR F.S S.A., regarding the purchase of an area of its property." (f.60 -61 administrative file) 14.- On December 21, 2010, the Dirección General de Tributación Directa Órgano de Normalización Técnica, in relation to the criterion on how to treat the protection areas of rivers, streams (quebradas), brooks, lagoons, irrigation ditches (acequias), captured or uncaptured springs (nacientes), for valuation purposes, indicated that official letter SDVM-01-2009 of the Órgano de Normalización Técnica exists, which responds to the foregoing and indicates "…it is the criterion of this body that for valuation purposes for the Property Tax, a value of zero colones must be taken for said areas", however, the criterion is expanded in accordance with article 5 subsection b) where it says: "Properties that constitute hydrographic basins, understood as those lands that serve as protection for water springs (nacientes) and that are an integral part of said basins as defined by the Ley Forestal, the Ley de Aguas and the Ley del Ambiente… For such purposes, what is mentioned in those laws must be considered, and included in the criterion established by the ONT". (f. 131 court file) 15.- The Dirección de Investigación y Gestión Hídrica of SENASA, in report DIGH-997-11 of October 19, 2011, indicated in relation to the land use of the protection zones for springs (nacientes) and wells located in Cantón de Belén, that there is extensive regulation (Ley de Aguas N°276, Ley General de Agua Potable N° 1634 and Ley Forestal), that protects the areas surrounding springs (nacientes), declaring them a domain reserve in favor of the nation or protection areas. These zones may have different characteristics, and the distance will depend in some cases on a fixed radius, and in others on each specific case, in order to ensure the conservation of water quality. Finally, it indicates that it will be up to the Municipalities to establish the guidelines to determine the minimum necessary requirements that the existing infrastructure within the protection zones must meet, in order to guarantee the protection of water quality. (f. 134-137 court file) 16.- The Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía Dirección de Agua in the report of February 11, 2012, indicated that in the Province of Heredia, Cantón de Belén, Distrito de Asunción, there is a source, at initial latitude 218.069, final latitude 218.069, initial long 517.121, final long 517.121. (f. 214 court file) 17.- In the report issued on February 23, 2012, the appraiser expert Nombre148040. indicated that the easement (servidumbre) measures 174.25 m2, a total width of 6.00 m, and a length of 29.7 m (in culvert). In the sketch, he recorded the existence of the pipe and culvert. He indicated that the remnant land north of the easement (servidumbre) has a surface area of 148.41 m2 and a frontage to public street of 8.23 m. (f. 111 court file) 18.- The appraiser expert Nombre72375 issued the following considerations on February 27, 2012, in relation to the areas surrounding the property registration number Placa29545: It has a topography from slightly undulating to strongly undulating, Typic peluster type soils, with sticky and adhesive clays, some lands retain their agricultural use. The residential development has medium-finish single-story houses. It has all public services, and government offices, banks, businesses such as supermarkets, restaurants, hardware stores among others, a train station and buses to San José and Heredia. In relation to the property, he noted: It has a trapezoidal shape, a measurement of 1,048.82 m2, and a medium-finish dwelling (which is not valued). To set the value of the land, the area and location of the strip, the land and the infrastructure, the commercial values in the area, the information from the Ministerio de Hacienda and the Mapas de Valores de Zonas Homogéneas of the Municipalidad de Belén were taken into consideration. Having valued the foregoing, as well as the fact that the total width of the easement (servidumbre) was 6.00m and the total area was 174.25 m2, he concluded that the price of the strip of land that supports the easement (servidumbre) amounts to ₡ 104,000.00/m2 for a total of ₡ 33,556,640.0. (f. 104-109 court file) 19.- The Unidad de Catastro de San Antonio de Belén, as the reason for the approval (visado) of map N° 1354, owned by corporación DACAR CF S.A, for the project complete property of folio real N° 4-034912-000, part of property of folio real N° 4062450-000, issued the resolution of ten hours nineteen minutes on March 19, 2012, which indicates "First: That the property folio real Placa29538° of the partido de Heredia complies with the zoning established by the Plan Regulador of Cantón de Belén (high-density residential zone). Second: That in accordance with article N° 36 of the Ley de Planificación Urbana, the plot of interest property registration folio real Placa29539° of the Partido de Heredia complies with the infrastructure works in front of the public road. Third: That for new constructions, an affectation of said land shall apply for the concept of spring (naciente) protection zone or any type of outcrop (on the northern boundary), in accordance with article 33 of the Ley Forestal and Articles 8, 31, 149 of the Ley de Aguas and Related Laws, this to achieve conditions of human safety and reduce environmental impact according to article 11 of the Ley Biodiversidad (preventive criterion and precautionary principle or indubio pro natura). Fourth: That for the case of remodeling, without expansion of area, this must be submitted for prior consideration, mainly for analysis of aspects related to safety and health. In accordance with the powers granted to the Unidad de Catastro (…) we are allowed to certify that the approval request N° 1354 is admissible for the foregoing reasons." (f. 244 court file, the bold is not from the original) 20.- The Oficina de Alajuela of the Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación in official letter OA-556 of March 23, 2012, conducted an inspection on Dirección17937 in the properties located in la Asunción de Belén, geographic coordinates 218067 and 517123, direction 100 meters south and 25 meters west of Dirección17938 and indicated "That at the site there is an uncaptured permanent flow spring (naciente) (as indicated by one of the owners), the adjacent lands that are a protection area are occupied by dwellings and access roads, there are only some guititi and caimito trees, as well as banana and china plants in a reduced diameter of approximately 10 meters. For the purpose of complying with our duties and based on the Ley General de la Administración Pública and the Ley Forestal N° 7575 article 33, which establishes the protection areas for springs (nacientes), (the areas bordering permanent springs (nacientes), defined within a radius of one hundred meters measured horizontally), we proceed to request the following: That upon receipt of this communication, this Municipality abstain from granting construction permits or works within the diameter defined by law, for the protection of this or other permanent springs (nacientes). Otherwise, we will be obliged to take the appropriate legal measures." (f. 167 court file) 21.- On August 20, 2013, the Dirección Área Técnica Operativa y Desarrollo Urbano issued official letter DO.0200-2013, which indicates that on lands of the Kimberly Clark company, there is the permanent spring (naciente) NAC-2633, and that the protection zone corresponds to one hundred meters, hence both the owner of the property and the adjoining owners must adopt the corresponding measures for its protection. (f.
262-263, 271-273 court file) 22.- The SENARA Directorate of Water Research, in General Opinion Senara File 65-13-DIGH (undated), in response to the request for a technical pronouncement regarding the assessment of the permanent or intermittent character of the water outcrop located on the property of Nombre141584, and its relationship with property H-959690-2004 registered in the name of Nombre148038, stated: That the spring (naciente) is permanent in character, that various works are located within its protection area, and made several recommendations to the Municipality of the area, such as taking actions to prevent the discharge of soapy water into the channel, channeling it through a pipe over an impermeable bed, and protecting the vegetation cover (cobertura vegetal) on the lot located adjacent to the road in the area of the spring (naciente), among others. (f. 265-270 court file) 23.- The Director of the Operational Technical Area of the Municipality of Belén issued a certification on December 2, 2013, stating that the property registered under folio real 34912-000, cadastral map H-618538-2000, owned by Corporación DACAR S F S.A., is located within the protection zone of the permanent spring (naciente) Nac-2633, which has a protection radius of one hundred meters. The property is located in a medium-vulnerability zone, but because it is immersed in the protection zone, the limitation of the protection radius applies (Art. 33 Forest Law). (f. 321-322 court file) 24.- The company Corporación Dacar Nombre147 F S.A., registered in the National Registry on December 4, 2012, the property under registration number Placa29540°, which has as its chain of title the property Placa29541°. The property bears a validation period for measurement rectification that began on December 4, 2006, and expired on December 4, 2006 (which affected the parent property). (f. 20 court file) 25.- The UEN-Systems Optimization–GAM of the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA) certified on an unspecified date that the spring (naciente) in question (initial latitude 218.062, final latitude 218.062, initial longitude 517.391, final longitude 517.391) is not utilized by that institute for public supply. (f. 362-365 court file) 26.- The National System of Conservation Areas of the Central Volcanic Mountain Range (SINAC) issued official letter SINAC-ACCVC-OA-146-2014 of February 7, 2014, which stated that during a visit to the spring (naciente) located on the property of Nombre141584, it was observed that at a distance of 23.50 meters from it, bordering on the north, there is a lot with landfill without being able to specify its date (although it seems old), measuring 13.30 meters wide and 26 meters long; apparently, there is a sewer for a watercourse under the landfill in an east-west direction. On the western side of the landfill is the rest of the property, apparently belonging to the same owner (Corporación DACAR CF S.A). (f. 400-401 court file) 27.- During the oral trial, witness Nombre126859 stated that he knows the property, that he lives in the area, and affirms that an aqueduct easement (servidumbre) runs through it. (statement at oral trial) II.- UNPROVEN FACTS 1.- The Municipality did not prove with pertinent evidence that it had obtained authorization from the former owner of the property to establish the easement (servidumbre), that it had his tolerance, or that it had paid the corresponding compensation.
2.- The plaintiff did not prove damage to the remainder, nor that the easement (servidumbre) had rendered nugatory the enjoyment of the attributes of its property, in order to justify an expropriation.
3.- The plaintiff did not demonstrate that the property is frozen or disabled by the defendant Municipality, or that it cannot be used according to its natural economic and productive purpose.
III.- PROCEDURAL FRAMEWORK The company Corporación Dacar CF S.A alleges that on December 4, 2006, it acquired by sale the property registered under number Placa29543, located in the province of Heredia, canton of Belén, district of la Asunción, measuring one thousand forty meters and eighty-two square decimeters. It points out that a wastewater and stormwater easement (servidumbre) runs through it, which is not registered in the Public Registry, and which was constituted more than twenty years ago by the Municipality of Belén, without having carried out any expropriation process or having paid the value of that land. The easement (servidumbre), it alleges, affected the value of the property, causing damage to the remainder, since a section of the property located between the easement and the north boundary, comprising one hundred nineteen meters, was rendered useless, because the Local Government does not grant any municipal construction permits, since under the Regulatory Plan no permits are granted on lands smaller than 150 meters. Applying Articles 190 and 191 of the General Law on Public Administration, it claims the responsibility of the Municipal entity and petitions that it be declared that the property registered under number Placa29543 is affected by a water conveyance easement (servidumbre), by the Municipality of Belén, without a due administrative process of expropriation and compensation in favor of its owner. It maintains that it must be paid the amount determined by appraisal for the areas affected by the expropriation, which includes the zone crossed by the easement, as well as the area located between the easement and the north boundary of the property, because it rendered it useless – damage to the remainder. It also requests payment for the expropriated lands, and for the losses and damages suffered by the property, originating from the de facto expropriation and the non-payment of compensation, the payment of interest generated by the non-payment of the expropriation, calculated from the date the Municipality took possession of the lands to date. The payment of the remainder, because the easement crosses the entire property, affects its commercial value, and renders a section of it useless. The Municipality of Belén maintains its case theory that the previous owner of the property agreed many years ago to the piping of the natural water passage that crossed the property, so that the watercourse could be directed and the property not be damaged, discharging them into a stormwater well. That in this case, there was an act of tolerance by the property owner, who allowed the installation of the pipe because the works were going to benefit the property, which is why no expropriation or contracting process was carried out to acquire the strip of land where the pipe was installed; for that reason, there is no easement (servidumbre) constituted and registered, and no expropriation procedure has been processed to acquire the property. It alleges that the ten-year prescription provided in the Expropriations Law (No. 7495) has operated, and that the argument put forward by the plaintiff that the easement was continuous is not receivable, since the cited period was completed. It states that the water passage is located in the northern sector of the land, specifically on the east-west boundary, hence the remaining area of the property is not affected, because if the property measures 1040.82 m2, and the pipe comprises 26.65 m in length by 3 m setback from the boundary, this amounts to 80 m2, leaving 960 m2 available for use. It adds that it is not true that the land is frozen or disabled, but rather that it can be used according to its natural economic and productive purpose, but that according to Article 4.3 of the Regulatory Plan for the Canton of Belén, the minimum area is 150 m2 and the minimum frontage is eight linear meters, and therefore it is not viable to segregate a 119-meter lot. Finally, it alleged during the oral trial that the property is within the protection area of a water spring (naciente), a situation that must be considered when setting the value per square meter of the land. The State stated that the compensation claim should be directed solely against the Municipality of Belén, because the proceedings concern the constitution of an easement (servidumbre) by that entity on the plaintiff's land, which is why it is the latter that corresponds to the technical defense of its interests, as well as the eventual payment of the compensation claimed. Regarding the payment requested by the plaintiff, it refers to Article 33 of the Forest Law and points out that because the property is located within the protection area of a spring (naciente), the social limitation borne by the property is not subject to compensation, because it does not prevent the use of the land or the exercise of property rights, nor the development of other activities compatible with forest use. The National Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA) maintained that it has no involvement in this matter, but rather that it is an issue completely outside its competence and organic specialty, since the compensation for the stormwater easement is a matter that corresponds exclusively to the Municipality of Belén. It clarifies that the fact that a spring (naciente) exists near the property does not imply its responsibility, because in light of the provisions of Article 31 of the Water Law, its participation is limited to springs (nacientes) that are captured for public supply, a situation that does not occur in this case, since it is a permanently flowing spring (naciente) on private property with no public use. It indicates that in accordance with Article 33 of the Forest Law, there is an area that must be respected, as part of the limitations borne by the property, which are not subject to compensation, but rather weigh on the property as an environmental limitation. It notes that the limitation is not an expropriation, nor does it imply a singular or specific sacrifice of the property. The National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) points out that in the present process, no administrative conduct dictated by SINAC is reproached, nor any omissions in which it might have incurred, but rather that the entire claim is directed against the Municipality of Belén. It indicates that in the area there is an uncaptured permanent-flow spring (naciente), so the Conservation Area requested the Municipality of Belén, based on the General Law on Public Administration and Forest Law No. 7575, Article 33, which establishes the protection area for springs (nacientes), to refrain from granting construction permits or works within the diameter defined by law for the protection of this and other permanent springs. It adds that social interest limitations can be imposed, in defense of the environment, that Protection Areas constitute legitimate limitations, and that they are not compensable.
III.- REGARDING THE SPECIFIC CASE.
The plaintiff company states that it acquired ownership of the property registered under number Placa29540°, having registered said property in its name in the National Registry since December 4, 2012. From a registry standpoint, the property bears a validation period for measurement rectification that began on December 4, 2006, and had an expiration date of December 4, 2006 (same that affected the parent property registration number Placa29541). In the cadastral map in the name of Mr. Nombre148038, registered on March 20, 2000, the existence of an easement (servidumbre) affecting the property was not recorded; however, the plaintiff states that more than twenty years ago, the Municipality of Belén built a wastewater and stormwater easement (servidumbre) on said property, without having carried out any expropriation process or paying the owner the value of the expropriated and affected lands. It adds that the easement crosses the property from front to back, that it is currently functioning, and that it affects the property's value, causing damage to the remainder, since one hundred nineteen square meters have been rendered useless, hence the Municipality does not grant it a construction permit, as constructions on lands smaller than one hundred fifty square meters are prohibited; the property has a measure of 1048.82 mtrs2, and a dwelling house is located on it. Furthermore, the property is within the protection area of a permanent-flow water spring (naciente).
IV.- REGARDING THE EASEMENT AND EXPROPRIATION When formulating its claim, the plaintiff party refers interchangeably to two concepts that are different, and which, in the opinion of this Chamber, must be clarified before addressing the merits of this matter. In light of the above, we must clarify that property is a real right, enshrined in Article 45 of the Political Constitution. Among the main attributes of property, we find the right of use, enjoyment, transformation, and alienation, and other secondary ones among which we can cite possession, defense and exclusion, restitution, and compensation. Moreover, encumbrances, limitations, or charges can be constituted on property; among these latter is the easement (servidumbre), which is constituted on a property and imposes on its owner the obligation to bear a charge that includes obligations not to do and to tolerate, all for the benefit of a third party or another property; for this reason, it is affirmed that the benefited party acquires the possibility of making use of the property, but constrained to the purposes stipulated in the constitution thereof. The easement (servidumbre) falls upon the servient property or tenement, adheres to it permanently, and shares its fate, being accessory; if the property is sold, it is done bearing that encumbrance, and the same applies if it is seized, mortgaged, or transferred. According to doctrinal classification, easements (servidumbres) can be natural, legal, voluntary, apparent or non-apparent, continuous or discontinuous. For its part, the Civil Code in its Article 376 conceptualizes it as a restriction on the freedom of a property, but one that does not deprive its owner of the dominion exercised over it, although it does cause a detriment to the property bearing it. Easements (servidumbres) are constituted by agreement, testament, or by the simple use by the owner of the dominant tenement and the tolerance of the servient owner for the acquisitive prescription period; some are constituted naturally, others originate in the law and their purpose is public utility, among them are the so-called aqueduct easements for the conveyance of water destined for a public service and also for the benefit of private parties, which additionally have a continuous nature. At this point, it is appropriate to establish that the constitution of an easement (servidumbre) is dissimilar to the figure of expropriation. In expropriation, the State, using an expropriatory power and for a legally declared public interest, deprives a subject of their property right, upon prior payment of the corresponding compensation – just price. In these cases, the guarantee of inviolability of property yields, and the owner is deprived of the property or part thereof. In the case of expropriation, the value of the property or right is paid, as it becomes property of the State for the public purpose for which it was intended, and damage to the remainder is compensated when partial expropriation renders the natural or economic use of the affected property impossible. Damage to the remainder is an economic compensation for an expropriation or easement (servidumbre) imposed on a specific individual or legal entity to carry out a project or work of public interest, intended to consider the effect that the expropriation or easement will cause to the rest of the property or right. The foregoing is based on Article 45 of the Political Constitution which, as relevant, establishes: "Property is inviolable; no one may be deprived of their own except for legally proven public interest, upon prior compensation in accordance with the law…". The easement (servidumbre), contrary to expropriation, does not deprive the owner of their property, but rather, as already explained, limits it. When the constitution of an easement in favor of the administration is involved, the procedure provided in the Expropriations Law applies, which in Article 13 establishes that the provisions of that law shall be applicable when the State intends to constitute easements (servidumbres) on property not its own, unless said easement substantially affects the availability of the property, in which case the integral expropriation of the property must be executed. The regulation of this figure in that law demonstrates the legislator's intent that the constitution of an easement on a property be preceded by a public interest to satisfy and that the payment of a just price occur. From the foregoing, we can affirm that the constitution of an easement does not always entail expropriation, for it would only take place if the imposition of that charge or obligation renders the owner's use and enjoyment of their property right nugatory. Thus, when a legal easement is constituted on a property, ownership thereof continues to reside in the registered owner, who may exercise the attributes inherent to this right over it, only while bearing the imposed charge.
V.- ON THE MERITS In the case under examination, the constitution of the stormwater and wastewater easement (servidumbre) on the plaintiff's property is an uncontroverted fact; its existence is recognized by the Municipality of Belén, an entity that did not refute its authorship thereof; however, it cannot be confirmed registrally because it was never registered by the Municipality of Belén, despite affecting the property right, and it was the obligation of the local entity to register the encumbrance on the margin of the affected property and inform third parties about it. The foregoing contravened the provisions of Article 459, subsection 2) of the Civil Code, which as relevant states: "The following shall be registered in the Property Registry: …2) Those in which rights of usufruct, use, habitation, easements (servidumbres) and any other real rights other than mortgage are constituted, recognized, modified, or extinguished…" (bold is not from the original); for its part, Article 461 of the same code states: "Easements (servidumbres) shall be noted in the property registration of the dominant tenement and the servient tenement." In the same sense, the Public Registry Regulation in its Article 49 provides that documents constituting, modifying, or extinguishing easement (servidumbre) rights shall be registrable. The foregoing makes sense, since according to the principle of registration, for an act of alienation or encumbrance of real rights to produce effects against a third party, it must be recorded in the Public Registry of Property, by virtue of the declarative effect of registration. The Local Government did not justify the reason why it did not register the easement, nor its omission in paying the value thereof. The sole argument it alleges to justify its delay lies in the supposed tolerance of the then owner of the property; however, it did not prove with suitable evidence, despite bearing the burden of proof, that it had the authorization or express or tacit consent of the then property owner to build the pipework, hence the tolerance it alleges as a defense is not receivable. The absence of the property owner's consent or of the procedure provided in the Expropriations Law in case of opposition by the property owner leads us to conclude that we are facing an act with no valid title (vía de hecho), due to the absence of an enabling title that justified the referenced work, which even twenty years later crosses the plaintiff's property. Regarding the measure of the easement, both the appraiser expert Engineer Nombre148040 and the appraiser expert Nombre148042 agree that the easement measures 174.25 m2, a total width of 6.00 mtrs. The other argument alleged to justify the non-payment of compensation relates to the location of the property within the protection zone of a ravine. In relation to the land use of spring and well protection zones, the SENARA Directorate of Water Research and Management has extensively indicated that there is extensive regulation, citing among others: Water Law No. 276, General Law of Drinking Water No. 1634, and Forest Law, which protects the areas surrounding springs (nacientes), declaring them a reserve of domain in favor of the nation or protection areas; the protection distance in some cases corresponds to a fixed radius, and in other cases will depend on each specific case and its characteristics, but always with the purpose of ensuring the conservation of water quality. It affirms that it will be up to the Municipalities to establish the guidelines to determine the minimum necessary requirements that existing infrastructure within the protection zones must meet, in order to guarantee the protection of water quality (report DIGH-997-11 of October 19, 2011, which refers to those located in the Canton of Belén). The National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), in its official letter, conducted an inspection on Dirección17937 at the properties located in la Asunción de Belén, geographical coordinates 218067 and 517123, 100 meters south and 25 meters west of Dirección17938, and indicated in official letter OA-556 of March 23, 2012: "That at the site, there is an uncaptured permanent-flow spring (naciente) (as indicated by one of the female owners), the adjacent lands, which are a protection area, are occupied by dwellings and access roads; there are only some guitite and caimito trees, as well as banana and china plants within a reduced diameter of approximately 10 meters. For the purpose of fulfilling our duties and based on the General Law on Public Administration and Forest Law No. 7575, Article 33, which establishes the protection areas for springs (nacientes) (the areas bordering permanent springs, defined within a radius of one hundred meters measured horizontally), we hereby request the following: That from receipt of this document, this Municipality shall refrain from granting construction permits or works within the diameter defined by law for the protection of this or other permanent springs. Otherwise, we will be obliged to take the corresponding legal measures." This situation was recorded in the certification issued by the Director of the Operational Technical Area of the Municipality of Belén on December 2, 2013, which indicates that the property registration number Placa29542°, cadastral map Placa29544, owned by the plaintiff company, is located in the protection zone of the permanent spring (naciente) Nac-2633, which has a protection radius of one hundred meters, located in a medium-vulnerability zone (at 33.50 meters on the north boundary). Article 33 of Forest Law No. 7575 establishes that the following are protection areas: "…a) The areas bordering permanent springs, defined within a radius of one hundred meters measured horizontally…". These zones, due to their proximity to the spring (naciente), suffer a legitimate social interest affectation, called a limitation, which entails for property owners a burden to do, not do, and tolerate State actions aimed at water protection, and which are furthermore not compensable because they do not imply an expropriation, as indicated by the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Chamber (Constitutional Chamber No. 4205-96 of 2:33 p.m. on August 20, 1996, ruling cited by the parties). It is precisely for the protection of this essential water resource that Local Governments are obliged to regulate and restrict its use, on each of the properties located within this situation. Additionally, for tax purposes, as indicated by the Technical Standardization Body for Direct Taxation, for valuation purposes for the Real Estate Tax, a value of zero colones must be taken for such areas. The representation of the State, the Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA), SINAC, and the Municipality, at the oral trial, put forward Article 33 of the Forest Law in their defense and alleged that the protection areas constitute legitimate limitations of a general nature that should not be compensated, and they agree that the limitation suffered by the plaintiff's property is not subject to redress, because it does not prevent the use of the land. The Director of the Operational Technical Area of the Municipality of Belén issued a certification on December 2, 2013, stating that the property registered under folio real 34912-000, cadastral map H-618538-2000, owned by Corporación DACAR S F S.A, is located in the protection zone of the permanent spring (naciente) Nac-2633, which has a protection radius of one hundred meters. The property is located in a medium-vulnerability zone, but because it is immersed in the protection zone, the limitation of the protection radius applies to it. The foregoing body of evidence allows us to conclude that the property is indeed additionally affected by that social limitation for purposes of new construction. However, this Chamber deems it necessary to clarify that the compensation requested by the plaintiff party does not lie in the limitation imposed on the property due to its proximity to the spring (naciente) and being within its protection area, but rather what it claims is redress for the Local Government having constituted a de facto easement of underground piping for water conveyance, without the owner's authorization, the due compensation, and constitution in the Registry. In light of the foregoing, the argument put forward is not applicable to the specific case.
