2 9 7 Ga . 5 44

F INAL COP Y

S 1 5 A0 0 8 2 , S 1 5 X0 0 8 3 . BURTON e t a l. v . GLYNN COUNTY e t a l.; a n d

v ic e v e rsa

. S 1 5 A0 6 2 6 , S 1 5 X0 6 2 7 . GLYNN COUNTY e t a l. v . BURTON e t a l.; a n d

v ic e v e rsa

.

HUNS T EIN, Ju stic e

.

At th e h e a rt o f th e se c o n so lid a te d a p p e a l s a n d c ro ss-a p p e a ls is th e

q u e stio n o f wh e th e r pro p e rty o w n e rs a re v io la tin g a z o n in g o rd in a n c e b y

o p e ra tin g th e ir pro p e rty a s a n e v e n t v e n u e

. F or th e re a so ns se t fo rth be lo w, we

c o n c lu d e th a t th e tria l c o u rt p ro p e rly fo u n d th a t th e o wn e rs we re vio la tin g th e

o rd in a n c e a n d th a t th e c o u rt p ro p e rly issu e d a d e c la ra to ry ju dg m e n t to th a t

e ffe c t. Ac c o rd in g ly

, we a ffirm th e first o f t h e two tria l c ou rt o rd e rs b e fo re u s

in its e n tire ty

, a n d w e a ffirm th e se c o n d o f th e two o rd e rs e x c e pt in o n e re sp e c t,

a s e x p la in e d b e lo w.

Th o m a s a n d L e e Bu rto n o wn a n o c e a n fro n t p ro p e rty in th e Ea s t Be a c h

a re a of S t. S im o n s Isla n d

. Th e p r o p e rty is situ a te d with in a sin gle -fa m ily

re sid e n tia l z o n in g d istric t c l a s s i f i e d a s “ R -6 ” u n d e r th e G ly nn Co u n ty Zo n in g

Ord in a n c e

. Afte r th e c om ple tio n o f a la rg e

, la v ish h om e o n th e p ro p e rty in2 0 0 8, th e B u rto n s be g a n o ffe rin g th e p ro p e rty

, k n o wn a s Villa d e Su e n o s, 1 a s a

sh o rt-te rm v a c a t i o n r e n ta l. Ov e r th e n e x t fe w y e a rs, Villa d e S ue n o s b e c a m e

in c re a sin g ly p o p u la r a s a v e n u e fo r we d d in g s a n d o th e r la rg e g a th e rin gs; fro m

2 0 1 0 th ro u g h Ma y 2 0 1 3

, a t le a st 7 9 e v e n ts w e re h e ld a t th e p ro p e rty

, w ith m a n y

e x c e e d in g 1 0 0 g u e sts. 2 In p rin t a n d o n lin e me d ia

, Villa de S ue n o s wa s

d e sc rib e d a s “ p e rfe c t fo r we d d in g s” a n d to u te d a s “ S t. Sim on ’s Isla n d ’s p re m ie r

we d d in g d e stin a tio n” ; its we bsite fe a tu re d sc o re s of p h o to g ra p hs o f we d d in g s

h e ld a t th e p ro p e rty

. G u e sts wh o b o o k e d Villa d e S u e n o s we re fu rn ish e d with

a list o f p re fe rre d c a te re rs, p h o to gra p h e rs, flo rists, we d din g pla n n e rs, a n d o th e r

sim ila r v e nd o rs.

In 2 0 1 0

, E a st Be a c h re sid e n ts b e g an ra isin g c om p la in ts to th e c o m m

u n ity

h o m e o wn e rs’ a sso c ia tio n a n d lo c a l la w e n fo rc e m e n t r e g a r d i n g n o i s e

, t

r a f f i c

, a n d

p a rk in g issu e s a risin g fro m e v e n ts h e ld a t Villa d e S u e n o s

. F r o m t h a t tim e

,

Gly n n Co u n ty p o lic e in v e stig a te d m o re th a n 2 0 n o ise c o m p la in ts re la te d to th e

p ro p e rty

, m a n y re su ltin g in th e issu a n c e o f c ita tio n s o r wa rn in g s. In Ma y 2 0 1 2

,

1 “ Vi l la d e Su en o s” t ran s l at es i n En g l i s h as “ Ho us e o f Dream s

. ”

2 Lee Bu rt o n tes ti fi ed t h at o n e ev en t i n 2 0 10 h o st ed m o re t h an 2 0 0 p eo p l e, an d

t h at s u b s eq u en t l y t he Bu rt o ns l i m i t ed t h e cap aci ty o f ev en ts at Vi ll a d e Su en o s t o 1 5 0

at t en dees

.

