Hopkins Certificate of Compliance - Decision on Motion ( 2019 )

STATE OF VERMONT
SUPERIOR COURT ENVIRONMENTAL DIVISION
Docket No. 108-10-18 Vtec
Hopkins Certificate of Compliance
ENTRY REGARDING MOTIONS
Title: Motion for Summary Judgment (Motion 4)
Filer: Bernard J. Boudreau
Attorney: Self-represented
Filed Date: March 29, 2019
Response in Opposition filed on 04/28/2019 by Attorney Cristina L. Mansfield for Appellee
Edward H. Hopkins
Reply filed on 05/08/2019 by Bernard J. Boudreau, Appellant
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Title: Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment (Motion 5)
Filer: Edward H. Hopkins
Attorney: Cristina L. Mansfield
Filed Date: April 28, 2019
Response in Opposition filed on 05/08/2019 by Bernard J. Boudreau, Appellant
The motions are MOOT. The matter is DISMISSED.
In April 2017, Edward Hopkins requested and received a permit from the Town of
Manchester Department of Planning and Zoning allowing him to change the use of his property
at 47 School Street in Manchester Center, Vermont, from a residence to a professional office.
Bernard Boudreau, an adjoining property owner, participated in the permit review process. Mr.
Boudreau’s participation primarily revolved around the evergreen plantings Mr. Hopkins
proposed for screening along their shared property line. Presently before the Court are the
parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment, which relate to the adequacy of the arborvitae
screening planted by Mr. Hopkins relative to the terms of the permit and the Town of Manchester
Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance).
In re Hopkins Certificate of Compliance, No. 108-10-18 Vtec (EO on XMSJ) (06-20-2019) Page 2 of 5
While this Court evaluates cross-motions for summary judgment under the standards
inherent to V.R.C.P. 56, we are always under the “independent obligation to determine whether
subject-matter jurisdiction exists.” In re Verizon Wireless Barton Permit, No. 133-6-08 Vtec, slip
op. at 8 (Vt. Envtl. Ct. May 20, 2009) (Durkin, J.) (quoting Arbaugh v. Y & H Corp., 546 U.S. 500,
514 (2006)). Thus, “[w]henever it appears by suggestion of the parties or otherwise that the
court lacks jurisdiction of the subject matter, the court shall dismiss the action.” V.R.C.P. 12(h)(3).
With this in mind, we begin with the procedural history relevant to this appeal, which has
important implications for our jurisdiction over its subject matter.
Mr. Hopkins received his change of use permit on July 17, 2017. The permit, as well as
the Town of Manchester Development Review Board’s (DRB) decision approving the application,
went unappealed.
On January 30, 2018, the Zoning Administrator granted Mr. Hopkins a first Temporary
Certificate of Compliance (First Temporary Certificate) for his property, which allowed Mr.
Hopkins to use the building as a professional office while he continued to work to complete the
exterior improvements required by the permit. The First Temporary Certificate denoted an
expiration date of July 31, 2018, before which date Mr. Hopkins needed to obtain a final
certificate of compliance.
On August 3, 2018, just after the expiration of the First Temporary Certificate, the Zoning
Administrator issued Mr. Hopkins a second Temporary Certificate of Compliance (Second
Temporary Certificate)—the decision that originated the present appeal. The Second Temporary
Certificate sets an expiration date of July 31, 2019.
Mr. Boudreau filed his notice of appeal to the DRB on August 15, 2018. In a September
20, 2018 decision, the DRB determined that the Zoning Administrator improperly granted the
Second Temporary Certificate because it functioned as an impermissible extension of the First
Temporary Certificate and, further, the requirements for a temporary certificate were not met.
Having reached this conclusion, the DRB stated that “the Landowner must either come into full
compliance with the Permit and approved Site Plan immediately[,] taking into consideration the
following determinations, or cease use and occupancy of the Property until a Certificate of
Occupancy has issued.” The DRB then went on to assess the property’s compliance with the
permit and accompanying site plan. It determined that the arborvitae screening complied but
other requirements—outdoor lighting, installation of a fence, and removal of a trailer—remained
outstanding. The DRB then ordered compliance or disuse within 30 days.
Mr. Boudreau appealed that decision to this Court on October 15, 2018. On October 24,
2018, while the present appeal was pending, the Zoning Administrator granted Mr. Hopkins a
final certificate of compliance (Final Certificate). The Final Certificate was not appealed.
Turning to the present cross-motions, Mr. Boudreau claims that the arborvitae screening
does not comply with the permit as interpreted with a view to the Ordinance, the municipal
decisions leading to the permit’s approval, and representations made at the municipal hearings.