VI.- ON PRESCRIPTION The representative of the Municipality alleges the defense of the exception of prescription, invoking Article 63 of the Expropriations Law, which establishes a prescriptive period of ten years, although concomitantly invokes Article 198 of the General Law on Public Administration – liability. This collegiate body holds the thesis that, as damages derived from the constitution of a de facto easement are claimed in this case, the special law governing the matter must be applied for the claim thereof. But it must also be taken into consideration that in this case we are in the presence of an easement with a continued effect, since it currently continues to cross the property owned by the plaintiff and to convey the stormwater and natural waters crossing from other neighboring properties and its own. The permanence of this easement was proven through the appraisal carried out by the expert from the Appraisal Area of the Ministry of Finance, on January 12, 2010, who was able to verify the presence of piping for the drainage of stormwater and surface runoff. Through the land-use certification issued for the property, issued by the Municipality itself, which expressly indicates that the property is affected by the current passage of those waters. Through the testimony of witness Mr. Nombre126859, who spoke about the current existence of the easement, a situation known to him because he lives in the area, and through the expert opinion rendered by appraiser expert Nombre148040. Nombre148040 on February 23, 2012, which corroborated its existence. In light of the foregoing, the time when it was built is irrelevant, because if it currently continues to operate and affect the plaintiff's property, his right would not be affected by the prescriptive period. The First Chamber goes further and holds that the prescriptive period does not operate in these cases: "VIII… From both provisions, it is clearly inferred that for ICE to be able to constitute compulsory easements for the laying of electrical and telecommunications lines, in the event of opposition from the owner of the affected property, it must necessarily follow the expropriation procedure provided in said regulation. Obviously, if the landowner agrees, such a proceeding is unnecessary. However, pursuant to the provisions of Article 23 thereof, in relation to canons 455 and 461 of the Civil Code, even in this scenario, and for the purposes of third parties, they must be noted in the property registration of the servient tenement. It is easy to conclude that the defendant Institution cannot invoke, as an acquisitive title for the land where this type of encumbrance is located, the mere passage of time – adverse possession (usucapión) – as was done in the indicated official letter, without infringing the aforementioned principle of legality, as well as the previously transcribed norms…" (First Chamber No. 966-F-2005 of fourteen hours ten minutes on December 15, 2005, underlining is not from the original). Based on the arguments set forth above, the referenced defense is rejected.
VII.- ON THE EXCEPTION OF LACK OF PASSIVE LEGITIMATION To bring an action, the parties must possess the capacity to be a party in a specific process, and be specially linked to the object of the litigation; if they meet these two requirements, their claim on the merits may be examined. Active legitimation should be understood as the suitability to perform acts exercising the power of action, and refers to the subject who would be entitled to demand the satisfaction of a specific provision or object. Passive legitimation is conceptualized as the suitability to bear the exercise of said power, and legitimation "ad processum" has been assimilated to the procedural capacity of the subjects.
For procedural doctrine, procedural legal capacity and procedural capacity to act are two abstract conditions referring, the first, to the ownership of the rights, burdens, and responsibilities of the process, and the second, to the performance of procedural acts and receipt of their effects, which are recognized and denied based on physical qualities or aptitudes and legal qualities. The subject who possesses procedural legal capacity and procedural capacity to act is in a position to initiate a process or to defend themselves in it, making use of the general power to bring an action, that is, to promote a process. As for standing to sue (legitimación ad causam), this does refer to standing as a requirement for the exercise of the power of action and affects the efficacy of the process. Unlike capacity to be a party (legitimación ad processum), this is not a validity requirement, so it should not be confused with it. In the administrative litigation process, standing, whether active or passive, belongs to those who invoke the affectation of legitimate interests or subjective rights in relation to the litigious object, which is none other than the claim made regarding an act or provision emanating from the Administration. Thus, if one claims to be the holder of an injury or breach of a subjective right, one can make use of all the claims that Administrative Procedural Law admits, and if one claims to be the holder of a legitimate interest, on the other hand, one is only legitimated to request the annulment of certain actions. Now, regarding the “legal assumptions of lack of standing,” these are, in reality, authentic restrictions on the exercise of the right of action with respect to certain natural and legal persons. What happens, however, is that, given that currently the right of access to the Jurisdiction, included within the broader right of effective judicial protection, is configured as a public right of a constitutional nature, and, as such, is recognized for “all persons” (Article 41 of Our Magna Carta), it is not possible to extend only to some of them the “express prohibition” of its exercise in a norm with only the rank of ordinary law, without, at the same time, violating the aforementioned right of access and the principle of constitutional equality. Moreover, it can be affirmed that the fundamental right to access the organs of the Jurisdiction is “unrestrictable” by a non-constitutional norm, and “inalienable” in general, with the Public Powers, and especially the Judicial Power, having to promote the most favorable conditions for its exercise, both in the legal norm and in its interpretation. However, as a ground for inadmissibility of the claim (a prerequisite reviewable ex officio by the Judge at the time of issuing the judgment), there is the lack of standing directed at the subject who had filed a process without representation, standing, or being an incapacitated person, a scenario which, if verified by the Judge, constitutes a wall against the analysis of the right claimed. This means that the Judge cannot issue any criterion on the administrative legal relationship being discussed, precisely because it is an insurmountable prerequisite for admissibility. In light of the foregoing, and as in the case at hand it has been demonstrated that the easement (servidumbre) whose compensation the plaintiff company claims was constituted by the Municipality of Belén, without any interference whatsoever from the other defendant institutions, against whom no claim is furthermore made, it is appropriate to uphold the exception of lack of passive standing alleged by the State, the National Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers, and the National System of Conservation Areas. The claim is declared inadmissible against them.
VIII.-ON THE EXCEPTIONS ALLEGED BY THE MUNICIPALITY OF BELEN The exception of lack of standing and lack of right alleged by the Local Government of Belén is rejected, on the grounds that both parties are directly linked to the cause of the process, since the plaintiff is the owner of the property over which the easement passes, and the defendant was the one who built it, without having had the authorization of whoever was its owner at the time, nor having paid the corresponding amount. Given that the easement exists, its use is continuous, and it has not yet been compensated, the plaintiff has a current interest in its claim.
IX.-ON DAMAGES In view of the foregoing, it is clear that the Municipality of Belén constituted over the plaintiff company's land a subterranean and continuous easement for the passage of stormwater and natural water pipes, which crosses the property and has a width of 6.99 meters and a total area of 174.25 m2. As pointed out by the appraiser expert Nombre148040 – in the administrative venue – the property has a total measurement of 1,048.82 m2, and the remaining land to the north of the easement has an area of 148.41 m2 and a frontage onto a public street of 8.23 m. On the other hand, the property has always been owned by private individuals, which reaffirms the thesis that we are not in the presence of an expropriation. Although indeed the pipe crosses the property, it was not accredited with suitable evidence that it makes the enjoyment of the property, or its natural use, impossible, which is why an expropriation of the property would not be justified. Nor was it demonstrated that there is damage to the remainder (daño al remanente) as alleged by the plaintiff, thus naming the area located to the north of the easement, which has an area of 148.41 m2 and a frontage onto a public street of 8.23 m., because that zone still forms part of the total property where a dwelling house already exists and it can be used for various purposes. On the other hand, for construction purposes, the property would indeed be affected by what is provided in the Regulatory Plan of the Zone, and by the social limitation derived from its location within the Protection Area, which, as already explained, is not compensable and must be borne by the property. As a corollary to the above, it is then concluded that the damage that the plaintiff company can claim is the value of the easement, which was estimated by the expert Nombre72375 – in the judicial venue – in the sum of ₡ 33,556,640 colones. The argument alleged by the Municipality of Belén that the expert did not assess the fact that the farm is within a protection zone could not be clarified by the expert in the oral trial due to his death (but the parties were informed of this situation and they agreed to hold the oral trial). On the other hand, we must be clear that it is not acceptable to restrict the value of the property due to the social interest limitation that the property suffers and which is not compensable. It adds that it is not true that the land is frozen or disabled, but rather that it can be used according to its natural economic and productive destiny, for as the Constitutional Chamber already indicated in ruling Voto N° 4205-96 of August 20, 1996, “…limitations of social interest are not compensable, because they do not imply an expropriation, that is, when the property does not suffer dismemberment that makes the right disappear. Of course, they imply a burden or legal duty – in a strict sense – of not doing, or at most, of tolerating the State's intrusion into the property for public purposes, a duty that is added to the owner's powers and faculties, but without denaturing or destroying them…”. Thus, it considers that the valuation given by the expert appointed in this process makes an adequate and reasonable weighting of all the aspects taken into account to arrive at the price given for the easement, which does not seem unreasonable or disproportionate but rather adjusted to reality, due to the time elapsed since the last administrative valuation and the growing surplus value that this area has reached in recent years. Based on the foregoing, the Municipality of Belén is obligated to pay the plaintiff, as compensation for the easement, the sum of ₡ 33,556,640 million colones, as well as interest at the legal rate that said sum generates from the finality of this ruling until effective payment. For the reasons stated, the payment for expropriation and for damage to the remainder, which, as already indicated, was not demonstrated, is rejected.
X.- COSTS Regarding this item, under the protection of numeral 193 of the Administrative Litigation Procedural Code and given that this Tribunal considers that it is not in the presence of the grounds for exoneration provided by said article, their imposition on the defendant party, the Municipality of Belén, is appropriate. In relation to the remaining defendants, who were called to the process ex officio, and given that the claim was declared inadmissible, since the exception of lack of passive standing to sue (falta de legitimación ad causam pasiva) succeeded against them, they are exempted from paying both costs, as there was sufficient reason to litigate.
THEREFORE
The exception of lack of passive standing alleged by the State, the National Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers, and the National System of Conservation Areas is upheld, and the claim is declared inadmissible against them. The exception of lack of passive standing, lack of right, current interest, and prescription promoted by the defendant Local Government is rejected. Consequently, the claim filed by the company Corporación DACAR CF S.A. is partially upheld only against the Municipality of Belén, which must compensate the plaintiff the sum corresponding to the area affected by the de facto easement, which is estimated with expert assistance in the sum of ₡ 33,556,640 million colones, as well as interest at the legal rate that said sum generates from the finality of this ruling until effective payment. The payment for expropriation and damage to the remainder is rejected. Once the plaintiff is compensated and in the judgment enforcement phase, the Municipality of Belén must register the easement according to its layout on the property registry number Placa29546. The defendant party, the Municipality of Belén, is condemned to pay both costs of this process. It is resolved without special condemnation in costs regarding the remaining defendants. NOTIFY.
Laura García Carballo Nombre5192 Nombre12268 It was unanimously agreed in Regular Session No. 67-2007 held on November 6, 2007, article 28, to refer the request to the Works Unit for its analysis and recommendation. (folios 1-2 administrative file) **3.-** The Operational and Urban Development Directorate sent memorandum UO-018-2008 of **January 18, 2008** to the Municipal Council, in which it recorded that after conducting an inspection of the property, it was verified on the property, cadastral plan H-618538-2000, *“1… current passage of stormwater by surface runoff, in addition to the existence of a permanent water flow of natural origin (spring) that affect part of the property in question. 2. Given the topographic conditions in the area, and according to what was indicated by neighbors and municipal officials who know the site and its evolution, the surface runoff waters due to rains have in fact constituted a passage over the years. Furthermore, the area has always presented the existence of underground waters whose outcropping has generated a natural, permanent runoff channel, affecting the lands or properties of the sector, a situation that is not verified in the provided cadastral plan by the surveying professional. 4. In that sense, and due to the topographic characteristics, the stormwater runoff (product of precipitation) is directed through the same runoff channel as the waters of natural origin. 5. It was also possible to verify the existence within the property in question of infrastructure works whose purpose was to improve the catchment and channeling of waters through the property (grid-type catchment box and concrete pipe with an approximate diameter of 60 cm). There is no reliable record or information on who executed said works. 6. Therefore, it is the criterion of this Unit to consider that the current stormwater runoff through the property of the owners Nombre148037 was constituted in fact by the prevailing topographic conditions in the area and the area's own development. And that at some point an attempt was made to improve the functioning and reduce the impact on the land through the construction of small channeling and water conveyance works*” (folios 4-5 administrative file, the underlining is not from the original) **4.-** The Legal Directorate of the Municipality of Belén presented on **July 29, 2008** the recommendations on the case of the plaintiff company and concluded: *“…In effect, due to the topography of the area, the surface runoff caused by rains has in fact constituted a passage of waters across the land in question. There is even a contribution of natural waters of permanent origin that originate on adjacent lands and flow through the underground pipe that crosses the property of the complaining company. It is important to note that according to the inspections carried out, in front of the land it is apparent that there are infrastructure works within the property (grid-type catchment box and concrete pipe of approximately 60 cm), whose purpose is to improve the catchment and channeling of waters through the property. This situation denotes that the land supports a burden in favor of the other lands and buildings in the sector, as waters flow underground that discharge through the ditches or culverts located on Dirección17936 and even come from other roads and surrounding sectors. In the same way, the water of natural origin that flows from adjoining lands runs through said underground pipe. Another relevant aspect that should not be overlooked is that on the adjacent land along the northern boundary of the property in question, property of the company Scott Paper (Nombre141584), a spring is located, which in this case affects the protection zone that must be respected…On the other hand, it is necessary to clarify that regarding the limitation or burden that the property supports, due to the passage of stormwater by surface runoff, it has not been constituted as an administrative or legal easement, nor registered. It is a situation that has been consolidated over time and by the need to prevent the presence of floods, and so that constructions and infrastructure do not collapse due to the saturation of the lands in the winter or rainy season (… ) **Conclusions and Recommendations** (…) 2) That the land owned by the company Corporación Dacar CF S.A. is affected by the current passage of stormwater by artificial runoff that originates in the sector of Dirección17936 and surrounding areas, and also by the passage of a permanent water flow of natural origin that comes from other lands. This passage of two types of water is channeled by means of an underground pipe that crosses the property to discharge into a storm sewer well. 3 That in the present case, an appraisal or expert report must be requested to define the possible impact on the property right due to the passage of stormwater from the sector, across the land owned by the appellant company, and due to the passage of natural waters that come from a tributary that runs through neighboring properties, until both types of water cross the property in question underground. Furthermore, the incidence that the delimitation of the protection zone (article 33 of the Forest Law) may have on said land due to the spring that exists on the neighboring or adjacent land along the northern boundary (property owned by Scott Paper Company) must be assessed (…) All with the purpose of establishing an objective and comprehensive assessment in the present case to determine what damages or losses must be compensated to the registered owner.”* (folios 12-16 administrative file) **5.-** In the sketch prepared by the Municipality of Belén, with a survey date of **April 23, 2008**, it was recorded that the property of the plaintiff company is crossed by a concrete pipe of 73.66 cm from east to west, which discharges into a storm sewer well, in addition to having a manhole at the beginning of the pipe in front of a public street. The area is established to be 274.47 m2 (folio 21 administrative file) **6.-** The Municipal Council in Extraordinary Session No. 53-2008 of **September 4, 2008** agreed to refer the report from the Legal Directorate to legal advisor Luis Álvarez for his analysis and recommendation. (folios 23-27 administrative file) **7.-** On **October 17, 2008**, Lic. Luis Álvarez sent report MB-079-2008 to the Municipal Council, in which he concludes that he shares what was stated by the legal advisory, and that therefore it would be possible to compensate the individual by following the procedure of previously requesting an appraisal or expert report to define the possible impact on the property right due to the passage of stormwater and natural waters coming from the tributary. However, he disagrees regarding the possibility of compensating the area of the protection zone, in application of article 33 of the Forest Law, since with respect to protection areas it is not applicable. (folios 29-32 administrative file) **8.-** In the land-use certification for the property, cadastral plan H-618538-2000 corresponding to the procedure of **October 26, 2009**, the Municipality of Belén indicated that the non-permitted uses were: industry, warehouses, truck parking, and in general any use that has a potential risk of contamination, unhealthiness, and insecurity, commercial establishments that produce nuisance to the neighborhood, such as bars, canteens, dance halls, billiard halls, vehicle repair shops, and the like. As requirements, it was established that the minimum area would not be less than 150 m2, and the minimum frontage would not be less than 8.00 m, the front setback would not be less than 2 meters facing a national road of 3 meters, and the maximum building coverage would be 70% of the lot area. In addition, it was recorded as a note that the property was affected by the current passage of stormwater and surface runoff, by the passage of a permanent flow of natural origin coming from other lands, a passage that is channeled by means of an underground pipe that crosses the property to discharge into a storm sewer well. (folio 34 administrative file) **9.-** The Operational and Urban Development Area of the Municipality requested from the Ministry of Finance, via official letter DO.030-2009 of **October 26, 2009**, the appraisal of the property, for the purpose of using the property as an environmental reserve land. Via official letter SV-ATH-3-2010 of January 12, 2010, the Coordinator of the Valuation Area of the Ministry of Finance, Engineer Vargas Murillo, reported that the expert appraiser Nombre148040. Nombre148041, after investigating the values of the zone, consulting the homogeneous zones map, in addition to taking into account the characteristics of the zone, the land tenure regime, the socioeconomic characteristics of its inhabitants, the nature of the parent property and the lot to be segregated, access to services in the area, location facing a public street, use restrictions and current use, finally determined that in that part of the property the value is ₡ 35,000.00 colones per square meter, and that the area of 274.47 m2 of the easement had a total value of ₡9,606,450 colones. The expert appraiser makes the observation that the present report did not consider the impact of the presence of the pipe for the discharge of stormwater, by virtue of the fact that the pipe is not registered as an encumbrance, and therefore can be removed at the owner's convenience. Damage to the remainder was also not considered, since given the characteristics and location of the lot, the impact on the parent property covered is fully covered by the established value. (folios 37-42, administrative file) **10.-** By note dated **March 11, 2010**, the representative of the plaintiff company expressed his disagreement with the valuation of his property carried out by the Ministry of Finance, and asked the Municipality to review the value. (folio 43 administrative file) **11.-** In the inspection of the property carried out by the same expert on **May 20, 2010**, considering the same factors previously stated in the earlier inspection, he established a unit value of ₡45,000 colones per m2 for the area, and conferred a value of ₡12,351,150 colones on the area of 274.47 m2. (folios 47-50 administrative file) **12.-** On **June 24, 2010**, the representative of the plaintiff company requested authorization from the Municipal Council of Belén for the purchase of that area of land that affects his property, and stated he was in agreement with its value, authorizing the Mayor to carry out the registration of the stormwater easement in the Registry. (folio 53 administrative file) **13.-** The Municipal Council in Regular Session No. 51-2010 held on **August 24, 2010**, and ratified on September 7, 2010, agreed *“to reject the request presented by the representative of the company Corporación DACAR F.S S.A., regarding the purchase of an area of its property.”* (folios 60-61 administrative file) **14.-** On **December 21, 2010**, the General Directorate of Direct Taxation, Technical Standardization Body, in relation to the criterion on how to treat protection areas of rivers, streams, brooks, lagoons, ditches, captured or uncaptured springs, for valuation purposes, indicated that official letter SDVM-01-2009 from the Technical Standardization Body exists, which answers the foregoing and indicates *“…it is the criterion of this body that for valuation purposes for the Real Estate Tax, a value of zero colones should be assigned to said areas”,* however, the criterion is expanded according to article 5, subsection b) which states: “The properties that constitute hydrographic basins, understood as those lands that serve as protection for water springs and that are an integral part of said basins as defined by the Forest Law, the Water Law, and the Environment Law…For such purposes, what those laws mention must be considered, and included in the criterion established by the ONT”.* (folio 131 judicial file) **15.-** The Directorate of Hydric Research and Management of SENASA, in report DIGH-997-11 of **October 19, 2011**, indicated in relation to the land use of protection zones for springs and wells located in the Canton of Belén, that there is extensive legislation (Water Law No. 276, General Law of Drinking Water No. 1634, and Forest Law), which protects the areas surrounding springs, declaring them a reserve of domain in favor of the nation or protection areas. These zones may have different characteristics, and the distance will depend in some cases on a fixed radius, and in others on each specific case, in order to ensure the conservation of water quality. Finally, it indicates that it will be up to the Municipalities to establish the guidelines to determine the minimum necessary requirements that the existing infrastructure within the protection zones must meet, in order to guarantee the protection of water quality. (folios 134-137 judicial file) **16.-** The Ministry of Environment and Energy, Water Directorate, in the report of **February 11, 2012**, indicated that in the Province of Heredia, Canton of Belén, District of Asunción, there is a source at initial latitude 218.069, final latitude 218.069, initial long 517.121, final long 517.121. (folio 214 judicial file) **17.-** In the report issued on **February 23, 2012**, the expert appraiser Nombre148040. indicated that the easement has a measurement of 174.25 m2, a total width of 6.00 m, and a length of 29.7 m (in sewer). In the sketch, he recorded the existence of the pipe and sewer. He indicated that the remaining land to the north of the easement has a surface area of 148.41 m2 and a frontage onto a public street of 8.23 m. (folio 111 judicial file) **18.-** The expert appraiser Nombre72375, issued on **February 27, 2012**, the following considerations in relation to the areas adjacent to the property registered under Placa29545: It has a topography ranging from slightly undulating to strongly undulating, Typic peluster soils, with sticky and adhesive clays; some lands retain their agricultural use. The residential development has single-story houses with medium-quality finishes. It has all public services, and governmental offices, banks, businesses such as supermarkets, restaurants, hardware stores among others, a train station, and buses to San José and Heredia. Regarding the property, he noted: It has a trapezoidal shape, a measurement of 1,048.82 m2, and a medium-finished dwelling house (which is not being valued). To determine the value of the land, consideration was taken of the area and location of the strip, the land and the infrastructure, the commercial values in the area, the information from the Ministry of Finance, and the Homogeneous Zone Value Maps of the Municipality of Belén. Having valued the foregoing, as well as the fact that the total width of the easement was 6.00m and the total area was 174.25 m2, he concluded that the price of the strip of land that supports the easement amounts to ₡104,000.00/m2 for a total of ₡33,556,640.0. (folios 104-109 judicial file) **19.-** The Cadastre Unit of San Antonio de Belén, as the reason for the approval of plan No. 1354, property of Corporación DACAR CF S.A., of the complete property project of real folio No. 4-034912-000, part of property of real folio No. 4062450-000, issued the resolution at ten hours nineteen minutes of **March 19, 2012**, which indicates *“First: That the property, real folio Placa29538 of the district of Heredia, complies with the zoning established by the Regulatory Plan of the Canton of Belén (high-density residential zone). Second: That in accordance with article No. 36 of the Urban Planning Law, the property of interest, property registration, real folio Placa29539 of the District of Heredia, complies with the infrastructure works fronting the public road.** Third.*** That for new constructions, an encumbrance of the cited property shall apply by reason of a protection zone for a spring (zona de protección de naciente) or any type of water outcrop (on the north boundary), in accordance with Article 33 of the Ley Forestal and Articles 8, 31, 149 of the Ley de Aguas y Leyes Conexas, in order to achieve conditions of human safety and reduce environmental impact pursuant to Article 11 of the Ley Biodiversidad (preventive criterion and precautionary criterion or in dubio pro natura). Fourth: That in the case of remodeling without expansion of area, this must be submitted for prior consideration, primarily for analysis of aspects related to safety and health. Pursuant to the powers granted to the Cadastral Unit (…) we hereby state that the approval request No. 1354 is admissible based on the foregoing.” (f. 244 judicial file, boldface not in original) **20.-** The Alajuela Office of the Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación, in official communication OA-556 of **March 23, 2012**, conducted an inspection at Dirección17937 at the properties located in La Asunción de Belén, geographic coordinates 218067 and 517123, located 100 meters south and 25 meters west of Dirección17938, and stated *“ That on the site there is a permanent-flow spring (naciente) that is not captured (as indicated by one of the owners), the adjacent lands that are a protection area are occupied by dwellings and access roads; there are only some guititi and caimito trees, as well as banana and chinas plants within a reduced diameter of approximately 10 meters. For the purpose of fulfilling our duties and based on the Ley General de la Administración Pública and the Ley Forestal No. 7575, Article 33, which establishes protection areas for springs (the areas bordering permanent springs, defined within a radius of one hundred meters measured horizontally). We hereby request the following. That upon receipt of this document, that Municipality refrain from granting construction or works permits within the diameter defined by law for the protection of this and other permanent springs. Otherwise, we will be obliged to take the corresponding legal measures.”* (f. 167 judicial file) **21.-** On **August 20, 2013**, the Dirección Área Técnica Operativa y Desarrollo Urbano issued official communication DO.0200-2013, stating that on lands of the company Kimberly Clark, the permanent spring NAC-2633 is located, and that the protection zone corresponds to one hundred meters, hence both the property owner and the adjoining owners must adopt the corresponding measures for its protection. (f. 262-263, 271-273 judicial file) **22.-** The Dirección de Investigación Hídrica of SENARA, in General Report Senara File **65-13-DIGH** (undated), in response to the request for a technical pronouncement regarding the assessment of the permanent or intermittent character of the water outcrop located on the property of Nombre141584, and its relationship with properties H-959690-2004 registered in the name of Nombre148038, indicated: That the spring has a permanent character, that various works are located within its protection area, and made some recommendations to the Municipality of the area, such as taking actions to prevent the discharge of soapy water into the channel, channeling them through a pipe over an impermeabilized bed and protecting the vegetative cover on the lot located next to the road above the spring area, among others. (f. 265-270 judicial file) **23.-** The Director of the Área Técnica Operativa of the Municipality of Belén, issued on **December 2, 2013** a certification stating that the property registered under real folio 34912-000, cadastral map H-618538-2000, owned by the corporation DACAR S F S.A., is located within the protection zone of the permanent spring Nac-2633, which has a protection radius of one hundred meters. The property is located in a zone of medium vulnerability, but because it is immersed in a protection zone, the limitation of the protection radius applies (Art. 33 Ley Forestal). (f. 321-322 judicial file) **24.-** The corporation Corporación Dacar Nombre147 F S.A. registered with the Registro Nacional on **December 4, 2012**, the property under registration number Placa29540°, which has as its prior title the property Placa29541°. The property is subject to a validation period for measurement correction that began on December 4, 2006, and expired on December 4, 2006. (which affected the parent property). (f. 20 judicial file) **25.-** The UEN-Optimización de Sistemas –GAM of the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados certified on an unspecified date that the spring referred to (initial latitude 218.062, final latitude 218.062, initial longitude 517.391, final longitude 517.391) is not utilized by that institute for public water supply. (f. 362-365 judicial file) **26.-** The Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación de la Cordillera Volcánica Central issued official communication SINAC-ACCVC-OA-146-2014 of **February 7, 2014**, in which it stated that during a visit to the spring located on the property of Nombre141584, it was observed that at a distance of 23.50 meters from it, bordering to the north, there is a lot with earth fill without being able to specify its date (although it appears to be old), measuring 13.30 meters wide and 26 meters long; apparently there is a culvert for a watercourse beneath the fill in an east-west direction. On the west side of the fill is the rest of the property apparently belonging to the same owner (Corporación DACAR CF S.A). (f. 400-401 judicial file) **27.-** At the oral trial, witness Nombre126859 stated that he knows the property, that he lives in the area, and affirms that an aqueduct easement (servidumbre de acueducto) runs through it. (statement at oral trial) **II.-** FACTS NOT PROVEN **1.-** The Municipality did not prove with pertinent evidence that it had obtained the authorization of the former owner of the property to establish the easement, had his tolerance, or had paid the corresponding compensation.