2Th o m a s Bu rto n wa s a rre ste d fo r m a in ta in in g a d iso rd e rly h o u s e

. 3 Afte r

c o n d u c t i n g a n in v e stig a tio n

, th e Gly n n Co u n ty Co m m u n ity D e v e lo p m e n t

Dire c to r c o n c lu d e d th a t th e B u r t o n s w ere m a k in g u se o f Villa d e S ue n o s a s a

c o m m e rc ia l e v e n t v e n u e

, i n v i o l a t io n o f th e c o u n ty ’s z o n in g o rd in a nc e

. Th e

c o un ty th e re u p o n issu e d th e Bu rto ns a c e a se a n d d e sist le tte r, c o n te n d in g th a t

th e ir o p e ra tio n o f th e p ro p e rty in th is m a n n e r wa s n ot a p e rm itte d u se in a n R-6

d istric t, a n d re q u e stin g th a t th e Bu rto n s im m e d ia te ly d isc o ntin u e su c h u se

.

In re sp o n se

, th e Bu rto n s file d su it a g a in st Gly n n Co u n ty

, a lo n g with e a c h

o f its c o m m issio n e rs a n d its c h ie f o f po lic e (h e re i n a f t e r

, c olle c tiv e ly

, “ th e

Co u n ty ” ), se e k in g d e c la ra to ry a n d in ju n c tiv e re lie f an d writs o f m a nd a m u s a n d

p ro h ib itio n to sto p th e Co u n ty ’s e ffo rts to e n fo rc e its z o n in g o rd in a n c e so a s to

p ro h ib it th e u se o f th e ir pr o p e r ty a s a n e v e n t v e n u e

. In th e ir c om p la in t, th e

Bu rto n s a sse rte d

, in te r a lia

, th a t e n fo rc in g th e z o n in g o rd in a n c e a g a in st th e m in

th is m a nn e r wo u ld v io la te th e ir c o n stitu tio n a l rig h ts to d u e p ro c e ss a n d e q u a l

p ro te c tio n

. Th e Co u n ty b ro u g h t a c o u n te rc la im

, se e k in g d e c la ra to ry a n d

in ju n c tiv e re lie f c o n siste n t with its in te rp re ta tio n o f th e z o n in g o rd in a n c e

.

3 See OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -4 4 (m ak i n g it a m i s d em ean o r t o “ m ai n t ai n [ ]

. . . a

co m m o n

, i l l -g o v ern ed

, an d d i s o rd erl y h o u s e

. . . t o th e co m m o n d i s t u rb an ce o f t h e

n ei g h b o rh o o d o r o rd erl y

ci t i zen s ”).

3F o llo wi n g a n e v id e n tia ry he a rin g

, 4 th e tria l c o urt issu e d a n o rd e r o n

De c e m b e r 2 0

, 2 0 1 3

, a d o p tin g th e C o u n t y ’ s i n t e r p r e t at i o n o f its z o n in g o rd in a n c e

a n d d ire c tin g th e Bu rto n s to c o m p ly with th e o rd in a n c e

, so in te rp re te d

, in th e ir

fu tu re u se o f th e p ro p e rty

. Th e c o u rt a lso d e n ie d th e Bu rto n s’ e q u a l pro te c tio n

c la im

, fin d in g th a t th e y h a d p re se n te d n o e v id e n c e o f oth e r re sid e ntia l p ro p e rtie s

in Gly n n Co u n ty th a t we re o p e ra te d in th e sa m e m a n ne r a s th e Bu rto n s’ p ro p e rty

b u t w e re tre a te d d iffe re n tly b y th e Co u n ty

. T h e B u rto n s a p pe a le d

, c h a lle n g in g

th e tria l c o u rt’s in te rp re ta tio n o f th e z o n in g o rd in a n c e a n d its re je c tio n o f th e ir

e q u a l p ro te c tio n c la im ; th e Co u n ty c ro ss-a pp e a le d

, se e k in g to c la rify th e n a tu re

o f th e re lie f th e tria l c o u rt h a d g ra nte d

.

