LAST SEPTEMBER, ANDREW BODONY, K2LE, WON A PORTION OF HIS SUIT IN US DISTRICT COURT AGAINST THE CITY OF SANDS POINT, NEW YORK, THAT VOIDED THAT CITY'S 25 FOOT HEIGHT ORDINANCE WHICH INCLUDED ANTENNA TOWERS. THE REMAINDER OF HIS SUIT WAS AGAINST THE CITY FOR MONETARY DAMAGES FOR VIOLATIONS OF HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. RECENTLY, THE CITY SETTLED OUT OF COURT WITH BODONY, PAYING HIM THE MAJORITY OF HIS ATTORNEY'S FEES, WHICH TOTALED OVER SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.
-against-
Incorporated Village of Sands Point,
Memorandum
Marjorie Weinstein, Bruce Shroyer,
of
Mario Tribuno, Harry B. Anderson
Decision and Order
and Albert Shapiro, individually
and in their capacities as members
of Board of Zoning and Appeals
of the Incorporated Village of
Sands Point, and Leonard Wurzel,
Building Inspector,
Defendants
September 21, 1987
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Appearances:
Seyfarth, Shaw, Fairweather & Geraldson, Esqs.
Attorneys for Plaintiff
757 Third Ave.
New York, NY 10017
Timothy J. McInnis, Esq., Of Counsel
Michael L. Hirschfeld, Esq., Of Counsel
Sheft, Wright & Sweeney, Esqs.
Attorneys for Defendants
11 Broadway
New York, NY 10004
Robert P. Siegel, Esq., Of Counsel
Christopher D. Imlay, Esq.
Amicus
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Mishler, District Judge
Andrew B. Bodony is an amateur radio operator, licensed
by the F.C.C. as an Amateur Extra Class licensee. On October 5, 1984,
the F.C.C. granted Bodony an amateur radio station license for Bodony's
residence at Cornwells Beach Road, Sands Point, Nassau County, New York.
Soon thereafter Bodony began preparation for the erection of a free standing
structure for an antenna system, 23 feet in height in its retracted position
and 86 feet in height in its extended position. Bodony excavated
an area of about 4 1/2 feet square to a depth of about 12 feet and poured
concrete into the excavation to serve as an anchor for the antenna.
The site of the antenna is a wooded area and it is expected that trees
will shield the antenna from public view when it is extended to its maximum
height.
The Incorporated Village of Sands Point ("Village")
issued a summons charging Bodony with a violation of a village ordinance
requiring a building permit for the structure. Bodony applied for
a building permit. The Village denied the permit. Leonard Wurzel,
building inspector of the Village, is joined as a party defendant.
On January 23, 1986, Bodony appealed to the Zoning
Board seeking a variance of section 352.2 of the Building Ordinance of
the Village which limits the height of accessory buildings to 25 feet.
After conducting a public hearing, the Zoning Board, in a formal decision
dated October 27, 1986, denied the application and found:
Within the Village of Sands Point
there are several residents who
operate amateur radio stations with
towers and antennas which conform to
the height restrictions of the
Building Zone Ordinance of the
Village and communicate at frequent
intervals.
The applicant has failed to
demonstrate that he cannot operate an
amateur radio station with an antenna
which conforms to the height
restriction in the Building Zone
Ordinance and that he has suffered
any hardship.
The applicant has failed to prove
that the tower and the antenna
thereon is (sic) safe.
The proposed construction of the
tower and antenna would (a)
depreciate the value of the property
of the Village; (b) create a hazard
to health, safety and general
welfare; (c) be detrimental to the
character of the neighborhood or to
the residents thereof; (d) alter the
essential character of the
neighborhood, or (e) otherwise be
detrimental to the public convenience
and welfare.
The Complaint
The complaint alleges eight claims against the Village, members of the Zoning Board and Wurzel as follows:
Count 1-Section 352 para. 2 of the Village
Building Ordinance is preempted by the Declaratory Ruling of the F.C.C.
published September 25, 1985 in the Federal Register, 101 F.C.C. 2d 952,
Fed. Reg. 38, 813 (PRB-1), which in pertinent part declared:
Local regulations which involve
placement, screening, or height of
antennas based on health, safety or
aesthetic considerations must be
crafted to accommodate reasonably
amateur communications, and to
represent the minimum practicable
regulation to accomplish the local
authority's legitimate purpose.