**2.-** The plaintiff did not prove damage to the remainder, nor that the easement had rendered the enjoyment of the attributes of its property nugatory, in order to justify an expropriation.
**3.-** The plaintiff did not demonstrate that the property is frozen or disabled by the defendant Municipality, or that it cannot be used according to its natural economic and productive purpose.
**III.-** FRAMEWORK OF THE PROCEEDINGS The corporation Corporación Dacar CF S.A alleges that on December 4, 2006, it acquired by purchase the property registered under number Placa29543, located in the province of Heredia, canton of Belén, district of La Asunción, measuring one thousand forty point eighty-two square meters. It indicates that a sewer and stormwater easement (servidumbre de aguas servidas y pluviales) runs across the property, which is not registered in the Public Registry, and which was established more than twenty years ago by the Municipality of Belén, without having carried out any expropriation process or having paid the value of that land. The easement, it alleges, affected the value of the property causing damage to the remainder, since a section of the property located between the easement and the north boundary, comprising one hundred nineteen meters, was rendered useless, because the Local Government does not grant them any Municipal permit to build, since according to the Plan Regulador, permits are not granted on lands smaller than 150 meters. Applying Articles 190 and 191 of the Ley General de la Administración Pública, it claims the liability of the Municipal entity and petitions for a declaration that the property registered under number Placa29543 is affected by a water conveyance easement by the Municipality of Belén, without a proper administrative expropriation and compensation process having occurred in favor of its owner. It argues that it must be paid the amount determined by appraisal for the areas affected by the expropriation, which includes the zone traversed by the easement, as well as the area located between the easement and the north boundary of the property, on the grounds that the easement rendered it useless – damage to the remainder. It also requests payment for the expropriated lands, and for the damages and losses suffered by the property, caused by the de facto expropriation and the non-payment of compensation, payment of interest generated by the non-payment of the expropriation, calculated from the date the Municipality took possession of the lands until the present. Payment for the remainder, because the easement crosses the entire property, affects its commercial value, and renders a section of it useless. The **Municipality of Belén** maintains the theory of the case that the previous owner of the property, many years ago, consented to the channeling of the natural watercourse that passed through the property, so that the water flow could be directed and would not damage the property, discharging it into a stormwater catch basin. That in the present case, an act of tolerance occurred by the property owner, who allowed the installation of the pipeline because the works were going to benefit the property, which is why no expropriation or procurement process was carried out to acquire the strip of land where the pipeline was installed; for that reason there is no established and registered easement, and no expropriation procedure has been processed to acquire the property. It alleges that the ten-year statute of limitations provided for in the Ley de Expropiaciones (No. 7495) applied in this case, and that the argument put forward by the plaintiff that the easement was continuous is not acceptable, because said time period had elapsed. It states that the water conduit is located in the northern sector of the land, specifically on the east-west boundary, hence the remaining area of the property is not affected, since if the property measures 1040.82 m2, and the pipeline comprises 26.65 m in length by 3 m setback from the boundary, this equals 80 m2, leaving 960 m2 available for use. It adds that it is not true that the land is frozen or disabled, but rather that it can be used according to its natural economic and productive purpose, but that according to Article 4.3 of the Plan Regulador for the Canton of Belén, the minimum area is 150 m2 and a minimum frontage of eight linear meters, therefore it is not feasible to segregate a 119-meter lot. Finally, it argued at the oral trial that the property is within the protection area of a water spring, a situation that must be considered when setting the value per square meter of the land. **The State** stated that the compensation claim must be directed solely against the Municipality of Belén, because the proceedings concern the establishment of an easement by that entity on the plaintiff's land, which is why it is the latter that bears the technical defense of its interests, as well as the eventual payment of the claimed compensation. Regarding the payment requested by the plaintiff, it refers to Article 33 of the Ley Forestal and points out that because the property is within the protection area of a spring, the social limitation borne by the property is not subject to compensation, because it does not prevent the use of the land, the exercise of property rights, or the development of other activities compatible with forest use. The **Instituto Nacional de Acueductos y Alcantarillados** stated that it has no involvement in this matter, but rather it is an issue completely outside its competence and organic specialty, since compensation for the stormwater easement is a matter that corresponds exclusively to the Municipality of Belén. It clarifies that the existence of a spring near the property does not imply its responsibility, because in light of the provisions of Article 31 of the Ley de Aguas, its participation is limited to springs that are captured for public supply, a situation that does not occur in this case, since it involves a permanent-flow spring on private property that has no public use. It indicates that in accordance with Article 33 of the Ley Forestal, there is an area that must be respected, as part of the limitations borne by the property, which are not subject to compensation, but rather weigh upon the property as an environmental limitation. It notes that the limitation is not an expropriation, nor does it imply a singular or concrete sacrifice of the property. The **Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación** points out that in this process, no administrative actions issued by SINAC are reproached, nor omissions in which it may have incurred, but rather the entire claim is directed against the Municipality of Belén. It indicates that in the area there is a permanent-flow spring that is not captured, so the Conservation Area requested the Municipality of Belén, based on the Ley General de la Administración Pública and the Ley Forestal No. 7575, Article 33, which establishes the protection area for springs, to refrain from granting construction or works permits within the diameter defined by Law for the protection of this and other permanent springs. It adds that limitations of social interest may be imposed in defense of the environment, that Protection Areas constitute legitimate limitations and are not compensable.
**III.-** ON THE SPECIFIC CASE.
The plaintiff corporation states that it acquired title to the property registered under number Placa29540°, having registered the said property in its name with the Registro Nacional on December 4, 2012. From a registry standpoint, the property is subject to a validation period for measurement correction that began on December 4, 2006, and had an expiration date of December 4, 2006 (the same affected the parent property registered under number Placa29541). In the cadastral map in the name of Mr. Nombre148038, registered on March 20, 2000, the existence of an easement affecting the property was not recorded; however, the plaintiff states that over twenty years ago the Municipality of Belén built a sewer and stormwater easement across said property, without having carried out any expropriation procedure, nor paying the owner the value of the expropriated and affected lands. It adds that the easement crosses the property from the front to the back, that it is currently functioning, and that it affects the value of the property, causing damage to the remainder, since one hundred nineteen square meters have been rendered useless, hence the Municipality does not grant it a construction permit, as construction on lands smaller than one hundred fifty square meters is prohibited; the property measures 1048.82 mtrs2, and contains a dwelling house. Furthermore, the property is within the protection area of a permanent-flow water spring.
**IV.-** ON THE EASEMENT AND EXPROPRIATION The plaintiff, in formulating its claim, refers interchangeably to two different concepts, which in the opinion of this Chamber must be clarified before addressing the merits of this matter. In light of the foregoing, we must clarify that property is a right in rem, enshrined in Article 45 of the Constitución Política. Among the main attributes of property we find the right of usufruct, use, transformation, and alienation, and other secondary ones, among which we can cite possession, defense and exclusion, restitution, and compensation. Furthermore, encumbrances, limitations, or charges can be established on property; among the latter is the easement, which is established on a property and imposes on its owner the obligation to bear a charge that includes obligations not to do and to tolerate, all for the benefit of a third party or another property; therefore, it is stated that the beneficiary acquires the possibility of serving himself of the property, but constrained to the purposes stipulated in its establishment. The easement falls upon the servient property or land, adheres to it permanently, and follows its same fate, as it is accessory; if the land is sold, it is done subject to that encumbrance, and the same occurs if it is seized, mortgaged, or transferred. According to doctrinal classification, easements can be natural, legal, voluntary, apparent or non-apparent, continuous or discontinuous. For its part, the Código Civil in its Article 376 conceptualizes it as a restriction on the freedom of a property, but which does not deprive its owner of the dominion he exercises over it, although it does cause a detriment to the property that bears it. Easements are established by agreement, testament, or by the mere use by the owner of the dominant property and the tolerance of the servient owner for the period of acquisitive prescription; some are established naturally, others have their origin in law and their purpose is public utility, among them are the so-called aqueduct easements for the conveyance of water destined for a public service and also for the benefit of private individuals, which also has a continuous nature. At this point, it is appropriate to establish that the establishment of an easement is dissimilar to the figure of expropriation. In expropriation, the State, using an expropriatory power and for a legally declared public interest, deprives a subject of his right of property, upon prior payment of the corresponding compensation – just price. In these cases, the guarantee of inviolability of property yields, and the owner is deprived of the property or part thereof.
In the case of expropriation, the value of the property or right is paid, since it becomes State property for the public purpose for which it was intended, and damage to the remainder is compensated when a partial expropriation makes the natural or economic use of the affected property impossible. Damage to the remainder is an economic compensation, for an expropriation or easement imposed on a specific natural or legal person to carry out a public-interest project or work, whose purpose is to consider the effect that the expropriation or easement will cause to the rest of the property or right. The foregoing is grounded in article 45 of the Political Constitution, which, as relevant, establishes “Property is inviolable; no one may be deprived of his own except for legally proven public interest, upon prior compensation in accordance with the law…”. An easement, unlike expropriation, does not deprive the owner of his property but rather, as already explained, limits it. When it comes to the constitution of an easement in favor of the administration, the procedure established in the Expropriation Law applies, which in Article 13 establishes that the provisions of that law shall be applicable when the State intends to constitute easements over property it does not own, unless the easement substantially affects the availability of the property, in which case the integral expropriation of the property must be carried out. The regulation of this figure in that law evidences the legislator's intention that the constitution of an easement over a parcel be preceded by a public interest to satisfy and involve the payment of a fair price. From the foregoing, we can affirm that the constitution of an easement does not always entail expropriation, since the latter would only occur if the imposition of that encumbrance or obligation renders the owner's use and enjoyment of his property right nugatory. Thus, when a legal easement is constituted over a property, ownership of the same continues to reside in the registered owner, who may exercise over it the attributes intrinsic to this right, only while bearing the imposed encumbrance.
**V.- ON THE MERITS** In the case under review, the constitution of the easement for stormwater and wastewater over the plaintiff's property is an incontrovertible fact; its existence is acknowledged by the Municipality of Belén, an entity that did not refute its authorship. However, it cannot be corroborated registrally because it was never registered by the Municipality of Belén, despite the fact that it affects the property right, and it was the obligation of the local entity to register the encumbrance on the margin of the affected property and inform third parties about it. The foregoing contravened the provisions of Article 459, subsection 2) of the Civil Code, which, as relevant, states: “In the Property Registry shall be registered: …2) Those in which rights of usufruct, use, habitation, easements (servidumbres) and any other real rights other than mortgages are constituted, recognized, modified, or extinguished…” (the bold is not in the original). For its part, Article 461 of the same code states: “Easements shall be recorded in the property registration of the dominant and servient parcels.” In the same sense, the Public Registry Regulation, in its Article 49, provides that documents in which easement rights are constituted, modified, or extinguished shall be registrable documents. The foregoing makes sense since, in accordance with the principle of registration (principio de inscripción), for an act of alienation or encumbrance of real rights to produce effects against a third party, it must be recorded in the Public Property Registry, by virtue of the declarative effect of immatriculation. The local Government did not justify the reason why it did not register the easement, nor its omission to pay the value of the same. The sole argument it raises to justify its default resides in the supposed tolerance of the then-owner of the property; however, it did not demonstrate with suitable evidence, even though it bore the burden of proof, having had the express or tacit authorization or consent of the then-owner of the property to build the pipeline. Hence, the tolerance it alleges as a defense is unacceptable. The absence of the owner's consent or of the procedure established in the Expropriation Law in the event of opposition by the property owner leads us to conclude that we are faced with a de facto action, due to the absence of an enabling title that justified the referenced work, which, even twenty years later, crosses the plaintiff's property. Regarding the measurement of the easement, both the appraiser Engineer Nombre148040 and the appraiser Nombre148042 agree that the easement has a measurement of 174.25 m2 and a total width of 6.00 meters. The other argument raised to justify the non-payment of compensation relates to the location of the property within the protection zone of a stream. Regarding the land use of spring (naciente) and well protection zones, the SENARA Directorate of Water Research and Management has broadly indicated that there is extensive regulation, among which can be cited: Water Law No. 276, General Drinking Water Law No. 1634, and the Forestry Law, which protects the areas surrounding springs, declaring them a reserve of domain in favor of the nation or protection areas. The protection distance in some cases corresponds to a fixed radius, and in other cases will depend on each specific case and its characteristics, but always with the purpose of ensuring the conservation of water quality. It affirms that it is the responsibility of the Municipalities to establish guidelines to determine the minimum necessary requirements that existing infrastructure within protection zones must meet, in order to guarantee the protection of water quality (report DIGH-997-11 of October 19, 2011, which refers to those located in the Canton of Belén). The National System of Conservation Areas, in its official communication, conducted an inspection on Dirección17937 at the properties located in Asunción de Belén, geographic coordinates 218067 and 517123, address 100 meters south and 25 meters west of Dirección17938, and indicated in official communication OA-556 of March 23, 2012: “That a permanent-flow, non-captured spring is located on the site (according to one of the owners). The adjacent lands, which are a protection area, are occupied by houses and access roads; there are only some guitite and caimito trees, as well as banana and orange plants within a reduced diameter of approximately 10 meters. For the purpose of fulfilling our duties and based on the General Law of Public Administration and Forestry Law No. 7575, Article 33, which establishes protection areas for springs (the areas bordering permanent springs, defined within a radius of one hundred meters measured horizontally), we proceed to request the following: That upon receipt of this, this Municipality refrain from granting construction or work permits within the diameter defined by law for the protection of this or other permanent springs. Otherwise, we will be forced to take the corresponding legal measures.” This situation was recorded in the certificate issued by the Director of the Technical Operational Area of the Municipality of Belén on December 2, 2013, which indicates that the property registered under folio Placa29542, cadastral map Placa29544, owned by the plaintiff corporation, is located in the protection zone of permanent spring Nac-2633, which has a protection radius of one hundred meters, being located in a zone of medium vulnerability (at 33.50 meters on the northern boundary). Article 33 of Forestry Law No. 7575 establishes that protection areas are: “…a) The areas bordering permanent springs, defined within a radius of one hundred meters measured horizontally…”. These zones, due to their proximity to the spring, suffer a legitimate limitation (limitación) of social interest, which entails for property owners an obligation to do, not to do, and to tolerate State actions aimed at protecting water, and which are not compensable because they do not imply an expropriation, as indicated by the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional No. 4205-96 of 14:33 hours on August 20, 1996, vote cited by the parties). It is precisely for the protection of this essential water resource that local Governments are tasked with its regulation and restriction of use on each of the properties located within this scenario. Furthermore, for tax purposes, as indicated by the Technical Standardization Body for Direct Taxation, for valuation for the Property Tax, a value of zero colones must be taken for such areas. The representation of the State, the Water and Sewer Authority, SINAC, and the Municipality, in the oral trial, invoke Article 33 of the Forestry Law in their defense and allege that protection areas constitute legitimate limitations of a general nature that should not be compensated, and they agree that the limitation suffered by the plaintiff's property is not susceptible to compensation because it does not prevent the use of the property. The Director of the Technical Operational Area of the Municipality of Belén issued on December 2, 2013, a certificate indicating that the property registered in real folio 34912-000, cadastral map H-618538-2000, owned by the company Corporación DACAR S F S.A., is located in the protection zone of permanent spring Nac-2633, which has a protection radius of one hundred meters. The property is located in a zone of medium vulnerability, but because it is immersed in a protection zone, the limitation of the protection radius applies. This body of evidence allows us to conclude that the property is indeed also affected by that social limitation for purposes of new constructions. However, this Chamber considers it necessary to clarify that the compensation requested by the plaintiff does not reside in the limitation imposed on the property due to its proximity to the spring and its location within its protection area, but rather what is claimed is the compensation for the local Government having constituted a de facto easement of an underground pipeline for water conveyance, without the owner's authorization, the due compensation, and constitution in the Registry. In light of the foregoing, the argument raised is not applicable to the specific case.
**VI.- ON THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS (PRESCRIPCION)** The representative of the Municipality alleges as a defense the exception of the statute of limitations (prescripción), invoking Article 63 of the Expropriation Law, which establishes a prescriptive period of ten years, although concomitantly it invokes Article 198 of the General Law of Public Administration – liability. This collegiate body maintains the thesis that, since in this case damages derived from the constitution of a de facto easement are claimed, the special law governing the matter must be applied for the claim of the same. But it must also be taken into consideration that in this case we are in the presence of an easement with a continuous effect, since it currently continues to cross the plaintiff's property and convey the stormwater and natural waters that cross from other neighboring properties and the property's own waters. The permanence of that easement was proven from the valuation carried out by the appraiser of the Valuation Area of the Ministry of Finance on January 12, 2010, who was able to confirm the presence of a pipeline for the discharge of stormwater and surface runoff. In the land use certificate for the property issued by the Municipality itself, which expressly indicates that the property is affected by the current passage of those waters. With the testimony of witness Mr. Nombre126859, who testified about the current existence of the easement, a situation known to him from living in the area, and with the expert opinion provided by the appraiser Nombre148040, Nombre148040 on February 23, 2012, which allowed the corroboration of its existence. In light of the foregoing, the time when it was built is irrelevant, because if it currently continues to operate and affect the plaintiff's property, their right would not be affected by the prescriptive period. The First Chamber goes further and holds that the prescriptive period does not operate in these cases: “VIII… From both provisions, it is clearly inferred that for ICE to be able to constitute compulsory easements (servidumbres forzosas) for the laying of electrical and telecommunications lines, in the event of opposition from the owner of the affected property, it must necessarily follow the expropriatory procedure set forth in said regulations. Obviously, if the property owner agrees, such a procedure is unnecessary. However, pursuant to the provisions of Article 23 ejúsdem; in relation with precepts 455 and 461 of the Civil Code, even in this scenario, and for purposes of third parties, they must be recorded in the property registration of the servient property. It is easy to conclude that the defendant Institution cannot invoke, as an acquisitive title to the land where this type of encumbrance is located, the simple passage of time—usucapio—as was done in the indicated official communication, without violating the aforementioned principle of legality, as well as the norms transcribed above…” (First Chamber No. 966-F-2005 of fourteen hours ten minutes on December 15, 2005, the underlining is not in the original). Based on the arguments set forth above, the referenced defense is rejected.
**VII.- ON THE EXCEPTION OF LACK OF PASSIVE LEGITIMATION** In order to bring an action, the parties must possess the aptitude to be a party in a specific proceeding and be specially linked to the object of the litigation. If they meet these two requirements, their substantive claim may be examined. Active legitimation must be understood as the suitability to carry out acts of exercising the power of action, and it refers to the subject who would have the possibility of demanding the satisfaction of a specific performance or object. Passive legitimation is conceptualized as the aptitude to bear the exercise of said power, and legitimation “ad processum” has been assimilated with the procedural capacity of the subjects. For procedural doctrine, legal procedural capacity and procedural capacity to act are two abstract conditions, the first referring to the ownership of the rights, burdens, and responsibilities of the process, and the second to the performance of procedural acts and receipt of their effects, which are recognized and denied based on physical qualities or aptitudes and legal qualities. The subject who possesses legal procedural capacity and procedural capacity to act is in a position to initiate a proceeding or defend himself in it, making use of the general faculty to sue, that is, to promote a process. As for legitimation ad causam, this does refer to legitimation as a requirement for the exercise of the power of action and affects the efficacy of the process. Unlike legitimation ad processum, this is not a validity requirement, so it should not be confused with it. In the administrative contentious process, legitimation, whether active or passive, belongs to those who invoke the affectation of legitimate interests or subjective rights in relation to the litigious object, which is none other than the claim deduced regarding an act or provision emanating from the Administration. Thus, if one claims to be the holder of an injury or violation of a subjective right, they may make use of all the claims that Administrative Procedural Law admits, and if one claims to be the holder of a legitimate interest, on the other hand, they are only legitimized to request the annulment of certain actions. Now, regarding the “legal assumptions of lack of legitimation,” these turn out, in reality, to be authentic restrictions on the exercise of the right of action concerning certain natural and legal persons. What happens, however, is that, given that currently the right of access to the Jurisdiction, included in the broader right of effective judicial executive protection, is configured as a public right of a constitutional nature, and, as such, is recognized to “all persons” (Art. 41 of our Magna Carta), it is not possible to extend a “express prohibition” of its exercise only to some of them in a norm with merely ordinary law status, without simultaneously violating the referenced right of access and the principle of constitutional equality. Furthermore, it can be affirmed that the fundamental right to access the organs of the Jurisdiction is “unrestrictable” by a non-constitutional norm, and “unwaivable” in general terms, the Public Powers, and especially the Judicial Branch, having the duty to promote the most favorable conditions for its exercise, both in the legal norm and in its interpretation. However, as a ground for inadmissibility of the complaint (a prerequisite reviewable ex officio by the Judge at the time of issuing judgment), lack of legitimation directed at the subject who filed the proceeding without representation, legitimation, or being an incapacitated person constitutes, if verified by the Judge, an insurmountable wall regarding the analysis of the claimed right. This means that the Judge may not issue any criterion on the administrative legal relationship being discussed, precisely because it is an insurmountable prerequisite for admissibility. In light of the foregoing, and since in the case before us it has been demonstrated that the easement whose compensation is claimed by the plaintiff corporation was constituted by the Municipality of Belén, without any interference from the other defendant institutions, against whom moreover no claim is deduced, it is appropriate to uphold the exception of lack of passive legitimation raised by the State, the National Water and Sewer Institute, and the National System of Conservation Areas. The claim is declared inadmissible regarding them.