S u b se q u e n tly

, with th e a

p p e a l a n d c ro ss-a p pe a l p e n d in g, th e Co u n ty file d

a m o tio n fo r c o n t e mp t in th e tria l c o u rt, a lle g in g th a t th e Bu rto n s we re

c o n tin u in g to p ro m o te Villa d e S u e n o s a s a n e ve n t v e nu e an d a c c e p t bo o k in g s

fo r th is p u rp o se

, in vio la tio n o f th e tria l c o u rt’s ord e r. Th e tria l c o urt th e re a fte r

e n te re d a se c on d o rd e r, o n Au g u st 12

, 2 01 4, de n y in g th e m o tio n fo r c o n te m p t.

4 Th e h eari n g was at t h e t i m e i nt en d ed o n l y t o a d d res s t h e p art i es ’ cro ss -m o t i on s

fo r in t erl o cu to ry i n

ju n ct i on

. H o w e v e r

, th e p art i es s u b seq u en t l y ag reed t h at t h i s

h eari n g w o u l d co n s ti tu t e t h e fi nal h eari n g o n t h e m eri t s

. See O CGA § 9 -1 1-6 5 (a) (2 )

(t ri al co u rt au t h o ri zed t o o rd er fi n al h eari n g o n t h e m eri t s t o b e “ ad v an ced an d

co n so l i d at ed wi t h ” i n t erl o cu to ry h eari n g ).

4Th e Co u n ty th e n a pp e a le d th a t ru lin g

. Th e Bu rto n s c ro ss-a p p e a le d

, a rg u in g th a t

th e tria l c o u rt’s se c o n d o rd e r wa s e rro n e o u s to th e e x te n t it re a ffirm e d its e a rlie r

c o n stru c tio n o f th e z o nin g o rd in a n c e

. We c on so lid a te d th e two a p p e a ls a n d th e ir

c ro ss-a p p e a ls; we n o w a ffirm th e De c e m b e r 2 0, 2 01 3 o rd e r in its e ntire ty , a n d

we a ffirm in p a rt a n d va c a te in p a rt th e Au g u st 1 2

, 2 0 1 4 o rd e r, a s e x p la in e d

m o re fu lly b e lo w.

Ca se No . S 1 5 A0 0 82

1 . In its De c e m

b e r 2 0 , 2 0 1 3 o rd e r, th e tria l c o urt c o n c lu d e d :

Th e Bu rto n s' p e rm issib le a c c e sso ry u se of th e ir p ro p e rty to

h o st a we d d in g o r so c ia l e v e n t h a s b e c o m e th e p rim ary u se o f th e ir

p ro p e rty

, a n d th e m a g n itu d e

, fre q u e n c y

, a nd c u m u la tiv e i m

p a c t

th e re o f h a s m o v e d b e y o n d t h a t e xp e c te d o r c u sto m ary fo r a

o n e -fa m ily d we llin g. B e c a u se th is u se fa lls o u tsid e th e n o rm a l

sc o p e o f re sid e n tia l p ro p e rty u se

, it is th u s v io la tiv e o f S e c tio n 7 0 1

o f th e [Gly n n Co u nty Zo n in g ] Ord in a n c e

.

We re v ie w th e c o n stru c tio n o f a z o n i n g o r d in a n c e u n d e r a d e no v o sta n d ard

.

S e e Ex pe d ia

, In c

. v

. City o f Co lu m b u s, 2 8 5 Ga

. 68 4 (4 ) (6 8 1 S E2 d 1 2 2 ) (2 0 0 9 )

(c o n stru c tio n o f a n o rd in a n c e is a q u e stio n o f la w su b je c t to d e n ov o re v ie w o n

a p p e a l); Erv in Co . v

. Bro wn , 2 28 Ga . 1 4 , 1 5 (1 8 3 S E2 d 7 43 ) (1 9 7 1 ).

In th e c o n stru c tio n of a n o rd in a n c e

, “ th e c a rd in a l ru le is to a sc e rta in a n d

g iv e e ffe c t to th e in te n tio n o f th e la w m a k in g b o d y .” Erv in Co

., 2 2 8 Ga . a t 1 5

.