Count II-The height restriction is unconstitutional in that it constitutes a burden on radio communication and interstate commerce in violation of Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the Constitution (power to regulate interstate commerce).
Count III-A violation of First Amendment rights of free speech, assembly, and association.
Count IV-A violation of the Fourteenth Amendment right of equal protection of law in that Section 352, para. 3 provides: "No other buildings shall exceed forty (40) feet in height or three (3) stories and attic. Church spires, belfries, flagstaffs, chimneys, flues and television antennas may extend above said height limitations." ("Other buildings" as used in paragraph 3 are buildings other than principal dwellings and accessory buildings.)
Count V-A violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments in that it subjects the plaintiff to possible criminal liability and the ordinance is vague and overbroad and fails to inform, guide, instruct or direct the Zoning Board in consideration of plaintiff's application. As applied, the ordinance has a chilling effect on plaintiff's constitutional rights.
Count VI-The height restriction does not bear a reasonable relationship to the state's police power and therefore is unreasonable, arbitrary, discriminatory, oppressive and confiscatory and constitutes an unwarranted interference with substantial property rights.
Count VII-The hearing conducted by the members of the Zoning Board was unfair in that (1) they had arrived at a determination to deny the application prior to the hearing; (2) evidence was introduced of a difficult technical nature without notice or an opportunity to meet it; and (3) they sought advice and counsel from third parties to support their predetermined denial of the application.1/
Motions
Bodony moves pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 56 for partial summary judgement on Counts I, IV and VI seeking a declaratory judgement declaring that the height limitation as applied to him for the purpose of erecting an amateur radio antenna system to a height in excess of 25 feet is invalid. Defendants cross move for summary judgement to dismiss the complaint on the ground that the Zoning Board did not act arbitrarily or unreasonably in denying Bodony's application for a variance.
PRB-1 states under the caption "Summary"
This document declares a limited preemption of state
and local regulations which preclude
amateur communications. The ruling is necessary
so that amateurs and local governing
bodies alike will be aware of the strong federal
interest in promoting amateur
communications.
Further, under the caption "Local Ordinances", PRB-1 states:
3. Conflicts between amateur operators regarding
radio antennas and local authorities
are common....These limiting regulations (on height)
can result in conflict because the
effectiveness of the communications that emanate
from an amateur radio station are
directly dependent upon the location and the height
of the antenna. Amateur operators
maintain that they are precluded from operating
on certain bands allocated for their use
if the height of their antennas is limited by a
local ordinance.
Further, under the caption, "Discussion"
22. Few matters coming before us present such
a clear dichotomy of viewpoint as does the
instant issue. The cities, counties, local
communities and housing associations see an
obligation to all of their citizens and try to address
their concerns.... At the opposite pole
are the individual amateur operators and their support
groups who are troubled by local
regulations which may inhibit the use of amateur
stations, or, in some instances, totally
preclude amateur communications.... In this
situation, we believe it is appropriate to
strike a balance between the federal interest in
promoting amateur operations and the
legitimate interest of local governments in regulating
local zoning matters. The
cornerstone on which we will predicate our decision
is that a reasonable accommodation
may be made between the two sides.
24. (W)e recognize here that there are certain
general state and local interests which may,
in their even-handed application, legitimately affect
amateur radio facilities. Nonetheless,
there is also a strong federal interest in promoting
amateur communications.... We recognize
the amateur radio service as a voluntary, noncommercial
communication service, particularly
with respect to providing emergency communications....
Upon weighing these interests, we
believe a limited preemption policy is warranted....
25. Because amateur station communications
are only as effective as the antennas employed,
antenna height restrictions directly affect the
effectiveness of amateur communications. Some
amateur antenna configurations require more substantial
installations than others if they are
to provide the amateur operator with the communications
that he/she desires to engage in.
For example, an antenna array for international
amateur communications will differ from an
antenna used to contact other amateur operators
at shorter distances. We will not, however,
specify any particular height limitation below which
a local government may not regulate....