VIII.- ON THE EXCEPTIONS ALLEGED BY THE MUNICIPALITY OF BELEN The exception of lack of standing (falta de legitimación) and lack of right (falta de derecho) alleged by the Local Government of Belén is rejected, because both parties are directly linked to the cause of the proceedings, since the plaintiff is the owner of the property over which the easement (servidumbre) passes, and the defendant was the one who built it, without having obtained authorization from the then-owner, nor having paid the corresponding amount. Because the easement (servidumbre) exists, its use is continuous, and it has not yet been compensated, the plaintiff has a current interest in his claim.
IX.- ON DAMAGES In light of the foregoing, it is clear that what the Municipality of Belén constituted on the plaintiff company's land was a subterranean and continuous easement (servidumbre) for the passage of stormwater and natural water pipes, which crosses the property and has a width of 6.99 meters and a total area of 174.25 m2. As noted by the appraiser Nombre148040 – in the administrative venue – the property has a total measurement of 1,048.82 m2, and the remaining land north of the easement (servidumbre) has an area of 148.41 m2 and a frontage onto a public street of 8.23 m. On the other hand, the property has always been owned by private individuals, which reaffirms the thesis that we are not in the presence of an expropriation (expropiación). Although the pipeline indeed crosses the property, it was not proven with suitable evidence that it makes the enjoyment of the property, or its natural use, impossible, which is why an expropriation (expropiación) of the property would not be justified. Nor was it demonstrated that there is damage to the remainder, as the plaintiff alleges, naming thus the area located north of the easement (servidumbre), which has an area of 148.41 m2 and a frontage onto a public street of 8.23 m, because this zone is still part of the total property where a dwelling house already exists and can be used for various purposes. On the other hand, for construction purposes, the property would be affected by what is established in the Zoning Plan (Plan Regulador) of the Zone, and by the social limitation derived from its location within the Protection Area (Área de Protección), which, as already explained, is not compensable and must be borne by the property. As a corollary to the foregoing, it is concluded then that the damage that the plaintiff company can claim is the value of the easement (servidumbre), which was estimated by the expert Nombre72375 – in the judicial venue – at the sum of ₡ 33,556,640 colones. The argument alleged by the Municipality of Belén that the expert did not assess the fact that the property is within a protection zone, could not be clarified by the expert at the oral trial, due to his death (but the parties were also informed of this situation and agreed to hold the oral trial). On the other hand, we must be clear that it is not acceptable to restrict the value of the property due to the social interest limitation it suffers and which is not compensable. It adds that it is not true that the land is frozen or disabled, but rather that it can be used according to its natural economic and productive purpose, because as the Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional) already indicated in vote N° 4205-96 of August 20, 1996, "…social interest limitations are not compensable, because they do not imply an expropriation (expropiación), that is, when the property does not suffer dismemberments that make the right disappear. Of course, they imply a burden or legal duty – in the strict sense – of not doing, or at most, of tolerating the State's intrusion into the property for public purposes, a duty that is added to the owner's powers and faculties, but without denaturing or destroying them…". Thus, it considers that the valuation given by the expert appointed in this process makes an adequate and reasonable weighting of all the aspects taken into account to arrive at the price given to the easement (servidumbre), which does not seem unreasonable or disproportionate but rather adjusted to reality, due to the passage of time since the last administrative valuation, and the increasing surplus value (plusvalía) that this area has achieved in recent years. Based on the foregoing, the Municipality of Belén is obligated to pay the plaintiff party, as compensation (indemnización) for the easement (servidumbre), the sum of ₡ 33,556,640 million colones, as well as interest at the legal rate generated by that sum from the finality of this resolution until effective payment. For the reasons stated, the payment for expropriation (expropiación) and for damage to the remainder is rejected, which, as already indicated, was not proven.
X.- COSTS Regarding this item, under the protection of numeral 193 of the Contentious Administrative Procedure Code (Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo) and given that this Court considers that it is not in the presence of the causes for exemption established in said article, their imposition on the defendant party, the Municipality of Belén, is appropriate. In relation to the other defendants, who were called into the process ex officio, and given that the claim was declared inadmissible, because the exception of lack of passive standing (falta de legitimación ad causam pasiva) succeeded with respect to them, they are exempted from the payment of both costs, as there was sufficient reason to litigate.
POR TANTO
The exception of lack of passive standing (falta de legitimación pasiva) alleged by the State, the National Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (Instituto Nacional de Acueductos y Alcantarillados) and the National System of Conservation Areas (Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación) is upheld, and with respect to them, the claim is declared inadmissible. The exception of lack of passive standing (falta de legitimación pasiva), lack of right, current interest and statute of limitations (prescripción) promoted by the defendant Local Government is rejected. Consequently, the claim brought by the company Corporación DACAR CF S.A. is partially upheld only against the Municipality of Belén, which must compensate the plaintiff the sum corresponding to the area affected by the de facto easement (servidumbre), which is estimated with expert assistance at the sum of ₡ 33,556,640 million colones, as well as interest at the legal rate generated by that sum from the finality of this resolution until effective payment. The payment for expropriation (expropiación) and damage to the remainder is rejected. Once the plaintiff is compensated and in the sentence execution phase, the Municipality of Belén must register the easement (servidumbre) according to its layout on the property registration number Placa29546. The defendant party, the Municipality of Belén, is ordered to pay both costs of this process. It is resolved without special ruling on costs regarding the other defendants. NOTIFY.
418-419 court file)</span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold">3.-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'"> The claim brought by the plaintiff in the brief filed on June 30, 2014, consists of the following: “ – That by judgment it be declared that the property owned by my represented party and registered in the National Registry, Real Property Section, Partido de Heredia, Folio Real number 34912-000 is encumbered by a water conveyance easement (servidumbre de conducción de aguas) held by the Municipality of Belén, without the latter having paid any sum whatsoever for expropriation purposes. – That it be declared that the Municipality of Belén failed to comply with the due administrative expropriation and compensation process in favor of the owner of the property Partido de Heredia, folio real number 34912-000. – I request that the Municipality of Belén be ordered to immediately commence the due administrative expropriation process so that my represented party be paid the value of the legal interest, which shall be calculated from the moment it took possession of the land until the date of effective payment. Furthermore, that it be ordered to pay for the area of land located between the easement and the north boundary of the property, which was completely rendered useless by the constitution of the easement. – I request that the defendant be ordered to pay the personal and procedural costs of this action.” (f. 423 court file) </span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold">4.- </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'">The Municipality of Belén raised in its defense the defenses of Statute of Limitations (article 66.1 paragraph k of the Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo, article 63 of the Ley de Expropiaciones and article 198 of the Ley General de la Administración Pública), lack of right, lack of standing</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'"> and lack of current interest, and requested that this lawsuit be dismissed. (f. 133-147 court file)</span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold">5</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'">.- Acueductos y Alcantarillados raised in its defense the defenses of lack of right, lack of standing</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'"> and lack of current interest. It requested that this lawsuit be dismissed in its entirety as unfounded and improper. (f. 189-197 court file)</span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold">6.-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'"> The State alleged in its defense the defense of lack of right, lack of passive standing (legitimación ad causan pasiva), and requested that the lawsuit be dismissed in its entirety with the payment of both costs and the corresponding interest to be borne by the plaintiff. (f. 200-211 court file) </span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold">7.-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'"> The Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación raised the defenses of lack of right and</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'"> lack of passive standing (legitimación ad causan pasiva). It opposed the plaintiff's claims for compensation, as well as the award of costs (f. 147-148 court file)</span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold">8.- </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">At the oral trial held on December 7, 2015, the testimony of the witness Nombre126859</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101; -aw-import:spaces">  </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">was received. For purposes of calculating the time limit, it must be taken into consideration that December 11 was Judicial Employee Day, for which reason it was declared a holiday, and that December 19 was the last working day due to collective vacation, returning to work on January 4, 2016. </span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">9.- </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">All legal requirements have been observed in the proceedings and no defects capable of causing nullity or defenselessness of the parties are noted. This matter was declared complex in accordance with article 111 of the Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo and article 47 of the Reglamento Autónomo de Organización y Servicio de la Jurisdicción Contenciosa Administrativa y Civil de Hacienda. After deliberation, this judgment is issued within the time limit</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> “By</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline; color:#010101"> Unanimity</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">”. </span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">Judge García Carballo writes. </span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span> </span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-align:center; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline; color:#010101">WHEREAS</span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">I.- </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline; color:#010101">PROVEN FACTS</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101"> </span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">The following evidentiary list is deemed proven:</span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">1 .-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> In the cadastral map (plano catastrado) registered on </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">March 21, 2000 </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">under number H-618538-2000, it is indicated that Mr. Nombre148038</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101; -aw-import:spaces">  </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">was the owner of a property located in the province of Heredia, cantón of Belén, distrito Asunción, which has an area of 1048.82 m2, as well as a dwelling house. A stamp was affixed to the map indicating </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; color:#010101">“For new constructions, an encumbrance of land for social interest will be applied for the concept of spring protection zone (zona de protección de nacimiento) or any type of upwelling (in the north boundary), in accordance with article 33 of the Ley Forestal and articles 8, 31, 149 of the Ley de Aguas and related laws, in order to achieve conditions of human safety and reduce environmental impact according to article 11 of the Ley de Biodiversidad (Precautionary or In Dubio Pronatura criterion)</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">”. The property is located in the Province of Heredia, cantón of Belén, distrito Asunción, bounded on the north and west by Scott Paper Company, on the south by Nombre148039</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101; -aw-import:spaces">  </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">, and on the east by a public road with 30.72 meters of frontage, it measures 1048.82 m2. (f. 20, 22 court file) </span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">2.-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> In the agreement made at the Ordinary Session No. 67-2007 of </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">November 6, 2007</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">, the Concejo Municipal de Belén heard the petition filed by Corporación DACAR CF S.A., where it indicated that on its property with registration number Placa29543 (cadastral map Placa29544), along the north side heading east, a rainwater pipe constructed</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> by the Municipality of Belén runs through it. That an easement was never legally established over the aforementioned property, but rather it was done de facto and for the benefit of the community, limiting its use to grazing cattle, when its nature is for construction. In light of the foregoing, it considers that the local government must compensate it. It was unanimously agreed in Ordinary Session No. 67-2007 held on November 6, 2007, article 28 held on November 6, 2007,</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> to refer the request to the Works Unit for its analysis and recommendation. (f. 1-2 administrative file)</span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">3.-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> The Dirección Operativa y de Desarrollo Urbano sent memorandum UO-018-2008 of </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">January 18, 2008</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> to the Concejo Municipal, where it stated</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> that after conducting an inspection</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> of the property, it was verified, concerning property cadastral map H-618538-2000, </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; color:#010101">“1… current passage of rainwater by surface runoff, in addition to the existence of a permanent water flow of natural origin (spring (naciente)) that affect part of the property in question. 2. Given the topographical conditions in the area, and according to what neighbors and municipal officials who know the site and its evolution have indicated, surface runoff waters due to rain have de facto constituted a passage over the years. Furthermore, the area has always presented the existence of underground waters whose upwelling has generated a permanent natural drainage channel, affecting the lands or properties of the sector, a situation that is not verified in the cadastral map provided by the topography professional. 4. In that sense, and due to the topographical characteristics, the stormwater runoff (product of precipitation) is directed through the same runoff channel as the waters of natural origin. 5. It was also possible to verify the existence within the property in question of infrastructure works whose purpose was to improve the capture and channeling of waters through the property (grate-type collection box and concrete pipe whose approximate diameter is 60 cm). There is no reliable record or information about who executed said works. 6. Therefore, it is the opinion of this Unit to consider that the current stormwater runoff through the property of Mr. and Mrs. Nombre148037 </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; text-decoration:underline; color:#010101">was constituted in fact by the prevailing topographical conditions in the area and the development of the area itself. And that at some point it was sought to improve functionality and reduce the impact on the land through the construction of small works for channeling and directing the waters</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; color:#010101">…”</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">(f. 4-5 administrative file, underlining is not from the original) </span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">4.-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> The Legal Directorate of the Municipality of Belén presented on </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">July 29, 2008</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> the recommendations on the case of the plaintiff company and concluded: </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; color:#010101">“…Indeed, due to the topography of the area, surface runoff due to rain has de facto constituted a water passage through the land in question. There is even a contribution of natural waters of permanent origin that start on adjoining lands and flow through the underground pipe that crosses the property of the complaining company. It is important to note that according to the inspections carried out, in front of the land it can be seen that there are infrastructure works within the property (grate-type collection box and concrete pipe of approximately 60 cm.), whose purpose is to improve the capture and channeling of waters through the property. This situation denotes that the land supports a burden in favor of the other lands and buildings of the sector, as waters flow underground that drain through the gutters or pipes located on Dirección17936</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; color:#010101; -aw-import:spaces">  </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; color:#010101">and even coming from other roads and nearby sectors. In the same way, the water of natural origin that flows from adjoining lands runs through said underground pipe. Another relevant aspect that must not be lost sight of is that a spring (naciente) is located on the land adjoining the north boundary of the property in question, owned by the company Scott Paper (Nombre141584), which in this case affects the protection zone (zona de protección) that must be respected… On the other hand, it is necessary to clarify that regarding the limitation or burden supported by the property, due to the passage of rainwater by surface runoff, it has not been constituted as an administrative or legal easement, nor in the registry. It is a situation that has been consolidated by the passage of time and by the need to prevent flooding, and so that constructions and infrastructure do not collapse due to the saturation of the land in the winter or rainy season (… )</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; color:#010101">Conclusions and Recommendations (</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; color:#010101">…) 2) That the land owned by the company Corporación Dacar CF S.A. is affected by the current passage of rainwater by artificial runoff originating in the sector of Dirección17936</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; color:#010101; -aw-import:spaces">  </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; color:#010101">and surrounding areas, and also by the passage of a permanent water flow of natural origin that comes from other lands. This passage of two types of waters is channeled through an underground pipe that crosses the property to drain into a storm drain. 3 That in the present case, an appraisal or expert report must be requested to define the possible impact on the property right due to the passage of rainwater from the sector, through the land owned by</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; color:#010101"> the requesting company, and due to the passage of natural waters coming from a tributary that runs through neighboring properties, until both types of waters cross the property in question underground. Furthermore, the incidence that the delimitation of the protection zone (zona de protección) (article 33 of the Ley Forestal) may have on said land due to the spring (naciente) that exists on the neighboring or adjoining land along the north boundary (property owned by Scott Paper Company) must be assessed (…) All with the purpose of establishing an objective and comprehensive assessment in the present case to determine what damages or losses must be compensated to the registered owner.”</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">(f.12- 16</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> administrative file) </span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">5.-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> In the sketch</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> prepared by the Municipality of Belén, with a survey date of </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">April 23, 2008</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">, it was recorded that the property of the plaintiff company is crossed by a concrete pipe</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> of 73.66 cm from east to west, which discharges into a storm drain, in addition to having a manhole at the beginning of the pipe facing the public road. The area is established to be 274.47 m2 (f. 21 administrative file) </span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">6.-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> The Concejo Municipal, in Extraordinary Session No. 53-2008 of </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">September 4, 2008</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">, agreed to send the report from the Legal Directorate to legal advisor Luis Álvarez for his analysis and recommendation. (f. 23 -27 administrative file)</span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">7.-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> On </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">October 17, 2008</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">, Mr. Luis Álvarez sent report MB-079-2008 to the Concejo Municipal, in which he concludes that he shares what was stated by the legal advisory, and therefore, it would be possible to compensate the private party following the procedure of first requesting an appraisal or expert report to define the possible impact on the property right due to the passage of rainwater and natural waters coming from the tributary. However, he disagrees regarding the possibility of compensating the area of the protection zone, in application of article 33 of the Ley Forestal, since compensation does not apply to protection areas. (f. 29-32 administrative file) </span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">8.-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> In the land-use certification (certificación de uso del suelo) for the property with cadastral map H-618538-2000 corresponding to the proceeding of </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">October 26, 2009,</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> the Municipality of Belén indicated that the non-permitted uses were: industry, warehouses, truck parking, and in general any use that has a potential risk of contamination, unhealthiness, and insecurity, commercial establishments that cause nuisance to the neighborhood, such as bars, taverns, dance halls, pool halls, vehicle repair shops, and the like. As requirements, it was established that the minimum area would not be less than 150 m2, and the minimum frontage would not be less than 8.00 m2, the front setback would not be less than 2 meters from a national road of 3 meters, maximum coverage (cobertura) 70% of the lot area. Furthermore, it was recorded as a note that the property is affected by the current passage of rainwater and surface runoff, by the passage of a permanent flow of natural origin that comes from other lands, a passage that is channeled through an underground pipe that crosses the property to drain into a storm drain. (f. 34 administrative file) </span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">9.-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> The Operative and Urban Development Area of the Municipality</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> requested from the Ministerio de Hacienda through official letter DO.030-2009 of </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">October 26, 2009,</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> the appraisal of the property, for the purpose of using the property as an environmental reserve. Through official letter SV-ATH-3-2010 of January 12, 2010, the Coordinator of the Valuation Area of the Ministerio de Hacienda, Engineer Vargas Murillo, reported that the expert appraiser Nombre148040. Nombre148041</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101; -aw-import:spaces">   </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">, after investigating the values of the area, consulting the map of homogeneous zones, in addition to considering the characteristics of the area, the land tenure regime, the socioeconomic characteristics of its inhabitants, the nature of the parent property and the lot to be segregated, access to services in the area, location facing a public road, use restrictions</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> and current use,</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> finally determined that in that part of the property the value was </span><span style="font-family:Arial; color:#010101">₡</span><span> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">35,000.00 colones</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> per square meter, </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; text-decoration:underline; color:#010101">and</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; text-decoration:underline; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; text-decoration:underline; color:#010101"> that the area of 274.47 m2 of the easement had a total value</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; text-decoration:underline; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; text-decoration:underline; color:#010101"> of </span><span style="font-family:Arial; text-decoration:underline; color:#010101">₡</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; text-decoration:underline; color:#010101">9,606,450 colones</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">. The appraiser notes that this report did not consider the impact due to the presence of the pipe for rainwater drainage, by virtue</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> of the fact that the pipe is not registered as an encumbrance, and therefore can be removed at the owner's convenience. Damage to the remainder was also not considered, since given the characteristics and location of the lot, the impact on the covered parent property is fully covered by the established value. (f. 37-42,</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> administrative file)</span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">10.- </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">By means of a note dated</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">March 11, 2010</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">, the representative of the plaintiff company expressed his disagreement with the valuation of his property carried out by the Ministerio de Hacienda, and asked the Municipality to review the value. (f. 43 administrative file)</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">11.-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> In the inspection of the property carried out by the same expert on </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">May 20, 2010</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">, considering the same factors previously stated in the earlier inspection, he established a unit value for the area of </span><span style="font-family:Arial; color:#010101">₡</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">45,000 colones per m2, and conferred on the area of 274.47 m2 a value of </span><span style="font-family:Arial; color:#010101">₡</span><span> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">12,351,150</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> colones. ( f. 47- 50 administrative file) </span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">12.-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> On </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">June 24, 2010</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">, the representative of the plaintiff company requested the Concejo Municipal de Belén for authorization to purchase that area of land that affects its property, and stated that it agreed with its value, authorizing the Mayor to carry out the registration in the Registry of the rainwater easement. (f.