5By

its o wn te rm s, th e se c tio n o f th e o rd in a n c e in q ue stio n h e re is “ d e sig n e d to

e n c o u ra g e th e fo r m a tio n a n d c o n tin u a nc e o f a sta b le

, he a lth y e n v iro n m e n t fo r

o n e -fa m ily dwe llin g s.” Gly n n Co u n ty Zo nin g Ord in a n c e

, § 7 0 1 .1

. To p ro m o te

th e d e sire d “ lo w-to -m e d iu m d e n sity re sid e n tia l” d e v e lo p m e n t in R-6 d istric ts,

th e o rd in a n c e e x p re ssly a im s “ to d isc o u ra g e a n y e n c ro a c h m e n t b y c o m m e rc ia l,

in d u stria l, h ig h d e nsity re sid e n tia l, o r o th e r u se s c a p a b le o f a dv e rse ly a ffe c tin g

th e sin g le -fa m ily re sid e n tia l c h a ra c te r o f th e d istric t.” Id

.

In fu rth e ra n c e o f t h is p u rp o se

, th e o rd in a n c e g e n e ra lly lim its th e u se o f

p r o p e rty situ a te d in R-6 z o nin g d istric ts to “ [o ] n e -fa m ily d we llin g [s]” a n d

“ [a ] c c e sso ry use s.” 5 Id

. a t § 7 0 1 .2

. A “ d we llin g ” is d e fin e d a s “ [a ] b u ild in g o r

p o r t io n o f a b u ild in g d e sig n e d fo r o r o c c up ie d fo r re sid e n tia l p u rp o se s” a n d

e x p lic itly e x c lu d e s h o te ls, m o te ls, a n d sim ila r “ a c c o m m o d a tio ns use d fo r m o re

o r le ss tra n sie nt [g u e sts] .” Id

. a t § 3 0 2

. A “ o n e -fa m ily d w e llin g ” is de fin e d a s

“ [a ] de ta c h e d d we llin g

. . . d e sig n e d fo r o r o c c u p ie d e x c lu siv e ly b y o n e fa m ily .”

Id

. An “ a c c e sso ry u se ” is a u se “ w h ic h i s c u sto m arily a c c e sso ry a n d c le a rly

in c id e n ta l a n d su bo rd in a te to th e p rin c ip a l u se .” Id .; se e a lso id

. a t § 6 09

. Th u s,

5 T h e o rd i n an ce d o es a l s o p e rm i t g ov ern m en t -o wn ed o r o p erat ed faci l i t i es

,

“ [n ] o n-co m

m erci al h o rt i cu l t u ral o r ag ri cu l t u r[al ] ” u s es

, an d cert ai n “ h o m e

o ccu pat io n [s ] ” i n R-6 d i s t ri ct s

. Gl y n n Co un t y Zo n in g Ord i n an ce, § 7 0 1 .2

.

6th e c le ar in te n t o f th e o rd in a n c e is to re stric t th e u se of p ro p e rtie s situ a te d in R-6

z o n in g d istric ts p rim a rily to re sid e ntia l u se b y sin gle fa m ilie s a n d o th e r u se s th a t

a re c u sto m a rily in c id e n ta l th e re to

.

Giv e n th is in te n t, a nd c o n sid e rin g th e la rg e ly un disp u te d e v id e n c e

p re se nte d to th e tria l c o u rt, we c o n c lu de

, a s th e tria l c o u rt d id

, th a t th e Bu rto n s’

u se of th e ir p ro p e rty v io la te d th e Gly n n Co u n ty Zo nin g Ord i n an c e

. Th e

fre q u e nc y o f th e e v en t s a n d th e a p p a re n tly sy ste m a tic m an n e r in wh ic h th e

p ro p e rty h a s b e e n m a rk e te d a n d u tiliz e d fo r la rg e -sc a le g a th e rin g s su p p o rt th e

c o n c lu sio n th a t th e p ro p e rty ’s u se a s a n e ve n t v e n u e h a s, a s th e tria l c o u rt fo u n d

,

“ m o v e d b e y o n d th a t e x p e c t e d o r c u sto m a ry fo r a o n e -fa m ily d we llin g .” S e e

Ca wth on v. Do u g la s C o u n ty

, 2 4 8 Ga

. 7 60

, 7 6 5 ( 3 ) ( 2 8 6 S E2 d 3 0 ) (1 9 8 2 )