Nevertheless, local regulations which involve placement,
screening or height of antennas
based on health, safety or aesthetic considerations
must be crafted to accommodate
reasonably amateur communications, and to represent
the minimum practicable regulation
to accomplish the local authority's legitimate purpose.
Congress created the F.C.C. in the Communications
Act of 1934, 47 U.S.C. & 151 et seq.
and granted the F.C.C. the power to promulgate regulations "as may
be necessary in the execution of its functions...." 47 U.S.C. &
154(c). The F.C.C. was given "broad responsibilities" to regulate
all aspects of interstate and foreign radio under &2(a) of the Communications
Act of 1934, 47 U.S.C. & 152(a). Capital Cities Cable, Inc.
v. Crisp, 467 U.S. 691, 700, 104 S. Ct. 2694, 2700-01 (1984); see
also United States v. Southwestern Cable Co., 392 U.S. 157, 177-78,
88 S. Ct. 1994, 2005 (1968). The regulations have the same preemptive
effect as federal statutes. United States v. Shimer, 367 U.S.
374, 383, 81 S. Ct. 1554, 1560 (1961). The F.C.C. decided on a "limited
preemption" which requires the Village to vary the ordinance limiting the
height of Bodony's antenna so that he may use the license granted him by
the F.C.C. for international communications, and exercise its right to
protect the health, safety and general welfare and preserve property values
and the general character of the neighborhood by using the least restrictive
height to accomplish its "legitimate purpose."
Defendants' Position
Defendants resist Bodony's motion for partial summary judgement and support their own motion by arguing that:
(1) Section 352.2 does not preclude amateur
communications but only limits the height of
the antenna to 25 feet, thus falling outside the
area preempted by PRB-1. (Defendants' memo
p. 9).
(2) Bodony failed to demonstrate that he could
not operate an amateur radio station within
the height restriction of Section 352.2. (3(g)
Statement).
(3) The Zoning Board decided that construction
of the tower would (a) depreciate the
value of the property, (b) endanger the health,
safety and welfare of the residents, and (c)
be detrimental to the character of the neighborhood
or the residents and change the
essential character of the neighborhood.
The Height Limitation as Affecting Bodony's Rights as a Licensee
One factor in determining the range and effectiveness
of radio communication is the height of the antenna. Measurement
from the ground tells us little. A 25 foot antenna in a valley surrounded
by hills might be useless, while that equipment on a mountain top might
give optimum results. An antenna rising above the obstacles that
interfere with radio signals obviously gives a greater range and better
reception than an antenna of a lesser height.
The fact that Section 352.2 does not prohibit amateur
communications is not the answer to a claim of preemption. An absolute
limitation of height affects Bodony's right to the full use of his amateur
extra class license and the license to use his property as an amateur radio
station issued by the F.C.C.. The Zoning Board did not consider a
height above 25 feet that would at the same time "accomplish the local
authority's legitimate purpose". The F.C.C., in asserting a limited
preemption, placed upon the Zoning Board the duty of striking "a balance
between the federal interest in promoting amateur operations and the legitimate
interests of local governments in regulating local zoning matters."
The recital by the defendants of the findings of the Zoning Board in arguing
its opposition to Bodony's motion does not preclude litigation of the validity
of Section 352.2 as it affects Bodony. See University of Tennessee
v. Elliot, 478 U.S.___, 106 S. Ct. 3220, 3225 (1986).
It is clear from the record of the hearing before
the Zoning Board that a limit of 25 feet of antenna height seriously interferes
with the full enjoyment by Bodony of his license to operate an amateur
radio station.2/
The record fails to show that the erection of the
proposed antenna will endanger the health, safety and general welfare of
the residents or be detrimental to the character of the neighborhood or
to the residents. The Zoning Board did not determine the height above
which the antenna would endanger the health, safety and general welfare
of the residents. It is uncertain how the erection of the proposed
antenna system will affect the outward appearance or aesthetic harmony
of the neighborhood, given the proposed shielding of the system by trees.
The action of the Zoning Board is devoid of any effort to make "a reasonable
accommodation...between the two sides."