53 administrative file) </span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">13.-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> The Municipal Council, in Ordinary Session No. 51-2010 held on </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">24 August 2010</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> and ratified on 7 September 2010, agreed </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; color:#010101">“to reject the request submitted by the representative of the company Corporación DACAR F.S S.A., regarding the purchase of an area of its property</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">.” (f.60</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> -61 administrative file) </span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">14.-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> On </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">21 December 2010</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">, the Dirección General de Tributación Directa Órgano de Normalización Técnica, regarding the criterion on how to treat protection areas for rivers, streams, creeks, lagoons, ditches, captured or uncaptured springs (nacientes), for valuation purposes, indicated that there is official communication SDVM-01-2009 from the Órgano de Normalización Técnica that responds to the above and that states </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; color:#010101">“…it is the criterion of this body that for the purpose of valuation for the Real Estate Tax, a value of zero colones should be assigned to such areas”, however, the criterion is expanded according to Article 5 subsection b) which states: “Properties that constitute watersheds, understood as those lands that serve as protection for springs (nacientes) of water and that are an integral part of said watersheds as defined by the Forest Law, the Water Law, and the Environment Law… For such purposes, consideration must be given to what those laws mention, and include it in the criterion established by the ONT”.</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> (f. 131 judicial file)</span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">15.-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> The Dirección de Investigación y Gestión Hídrica of SENASA, in report</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> DIGH-997-11 of </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">19 October 2011</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">, stated in relation to the land use of the protection zones for springs (nacientes) and wells located in the Cantón of Belén, that there is</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> extensive regulation (Ley de Aguas N°276, Ley General de Agua Potable N° 1634, and Ley Forestal), that protects the areas surrounding the springs (nacientes), declaring them a reserve of dominion in favor of the nation or protection areas. These zones may have different characteristics, and the distance will depend in some cases on a fixed radius, and in others on each specific case, in order to ensure</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> the conservation of water quality. Finally, it indicates that it will be the responsibility of the Municipalities to establish the guidelines to determine the minimum necessary requirements that existing infrastructure within the protection zones must meet, in order to guarantee the protection of water quality. (f. 134-137 judicial file)</span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">16 .-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> The Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía Dirección de Agua, in the report of </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">11 February 2012</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> stated that in the Province of Heredia, Cantón of Belén, District of Asunción, there is a source, at initial latitude 218.069, final latitude 218.069, initial long 517.121, final long 517.121. (f. 214 judicial file)</span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">17.- </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">In the report issued on </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">23 February 2012, </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">the appraiser expert Nombre148040.</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101; -aw-import:spaces">   </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">. stated that the easement (servidumbre) has a measurement of 174.25 m2, a total width of 6.00 m, and a length of 29.7 m (in culvert). In the sketch, he recorded the existence of the pipe and culvert. He indicated that the remnant land to the north of the easement (servidumbre) has an area of 148.41 m2 and a frontage on a public street of 8.23 m.</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> (f. 111 judicial file) </span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">18.- </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">The valuation expert Nombre72375</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101; -aw-import:spaces">  </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">, issued on </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">27 February 2012</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> , the following considerations in relation to the areas surrounding the property registration number Placa29545: It has a topography from slightly undulating to strongly undulating, soils of the Typic peluster type, with sticky and adhesive clays, some lands retain their agricultural use. The residential development has single-story houses with medium finish. It has all public services, and governmental offices, banks, businesses such as supermarkets, restaurants,</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> hardware stores among others, a train station and buses to San José and Heredia. Regarding the property, he noted: It has</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> a trapezoidal shape,</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> a measurement of 1,048.82 m2, and a dwelling house of medium finishes (which is not valued). To determine the value of the land, consideration was given to the area and location of the strip, the land and infrastructure, commercial values in the area, information from the Ministerio de Hacienda and Mapas de Valores de Zonas Homogéneas of the Municipalidad de Belén. Having assessed the foregoing, as well as the fact that the total width of the easement (servidumbre) was 6.00m and the total area 174.25 m2., he concluded that the price of the strip of land supporting the easement (servidumbre) amounts to </span><span style="font-family:Arial; color:#010101">₡</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> 104,000.00/m2 for a total of </span><span style="font-family:Arial; color:#010101">₡</span><span> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">33,556,640.0. ( f. 104-109 judicial file) </span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">19.-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> The Catastro Unit of San Antonio de Belén, regarding the approval of plan No. 1354, property of Corporación DACAR CF S.A., for the complete site project of real folio No. 4-034912-000, part of the property of real folio No. 4062450-000, issued the resolution of ten hours nineteen minutes on </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">19 March 2012</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">, which states </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; color:#010101">“ First: That the property real folio Placa29538°</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; color:#010101; -aw-import:spaces">  </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; color:#010101">of the Partido de Heredia complies with the zoning established by the Plan Regulador of the Cantón of Belén (high-density residential zone). Second: That in accordance with Article No. 36 of the Urban Planning Law, the property of interest</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; color:#010101"> property registration number</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; color:#010101"> real folio Placa29539°</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; color:#010101; -aw-import:spaces">  </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; color:#010101">of the Partido de Heredia complies with the infrastructure works fronting the public road</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; color:#010101">. Third. That for new constructions, an encumbrance on the cited land shall apply for the concept of a protection zone for a spring (nacimiento) or any type of water outcrop (on the northern boundary), in accordance with Article 33 of the Ley Forestal</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; color:#010101"> and Articles 8, 31, 149 of the Ley de Aguas and Related Laws, this to achieve conditions of human safety and reduce the environmental impact according to Article 11 of the Ley de Biodiversidad (preventive criterion and precautionary criterion or in dubio pro natura)</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; color:#010101">. Fourth: That in the case of remodeling, without expansion of area, this must be submitted for prior consideration, mainly for analysis of aspects related to safety and health. In accordance with the powers granted to the Catastro Unit (…) we hereby certify that the approval request No. 1354 is appropriate for the reasons set forth above.”</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> (f. 244 judicial file, the bold type is not from the original)</span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">20.-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> The Alajuela Office of the Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación, in official communication OA-556 of </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">23 March 2012</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">, conducted an inspection at Dirección17937</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101; -aw-import:spaces">     </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">in the properties located in Asunción de Belén geographic coordinates 218067 and 517123 with address 100 meters south and 25 meters west of Dirección17938</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101; -aw-import:spaces">   </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">and indicated </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; color:#010101">“ That at the site there is an uncaptured permanent-flow spring (naciente) (as indicated by one of the owners) the adjacent lands, which are a protection area, are occupied by dwellings and access roads; only some trees of guititi, caimito are found, as well as banana and orange plants in a reduced diameter of approximately 10 meters. In order to fulfill our duties and based on the General Public Administration Law</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-style:italic; color:#010101"> and Ley Forestal N° 7575 article 33, which establishes the protection areas for springs (nacientes), (the areas bordering permanent springs, defined within a radius of one hundred meters measured horizontally). We hereby request the following: That upon receipt of this document, this Municipality refrain from granting construction permits or works within the diameter defined by law, for the protection of this or other permanent springs. Otherwise, we will be forced to take the corresponding legal measures.</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">” (f. 167 judicial file) </span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">21.-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> On </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">20 August 2013</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> the Dirección Área Técnica Operativa y Desarrollo Urbano issued official communication</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> DO.0200-2013, stating that on the lands of the Kimberly Clark company, the permanent spring (naciente) NAC-2633 is located, and that the protection zone corresponds to one hundred meters, hence both the property owner and the adjoining owners must adopt the corresponding measures for its protection. (f. 262-263, 271-273 judicial file) </span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">22.-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> The Dirección de Investigación Hídrica of SENARA, in General Opinion File Senara </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">65-13-DIGH</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> (undated), in response to the request for a technical pronouncement regarding the assessment of the permanent or intermittent nature of the water outcrop located on the property of Nombre141584, and its relationship with property H-959690-2004 registered in the name of Nombre148038</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101; -aw-import:spaces">  </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">, stated:</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> That the spring (naciente) is permanent in nature, that various works are located within its protection area, and made some recommendations to the Municipality of the area, such as taking actions to prevent the discharge of soapy water into the channel, </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; text-decoration:underline; color:#010101">channeling the same through a pipe over an impermeabilized bed</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> and protecting the vegetation cover of the lot located next to the road in the spring (naciente) zone, among others. (f. 265- 270 judicial file)</span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">23.-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> The Director of the Área Técnica Operativa of the Municipalidad de Belén issued on</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">2 December 2013</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> a certification stating that the property registered in real folio 34912-000 cadastral plan H-618538-2000 owned by Corporación DACAR S F S.A., is located within the protection zone of the permanent spring (naciente) Nac-2633, which has a protection radius of one hundred meters. The property is located in a zone of medium vulnerability, but because it is immersed in a protection zone, the limitation of the protection radius applies (Art. 33 Ley Forestal). (f. 321-322 judicial file) </span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">24.- </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">The company Corporación Dacar Nombre147 F S.A., registered in the National Registry on </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">4 December 2012</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">, the property registration number Placa29540°, which has as its title of ownership history the property Placa29541°. The property supports a validation period for measurement rectification that began on 4 December 2006 and expired on 4 December 2006. (which affected the parent property). (f. 20 judicial file) </span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">25.-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> The UEN-Optimización de Sistemas –GAM of the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados certified on an unspecified date, that the spring (naciente) referred to (initial latitude 218.062, final latitude 218.062, initial longitude 517.391, final longitude 517.391), is not used by that institute for population supply. (f. 362-365 judicial file) </span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">26.-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> The Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación de la Cordillera Volcánica Central issued official communication SINAC-ACCVC-OA-146-2014 of </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">7 February 2014</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">, in which it was indicated that during a visit to the spring (naciente) located on the property of Nombre141584, it was possible to</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> observe that at a distance of 23.50 meters from it, bordering to the north, there is a lot with earth fill without being able to specify its date (although it appears to be old), with a measurement of 13.30 meters wide and 26 meters long, apparently there is a sewer for a watercourse</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> under the fill with an east-west direction. On the west side of the fill lies the rest of the property</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> apparently belonging to the same owner (Corporación DACAR CF S.A). (f. 400-401 judicial file)</span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">27.-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> In the oral trial, the witness Nombre126859</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101; -aw-import:spaces">   </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">stated that he knows the property, that he lives in the area, and affirms that an aqueduct easement (servidumbre) runs through it. (statement in oral trial) </span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">II.- </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline; color:#010101">FACTS NOT PROVEN</span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">1.-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> The Municipality did not prove with relevant evidence that it had obtained the authorization of the former owner of the property to establish the easement (servidumbre), that it had his tolerance, or that it had paid the corresponding compensation.</span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">2.-</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> The plaintiff did not prove damage to the remainder, nor that the easement (servidumbre) had nullified the enjoyment of the attributes of its property, to justify an expropriation. </span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">3.- The plaintiff did not prove that the property is frozen or disabled by the defendant Municipality, or that it cannot be</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> used according to its natural economic and productive purpose.</span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">III.- </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline; color:#010101">PROCEDURAL FRAMEWORK</span></p><p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101">The company Corporación Dacar CF S.A alleges that on 4 December 2006 it acquired by purchase the property registration number Placa29543, located in the province of Heredia, cantón of Belén, district La Asunción, which measures one thousand forty square meters and eighty-two square decimeters. It states that a wastewater and stormwater easement (servidumbre) runs across it, which is not registered in the Public Registry, and that it was established more than twenty years ago by the Municipalidad de Belén, without having carried out any expropriation process, or having paid the value of that land. The easement (servidumbre), it alleges, affected the value of the property causing damage to the remainder, since a section of the property located between the easement (servidumbre) and the northern boundary, comprising one hundred and nineteen meters, was rendered useless, because the Local Government does not grant any Municipal permit for building, since according to the Plan Regulador, permits are not granted on lands less than 150 meters. In application of Articles 190 and 191 of the General Public Administration Law, it claims</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> the liability of the Municipal entity</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> and petitions that it be declared that the property registered under registration number Placa29543 is encumbered by a water conveyance easement (servidumbre), by the Municipalidad de Belén, without a due administrative process of expropriation and compensation in favor of its owner having taken place. It maintains that it must be paid the amount determined by appraisal for the areas affected by the expropriation, which comprises the zone crossed by the easement (servidumbre), as well as the area located between the easement (servidumbre) and the northern boundary of the property, because it rendered it useless – damage to the remainder -. It also requests payment for the expropriated lands, and for the damages and losses suffered by the property, originating from the de facto expropriation and the non-payment of compensation, payment of the interest generated by the</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> non-payment of the expropriation, which are calculated from the date on which the Municipality took possession of the lands</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> until the present. The payment for the remainder, because the easement (servidumbre) crosses the entire property, affects its commercial value and renders a section of it useless. The </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">Municipalidad de Belén</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> argues the theory of the case that the previous owner of the property agreed</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> many years ago to the piping of the natural water flow that passed through the property, so that the course of the waters could be directed and the property not damaged, discharging the same into a stormwater well. That in this case there was an act of tolerance by the owner of the property, who allowed the installation of the pipe because the works would benefit the property, which is why no expropriation or contracting process was carried out to acquire the strip of land in which the pipe was installed; for that reason there is no constituted and registered easement (servidumbre), and no</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> expropriation procedure has been processed to acquire the property. It alleges that the ten-year statute of limitations</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> provided for in the Ley de Expropiaciones (No. 7495) operated in this case,</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> and that the argument put forward by the plaintiff that the easement (servidumbre) was continuous is not acceptable, since the cited term was reached. It states that the water passage is located in the northern sector of the land, specifically on the east-west boundary, hence the remaining area of the property is not affected, since if the property measures 1,040.82 m2, and the pipe comprises 26.65 m in length by 3 m of setback from the boundary, this involves 80 m2, leaving 960 m2 that can be used. It adds that it is not true that the land is frozen or disabled, but rather that it can be used according to its natural economic and productive purpose, but that according to Article 4.3 of the Plan Regulador for the Cantón of Belén, the minimum area is 150 m2</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> and a minimum frontage of eight linear meters, therefore it is not viable to segregate a lot of 119 meters. Finally, it alleged in the oral trial that the property is within the protection area of a water spring (naciente), a situation that must be considered in setting the value per square meter of the land. </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; font-weight:bold; color:#010101">The State</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> stated that the claim for compensation should be directed only against the Municipalidad de Belén, because the proceedings concern the constitution of an easement (servidumbre) by that entity</span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> </span><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS'; color:#010101"> on the plaintiff's land, reason for which it is the latter that is responsible for the technical defense of its interests, as well as the eventual payment of the compensation claimed.</span></p> Regarding the payment sought by the plaintiff, it refers to Article 33 of the Ley Forestal and notes that because the property is located within the protection area of a spring (naciente), the social limitation (limitación) borne by the property is not subject to compensation (indemnización), because it does not prevent the use of the land or the exercise of the right of property, nor the development of other activities compatible with forest use. The Instituto Nacional de Acueductos y Alcantarillados maintained that it has no involvement in this matter, but rather that it is a matter completely outside its competence and organic specialty, since the compensation for the stormwater easement (servidumbre de aguas pluviales) is a matter that corresponds exclusively to the Municipalidad de Belén. It clarifies that the fact that a spring (naciente) exists in the vicinity of the property does not imply its responsibility, since in light of the provisions of Article 31 of the Ley de Aguas, its participation is limited to springs that are captured for public use, a situation that does not arise in this case, as it involves a spring of permanent flow on private property that has no public use. It indicates that, in accordance with Article 33 of the Ley Forestal, there is an area that must be respected as part of the limitations (limitaciones) that encumber the property, which are not subject to compensation, but rather weigh upon the property as an environmental limitation. It notes that the limitation is not an expropriation, nor does it imply a singular or concrete sacrifice of the property. The Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación notes that in this proceeding, administrative actions issued by SINAC are not being reproached, nor omissions it may have incurred, but rather the entire claim is directed against the Municipalidad de Belén. It indicates that in the area there is an uncaptured permanent-flow spring, so the Área de Conservación requested that the Municipalidad de Belén, based on the Ley General de la Administración Pública and the Ley Forestal No. 7575, Article 33, which establishes the protection area for springs, refrain from granting construction or works permits within the diameter defined by law for the protection of this and other permanent springs. It adds that social-interest limitations may be imposed in defense of the environment, that the Protection Areas constitute legitimate limitations, and that they are not indemnifiable.
**III.-** **ON THE SPECIFIC CASE**. The plaintiff company states that it acquired ownership of the property registered under Folio Placa29540°, since on December 4, 2012, it registered the aforementioned property in its name in the National Registry. The property bears, from a registry perspective, a convalidation period for measurement rectification that began on December 4, 2006, and had an expiration date of December 4, 2006 (which affected the parent property registered under Folio Placa29541). In the cadastral map in the name of Mr. Nombre148038, registered on March 20, 2000, the existence of an easement (servidumbre) affecting the property was not recorded; however, the plaintiff states that for more than twenty years, the Municipalidad de Belén has built a stormwater and sewer easement (servidumbre de aguas servidas y pluviales) on the aforementioned property, without having carried out any expropriation proceeding or paying the owner the value of the expropriated and affected lands. It adds that the easement crosses the property from front to back, that it is currently operational, and that it affects the value of the property, causing damage to the remainder (daño al remanente), since one hundred and nineteen square meters have been rendered unusable, hence the Municipality does not grant it a construction permit, as constructions on lots of less than one hundred and fifty square meters are prohibited; the property measures 1048.82 m2, and a dwelling house is located on it. Furthermore, the property is within the protection area of a permanent-flow water spring (naciente).
**IV.-** **ON THE EASEMENT AND EXPROPRIATION** The plaintiff, when formulating its claim, refers indistinctly to two concepts that are different, and which, in the opinion of this Chamber, must be clarified before addressing the merits of this matter. In view of the foregoing, we must clarify that property is a real right, enshrined in Article 45 of the Political Constitution. Among the main attributes of property, we find the right to usufruct, use, transformation, and alienation, and other secondary ones, among which we can cite possession, defense and exclusion, restitution, and compensation. Encumbrances, limitations (limitaciones), or charges can also be constituted on property; among the latter is the easement (servidumbre), which is constituted on a property and imposes on its owner the obligation to bear a charge that includes obligations to refrain from doing and to tolerate, all for the benefit of a third party or another property; for this reason, it is affirmed that the beneficiary acquires the possibility of making use of the property, but constrained to the purposes stipulated in its constitution. The easement falls upon the servient tenement or property and adheres to it permanently, sharing its fate, as it is accessory; if the property is sold, it is sold bearing that encumbrance, and the same applies if it is seized, mortgaged, or assigned. According to doctrinal classification, easements may be natural, legal, voluntary, apparent or non-apparent, continuous or discontinuous. For its part, the Civil Code, in its Article 376, conceptualizes it as a restriction on the freedom of a property, but one that does not deprive its owner of the dominion exercised over it, although it does cause a detriment to the property that bears it. Easements are constituted by agreement, testament, or by the simple use by the owner of the dominant tenement and the tolerance of the servient owner for the prescriptive acquisition period; some are constituted naturally, others have their origin in the law and their purpose is public utility, among them are the so-called aqueduct easements for the conveyance of water destined for a public service and also for the benefit of private parties, which also has a continuous nature. At this point, it is appropriate to establish that the constitution of an easement (servidumbre) is dissimilar to the figure of expropriation. In expropriation, the State, making use of an expropriation power and for a legally declared public interest, deprives a subject of their property right, upon prior payment of the corresponding compensation (just price). In these cases, the guarantee of inviolability of property yields, and the owner is deprived of the property or part of it. In the case of expropriation, the value of the property or right is paid, since it becomes the property of the State for the public purpose for which it was destined, and the damage to the remainder (daño al remanente) is compensated when the partial expropriation makes the natural or economic use of the affected property impossible. The damage to the remainder is an economic compensation for an expropriation or easement carried out upon a specific individual or legal entity to execute a public-interest project or work, the purpose of which is to consider the effect that the expropriation or easement will cause to the rest of the property or right. The foregoing is based on Article 45 of the Political Constitution, which, as relevant, establishes that *"Property is inviolable; no one may be deprived of their own except for a legally proven public interest, upon prior compensation in accordance with the law..."*. The easement, contrary to expropriation, does not deprive the owner of their property, but rather, as already explained, limits it. When it involves the constitution of an easement in favor of the administration, the procedure provided in the Ley de Expropiaciones is applied, which in Article 13 establishes that the provisions of that law shall be applicable when the State intends to constitute easements on a property that is not its own, unless it substantially affects the availability of the property, in which case the integral expropriation of the property must be executed. The regulation of this figure in that law demonstrates the legislator's intention that the constitution of an easement on a property be preceded by a public interest to satisfy and involve the payment of a just price. From the foregoing, we can affirm that the constitution of an easement does not always entail expropriation, for the latter would only take place if the imposition of that charge or obligation negates the owner's use and enjoyment of their property right. Thus, when a legal easement is constituted on a property, ownership of it continues to reside with the registered owner, who may exercise over it the intrinsic attributes of this right, while merely bearing the imposed charge.
**V.-** **ON THE MERITS** In the case under examination, the constitution of the stormwater and sewer easement (servidumbre de aguas pluviales y servidas) on the plaintiff's property is an uncontroverted fact; its existence is recognized by the Municipalidad de Belén, an entity that did not refute its authorship; however, it cannot be corroborated by registry means because it was never registered by the Municipalidad de Belén, despite affecting the property right and it being the local entity's obligation to register the encumbrance on the margin of the affected property and inform third parties about it. The foregoing contravened the provisions of Article 459 of the Civil Code, subsection 2), which states, as relevant, *"The following shall be registered in the Property Registry: ...2) Those in which rights of usufruct, use, habitation, easements (servidumbres), and any other real rights different from a mortgage are constituted, recognized, modified, or extinguished..."* (bold not in original); for its part, Article 461 of the same code states, *"Easements shall be recorded in the property registration of the dominant tenement and the servient tenement."* In the same sense, the Reglamento del Registro Público, in its Article 49, provides that documents in which easement rights are constituted, modified, or extinguished shall be registrable documents. The foregoing makes sense since, in accordance with the principle of registration, for an act of alienation or encumbrance of real rights to produce effects against a third party, it must be annotated in the Public Property Registry, by virtue of the declarative effect of registration. The local Government did not justify the reason why it did not register the easement, nor its omission to pay the value thereof. The sole argument it alleges to justify its delay resides in the supposed tolerance of the then-owner of the property; however, it did not demonstrate with suitable evidence, despite bearing the burden of proof, that it had obtained the express or tacit authorization or consent of the then-owner of the property to construct the pipeline, hence the tolerance alleged as a defense is unacceptable. The absence of the property owner's consent or of the procedure provided in the Ley de Expropiaciones in case of opposition from the landowner leads us to conclude that we are dealing with a de facto action, due to the absence of an enabling title that justified the referenced work, which even twenty years later crosses the plaintiff's property. Regarding the measurement of the easement, both the appraiser Engineer Nombre148040 and the appraiser Nombre148042 agree that the easement measures 174.25 m2, with a total width of 6.00 meters. The other argument alleged to justify the non-payment of compensation relates to the location of the property within the protection zone of a stream (quebrada). In relation to the land use of the protection zones of springs and wells, the Dirección de Investigación y Gestión Hídrica of SENARA has broadly indicated that there is extensive regulation, among which can be cited: Ley de Aguas No. 276, Ley General de Agua Potable No. 1634, and the Ley Forestal, which protect the areas adjacent to springs, declaring them as national domain reserves or protection areas; the protection distance in some cases corresponds to a fixed radius, and in other cases will depend on each specific case and its characteristics, but always with the purpose of ensuring the conservation of water quality. It affirms that it will correspond to the Municipalities to establish the guidelines for determining the minimum necessary requirements that existing infrastructure within the protection zones must meet, in order to guarantee the protection of water quality (report DIGH-997-11 of October 19, 2011, which refers to those located in the Cantón of Belén). The Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación, in its official communication, conducted an inspection on Dirección17937 of the properties located in La Asunción de Belén, geographical coordinates 218067 and 517123, located 100 meters south and 25 meters west of the Dirección17938, and indicated in official communication OA-556 of March 23, 2012: *"That at the site there is an uncaptured permanent-flow spring (naciente) (as indicated by one of the property owners); the adjacent lands, which are a protection area, are occupied by houses and access roads; only some guitite and caimito trees are found, as well as banana and orange plants within a reduced diameter of approximately 10 meters. For the purpose of fulfilling our duties and based on the Ley General de la Administración Pública and the Ley Forestal No. 7575 Article 33, which establishes protection areas for springs (the areas bordering permanent springs, defined within a radius of one hundred meters measured horizontally), we hereby request the following: That upon receipt of this notice, that Municipality refrain from granting construction or works permits within the diameter defined by law for the protection of this and other permanent springs. Otherwise, we will be compelled to take the corresponding legal measures."* This situation was recorded in the certification issued by the Director of the Technical Operational Area of the Municipalidad de Belén on December 2, 2013, in which it is indicated that the property registered under Folio Placa29542°, cadastral map Placa29544, property of the plaintiff company, is located within the protection zone of the permanent spring Nac-2633, which has a protection radius of one hundred meters, being located in a zone of medium vulnerability (at 33.50 meters on the northern boundary). Article 33 of the Ley Forestal No. 7575 establishes that protection areas are *"...a) The areas that border permanent springs, defined within a radius of one hundred meters measured horizontally..."*. These zones, due to their proximity to the spring, suffer a legitimate social-interest encumbrance, called a limitation (limitación), which entails for the property owners a burden to do, not to do, and to tolerate State actions aimed at protecting the water, and which are not indemnifiable because they do not imply an expropriation, as indicated by the jurisprudence of the Sala Constitucional (Sala Constitucional No. 4205-96 of 2:33 p.m. on August 20, 1996, a vote cited by the parties). It is precisely for the protection of this essential water resource that its regulation and use restriction are imposed on local Governments for each property located within this scenario. Furthermore, for Tax purposes, as indicated by the Órgano de Normalización Técnica de Tributación Directa, for valuation purposes for the Property Tax, a value of zero colones must be assigned to such areas. The representation of the State, of Acueductos y Alcantarillados, SINAC, and of the Municipality, in the oral trial, invoke in their defense Article 33 of the Ley Forestal and allege that the protection areas constitute legitimate limitations of a general nature that should not be compensated, and they agree that the limitation suffered by the plaintiff's property is not subject to redress because it does not prevent the use of the land. The Director of the Technical Operational Area of the Municipalidad de Belén issued a certification on December 2, 2013, indicating that the property registered in real folio 34912-000, cadastral map H-618538-2000, property of the Corporation DACAR S F S.A., is located in the protection zone of the permanent spring Nac-2633, which has a protection radius of one hundred meters. The property is located in a zone of medium vulnerability, but because it is immersed in a protection zone, the limitation of the protection radius applies to it. The foregoing accumulation of evidence allows us to conclude that the property is effectively affected also by this social limitation for purposes of new constructions. However, this Chamber considers it necessary to clarify that the compensation (indemnización) sought by the plaintiff does not reside in the limitation imposed on the property due to its proximity to the spring and being within its protection area, but rather what is claimed is reparation for the local Government having constituted a de facto easement (servidumbre) of an underground pipeline for water conveyance, without the owner's authorization, without the due compensation, and without its constitution in the Registry. In view of the foregoing, the argument invoked is not applicable to the specific case.
**VI.-** **ON THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS (PRESCRIPCION)** The representative of the Municipality alleges as a defense the exception of the statute of limitations (prescripción), invoking Article 63 of the Expropriation Law (Ley de Expropiaciones), which establishes a prescriptive period of ten years, although concomitantly invokes Article 198 of the General Law of Public Administration (Ley General de la Administración Pública) – liability. This collegiate body holds the thesis that, as in this case, damages arising from the constitution of a de facto easement (servidumbre de hecho) are claimed, the special law governing the matter must be applied for the claim of the same. But it must also be taken into consideration that in this case we are in the presence of an easement with a continuing effect, since currently it still crosses the property owned by the plaintiff and carries the stormwater and natural waters that cross from other neighboring properties and its own. The permanence of this easement was proven based on the valuation carried out by the expert from the Valuation Area of the Ministry of Finance on January 12, 2010, who was able to verify the presence of piping for the drainage of stormwater and surface runoff. In the land-use certificate issued for the property by the Municipality itself, which expressly indicates that the property is affected by the current passage of those waters. With the testimony of the witness Mr. Nombre126859, who referred to the current existence of the easement, a situation he can attest to as he lives in the area, and with the expert report provided by the appraiser Nombre148040 on February 23, 2012, which corroborated its existence. In light of the foregoing, the time in which it was built is irrelevant, because if it is still operating and affecting the plaintiff's property today, their right would not be affected by the prescriptive period. The First Chamber goes further and holds that the prescriptive period does not operate in these cases: “VIII… From both provisions, it is clearly inferred that in order for ICE to constitute forced easements (servidumbres forzosas) for the laying of power and telecommunications lines, in the event of opposition from the owner of the affected property, it must necessarily follow the expropriation procedure set forth in said regulation. Obviously, if the owner of the property agrees, such procedure becomes unnecessary. However, under the provisions of Article 23 ejúsdem; in relation with canons 455 and 461 of the Civil Code, even in this scenario, and for the purposes of third parties, they must be annotated on the property registration of the servient tenement. It is easy to conclude that the defendant Institution cannot invoke, as an acquisitive title to the land where the encumbrance of this type is located, the simple passage of time – adverse possession (usucapión)–, as was done in the indicated official communication, without violating the aforementioned principle of legality, as well as the norms transcribed above…” (First Chamber No. 966-F-2005 of fourteen hours ten minutes on December 15, 2005, the underlining is not from the original). Based on the arguments set forth above, the referred defense is rejected.