(a ffirm in g tria l c o u rt’s c o n c lu sio n th a t h o m e o wn e r’s do g-g ro o m in g b u sin e ss

h a d b e c o m e “ su ffic ie ntly v o lu m in o u s a n d m e c h a n iz e d ” to v io la te lo c a l z o n in g

o rd in a n c e ). T h o u g h th e Bu rto n s in sist th a t th e y d o n o t a c tiv e ly p ro m ote th e use

o f th e ir p ro p e rty a s a n e v e n t v e n u e

, th e re is a m p le e v id e nc e th a t th e p ro p e rty ha s

b e e n p ro m ote d

— wh e th e r b y th e Bu rto n s, th e ir p ro p e r t y ma n a g e m e n t

c o m p a ny

, o r th ird p a rtie s v ia th e In te rn e t

— a s ju st th a t. An d wh ile th e Bu rto n s

p o in t to th e ir po lic y re q u irin g a fo u r-n ig h t m in im um re n ta l p e rio d a s e v id e n c e

7th a t Villa d e S u e n o s i s s i m p ly a n o th e r g a rd e n v a rie ty S t. Sim on ’s re n ta l

p ro p e rty

, th is p o lic y a

p p a re n tly d o e s n o t p re v e n t th e re g u la r u se o f Vil l a d e

S u e no s — a n a v e ra g e o f 2 5 tim e s pe r y e a r o v e r a th re e -y e a r p e rio d

— a s a n

e v e n t v e nu e

, o fte n fo r g ro u p s e x c e e d in g 1 00 p e rso n s.

In a d d itio n

, a t th e e v id e n tia ry h e a rin g, se v e ra l E a st Be a c h re sid e n ts

te stifie d re g a rd in g th e distu rb a n c e s th e y h a v e e x p e rie n c e d fro m lo u d m u sic a n d

ra u c o u s p a rty g o e rs, wh ic h h a v e in te rfe re d with th e ir e n jo y m e n t o f th e ir o wn

n e a rb y ho m e s. Th e se re sid e n ts a lso te stifie d re g ard in g th e tra ffic a n d p a rk in g

p ro b le m s g e ne ra te d b y e v e n ts h e ld a t Villa d e S u e n o s. S e e Ca w th on

, 2 4 8 Ga

.

a t 7 6 1

, 7 6 4 (te stim on y f

r o m n e ig h b o rs re g a rd in g o pe ra tio n s of h o m e o wn e r’s

d o g -g ro o m in g bu sin e ss, a s we ll a s tra ffi c a n d o th e r u nwe lc o m e c o nse q u e n c e s

th e re o f, su p p o rte d c o nc lu sio n th a t h o m e o w n e r’s u se w a s in vio la tio n o f z o n in g

o rd in a n c e ).

In su m

, th e e v id e n c e a m

p ly su p p o rts th e c o n c lu sio n th a t th e h o stin g o f

e v e n ts a t Villa d e S u e n o s, wh ic h i s u n d e n ia b ly p e rm issib le o n a n o c c a sio n a l

b a sis a s a n in c id e n ta l, a c c e ss o ry u se o f a o n e -fa m ily d we llin g

, h a s b e c om e

“ su ffic ie n tly v o lu m in o u s a n d m e c h a n iz e d ,” Ca wth o n

, 2 4 8 Ga

. a t 7 6 4

, so a s to

fa ll o u tsid e th e sc o p e o f pe rm issib le u se s u n d e r S e c tio n 70 1.2 o f th e Gly n n

8C o u n ty Zo n in g Ord in a n c e

. Ac c o rd in gly

, we a ffirm th e tria l c o u rt ’ s

d e te rm in a tio n th a t th e Bu rto n s h a v e o p e ra te d th e ir p ro pe rty in v io la tio n o f th e

z o n in g o rd in a n c e

.

2

. We lik e w ise a ffirm th e tria l c o urt’s d e te rm in a tio n th a t th e Bu rto n s h a v e

f a i l e d to a d d u c e e v id e n c e in su p po rt of th e ir e q u a l pro te c tio n c la im

. Wh e th e r

a z o n in g o rd in a n c e is e n fo rc e d “ in a re a so n a b le a n d n o n d isc rim in a to ry m a n ne r”

is a q u e stio n o f fa c t. Go ug e v

. City o f S n e llv ille

, 2 4 9 Ga

. 9 1

, 94 (4 ) (2 8 7 S E2 d

5 3 9 ) (1 9 8 2 ). Th o u g h th e Bu rto n s a d d u c e d te stim on y fro m o n e witn e ss th a t

e v e n ts we re so m e tim e s h e ld o n re n ta l p ro p e rtie s on n e ig h bo rin g Se a Isla n d

, th is

witn e ss c o n c e d e d th a t h e k n e w o f n o p ro p e rtie s th a t h a d h o ste d a sim ila r v o lu m e

o f e v e n ts o r wh o se e v e n ts h a d sp awn e d c o m pla in ts fro m m e m

b e rs o f th e

su rro u n d in g c o m m

u n i t y

. Th e tria l c o u rt th u s p ro p e rly c o n c lu d e d th a t th e

Bu rto n s h a d fa ile d to e sta b lish u ne q u a l tre a tm e n t so a s to g iv e rise to a n e q u a l

p ro te c tio n c la im

.