Mr. Boudreau goes on to request summary judgment on the question of whether he is entitled
to a writ of mandamus compelling the Town of Manchester (Town) to require Mr. Hopkins to
install arborvitae screening conforming to the specifications Mr. Boudreau asserts. He also
In re Hopkins Certificate of Compliance, No. 108-10-18 Vtec (EO on XMSJ) (06-20-2019) Page 3 of 5
argues that the Court should declare the Final Certificate void as incorrect because the arborvitae
screening is not in compliance.
Mr. Hopkins cross-moves, asserting that the arborvitae screening complies, there is no
violation of the Ordinance or any other relevant authority, and Mr. Boudreau is not entitled to
mandamus.
Though the parties did not brief the issue, our review of the record and the procedural
history of this case gives rise to a threshold jurisdictional question of mootness that must be
addressed.1
For this Court to have jurisdiction, an appeal must involve an actual or “live” controversy
between adverse litigants with a legally cognizable interest in the outcome of the case. Paige v.
State, 2013 VT 105, ¶ 8, 195 Vt. 302; see also Chase v. State, 2008 VT 107, ¶ 11, 184 Vt. 430. A
case becomes moot, and this Court loses jurisdiction, when there is no longer an actual
controversy or any legally cognizable interest in the disposition. Id., ¶ 7 (citing In re S.H., 141 Vt.
278, 280 (1982)).
We must dismiss issues or whole appeals for mootness because the Court is unable to
grant effective relief. Paige, 2013 VT 105, ¶ 8 (quotation omitted). Any opinion we might issue
would be only advisory and therefore unconstitutional. See Paige v. State, 2017 VT 54, ¶ 6, 205
Vt. 287 (citing Doria v. Univ. of Vt., 156 Vt. 114, 117 (1991)). Significantly, even if an issue or
claim was not moot when the appeal began, intervening events that occur after the appeal is
launched can render the proceedings moot. See In re Collette, 2008 VT 136, ¶ 4, 185 Vt. 210;
State v. Rooney, 2008 VT 102, ¶¶ 8-10, 184 Vt. 620; In re Moriarty, 156 Vt. 160, 163 (1991).
The parties both acknowledge the existence of the Final Certificate issued by the Zoning
Administrator after the initiation of this appeal, but do not discuss its implications in the pending
matter. No party appealed the Final Certificate. While Mr. Boudreau challenges the validity of
the Final Certificate in this docket through his Statement of Questions and motion, alleging that
it is void because it improperly certifies the compliance of the arborvitae screening, the Final
Certificate is not the subject of this appeal. Our consideration is limited to the Zoning
Administrator’s decision to issue the Second Temporary Certificate.2
1
Mr. Hopkins poses a challenge to Mr. Boudreau’s standing in his cross-motion, which is a separate
jurisdictional question. This Court has observed that “there is no mandatory sequencing of jurisdictional issues.” In
re Petition of the Intervale Ctr., Inc., & Half Pint Farm, No. 89-5-08 Vtec, slip op. at 4-5 (Vt. Envtl. Ct. Feb. 24, 2009)
(Durkin, J.) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Sinochem Int’l Co. v. Malaysia Int’l Shipping Corp., 549 U.S.
422, 431 (2007)). Thus, we begin with the mootness issue.
2
While a single jurisdictional disqualification requires dismissal, and, as stated in footnote 1, there is no
sequencing for jurisdictional issues, we here note an additional jurisdictional flaw with the present appeal.
Contrary to the premise of Mr. Boudreau’s appeal, the Zoning Administrator’s decision to issue the Second
Temporary Certificate was not synonymous with a conclusion that the property complied and no enforcement was
needed. Instead, by definition, issuance of a temporary certificate meant that the Zoning Administrator did not
consider the property in compliance or take a stance on enforcement, but wanted to provide Mr. Hopkins with more
time to comply while enabling use. Mr. Boudreau’s appeal is focused on the compliance certified by the Final
Certificate.
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Appeal is the exclusive statutory remedy for parties aggrieved by local zoning decisions.
24 V.S.A. § 4472(a). Unappealed zoning decisions cannot be collaterally attacked, either directly
or indirectly, in any other proceeding, including proceedings to enforce a permit or zoning
ordinance under Chapter 117 of Title 24. See 24 V.S.A. § 4472(d). This Court must “strictly
enforce” the exclusivity of remedy rule. See In re Smith, 2006 VT 33, ¶¶ 5-6, 179 Vt. 636. These
principles of finality apply even where it is alleged that the unappealed decision was ultra vires,
otherwise erroneous, or even void ab initio. See City of S. Burlington v. Dep’t of Corr., 171 Vt.