**VII.-** **ON THE EXCEPTION OF LACK OF PASSIVE STANDING (FALTA DE LEGITIMACION PASIVA)** The parties, to bring an action, must possess the aptitude to be a party in a specific process, and be specially linked to the object of the litigation; if they meet these two requirements, their substantive claim may be examined. Active standing (legitimación activa) must be understood as the suitability to perform acts of exercising the power of action, and refers to the subject who would be entitled to demand the satisfaction of a specific provision or object. Passive standing (legitimación pasiva) is conceptualized as the aptitude to bear the exercise of said power, and standing “ad processum” (legitimación ad processum) has been assimilated with the procedural capacity of the subjects. For procedural doctrine, procedural legal capacity and procedural capacity to act are two abstract conditions, the first referring to the ownership of the rights, burdens, and responsibilities of the process, and the second, to the performance of procedural acts and receipt of their effects, which are recognized and denied based on physical qualities or aptitudes and legal qualities. The subject who possesses procedural legal capacity and procedural capacity to act is in a position to initiate a process or to defend themselves in it, making use of the general faculty to sue, that is, to promote a process. Regarding standing ad causam (legitimación ad causam), this indeed refers to standing as a requirement for the exercise of the power of action and affects the efficacy of the process. Unlike standing ad processum (legitimación ad processum), this is not a validity requirement, so it should not be confused with it. In the administrative contentious process, standing, whether active or passive, corresponds to those who invoke the affectation of legitimate interests or subjective rights in relation to the litigious object, which is none other than the claim deduced regarding an act or provision emanating from the Administration. Thus, if one claims to be the holder of an injury or breach to a subjective right, one may make use of all the claims that Administrative Procedural Law admits, and if one claims to be the holder of a legitimate interest, on the other hand, they are only legitimated to request the annulment of certain actions. Now, regarding the “legal cases of lack of standing,” these are in reality authentic restrictions on the exercise of the right of action regarding certain natural and legal persons. What happens, however, is that, given that at present the right of access to the Courts, included in the broader right of effective judicial protection, is configured as a public right of a constitutional nature, and, as such, is recognized for “all persons” (Art. 41 of Our Magna Carta), it is not possible to extend the “express prohibition” of its exercise in a norm with only ordinary law rank to only some of them, without simultaneously violating the referred right of access and the principle of constitutional equality. Moreover, it can be affirmed that the fundamental right to access the jurisdictional bodies is “irrestrictible” by a non-constitutional norm, and “irrenounceable” in a general manner, with the Public Powers and especially the Judicial Branch having to promote the most favorable conditions for its exercise, both in the legal norm and in its interpretation. However, as a reason for inadmissibility of the claim (a procedural prerequisite revisable ex officio by the Judge at the time of issuing the judgment), lack of standing directed at the subject who had filed a process without representation, standing, or being an incapable person, constitutes, if verified by the Judge, a wall against the analysis of the claimed right. This means that the Judge may not issue any criterion on the administrative legal relationship under discussion, precisely because it is an insurmountable admissibility prerequisite. In light of the foregoing, and as in the case at hand it has been demonstrated that the easement whose compensation is claimed by the plaintiff company was constituted by the Municipality of Belén, without any interference from the other defendant institutions, against whom no claim is deduced, it is appropriate to uphold the exception of lack of passive standing (falta de legitimación pasiva) alleged by the State, the National Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (Instituto Nacional de Acueductos y Alcantarillados), and the National System of Conservation Areas (Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación). Regarding them, the claim is declared inadmissible.
**VIII.** **- ON THE EXCEPTIONS ALLEGED BY THE MUNICIPALITY OF BELEN** The exception of lack of standing and lack of right alleged by the Local Government of Belén is rejected, because both parties are directly linked to the cause of the process, since the plaintiff is the owner of the property over which the easement passes, and the defendant was the one who built it, without having had the authorization of who was then its owner, nor having paid the corresponding amount. Because the easement exists, its use is continuous, and it has not yet been compensated, the plaintiff has a current interest in their claim.
**IX.-** **ON THE DAMAGES** In light of the foregoing, it is clear that the Municipality of Belén constituted a subterranean and continuous easement for the passage of stormwater and natural water pipes over the plaintiff company's property, which crosses the property and has a width of 6.99 meters and a total area of 174.25 m2, as pointed out by the appraiser Nombre148040 in the administrative venue. The property has a total measurement of 1,048.82 m2, and the remaining land north of the easement has an area of 148.41 m2 and a frontage to the public street of 8.23 m. On the other hand, the property has always been owned by private parties, which reaffirms the thesis that we are not in the presence of an expropriation. Although the piping does cross the property, it was not proven with suitable evidence that it makes the enjoyment of the property, or its natural use, impossible, for which reason an expropriation of the property would not be justified. Nor was it demonstrated that there is damage to the remainder as alleged by the plaintiff, thereby referring to the area located north of the easement, which has an area of 148.41 m2 and a frontage to the public street of 8.23 m, as this zone is still part of the entire property where a dwelling house already exists and can be used for various purposes. Furthermore, for construction purposes, the property would indeed be affected by the provisions of the Regulatory Plan of the Zone, and by the social limitation derived from its location within the Protection Area, which, as already explained, is not compensable and must be borne by the property. As a corollary to the foregoing, it is concluded, therefore, that the damage the plaintiff company can claim is the value of the easement, which was estimated by the expert Nombre72375 in the judicial venue at the sum of ₡ 33,556,640 colones. The argument alleged by the Municipality of Belén that the expert did not assess the fact that the farm is within a protection zone could not be clarified by the expert at the oral hearing, due to his death (but the parties were informed of that situation and were in agreement to hold the oral hearing). On the other hand, we must be clear that it is unacceptable to restrict the value of the property by the social interest limitation that the property suffers and which is not compensable. It adds that it is not true that the land is frozen or disabled, but rather that it can be used according to its natural economic and productive purpose, as the Constitutional Chamber already indicated in ruling No. 4205-96 of August 20, 1996, "…social interest limitations are not compensable, as they do not imply an expropriation, that is, when the property does not suffer dismemberments that cause the right to disappear. Of course, they imply a burden or legal duty –in the strict sense–, of not doing, or at most, of tolerating the State's intrusion into property for public ends, a duty that is added to the powers and faculties of the owner, but without denaturing or destroying them…". Thus, it considers that the valuation given by the expert appointed in this process makes an adequate and reasonable weighting of all the aspects taken into account to arrive at the price given to the easement, which does not seem unreasonable or disproportionate but rather adjusted to reality, due to the passage of time since the last administrative valuation, and the increasing added value that that zone has reached in recent years. Based on the foregoing, the Municipality of Belén is obligated to pay the plaintiff party, as compensation for the easement, the sum of ₡ 33,556,640 million colones, as well as interest at the legal rate that this sum generates from the finality of this resolution until its effective payment. For the reasons stated, the payment of the expropriation and the damage to the remainder, which as already indicated was not demonstrated, is rejected.
**X.-** **COSTS** Regarding this item, under the protection of numeral 193 of the Contentious Administrative Procedure Code (Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo) and given that this Tribunal considers that the exemption grounds provided in said article are not present, their imposition on the defendant party, the Municipality of Belén, is appropriate. In relation to the other defendants, who were called into the process ex officio, and given that the claim was declared inadmissible, because the exception of lack of standing ad causam (legitimación ad causam) passive prospered against them, they are exempted from the payment of both costs, as sufficient motive for litigating exists.
**THEREFORE (POR TANTO)** The exception of lack of passive standing (falta de legitimación pasiva) alleged by the **State, the National Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (Instituto Nacional de Acueductos y Alcantarillados), and the National System of Conservation Areas (Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación)** is upheld, and regarding them, **the claim is declared inadmissible**. The exception of lack of passive standing, lack of right, current interest, and statute of limitations (prescripción) promoted by the sued local Government is rejected. Consequently, the claim filed by the company **Corporación DACAR CF S.A.** is partially granted solely against the **Municipality of Belén**, which must compensate the plaintiff the sum corresponding to the area affected by the de facto easement, which is estimated with expert assistance at the sum of ₡ 33,556,640 million colones, as well as interest at the legal rate that this sum generates from the finality of this resolution and until its effective payment. The payment of the expropriation and the damage to the remainder is rejected. Once the plaintiff has been compensated and during the judgment execution phase, the Municipality of Belén must register the easement as corresponds to its layout on the property registration Placa29546. The defendant party, the Municipality of Belén, is condemned to pay both costs of this process. It is resolved without a special imposition of costs regarding the remaining defendants. **NOTIFY.** **Laura García Carballo** **Nombre5192** **Nombre12268**
N°10-00 3342-1027-CA Actor: Coorporación Dacar SF S.A Demandados: Municipalidad de Belén. Instituto Nacional de Acueductos y Alcantarillados. El Estado. Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación Nº4 - 2016 TRIBUNAL CONTENCIOSO ADMINISTRATIVO. SECCIÓN OCTAVA. Anexo A del Segundo Circuito Judicial de San José. Goicoechea, a las nueve horas del doce de enero de dos mil dieciséis.- Proceso de conocimiento establecido por la sociedad Corporación DACAR CF S.A, cédula jurídica CED115296, representada por su apoderado generalísimo si límite de suma señor Nombre148037 , mayor, casado, comerciante, cédula de identidad CED115295 , vecino de Limonal de Orotina, contra la Municipalidad de Belén cédula de jurídica CED115297 representada por el señor Alcalde señor Nombre23598 , mayor, soltero, vecino de la Ribera de Belén, cédula de identidad CED77355, el Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación, representado por su apoderada especial judicial Nombre23673 , abogada, soltera, cédula de identidad CED91177, vecina de Desamparados, el Estado representado por el señor Procurador Alejandro Arce Oses, abogado vecino de Heredia, cédula de identidad CED55. el Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, representado por el Subgerente General señor Eduardo Lezama Fernández, ingeniero civil, casado, cédula de identidad CED100474. vecino de Tibás.
RESULTANDO
1.- La pretensión deducida por la sociedad actora, es para “Que mediante sentencia se declare que la finca propiedad de mi representada e inscrita en el Registro Nacional, Sección Inmueble, partido de Heredia, folio real número CED115298, se encuentra afectada por una servidumbre de conducción de aguas por parte de la Municipalidad de Belén, sin que éste haya pagado suma alguna por concepto de expropiación. Que se declare que la Municipalidad de Belén no cumplió con el debido proceso administrativo e indemnización a favor del propietario de la finca del partido de Heredia, folio real número 34912-000. Solicito se nombre un topógrafo especializado de la Corte Suprema de Justicia, para que proceda a realizar el estudio, descripción y levantamiento topográfico de la servidumbre existente en la finca de marras, edificada por la demandada; asimismo solicito se procede a nombrar ingeniero especializado de la Corte Suprema de Justicia, para que proceda a realizar el avalúo respectivo de las áreas afectadas, además que proceda a calcular los montos de dinero que deberá pagar y que se le obligue a ello a la demandada a favor de mi representado por concepto de área de terrenos afectados por la expropiación; tanto la zona que es atravesada por la servidumbre, como también el área de terreno que se ubica entre la servidumbre y el lindero norte de la propiedad, mismo que fue totalmente inutilizado por la constitución de la servidumbre; además que el perito proceda a calcular los intereses al tipo legal desde la fecha en que construyó la servidumbre y que se calculará desde la entrada en posesión de la Municipalidad sobre los terrenos hasta la fecha del efectivo pago, además que calcule el daño al remanente sufrido por la finca, por la desmejora que ha sufrido la propiedad por las acciones desplegadas por la demandada con la instalación de la servidumbres solicitó se condene a la demandada a pagar a favor de mi representada todo lo indicado en el punto anterior. Solicito se condene a los demandados al pago de los daños y perjuicios sufridos en la finca, los cuales los origina las actuaciones realizadas por el demandado de expropiar de hecho la propiedad y no pagar las indemnizaciones que consisten específicamente en el no pago del demandado de los siguiente: A.- El no pago hasta la fecha de los terrenos expropiados y afectados por la expropiación de hecho.B.- El no pago de los intereses de ley generados por el capital de la expropiación dicha. Mismos que se deben calcular desde la fecha en que la municipalidad tomó posesión de los terrenos hace más de 20 años hasta el día del efectivo pago. Nombre147.- El no pago del daño al remanente que se le ha provocado al resto de la finca, por cuanto la servidumbre atraviesa la propiedad en todo su ancho, afectando sobremanera el valor comercial de la finca, e inutilizando una sección de la propiedad. El valor de estos rubros deberán ser calculados por el perito especializado de la Corte Suprema de Justicia, por lo que reitero proceda al nombramiento de inmediato. Solicito se condene a la demandada al pago de las costas personales y procesales de la presente acción.” (f. 7-9 expediente judicial) 2.- En la Audiencia preliminar celebrada el 24 de junio de 2014, la Jueza tramitadora le previno a la parte actora presentar un único escrito de demanda para todas las partes del proceso, para conferir un único traslado. (f. 418-419 expediente judicial) 3.- La pretensión deducida por la actora en el escrito presentado el 30 de junio del 2014, consiste en lo siguiente “ – Que mediante sentencia se declare que la finca propiedad de mi representada e inscrita en el Registro Nacional, Sección Inmueble, Partido de Heredia, Folio Real número 34912-000 se encuentra afectada por una servidumbre de conducción de aguas por parte de la Municipalidad de Belén, sin que ésta haya pagado suma alguna por concepto de expropiación. – Que se declare que la Municipalidad de Belén no cumplió con el debido proceso administrativo de expropiación e indemnización a favor del propietario de la fina partido de Heredia, folio real número 34912-000. – Solicito se condene a la Municipalidad de Belén a iniciar de inmediato con el debido proceso administrativo de expropiación para que se cancele a mi representada el valor de los intereses legales, que se computarán desde el momento en que tomó posesión de los terrenos hasta la fecha del efectivo pago. Además que se le condene a pagar el área del terreno que se ubica entre la servidumbre y el lindero norte de la propiedad, mismo que fue totalmente inutilizado por la constitución de la servidumbre. –Solicito se condene a la demandada al pago de las costas personales y procesales de la presente acción.” (f. 423 expediente judicial) 4.- La Municipalidad de Belén opuso en su defensa las excepciones de Prescripción (artículo 66.1 inciso k del Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo artículo 63 de la Ley de Expropiaciones y artículo 198 de la Ley General de la Administración Pública), falta de derecho, falta de legitimación y falta de interés actual, y solicitó que la presente demanda sea declarada sin lugar. (f. 133-147 expediente judicial) 5.- Acueductos y Alcantarillados en su defensa dedujo las excepciones de falta de derecho, falta de legitimación y falta de interés actual. Pidió se declare sin lugar en todos sus extremos la presente demanda por ser infundada e improcedente. (f. 189-197 expediente judicial) 6.- El Estado alegó en su defensa la excepción de falta de derecho, falta de legitimación ad causan pasiva, pidió que se declare sin lugar la demanda en todos sus extremos con el pago de ambas costas y los respectivos intereses a cargo de la actora. (f. 200-211 expediente judicial) 7.- El Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación, opuso las excepciones de falta de derecho y falta de legitimación ad causan pasiva. Se opuso a las pretensiones indemnizatorias del actor, así como a la condenatoria en costas (f. 147-148 expediente judicial) 8.- En el juicio oral celebrado el 7 de diciembre de 2015, se recibió la declaración del testigo Nombre126859 . Para efectos del cómputo del plazo se debe tomar en consideración que el día 11 de diciembre se celebró el día del funcionario judicial, razón por la cual se declaró feriado, y que el 19 de diciembre fue el último día laborado por vacaciones colectivas ingresando a laborar el 4 de enero del 2016.
9.- En los procedimientos se han cumplido todas las prescripciones de ley y no se observan vicios susceptibles de producir nulidad o indefensión de las partes. Este asunto se declaró complejo de conformidad con el artículo 111 del Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo y 47 del Reglamento Autónomo de Organización y Servicio de la Jurisdicción Contenciosa Administrativa y Civil de Hacienda. Previa deliberación se procede a dictar esta sentencia dentro del plazo “Por Unanimidad ”.
Redacta la Jueza García Carballo
CONSIDERANDO
I.- HECHOS PROBADOS Se tiene por demostrado el siguiente elenco probatorio:
1 .- En el plano catastrado inscrito el 21 de marzo de 2000 bajo el número H-618538-2000, se indica que el señor Nombre148038 , era propietario de un inmueble situado en la provincia de Heredia, cantón de Belén, distrito Asunción, el cual tiene un área de 1048.82 m2., así como una casa de habitación. En el plano se estampó un sello que indica “ Para nuevas construcciones se aplicará afectación del terreno de interés social por concepto de zona protección de nacimiento o cualquier tipo afloramiento (en colindancia norte), de conformidad con el artículo 33 de la Ley Forestal y artículos 8,31,149 de la Ley de Aguas y leyes conexa, esto para lograr condiciones de seguridad humana y reducir el impacto ambiental según el artículo 11 de la Ley de Biodiversidad (criterio Precautorio o in Dubio Pronatura)”. El inmueble se encuentra situado en la Provincia de Heredia, cantón de Belén, distrito Asunción, linda al norte y al oeste con Scott Paper Company, al sur con Nombre148039 , y al este con calle pública con 30.72 metros de frente, tiene una medida de 1048.82 m2. (f. 20, 22 expediente judicial) 2.- En el acuerdo tomado en la Sesión Ordinaria N° 67 -2007 del 6 de noviembre de 2007, el Concejo Municipal de Belén conoció la gestión presentada por la Corporación DACAR CF S.A., en donde indicaba que sobre el inmueble de su propiedad matrícula Placa29543 (plano catastrado Placa29544), por el sector norte en dirección este, transcurre una tubería para aguas pluviales construida por la Municipalidad de Belén. Que sobre el citado inmueble nunca se constituyó una servidumbre legalmente, sino que se hizo de facto y en beneficio de la comunidad, limitándose su utilización para la alimentación de ganado vacuno, cuando su naturaleza es para construir. En atención a lo indicado considera que el gobierno local debe indemnizarla. Se acordó por unanimidad en la Sesión Ordinaria N° 67-2007 celebrada el 6 de noviembre de 2007, artículo 28 celebrada el 6 de noviembre de 2007, remitir la solicitud a la Unidad de Obras para su análisis y recomendación. (f. 1-2 expediente administrativo) 3.- La Dirección Operativo y de Desarrollo Urbano remitió el memorándum UO-018-2008 del 18 de enero de 2008 al Concejo Municipal, en donde consignó que luego de realizar una inspección en el inmueble se constató sobre la propiedad plano catastrado H-618538-2000, “1… actual paso de aguas pluviales por escurrimiento superficial, además de la existencia de caudal de agua permanente por origen natural (naciente) que afectan parte de la propiedad en cuestión. 2. Dado las condiciones de topografía en la zona, y de acuerdo a lo indicado por vecinos y funcionarios municipales que conocen el sitio y su evolución, las aguas de escurrimiento superficial a causa de las lluvias han constituido de hecho un paso a través de los años. Además la zona ha presentado siempre la existencia de aguas subterráneas cuyo afloramiento ha generado un cauce natural permanente de escurrimiento, afectando los terrenos o propiedades del sector, situación que en el plano catastrado aportado no se constata por parte del profesional en topografía. 4. En ese sentido, y por las características topográficas, el escurrimiento de aguas pluviales (producto de precipitaciones) se orienta a través del mismo cauce de escorrentía de las aguas de origen natural.5. Se logró constatar además la existencia dentro de la propiedad en cuestión de obras de infraestructura cuyo fin fue mejorar la captación y el encauzamiento de las aguas a través de la propiedad (caja de captación tipo parrilla y tubería de concreto cuyo diámetro aproximado es de 60 cm). No se tiene registro ni información confiables sobre quien ejecutó dichas obras. 6. Por tanto es criterio de esta Unidad considerar que el actual escurrimiento de aguas pluviales por la propiedad de los señores Nombre148037 se constituyó en hecho por las condiciones de topografía imperantes en la zona y el propio desarrollo de la zona. Y que en algún momento se buscó mejorar el funcionamiento y reducir la afectación del terreno mediante la construcción de pequeñas obras de canalización y encauzamiento de las aguas …”(f. 4-5 expediente administrativo el subrayado no es del original) 4.- La Dirección Jurídica de la Municipalidad de Belén presentó el 29 de julio de 2008 las recomendaciones sobre el caso de la sociedad actora y concluyó: “…En efecto por la topografía de la zona, el escurrimiento superficial a causa de las lluvias, ha constituido de hecho un paso de aguas a través del terreno en cuestión. Incluso existe un aporte de aguas naturales de origen permanente que inician en terrenos aledaños y discurren por la tubería subterránea que atraviesa la propiedad de la empresa reclamante. Es importante apuntar que según consta en las inspecciones realizadas, al frente del terreno se aprecia que existen obras de infraestructura dentro de la propiedad (caja de captación tipo parrilla y tubería de concreto de aproximadamente 60 cm.), cuya finalidad es mejor la captación y encauzamiento de las aguas a través de la propiedad. Esta situación denota que el terreno soporta una carga a favor de los demás terrenos y edificaciones del sector, al discurrir subterráneamente aguas que desfogan por las cunetas o caños que se ubican en la Dirección17936 e incuso provenientes en otras vías y sectores aledaños. De la misma forma discurre por dicha tubería subterránea el agua de origen natural que fluye de terrenos colindantes. Otro aspecto de relevancia y que no se debe perder de vista, es que el terreno colindante por el lindero norte del inmueble en cuestión, propiedad de la empresa Scott Paper (Nombre141584 ), se localiza una naciente, lo que incide en este caso en la zona de protección que debe respetar…Por otra parte, es necesario aclarar que en lo referente a la limitación o carga que soporta el inmueble, por el paso de aguas pluviales por escurrimiento superficial, no ha sido constituida como una servidumbre administrativa ni legal, ni registralmente. Se trata de una situación que se ha consolidado por el transcurso del tiempo y por la necesidad de evitar la presencia de inundaciones, y para que no colapsen las construcciones e infraestructura por la saturación de los terrenos en la época de invierno o de lluvia(… )Conclusiones y Recomendaciones( …) 2) Que en el terreno propiedad de la empresa Corporación Dacar CF S.A., se ve afectado por el actual paso de aguas pluviales por escurrimiento artificial que se originan en el sector de la Dirección17936 y zonas aledañas y además por el paso de un caudal de agua permanente por origen natural que proviene de otros terrenos. Este paso de dos tipos de aguas se canaliza por medio de una tubería subterránea que atraviesa el inmueble para desfogar en un pozo pluvial. 