3

. Th o ug h th e tria l c o u rt d id n o t e x pre ssly ru le o n th e Bu rto n s’ d u e

p ro c e ss v a g u e n e ss c h a lle n g e to th e z on in g o rd in a n c e

, it im p lic itly re je c te d th is

c la im in so fa r a s i t e n f

o r c e d th e o rd in a n c e a n d ord e re d th e Bu rto n s to c o m p ly

with it. T o sa tisfy du e p ro c e ss, a n o rd in a n c e m u st “ be sp e c ific e n o u g h to g iv e

9fa ir wa rn in g o f th e p ro h ib ite d c o n d u c t.” 1 0 5 F lo y d Ro a d

, In c

. v

. C risp Co u nty

,

2 7 9 Ga

. 3 4 5

, 3 4 8 (6 1 3 S E2 d 6 3 2 ) (2 0 0 5). T h e Bu rto n s a ssa il th e o rd in a n c e fo r

its fa ilu re to q u a n tify p re c ise ly th e p o in t a t wh ic h th e ho stin g o f la rg e fu n c tio n s

o n an R-6 p ro p e rty c ro sse s th e lin e fro m a p e rm issib le u se “ a c c e sso ry ” to a o n e

fa m ily d w e llin g to a

n im pe rm issib le p rim ary u se

. Ho w e v e r, an o rd in a nc e n e e d

n o t re g u la te with “ ‘m a th e m a tic a l c e rta in ty ’” to c o m p o rt with du e p ro c e ss. Id

.

[E] v e n if th e o u te rm o st b o u n d a rie s o f th e a p plic a b le se c tio n o f th e

o rd in a n c e m a y b e im

pre c ise in c e rta in situ a tio n s

. . . , o n e to wh o se

c o n d u c t [a n o rd in a n c e ] c le a rly a p p lie s m a y n o t c h a lle n ge it o n th e

b a sis th a t it m a y b e u n c on stit u t io n a lly va g u e wh e n a p p lie d to

o th e rs.

Go u ge

, 2 4 9 Ga

. a t 9 3 -9 4

. W e c o n cl u d e th a t th e o rd in a nc e a t issu e h e re is

su ffic ie n tly sp e c ific fo r “ ‘p e rso n s o f c om m o n i n t e l l i g e n c e ’” to re c og n iz e th a t th e

Bu rto n s’ u se o f Villa d e S u e no s do e s n o t q u a lify a s a p e rm issib le u se in a n R-6

d istric t. S e e 1 0 5 Flo y d Ro a d

, In c

., 2 7 9 Ga

. a t 3 4 8 ; G o u g e

, 2 4 9 Ga

. a t 9 3

. Th e

Bu rto n s’ d u e pro c e ss c h a lle n g e th u s fa ils.

10Ca se No . S 1 5 A0 6 26

4 . Of re le v a n c e to th e Co u n ty ’s m o tio n fo r c o n te m p t, th e De c e m

b e r 2 0

,

2 0 1 3 o rd e r sta te s a s fo llo ws:

Th e Bu rto n s h a v e a n o b lig a tio n to ma n a ge th e ir sh o rt-te rm

v a c a tio n re nta ls so a s t o co mp ly with th e re q u ire m e n ts o f th e

Ord in a n c e go v e rn in g d istric ts su c h a s R-6

. As su c h

, th e Bu rto n s a re

h e re b y ORDERED to c o m p ly with S e c tio n 7 0 1 o f th e Ord in a n c e b y

e n su rin g th a t th e ir p rin c ip a l u se o f th e p ro p e rty b e a s a “ o n e -fa m ily

d we llin g,” wh ic h u se m a y in c lu d e an y u se s c u sto m a rily in c id e n ta l

o r a c c e sso ry th e re to

.