We find that Section 352.2 of the Building Ordinance
is invalid as it applies to the plaintiff Andrew B. Bodony as an amateur
extra class operator at the site licensed by the F.C.C. as an amateur radio
station. Our discussion on the height of amateur radio station antennas
is not intended to suggest an appropriate height. We base our ruling
on PRB-1, in preempting the right of the Zoning Board to arbitrarily fix
a limitation on the height of an antenna to 25 feet.3/
Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgement
Bodony opposes defendants' motion for summary judgement
on the ground that he has not had the opportunity to discover materials
in the exclusive possession of the defendants that would probably result
in evidence showing the existence of material issues of fact. Schering
v. Home Ins. Co., 712 F. 2d 4, 10 (2d Cir. 1983), Fed. R. Civ. Pg.
56 (f). We believe that Bodony has offered evidence that presents
material issues of fact, and there is no reason to delay decision on the
motion.
We turn to defendants' argument that the Zoning
Board's decision may not be overturned unless the action is arbitrary and
capricious. (Point IV, Defendants' memo).
Count VII alleges a civil rights claim in charging
the Zoning Board with (1) having denied Bodony's application before the
hearing commenced, and (2) seeking advice and counsel from third parties...as
to the best manner in which to deny plaintiff's application..." in violation
of his right to due process. The court having directed production
of document No. 7 in a memorandum of decision dated this day, and defendants
having consented to the production of documents numbered 5 and 8, finds
fact issues presented on this claim. The court of course does not
find that the claim is established.
If Bodony succeeds on this claim, the decision of
the Zoning Board must be vacated. We are not bound by the findings
of the Zoning Board in such event. See Acorn Ponds v. Incorporated
Village of North Hills, 623 F. Supp. 688, 693 (E.D.N.Y. 1985).
(The & 1983 claim goes beyond a claim of error in the application of
the zoning laws and charges members of the Zoning Board with an abuse of
power that violated plaintiff's right to due process). The issues
presented in the claim were not before the Zoning Board.
Enough has been offered in the record of the hearings
to establish material fact issues for trial. Summary judgement is
denied.
We note in passing that abstention in a case involving
claims of violation of constitutional rights is inappropriate.
The motion of plaintiff Andrew B. Bodony for partial
summary judgement is granted to the extent of declaring the 25 foot height
limitation contained in section 352, para. 1 on the antenna system (an
"accessory building") proposed by Bodony as void as it affects Bodony as
an amateur extra class licensee for the licensed premises. Summary
judgement on the issue of liability on Count I of the complaint is granted.
See Lytle v. Freedom International Carriers, 519 F. 2d 129, 133
(6th Cir. 1975); Leasing Service Corp. v. Graham, 646 F. Supp. 1410,
1414 (S.D.N.Y. 1986); Fed. R. Civ. P. 56 (a); Wright, Miller & Kane,
Federal Practice and Procedure 2s section 2737 at 446-53.
Defendants' motion for summary judgement is in all
respects denied, and it is
SO ORDERED.
signed, Mishler..........U.S.D.J.
2/ Testimony of experts indicates that a height of 60 to 70 feet is necessary for good reception under ideal atmospheric conditions. One Carl Silar, an amateur radio operator, stated that he received communications worldwide using an antenna which was less than 25 feet. He conceded 50 feet, 60 feet or 70 feet would achieve a better result. The F.C.C. permits operators of Citizen Band (CB) radio transmitters to use an antenna 60 feet in height holding "the primary purpose of permitting such an increase in height is to enable licensees to erect antennas above nearby obstacles which may absorb radiated energy and thus decrease ability to communicate." 42 F.C.C. 2d 511, 513 (1973). In Oelkers v. City of Placentia, No. CV 78-1301-RMT (C.D. Cal. 1979) (unreported decision) holding a 15 foot limitation on the height of an antenna unconstitutional as it affected the plaintiff amateur radio operator and found that the plaintiff was deprived "of some radio frequencies" at an increased height of 50 feet (as ordered by the court).
3/ We find it unnecessary to discuss the other grounds for the relief requested, i.e., Count IV (equal protection of law), and Count VI (section 353.2 unconstitutionally vague).
signed.......Judge Mishler, U.S.D.J.