3 Que en el presente caso se debe solicitar un avalúo o informe pericial para definir la posible afectación del derecho de propiedad por el paso de aguas pluviales del sector, a través a través del terreno propiedad de la empresa recurrente, y por el paso de aguas naturales que provienen de una afluente que discurre por propiedades vecinas, hasta atravesar subterráneamente ambos tipos de aguas el inmueble de marras. Además se debe valorar la incidencia que puede tener en dicho terreno la delimitación de la zona de protección (artículo 33 de la Ley forestal) por la nacientes que existe en el terreno vecino o colindante por el lindero norte (inmueble propiedad de Scott Paper Company)(…)Todo con el propósito de que se establezca una valoración objetiva e integral en el presente caso para determinar que daños o perjuicios se deben indemnizar a la propietaria registral.”(f.12- 16 expediente administrativo) 5.- En el croquis elaborado por la Municipalidad de Belén, con fecha de levantamiento 23 de abril de 2008, se consignó que la propiedad de la sociedad actora, es atravesada por un tubo de concreto de 73.66 cm. de este a oeste, que desemboca en un pozo pluvial, además de contar con una caja de registro al inicio de la tubería frente a calle pública. El área se establece es de 274.47 m2 (f. 21 expediente administrativo) 6.- El Concejo Municipal en la Sesión Extraordinaria N° 53-2008 del 4 de setiembre de 2008 acordó remitir al asesor legal Luis Álvarez el informe de la Dirección Jurídica para su análisis y recomendación.(f. 23 -27 expediente administrativo) 7.- El 17 de octubre de 2008 el Lic. Luis Álvarez remitió al Concejo Municipal el informe MB-079-2008, en donde concluye que comparte lo expuesto por la asesoría legal, y que por lo tanto sí sería posible indemnizar al particular siguiendo el procedimiento de solicitar previamente un avalúo o informe pericial para definir la posible afectación del derecho de propiedad por el paso de aguas pluviales y naturales que provienen del afluente. Sin embargo discrepa en relación con la posibilidad de indemnizar el área de la zona de protección, en aplicación del artículo 33 de la ley Forestal, ya que respecto de las áreas de protección no procede. (f. 29-32 expediente administrativo) 8.- En la certificación de uso del suelo del inmueble plano catastrado H-618538-2000 correspondiente al trámite del 26 de octubre 2009, la Municipalidad de Belén indicó que los usos no permitidos eran: industria, bodegas, estacionamiento de camiones y en general cualquier uso que tenga un potencial riesgo de contaminación, insalubridad e inseguridad, establecimientos comerciales que produzcan molestia al vecindario, tales como bares, cantinas, salones de baile, salas de billar, taller de reparación de vehículos y similares. Como requisitos se estableció que el área mínima no sería inferior a 150 m2, y el frente mínimo no será menor a 8.00 m2, el retiro frontal no sería menor a 2 metros frente a calle nacional de 3 metros, la cobertura máxima 70% del área del lotes. Además se consignó como una nota que la propiedad se va afectada por el actual paso de aguas pluviales y escorrentía superficial, por el paso de un caudal permanente de origen natural que proviene de otros terrenos, paso de que se canaliza por medio de una tubería subterránea que atraviesa el inmueble para desfogar en un pozo pluvial. (f. 34 expediente administrativo) 9.- El área Operativa y de Desarrollo Urbano de la Municipalidad solicitó al Ministerio de Hacienda mediante oficio DO.030-2009 del 26 de octubre de 2009, el avalúo del inmueble, para efectos de utilizar el bien como una propiedad para reserva ambiental. Mediante oficio SV-ATH-3-2010 del 12 de enero de 2010 el Coordinador del Área de Valoración de Ministerio de Hacienda, Ingeniero Vargas Murillo, informó que el perito valuador Nombre148040. Nombre148041 , luego de investigar los valores de la zona, consultar el mapa de zonas homogéneas, además de tomar en cuenta las características de la zona, el régimen de tenencia de la tierra, las características socioeconómicas de su pobladores, la naturaleza de la finca madre y del lote a segregar, el acceso a los servicios de la zona, emplazamiento frente a calle pública, restricciones de uso y uso actual, finalmente determinó, que en esa parte del inmueble el valor de ₡ 35.000.00 colones por metro cuadrado, y que el área de 274.47 m2 de la servidumbre tenía un valor total ₡9.606.450 colones. El perito evaluador hace la observación que el presente informe no se consideró la afectación por la presencia de la tubería para el desfogue de aguas pluviales, en virtud de que la tubería no está inscrita como gravamen, y por lo tanto puede ser removida a conveniencia por el propietario. Tampoco se consideró daño al remanente, pues dadas las características y ubicación del lote, la afectación a la finca madre cubierta es totalmente cubierta por el valor establecido. (f. 37-42, expediente administrativo) 10.- Mediante nota de fecha 11 de marzo de 2010, el representante de la sociedad actora manifestó su inconformidad la valoración de su inmueble realizada por el Ministerio de Hacienda, y pidió a la Municipalidad hacer una revisión del valor. (f. 43 expediente administrativo) 11.- En la inspección realizada por el mismo perito el inmueble el 20 de mayo de 2010, considerando los mismos factores antes enunciados en la inspección anterior, estableció sobre al área un valor unitario de ₡45.000 colones m2, y confirió al área de 274,47 m2 un valor de ₡ 12.351.150 colones. ( f. 47- 50 expediente administrativo) 12.- El 24 de junio de 2010 el representante de la sociedad actora, solicitó al Concejo Municipal de Belén la autorización para la compra de esa área de terreno que afecta su finca, y manifestó estar acorde con su valor, autorizando al señor Alcalde a llevar a cabo la inscripción en el Registro de la servidumbre de agua pluvial. (f. 53 expediente administrativo) 13.- El Concejo Municipal en la Sesión Ordinaria N° 51-2010 celebrada el 24 de agosto de 2010 y ratificada el 7 de setiembre de 2010, acordó “ rechazar la solicitud presentada por el representante de la sociedad Corporación DACAR F.S S.A., referente a la compra de un área de su propiedad.”(f.60 -61 expediente administrativo) 14.- El 21 de diciembre de 2010, la Dirección General de Tributación Directa Órgano de Normalización Técnica, en relación al criterio de sobre cómo tratar las áreas de protección de ríos, quebradas, riachuelos, lagunas, acequias, nacientes captadas o sin captar, para efectos de valoración, indicó que existe el oficio SDVM-01-2009 del Órgano de Normalización Técnica que responde lo anterior y que indica “…es criterio de este órgano que para efecto de valoración para el impuesto de Bienes Inmuebles, se deberá tomar un valor de cero colones para dichas áreas”, sin embargo, el criterio se amplia de acuerdo al artículo 5 inciso b) donde dice: “Los inmuebles que constituyan cuencas hidrográficas entendiéndose aquellos como los terrenos que sirven de protección a las nacientes de agua y que sean parte integral de dichas cuencas según lo define la Ley forestal, la Ley de Aguas y la Ley del Ambiente…Para tales efectos se debe considerar lo que mencionan esas leyes, e incluirlo en el criterio establecido por el ONT”. (f. 131 expediente judicial) 15.- La Dirección de Investigación y Gestión Hídrica de SENASA, en el informe DIGH-997-11 del 19 de octubre de 2011, señaló en relación con el uso de suelo de las zonas de protección de nacientes y pozos que se ubican en el Cantón de Belén, que existe una extensa normativa (Ley de Aguas N°276 , Ley General de Agua Potable N° 1634 y Ley Forestal), que protege las zonas aledañas a las nacientes, declarándolas reserva de dominio a favor de la nación o áreas de protección. Esas zonas podrán tener características diferentes, y la distancia dependerá en algunos casos de un radio fijo, y en otras de cada caso específico, ello con el fin de asegurar la conservación de la calidad del agua. Por último indica que corresponderá a las Municipalidades establecer los lineamientos para determinar los requisitos necesarios mínimos que debe cumplir la infraestructura existente dentro de las zonas de protección, con el fin de garantizar la protección de la calidad del agua. (f. 134-137 expediente judicial) 16 .- El Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía Dirección de Agua en el informe del 11 de febrero de 2012 que en la Provincia de Heredia, Cantón de Belén, Distrito de Asunción, indicó que hay una fuente, en la latitud inicial 218.069, latitud final 218.069, long inicial 517.121, long final 517.121. (f. 214 expediente judicial) 17.- En el informe vertido el 23 de febrero de 2012, el perito evaluador Nombre148040. . señaló que la servidumbre tiene una medida de 174.25 m2, un ancho total de 6.00 m, y una longitud de 29.7 m (en alcantarilla). En el croquis consignó la existencia de la tubería y alcantarilla. Indicó que el terreno remanente al norte de la servidumbre tiene una superficie de 148.41 m2 y un frente a calle pública de 8.23 m. (f. 111 expediente judicial) 18.- El perito valuador Nombre72375 , emitió el 27 de febrero de 2012 , las siguientes consideraciones en relación con las zonas aledañas al inmueble matrícula Placa29545: Tiene una topografía de ligeramente ondulada hasta fuertemente ondulada, suelos tipo Typic peluster, con arcillas pegajosas y adhesivas, algunos terrenos conservan su uso agrícola. El desarrollo habitacional cuenta con casas de acabado medio de una planta. Cuenta con todos los servicios públicos, y oficinas gubernamentales, bancos, comercios como supermercados, restaurantes, ferreterías entre otros, estación de tren y autobuses hacia San José y Heredia. En relación con el inmueble acotó: Tiene una forma trapezoidal, una medida de 1.048.82 m2, y una casa de habitación de acabados medios (que no se valora). Para fijar el valor del terreno se tomó en consideración el área y ubicación de la franja, el terreno y la infraestructura, los valores comerciales en la zona, la información del Ministerio de Hacienda y Mapas de Valores de Zonas Homogéneas de la Municipalidad de Belén. Valorado lo anterior, así como el hecho de que el ancho total de la servidumbre era de 6.00m y el área total de 174.25 m2., concluyó que el precio de la franja de terreno que soporta la servidumbre asciende a ₡ 104.000.00/m2 para un total de ₡ 33.556.640.0. ( f. 104-109 expediente judicial) 19.- La Unidad de Catastro de San Antonio de Belén, como motivo del visado del plano N° 1354, propiedad de corporación DACAR CF S.A, del proyecto finca completa de folio real N° 4-034912-000, parte de finca de folio real N° 4062450-000, emitió la resolución de las diez horas diecinueve minutos del 19 de marzo del 2012, que indica “ Primero: Que la finca folio real Placa29538° del partido de Heredia cumple con la zonificación establecida por el Plan Regulador del Cantón de Belén (zona residencial del alta densidad). Segundo: Que de conformidad con el artículo N° 36 de la Ley de Planificación Urbana, el predio de interés finca matrícula folio real Placa29539° del Partido de Heredia cumple con las obras de infraestructura frente a la vía pública. Tercero. Que para nuevas construcciones aplicará afectación del citado terreno por concepto de zona de protección de nacimiento o de cualquier tipo de afloramiento (en colindancia norte), de conformidad con el artículo 33 de la Ley Forestal y Artículos 8,31,149 de la Ley de Aguas y Leyes Conexas, esto para lograr condiciones de seguridad humana y reducir el impacto ambiental según el artículo 11 de la Ley Biodiversidad (criterio preventivo y criterio precautorio o indubio pro natura). Cuarto: Que para el caso de remodelación, sin ampliación de área esta debe presentarse a consideración previa, principalmente para análisis de aspectos relacionados con seguridad y salubridad. De acuerdo con las potestades otorgadas a la Unidad de Catastro(…) nos permitimos hacer constar que la solicitud de visado N° 1354 es procedente por lo antes expuesto.” (f. 244 expediente judicial, la negrita no es del original) 20.- La Oficina de Alajuela del Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación en el oficio OA-556 del 23 de marzo del 2012, realizó una inspección el Dirección17937 en la propiedades ubicadas en la Asunción de Belén coordenadas geográficas 218067 y 517123 con dirección 100 metros sur y 25 metros oeste del Dirección17938 e indicó “ Que en el sitio se ubica una naciente de caudal permanente no captada (según indicó una de las propietarias) los terrenos adyacentes que son un área de protección, están ocupados por viviendas y vías de acceso, únicamente se encuentran algunos árboles de guititi, caimito, así como plantas de banano y chinas en un diámetro reducido de aproximadamente 10 metros. Con el propósito de cumplir con nuestros deberes y con fundamento en la Ley General de la Administración Pública y la Ley Forestal N° 7575 artículo 33, en la que se establecen las áreas de protección a nacientes, (las áreas que bordean nacientes permanentes, definidas en una radio de cien metros medidos de forma horizontal). Se procede a solicitarle lo siguiente. Que a partir del recibo de la presente, se abstenga esa Municipalidad de otorgar permisos de construcción u obras en el diámetro definido por ley, para la protección de esta u otras nacientes permanentes. De lo contrario nos veremos obligados a tomar medidas legales que corresponden.” (f. 167 expediente judicial) 21.- El 20 de agosto de 2013 la Dirección Área técnica Operativa y Desarrollo Urbano emitió el oficio DO.0200-2013, en donde se indica que en terrenos de la empresa Kimberly Clark, se encuentra la naciente permanente NAC-2633, y que la zona de protección corresponde a cien metros, de ahí que tanto el propietario del inmueble como los colindantes, deben adoptar las medidas correspondientes para su protección. (f. 262-263, 271-273 expediente judicial) 22.- La Dirección de Investigación Hídrica de SENARA, en el Dictamen General Expediente Senara 65-13-DIGH (sin fecha), en atención a la solicitud de pronunciamiento técnico, acerca de la valoración sobre el carácter permanente o intermitente del afloramiento de agua ubicado en la propiedad de Nombre141584 , y su relación con las propiedad H-959690-2004 inscritas nombre de Nombre148038 , señaló: Que la naciente tiene un carácter permanente, que en su área de protección se encuentran diferentes obras, e hizo algunas recomendaciones a la Municipalidad de la zona, como realizar acciones para evitar el vertido de aguas jabonosas a la canaleta, encauzar las mismas a través de una tubería sobre una cama impermeabilizada y se proteja la cobertura vegetal el lote ubicado contiguo al camino sobre la zona de la naciente entre otras. (f. 265- 270 expediente judicial) 23.- El Director del Área Técnica operativa de la Municipalidad de Belén, emitió el 2 de diciembre de 2013 una constancia en donde indica que la finca inscrita en el folio real 34912-000 plano catastrado H-618538-2000 propiedad de la Corporación DACAR S F S.A., se localiza en la zona de protección de la naciente de carácter permanente Nac-2633, que tiene un radio de protección de cien metros. La finca se localiza en una zona de media vulnerabilidad, pero por estar inmersa en zona de protección se le aplica la limitación del radio de protección (art. 33 Ley Forestal). (f. 321-322 expediente judicial) 24.- La sociedad Corporación Dacar Nombre147 F S.A., inscribió en el Registro Nacional el 4 de diciembre de 2012, el inmueble matrícula Placa29540° , el cual tiene como antecedente de dominio la finca Placa29541° . EL bien soporta plazo de convalidación por rectificación de medida que inició el 4 de diciembre de 2006 y venció el 4 de diciembre de 2006. ( el cual afectaba la finca madre). (f. 20 expediente judicial) 25.- La UEN-Optimización de Sistemas –GAM del Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados certificó en fecha que no se indica, que la naciente a la que se hace referencia (latitud inicial 218.062, latitud final 218.062, longitud inicial 517.391, longitud final 517.391), no es aprovechada por ese instituto para el abastecimiento poblacional.(f. 362-365 expediente judicial) 26.- El Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación de la Cordillera Volcánica Central emitió el oficio SINAC-ACCVC-OA-146-2014 del 7 de febrero del 2014, en el cual se indicó que en una visita a la naciente ubicada en la propiedad de Nombre141584 , se pudo observar que a una distancia de 23.50 metros de la misma, colindando por el norte, existe un lote con relleno de tierra sin que se pueda precisar su fecha (aunque parece ser antiguo), con una medida de 13.30 metros de ancho y 26 metros de longitud, en apariencia existe alcantarillado de un cauce debajo del relleno con dirección este-oeste. Al costado oeste del relleno se ubica el resto de la propiedad aparentemente del mismo propietario (Corporación DACAR CF S.A). (f. 400-401 expediente judicial) 27.- En el juicio oral el testigo Nombre126859 manifestó que conoce el inmueble, que vive por la zona, y afirma que por el mismo discurre una servidumbre de acueducto. (declaración en juicio oral) II.- HECHOS NO PROBADOS 1.- No acreditó la Municipalidad con prueba pertinente, haber contado con la autorización del antiguo dueño del inmueble para establecer la servidumbre, contar con su tolerancia, ni haber cancelado la indemnización correspondiente.
2.- No probó la actora el daño al remanente, ni que la servidumbre hubiera hecho nugatorio el disfrute de los atributos de su propiedad, para justificar una expropiación.
3.- No demostró la actora que el inmueble se encuentre congelado o inhabilitado por parte de la Municipalidad accionada, o que no pueda ser utilizada conforme a su destino natural económico y productivo.
III.- MARCO DEL PROCESO La sociedad Corporación Dacar CF S.A acusa que desde el 4 de diciembre de 2006 adquirió por compraventa el inmueble matrícula Placa29543, situado en la provincia de Heredia, cantón de Belén, distrito la Asunción que mide mil cuarenta metros con ochenta y dos decímetros cuadrados. Señala que sobre la misma discurre una servidumbre de aguas servidas y pluviales, que no se encuentra inscrita en el Registro Público, y que fue constituida desde hace más de veinte años por la Municipalidad de Belén, sin haber realizado ningún proceso expropiatorio, ni haber pagado el valor de ese terreno. La servidumbre alega, afectó el valor de la propiedad provocando una daño al remanente, pues una sección de la propiedad situada entre la servidumbre y el lindero norte, compuesta por ciento diecinueve metros quedaron inutilizados, ya que el Gobierno Local no les otorga ningún permiso Municipal para construir, pues según el Plan Regulador no se otorgan permisos en terrenos inferiores a 150 metros. En aplicación de los artículos 190 y 191 de la Ley General de la Administración Pública, reclama la responsabilidad del ente Municipal y peticiona que se declare que la finca inscrita bajo la matrícula Placa29543, se encuentra afectada por una servidumbre de conducción de aguas, por parte de la Municipalidad de Belén, sin que mediara un debido proceso administrativo de expropiación e indemnización a favor de su propietario. Sostiene que se le debe cancelar el monto determinado mediante avalúo, de las áreas afectadas por la expropiación, que comprende la zona que es atravesada por la servidumbre, así como el área que se ubica entre la servidumbre y el lindero norte de la propiedad, en razón de que la misma lo inutilizó – daño al remanente-. Pide además el pago de los terrenos expropiados, y de los daños y perjuicios sufridos por la finca, originados por la expropiación de hecho y el no pago de las indemnizaciones, el pago de los intereses generados por el no pago de la expropiación, los cuales se calculan desde la fecha en que la Municipalidad tomó posesión de los terrenos hasta la fecha. El pago del remanente, por que la servidumbre atraviesa toda la propiedad, afecta su valor comercial e inutiliza una sección de la misma. La Municipalidad de Belén sostiene la teoría del caso, de que el anterior propietario del inmueble, accedió hace muchos años a que se entubara el paso de agua natural que pasaba por la finca, a efecto de que pudiera orientar el curso de las aguas y no se dañara la propiedad, desfogando las mismas en un pozo pluvial. Que en la especie medió un acto de tolerancia por parte del propietario del bien, que permitió la instalación de la tubería pues las obras iban a beneficiar la finca, motivo por el cual no se realizó ningún proceso expropiatorio o de contratación para adquirir la franja de terreno en la que se instaló la tubería, por esa razón no existe una servidumbre constituida e inscrita, y no se ha tramitado un procedimiento expropiatorio para adquirir el inmueble. Alega que en la especie operó la prescripción de diez años prevista en la Ley de Expropiaciones (N° 7495), y que no resulta de recibo el argumento esgrimido por la actora de que la servidumbre era continua, pues el citado plazo se configuró. Manifiesta que el paso de agua, se ubica en el sector norte del terreno, propiamente en la colindancia este-oeste, de ahí que no se afecta el área restante de la finca, pues si la finca mide 1040.82 m2, y la tubería comprende 26.65 m de longitud por 3 m de retiro de la colindancia, se trata de 80 m2, por lo que quedarían 960 m 2 para ser utilizados. Agrega que no es cierto que el terreno se encuentre congelado o inhabilitado, sino que el mismo puede ser utilizado conforme a su destino natural económico y productivo, pero que conforme al artículo 4.3 del Plan Regulador para el Cantón de Belén, son de un área mínima de 150 m2 y un frente mínimo de ocho metros lineales, por lo anterior no es viable segregar un lote de 119 metros. Finalmente alegó en el juicio oral que la finca se encuentra dentro del área de protección de una naciente de agua situación que se debe considerar para fijar el valor del metro cuadrado del terreno. El Estado manifestó que la pretensión indemnizatoria se debe dirigir solo contra la Municipalidad de Belén, porque el proceso versa sobre la constitución de una servidumbre por parte de esa entidad en el terreno de la actora, razón por la cual es a ésta a quien le corresponde la defensa técnica de sus intereses, así como la eventual cancelación de la indemnización reclamada. En lo concerniente a el pago que solicita la actora, hace referencia al artículo 33 de la Ley Forestal y señala que por encontrarse el bien dentro del área de protección de una naciente, la limitación social que soporte el bien no es susceptible de indemnización, porque no impide el uso del fundo ni el ejercicio del derecho de propiedad, ni el desarrollo de otras actividades compatibles con el uso Forestal. El Instituto Nacional de Acueductos y Alcantarillados sostuvo que no tiene ingerencia en este asunto, sino que se trata de un asunto que completamente ajeno a su competencia y especialidad orgánica, ya que la indemnización por la servidumbre de aguas pluviales, es un asunto que corresponde de forma exclusiva a la Municipalidad de Belén. Aclara que el hecho que exista una naciente en las cercanías de la finca no lleva implícita su responsabilidad, pues a la luz de lo dispuesto en el artículo 31 de la Ley de Aguas, su participación se circunscribe a las nacientes que son captadas para aprovechamiento poblacional, situación que no se da en este caso, pues se trata de una naciente de caudal permanente en una propiedad privada, que no tiene un uso público. Indica que de conformidad con el artículo 33 de La Ley Forestal, existe un área que deber ser respetada, como parte de las limitaciones que soporta la propiedad, las cuales no son susceptibles de indemnización, sino que pesan sobre el bien como una limitación de carácter ambiental. Acota que la limitación no es una expropiación, ni implica un sacrificio singular ni concreto de la propiedad. El Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación señala, que en el presente proceso no se reprochan conductas administrativas dictadas por el SINAC, ni omisiones en que hubiera incurrido, sino que todo el reclamo se dirige contra la Municipalidad de Belén. Indica que en el área existe una naciente de caudal permanente no captada, de manera que el Área de Conservación solicitó a la Municipalidad de Belén con fundamento en la Ley General de la Administración Pública y la Ley Forestal N° 7575, artículo 33, en la que se establece el área de protección de las nacientes, se abstuviera de otorgar permisos de construcción u obras en el diámetro definido por la Ley para la protección de esta y otros nacientes permanentes. Añade que se pueden imponer limitaciones de interés social, en defensa del ambiente, que las Áreas de Protección constituyen limitaciones legítimas y que no son indemnizables.
III.- SOBRE EL CASO CONCRETO.
La sociedad actora refiere que adquirió la titularidad sobre el inmueble matrícula Placa29540° , pues desde el 4 de diciembre de 2012 inscribió en el Registro Nacional a su nombre el citado bien. El bien soporta desde el punto de vista registral, un plazo de convalidación por rectificación de medida que inició el 4 de diciembre de 2006 y tenía como fecha de vencimiento el 4 de diciembre de 2006 ( mismo que afectaba la finca madre matrícula Placa29541). En el plano catastrado a nombre del señor Nombre148038 , inscrito el 20 de marzo del año 2000, no se consignó la existencia de una servidumbre que afectara la finca, sin embargo refiere el actor, desde hace más de veinte años la Municipalidad de Belén construyó sobre el citado bien una servidumbre de aguas servidas y pluviales, sin haber realizado ninguna gestión de expropiación, ni cancelar al propietario el valor de los terrenos expropiados y afectados. Añade que la servidumbre atraviesa el bien desde el frente hasta el fondo, que en la actualidad funciona, y que la misma afecta el valor de la propiedad, provocando un daño al remanente, pues ciento diecinueve metros cuadrados han quedado inutilizados, de ahí que la Municipalidad no le otorgue permiso de construcción, al ser prohibidas las construcciones en terrenos inferiores a ciento cincuenta metros cuadrados, la finca tiene una medida de 1048.82 mtrs2, y en el se encuentra una casa de habitación. Además el bien se encuentra dentro del área de protección de una naciente de agua de caudal permanente.