587, 589 (2000); Phillips Constr. Servs., Inc. v. Town of Ferrisburg, 154 Vt. 483, 485 (1990). Thus,
pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 4472, we conclude that the Final Certificate became final, binding, and
impervious to collateral attack when it was not appealed.
While we cannot subject the conclusions of the unappealed Final Certificate to a collateral
challenge, we must consider its consequences for the present matter. Despite Mr. Boudreau’s
allegation that the Final Certificate is void because it was incorrect, we can only consider what
the Final Certificate conclusively resolved and, by extension, the issues we are precluded from
reaching in this decision.
As is apparent from the title of the Final Certificate of Compliance, its content, and the
parties’ concessions, the Final Certificate concluded that Mr. Hopkins’ property meets the
requirements of the original change of use permit which is the origin of this land use dispute.
Mr. Boudreau’s appeal—as evinced in his motion for summary judgment and Statement
of Questions—focuses solely on the issue of the compliance of the arborvitae screening. The
parties and this Court, however, are bound by the Final Certificate’s unappealed conclusion that
the property, including the arborvitae, is in compliance with the permit terms and Ordinance.
We could not determine otherwise; Mr. Boudreau’s attempt to collaterally attack the conclusions
of the Final Certificate are barred by 24 V.S.A. § 4472(d). Because we could not grant Mr.
Boudreau the relief he requests, we are without jurisdiction, and legal issues presented in the
present appeal must be considered MOOT.3
Because the DRB treated the Zoning Administrator’s issuance of the Second Temporary Certificate as a
decision not to proceed with enforcement, the DRB itself evaluated compliance and set out enforcement directives.
Municipal panels, however, cannot initiate enforcement proceedings in the first instance. See In re Sweet Bldg.
Permit, No. 19-2-12 Vtec, slip op. at 2 (Vt. Super. Ct. Envtl. Div. Jan. 25, 2013) (Walsh, J.) (dismissing enforcement-
related questions because the appellant did not first raise the issues with the zoning administrator). That power lies
with the municipality’s administrative officer—here, the Zoning Administrator. See id.; Riverview Mews, LLC v.
Richard Elec., Inc., No. 251-11-07 Vtec, slip op. at 2-3 (Vt. Envtl. Ct. Apr. 7, 2008) (Wright, J.); 24 V.S.A. §§ 4451, 4452,
4460(e). We addressed this issue as recently as May of this year in Perham Right of Way Determination and
dismissed the action in its entirety. No. 72-7-18 Vtec (Vt. Super. Ct. Envtl. Div. May 8, 2019) (Durkin, J.).
3
Mr. Boudreau also moves for summary judgment on the question of whether he is entitled to a writ of
mandamus compelling the Town to require Mr. Hopkins to install arborvitae screening according to the terms of the
permit as Mr. Boudreau interprets them.
Moving for summary judgment on whether mandamus is appropriate is not the equivalent of filing for
mandamus. Given this framing, Mr. Boudreau asks us to provide an advisory opinion on the question of whether a
writ of mandamus would be meritorious. We cannot discuss the viability of motions that are not before us. See,
e.g., In re Investigation into Programmatic Adjustments to Standard-Offer Program, 2018 VT 52, ¶ 17 (recognizing
the bar against advisory opinions on prospective disputes). Further, Mr. Boudreau asks us to appraise a motion
In re Hopkins Certificate of Compliance, No. 108-10-18 Vtec (EO on XMSJ) (06-20-2019) Page 5 of 5
Having reached this conclusion, we must DISMISS this appeal for lack of jurisdiction.
Further, our ultimate conclusion in this matter MOOTS Mr. Hopkins’ March 18, 2019 motion for
clarification and Mr. Boudreau’s March 29, 2019 motion for a site visit by the Court concerning
his motion for summary judgment.
This concludes the current proceedings before the Court. A Judgment Order accompanies
this Entry Order.
So Ordered.
Electronically signed on June 20, 2019 at Newfane, Vermont, pursuant to V.R.E.F. 7(d).
________________________________
Thomas S. Durkin, Superior Judge
Environmental Division
Notifications:
Appellant Bernard J. Boudreau
Merrill E. Bent (ERN 5013), Attorney for Interested Person Town of Manchester
Cristina L. Mansfield (ERN 7113), Attorney for Appellee Edward H. Hopkins
rmaher
under V.R.C.P. 75. The Rule contains specific procedural steps for initiating and noticing such an action that Mr.
Boudreau has not carried out in the present proceedings. See V.R.C.P. 75(b).