IV.- SOBRE LA SERVIDUMBRE Y EXPROPIACIÓN La parte actora al formular su pretensión se refiere indistintamente a dos conceptos que son diferentes, y que a criterio es esta Cámara, se impone precisar de previo al abordaje del fondo de este asunto. En atención a lo anterior debemos clarificar que la propiedad es un derecho real, consagrado en el artículo 45 de la Constitución Política. Entre los atributos principales de la propiedad encontramos el derecho de usufructo, uso, transformación y el de enajenación, y otros secundarios entre los cuales podemos citar el de posesión, el defensa y exclusión, restitución y el de indemnización. Sobre la propiedad además se pueden constituir gravámenes, limitaciones o cargas, entre éstas últimas se encuentra la servidumbre, que se constituye sobre un bien, e impone a su propietario la obligación de soportar una carga que comprende obligaciones de no hacer y de tolerar, todo ello en beneficio de un tercero u otro predio, por eso se afirma que el beneficiado, adquiere la posibilidad de servirse del bien, pero constreñido a los fines estipulados en la constitución de la misma. La servidumbre recae sobre el inmueble o predio sirviente, y se adhiera al mismo de forma permanente, y corre su misma suerte, pues es accesoria, si el predio se vende se hace soportando ese gravamen, lo mismo sucede si se embarga, hipoteca o cede. Conforme a la clasificación doctrinal, las servidumbres pueden ser naturales, legales, voluntarias, aparentes o no aparentes, continuas o discontinuas. Por su parte el Código Civil en su artículo 376 la conceptúa, como una restricción a la libertad de un predio, pero que no priva a su propietario del dominio que ejerce sobre él, aunque sí causa una desmejora al predio que la soporta. Las servidumbres se constituyen por convenio, testamento o por el simple uso del dueño de predio dominante y la tolerancia del sirviente por el plazo de prescripción adquisitiva, algunas se constituyen de forma natural, otras tienen su origen en la ley y su fin es la utilidad pública, entre ellas se encuentran las denominadas servidumbres de acueducto para la conducción de aguas destinadas a un servicio público y también en beneficio de particulares, que además tiene una naturaleza continua. A esta altura conviene establecer que la constitución de una servidumbre, es disímil a la figura de la expropiación. En la expropiación el Estado haciendo uso de una potestad- expropiatoria- y por causa de un interés público legalmente declarado, priva a un sujeto de su derecho de propiedad, previo pago de la indemnización correspondiente- justo precio-. En estos casos cede la garantía de inviolabilidad de la propiedad, y se priva al propietario del bien o parte del mismo. En el caso de la expropiación se paga el valor del bien o del derecho, pues el mismo pasa a ser propiedad del Estado para el fin pública al que estaba destinado, y se indemniza el daño al remanente, cuando al expropiar parcialmente se imposibilita el uso natural o económico del bien afectado. El daño al remanente es una compensación económica, por una expropiación o servidumbre que se le hace a determinada persona física o jurídica para realizar un proyecto u obra de interés público, que tiene por finalidad considerar el efecto que la expropiación o servidumbre le va a causar al resto del bien o derecho. Lo anterior tiene fundamento en el artículo 45 de la Constitución Político que en lo que interesa establece “ La propiedad es inviolable; a nadie puede privarse de la suya si no es por interés público legalmente comprobado, previa indemnización conforme a la ley…”. La servidumbre al contrario de la expropiación no priva al propietario de su propiedad, sino que como ya se explicó lo limita. Cuando se trata de la constitución de una servidumbre a favor de la administración, se aplica el procedimiento previsto en la Ley de Expropiaciones, que en el artículo 13 establece que las disposiciones de esa ley serán aplicables cuando el Estado pretenda constituir servidumbres sobre un bien que no es su propiedad, salvo que la misma afecte sustancialmente la disponibilidad del bien, pues en ese caso se deberá ejecutar la expropiación integral del bien. La regulación de esta figura en esa ley, lo que evidencia es la intención del legislador, de que la constitución de una servidumbre sobre un predio, vaya antecedido de un interés público que satisfacer y que medie el pago de un justo precio. A partir de lo expuesto podemos afirmar, que la constitución de una servidumbre no conlleva siempre la expropiación, pues ella solo tendría lugar si la imposición de esa carga u obligación, hace nugatorio para el propietario el uso y disfrute de su derecho de propiedad. De tal forma que cuando se constituye una servidumbre legal sobre un bien, la titularidad del mismo sigue residiendo en el propietario registral que podrá desplegar sobre él los atributos intrínsecos a este derecho, solo que soportando la carga impuesta.
V.-SOBRE FONDO En el caso bajo examen la constitución de la servidumbre de aguas pluviales y servidas, sobre la propiedad del actor es un hecho incontrovertido, su existencia es reconocida por la Municipalidad de Belén, entidad que no desvirtuó la autoría de la misma, sin embargo no se puede corroborar registralmente porque nunca fue inscrita por la Municipalidad de Belén pese a que afecta el derecho de propiedad, y era obligación de la entidad local inscribir el gravamen al margen del fundo afectado, e informar a terceros acerca de la misma. Lo anterior contravino lo dispuesto en el artículo 459 del Código Civil inciso 2), que en lo conducente dice “ En el Registro de Propiedad se inscribirán: …2) Aquellos en que se constituyan, reconozcan, modifiquen o extingan derechos de usufructo, uso, habitación, servidumbres y cualesquiera otros derechos reales diversos de la hipoteca…” (la negrita no es del origina), por su parte el artículo 461 del mismo código señala “Las servidumbres se harán constar en la inscripción de propiedad del predio dominante y del sirviente.”. En igual sentido el Reglamento del Registro Público en su artículo 49, dispone que serán documentos registrables aquellos en donde se constituya, modifique o extinga derechos de servidumbre. Lo anterior tiene sentido ya que de acuerdo con el principio de inscripción, para que un acto de enajenación o gravamen de derechos reales, produzca efectos contra un tercero, debe anotarse en el Registro Público de la Propiedad, en virtud del efecto declarativo de la inmatriculación. El Gobierno local no justificó la razón por la cual no inscribió la servidumbre, ni tampoco su omisión de cancelar el valor de la misma. El único argumento que alega para justificar su morosidad, reside en la supuesta tolerancia del entonces dueño del fundo, sin embargo no demostró con prueba idónea pese a que le incumbía la carga probatoria, haber contado con la autorización o consentimiento expreso o tácito del entonces dueño del fundo para construir la tubería, de ahí que la tolerancia que alega como defensa no resulta de recibo. La ausencia del consentimiento del propietario o del procedimiento previsto en la Ley de Expropiaciones en caso de oposición del dueño del fundo, nos lleva a concluir que estamos ante una vía de hecho, por la ausencia de un título habilitante que justificara la referida obra, que aún veinte años después atraviesa el fundo del actor. En relación con la medida de la servidumbre tanto el perito evaluador Ingeniero Nombre148040 como el perito evaluador Nombre148042 coinciden en que la servidumbre tiene una medida de 174.25 m2, un ancho total de 6.00 mtrs. El otro argumento alegado para justificar el no pago de la indemnización, tiene relación con la ubicación del inmueble dentro de la zona de protección de una quebrada. En relación con el uso de suelo de las zonas de protección de nacientes y pozos, la Dirección de Investigación y Gestión Hídrica de SENARA ha indicado de forma amplia, que existe una extensa normativa entre la que se puede citar; Ley de Aguas N°276, Ley General de Agua Potable N° 1634 y Ley Forestal, que protege las zonas aledañas a las nacientes, declarándolas reserva de dominio a favor de la nación o áreas de protección, la distancia de protección en algunos casos corresponde a un radio fijo, y en otras casos dependerá de cada caso específico y sus características, pero siempre con el fin de asegurar la conservación de la calidad del agua. Afirma que corresponderá a las Municipalidades, establecer los lineamientos para determinar los requisitos necesarios mínimos que debe cumplir la infraestructura existente dentro de las zonas de protección, con el fin de garantizar la protección de la calidad del agua (informe DIGH-997-11 del 19 de octubre de 2011que se refiere a las que se ubican en el Cantón de Belén). El Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación en el oficio, realizó una inspección el Dirección17937 en la propiedades ubicadas en la Asunción de Belén coordenadas geográficas 218067 y 517123 con dirección 100 metros sur y 25 metros oeste del Dirección17938 e indicó en el oficio OA-556 del 23 de marzo del 2012 “ Que en el sitio se ubica una naciente de caudal permanente no captada (según indicó una de las propietarias) los terrenos adyacentes que son un área de protección, están ocupados por viviendas y vías de acceso, únicamente se encuentran algunos árboles de guitite, caimito, así como plantas de banano y chinas en un diámetro reducido de aproximadamente 10 metros. Con el propósito de cumplir con nuestros deberes y con fundamento en la Ley General de la Administración Pública y la Ley Forestal N° 7575 artículo 33, en la que se establecen las áreas de protección a nacientes, (las áreas que bordean nacientes permanentes, definidas en una radio de cien metros medidos de forma horizontal). Se procede a solicitarle lo siguiente. Que a partir del recibo de la presente, se abstenga esa Municipalidad de otorgar permisos de construcción u obras en el diámetro definido por ley, para la protección de esta u otras nacientes permanentes. De lo contrario nos veremos obligados a tomar medidas legales que corresponden.” Esta situación se consignó en la constancia que emitió el Director del Área Técnica operativa de la Municipalidad de Belén, el 2 de diciembre de 2013, en donde se indica que la finca matrícula Placa29542° plano catastrado Placa29544 propiedad de la sociedad actora, se encuentra en la zona de protección de la naciente de carácter permanente Nac-2633, que tiene un radio de protección de cien metros, localizándose en una zona de media vulnerabilidad (a 33.50 metros en colindancia norte). El artículo 33 de la Ley Forestal N° 7575 establece que son áreas de protección “…a) Las áreas que bordeen nacientes permanentes, definidas en una radio de cien metros de modo horizontal…”. Estas zonas por su cercanía con la naciente sufren una afectación legítima de interés social, denominada limitación, que comporta para los propietarios de los inmuebles, una carga de hacer no hacer y soportar las acciones del Estado tendientes a la protección del agua, además que no son indemnizables porque no implican una expropiación, según lo ha señalado la jurisprudencia de la Sala Constitucional (Sala Constitucional N° 4205-96 de las 14:33 horas del 20 de agosto de 1996, voto citado por las partes). Es precisamente por la protección de este recurso hídrico esencial, que se impone a los Gobiernos locales, su regulación y restricción de uso, en cada uno las inmuebles que se encuentran ubicados dentro de este supuesto. Además para efectos Tributarios, tal y como ha señalado el Órgano de Normalización Técnica de Tributación Directa, para efectos de valoración para el Impuesto de Bienes Inmuebles, se deberá tomar un valor de cero colones para dichas áreas. La representación del Estado, de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, SINAC y de la Municipalidad en el juicio oral, esgrimen en su defensa el artículo 33 de la Ley Forestal, y alegan que la áreas de protección constituyen limitaciones legítimas de carácter general que no deben ser indemnizadas, y coinciden en que la limitación que sufre la propiedad del actor no es susceptible de resarcimiento, porque la misma no impide el uso del fundo. El Director del Área Técnica operativa de la Municipalidad de Belén, emitió el 2 de diciembre de 2013 una constancia en donde indica que la finca inscrita en el folio real 34912-000 plano catastrado H-618538-2000, propiedad de la Corporación DACAR S F S.A, se localiza en la zona de protección de la naciente de carácter permanente Nac-2633, que tiene un radio de protección de cien metros. La finca se localiza en una zona de media vulnerabilidad, pero por estar inmersa en zona de protección se le aplica la limitación del radio de protección. El anterior cúmulo de pruebas nos permite concluir que efectivamente el inmueble se ve afectado además por esa limitación social para efectos de nuevas construcciones. Sin embargo esta Cámara considera necesario aclarar, que la indemnización que peticiona la parte actora, no reside en la limitación impuesta al inmueble por su cercanía de la naciente y estar dentro de su área de protección, sino que lo que reclama es el resarcimiento por haber constituido el Gobierno local, una servidumbre de hecho de tubería subterránea para la conducción de aguas, sin la autorización del propietario, la debida indemnización y constitución en el Registro. En atención a lo expuesto el argumento esgrimido no resulta aplicable al caso concreto.
VI.- SOBRE LA PRESCRIPCION El representante de la Municipalidad alega como defensa la excepción de prescripción invocando el artículo 63 de la Ley de Expropiaciones que establece un plazo prescriptivo de diez años, aunque concomitantemente invoca el artículo 198 de la Ley General de la Administración Pública –responsabilidad-. Este órgano colegiado sostiene la tesis, que como en la especie se reclaman los daños derivados de la constitución de una servidumbre de hecho, se debe aplicar la ley especial que rige la materia, para el reclamo de los mismos. Pero además se debe tomar en consideración, que en la especie estamos en presencia de una servidumbre con efecto continuado, pues en la actualidad la misma continúa atravesando el inmueble propiedad del actor y conduciendo las aguas pluviales y naturales que atraviesan de otras propiedades vecinas y las propias. La permanencia de esa servidumbre se logró acreditar a partir de la valoración realizada por el perito del Área de Valoración del Ministerio de Hacienda, el 12 de enero de 2010, le cual pudo constatar la presencia de tubería para el desfogue de aguas pluviales y escorrentía superficial. En la certificación de uso de suelo expedida del inmueble expedido por la propia Municipalidad, que de forma expresa indica que la propiedad se ve afectada por la actual paso de esas aguas. Con la declaración del testigo señor Nombre126859 que se refirió acerca de la existencia actual de la servidumbre, situación que le consta por vivir en la zona y con el peritaje vertido por el perito evaluador Nombre148040. Nombre148040 el 23 de febrero de 2012, que permitió corroborar la existencia de la misma. En atención a lo expuesto resulta irrelevante, el tiempo en que se construyó la misma, pues si en la actualidad la misma sigue operando y afectando el inmueble del actor, su derecho no se vería afectado por el plazo prescriptivo. La Sala Primera va más allá y sostiene que el plazo prescriptivo no opera en estos casos “VIII… De ambas disposiciones, se colige con claridad que para que el ICE pueda constituir servidumbres forzosas para el tendido de líneas eléctricas y de telecomunicaciones, en caso de oposición del propietario del fundo afectado, debe necesariamente, seguir el procedimiento expropiatorio dispuesto en dicha normativa. Obviamente, si el dueño del fundo se muestra conforme, resulta innecesario tal proceder. Sin embargo, a tenor de lo dispuesto del artículo 23 ejúsdem; en relación con los cánones 455 y 461 del Código Civil, aún en este supuesto, y para efectos de terceros, deben anotarse en la inscripción de la propiedad del fundo sirviente. Resulta fácil concluir que la Institución demandada no puede invocar, como título adquisitivo del terreno donde se ubique el gravamen de este tipo, el simple transcurso del tiempo- usucapión-, tal y como se hizo en el indicado oficio, sin conculcar el principio aludido de legalidad, así como las normas antes transcritas…” (Sala Primera N° 966-F-2005 de las catorce horas diez minutos del 15 de diciembre de 2005, el subrayado no es del original). Con fundamento en los argumentos antes expuestos es que se rechaza la referida defensa.
VII.-SOBRE LA EXCEPCIÓN DE FALTA DE LEGITIMACION PASIVA La partes para interponer una acción, deben de reunir la aptitud para ser parte en un proceso concreto, y estar vinculadas de forma especial con el objeto del litigio, si cumplen estos dos requisitos su pretensión de fondo podrá ser examinada. Por legitimación activa debe entenderse la idoneidad para realizar actos de ejercicio del poder de acción, y se refiere al sujeto, que le correspondería la posibilidad de exigir la satisfacción de una determinada prestación u objeto. La legitimación pasiva se conceptúa como la aptitud para soportar el ejercicio de dicho poder y la legitimación “ad processum” se ha asimilado con la capacidad procesal de los sujetos. Para la doctrina procesal, la capacidad jurídica procesal y la capacidad de obrar procesal son dos condiciones abstractas referidas, la primera a la titularidad de los derechos, cargas y responsabilidades del proceso, y la segunda, a la realización de actos procesales y recepción de sus efectos, que se reconocen y se niegan en atención a cualidades o aptitudes físicas y a cualidades jurídicas. El sujeto que posea capacidad jurídica procesal y capacidad de obrar procesal, está en condiciones de incoar un proceso o de defenderse en él, haciendo uso de la facultad general de accionar, o sea, de promover un proceso. En cuanto a la legitimación ad causam, esta sí se refiere a la legitimación como requisito del ejercicio del poder de acción y afecta la eficacia del proceso. A diferencia de la legitimación ad processum, este no es un requisito de validez, por lo que no debe confundirse con ella. En el proceso contencioso administrativo la legitimación, sea activa o pasiva, corresponde a quienes, invoquen la afectación de intereses legítimos o derechos subjetivos en relación con el objeto litigioso, el cual no es otro que la pretensión deducida respecto de un acto o disposición emanada de la Administración. De este modo, si se afirma ser titular de una lesión o quebranto a un derecho subjetivo, se puede hacer uso de todas las pretensiones que admite el Derecho Procesal Administrativo, y si se afirma ser titular de un interés legítimo, en cambio, únicamente se le legitima para pedir la anulación de determinadas actuaciones. Ahora bien en cuanto a los “supuestos legales de falta de legitimación”, estos vienen a ser en la realidad, auténticas restricciones al ejercicio del derecho de acción respecto a determinadas personas físicas y jurídicas. Lo que sucede, sin embargo, es que, habida cuenta de que en la actualidad el derecho de acceso a la Jurisdicción, incluido en el más amplio de tutela ejecutiva judicial efectiva, se configura como un derecho público de naturaleza constitucional, y, como tal, se reconoce a “todas las personas” (art. 41 de Nuestra Carta Magna), no resulta posible extender sólo a algunas de ellas la “prohibición expresa” de su ejercicio en una norma únicamente con rango de ley ordinaria, sin quebrantar, al mismo tiempo, el referido derecho de acceso y el principio de igualdad constitucional. Es más, puede afirmarse que el derecho fundamental a acceder a los órganos de la Jurisdicción es “irrestringible” por una norma no constitucional, e “irrenunciable” con carácter general, debiendo los Poderes Públicos y en especial el Poder Judicial, promover las condiciones más favorables a su ejercicio, tanto en la norma jurídica, como en su interpretación. Sin embargo como motivo de inadmisibilidad de la demanda (presupuesto revisable de oficio por el Juzgador a la hora del dictado de la sentencia), se da la falta de legitimación dirigida al sujeto que hubiera interpuesto proceso sin representación, legitimación o siendo persona incapaz, supuesto que de ser verificado por el Juez, constituye una muralla sobre el análisis del derecho reclamado, esto quiero decir que el Juzgador, no podrá emitir criterio alguno sobre la relación jurídico administrativa que se discute, precisamente por ser un presupuesto de admisibilidad insalvable. A la luz de lo expuesto, y como en el caso que nos ocupa ha quedado demostrado que la servidumbre cuya indemnización reclama la sociedad actora, fue constituida por la Municipalidad de Belén, sin que tuvieran injerencia ninguna de las otras instituciones demandadas, respecto de la cuales además no se deduce ninguna pretensión, resulta procedente acoger la excepción de falta de legitimación pasiva alegada por el Estado, Instituto Nacional de Acueductos y Alcantarillados y el Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación. Respecto de ellos se declara inadmisible la demanda.
VIII.-SOBRE LA EXCEPCIONES ALEGADAS POR LA MUNICIPALIDAD DE BELEN Se rechaza la excepción de falta de legitimación y falta de derecho alegada por el Gobierno Local de Belén, en razón de que ambas partes se encuentran directamente ligadas a la causa del proceso, ya que el actor es el propietario del bien sobre el cual pasa la servidumbre, y la demandada fue la que la construyó, sin haber contado con la autorización del quien entonces era su propietario, ni haber cancelado el monto correspondiente. En razón de que la servidumbre existe, su uso es continuo y aún no ha sido indemnizada le asiste al actor interés actual en su reclamo.
IX.-SOBRE LOS DAÑOS En atención a lo expuesto se tiene claro que la Municipalidad de Belén lo que constituyó sobre el fundo de la sociedad actora fue una servidumbre subterránea y continua de paso de tubería de aguas pluviales y naturales, que atraviesa el inmueble y que tiene un ancho de 6.99 metros y un área total de 174.25 m2. Tal y como apuntó el perito evaluador Nombre148040. – en sede administrativa- el inmueble tiene una medida total de 1.048.82 m2, y el terreno remanente al norte de la servidumbre tiene una superficie de 148.41 m2 y un frente a calle pública de 8.23 m. Por otra parte el inmueble siempre ha sido propiedad de particulares, lo cual reafirma la tesis que no estamos en presencia de una expropiación Aunque en efecto la tubería atraviesa la propiedad, no quedó acreditado con prueba idónea, que la misma imposibilite el disfrute del bien, o su uso natural, razón por la cual no se justificaría una expropiación del bien. Tampoco se demostró que existe una daño al remanente como alega al actor, denominando así al área que se ubica al norte de la servidumbre, y que tiene una superficie de 148.41 m2 y un frente a calle pública de 8.23 m., pues esa zona, aún forma parte del total del inmueble en donde además ya existe una casa de habitación y puede usarse para diversos fines. Por otra parte, para efectos constructivos el inmueble sí se vería afectado por lo que dispone el Plan Regulador de la Zona, y por la limitación social derivada de su ubicación dentro del Área de Protección, que como ya se explicó no es indemnizable y debe ser soportada por el inmueble. Como corolario de lo anterior se concluye entonces que el daño que puede reclamar la sociedad actora es el valor que tiene la servidumbre, la cual fue estimada por el perito Nombre72375 –en sede judicial-en la suma de ₡ 33.556.640 colones. El argumento que alega la Municipalidad de Belén respecto que el perito no valoró el hecho de que la finca está dentro de una zona de protección, no pudo ser aclarada por el perito en el juicio oral, en razón de su deceso (pero además se les informó a las partes de dicha situación y estuvieron conformes en realiza el juicio oral). Por otra parte debemos tener claro que no resulta de recibo restringir el valor del bien por la limitación de interés social, que sufre el bien y que no es indemnizable. Agrega que no es cierto que el terreno se encuentre congelado o inhabilitado, sino que el mismo puede ser utilizado conforme a su destino natural económico y productivo, pues como ya indicó la Sala Constitucional en el voto N° 4205-96 del 20 de agosto de 1996, “ …las limitaciones de interés social no son indemnizables, por no implicar una expropiación, es decir, cuando la propiedad no sufre desmembraciones que hagan desaparecer el derecho. Desde luego que implican una carga o deber jurídico –en sentido estricto-, de no hacer, o a la sumo, de soportar la intromisión del Estado en la propiedad con fines públicos, deber que se agrega a los poderes y facultades del propietario, pero sin desnaturalizarlos o destruirlos…”. Así las cosas considera que la valoración dada por el perito nombrado en este proceso hace una ponderación adecuada y razonable de todos los aspectos que tomó en cuenta para llegar al precio dado a la servidumbre, el cual no parece irrazonable o desproporcionada sino más bien ajustado a la realidad, en razón del transcurso del tiempo transcurrido desde la última valoración administrativa, y la creciente plusvalía que esa zona ha alcanzado en los últimos años. Con fundamento en lo expuesto se obliga a la Municipalidad de Belén a pagar por concepto de indemnización de la servidumbre a la parte actora la suma de ₡ 33.556.640 millones de colones, así como los intereses al tipo legal que esa suma genere desde la firmeza de esa resolución y hasta el efectivo pago. Por las razones expuestas se rechaza el pago de la expropiación y del daño al remanente el cual como ya se indicó no fue demostrado.
X.- COSTAS En cuanto a este rubro, al amparo del numeral 193 del Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo y dado que este Tribunal considera que no se está en presencia de las causales de exoneración que dispone dicho artículo, procede su imposición a la parte demandada Municipalidad de Belén. En relación con los restantes accionados, los cuales fueron llamados al proceso de oficio, y dado que la demanda se declaró inadmisible, pues respecto de ellos prosperó la excepción de falta de legitimación ad causam pasiva, se les exime del pago de ambas costas, por existir motivo suficiente para litigar.
POR TANTO
Se acoge la excepción de falta de legitimación pasiva alegada por el Estado, Instituto Nacional de Acueductos y Alcantarillados y el Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación y respecto de ellos se declara inadmisible la demanda. Se rechaza la excepción de falta de legitimación pasiva, falta de derecho, interés actual y prescripción promovida por el Gobierno local accionado. En consecuencia se declara parcialmente con lugar la demanda incoada por la sociedad Corporación DACAR CF S.A. únicamente en contra de la Municipalidad de Belén, la cual deberá indemnizar al actor, la suma correspondiente al área afectada por la servidumbre de facto, la cual se estima con auxilio pericial en la suma de ₡ 33.556.640 millones de colones, así como los intereses al tipo legal que esa suma genere desde la firmeza de esta resolución y hasta el efectivo pago. Se rechaza el pago de la expropiación y el daño al remanente. Una vez indemnizado el actor y en fase de ejecución de sentencia, deberá la Municipalidad de Belén inscribir la servidumbre según corresponda al trazado de misma sobre el inmueble matrícula Placa29546 Se condena a la parte accionada Municipalidad de Belén al pago de ambas costas de este proceso. Se resuelve sin especial condenatoria en costas respecto de los restantes accionados NOTIFIQUESE.
Laura García Carballo Nombre5192 Nombre12268
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