In re sp o n se to th e m o tio n fo r c o nte m p t, th e Bu rto n s a rg u e d a s a n in itia l m a tte r

th a t th e tria l c o u rt la c k e d a u th o rity to c o n sid e r th e m o tio n g iv e n th e p e n d e n c y

o f th e a p p e a l. S p e c ific a lly

, th e Bu rto n s c la im e d th a t th e a p p e a l o f th e De c e m

b e r

2 0

, 20 1 3 o rd e r o pe ra te d a s a su pe rse d e a s, se e OCGA § 5 -6 -4 6 ( a ), pre c lu d in g

fu rth e r p ro c e e d in g s in th e c a se p e n d in g re so lu tio n o f th e a p p e a l. S e e Da v is v

.

Ha rp a g o n Co

., 2 8 1 Ga

. 2 5 0 (8 ) (6 3 7 S E2 d 1 ) (2 0 0 6) (p ro vid in g th a t a n o tic e o f

a p p e a l in a c iv il c a se g e n e ra lly a c ts a s a su p e rse de a s, d e p riv in g th e tria l c o u rt o f

ju risd ic tio n to m od ify o r e n fo rc e th e ju d g m e n t a p p e a l e d ). Th e Co u n ty

re sp o n d e d th a t th e a

u to m a tic su p e rse d e a s p ro v isio n s o f OCGA § 5 -6 -4 6 d id n o t

a p p l y b ec a u se th e tria l c o urt’s De c e m b e r 20

, 2 01 3 o rd e r c o n stitu te d a n

in ju n c tio n

. S e e OCGA § 9 -1 1-6 2 (a ) (u n le ss c ou rt o rd e rs o th e rwise

, in ju n c tio n

11is no t sta y e d p e n d in g re so lu tio n o f a p p e a l); Da vis, 28 1 Ga

. a t 25 3 (in ju n c tio n s

a re e x c e p te d fro m a

uto m a tic su p e rse d e a s). O n th is po in t, th e tria l c o u rt a g re e d

with th e Bu rto n s, c o n stru in g its De c e m b e r 2 0

, 2 0 1 3 ord e r a s a d e c la ra to ry

ju d g m e n t, n o t a n in

ju n c t i o n

, a n d th e re fo re fin d in g th a t c o nte m p t wa s

u n a v a ilab le a t th a t sta g e o f th e p ro c e e d in g s.

A d e c la ra to ry ju d gm e n t is “ a m e an s b y wh ic h a su p e rio r c o urt ‘sim p ly

d e c la re s th e rig h ts o f th e pa rtie s o r e x p re sse s (its) o p in io n

. . . o n a qu e stio n o f

la w, with o u t o rd e rin g a n y th in g to b e d o ne .’” Ba k e r v

. C ity of Ma rie tta

, 2 7 1 Ga

.

2 1 0

, 2 1 3 (1 ) (5 1 8 SE2 d 87 9 ) (1 9 9 9 ); a c c o rd R ic ha rd C. R u sk e ll, Ga

. Pra c tic e &

P ro c e d u re

, § 26 :9 (2 0 14 -2 0 1 5 e d .). An in j u n c t io n

, b y c o n tra st, im p o se s a n

a ffirm a tiv e d u ty o n th e p a rty e n jo in e d to e ith e r p e rfo rm

— o r re fra in fro m

p e rfo rm in g — a sp e c ifie d a c t. Ru sk e ll, Ga

. P ra c tic e & P ro c e d ure

, § 28 :1 ; se e

a lso Ad a m s v

. Ma d iso n Co un ty P la nn in g & Zo n in g

, 2 7 1 Ga

. Ap p

. 3 3 3 (1 ) (6 0 9

S E2 d 6 8 1 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (o rd e r re qu irin g p ro p e rty o wn e r s t o r e m o v e p a v i n g e q u ip m e n t

fro m th e ir p ro p e rty wa s in ju n c tiv e in n a tu re ). Th us, a n o rd e r sim p ly de lin e a tin g

wh a t th e a

pp lic a b le le ga l a

u th o r i t y re q u ire s o r p ro hib its is a d e c la ra to ry

ju d g m e n t. S u c h a n o rd e r is n o t c o n v e rte d in to a n in ju n c tio n m e re ly be c a

u se it

d ire c ts a p a rty t o co mp l y w i th th e la w so c on stru e d

. S e e W ig g in s v

. Bd

. o f

12Co m mrs. o f Tift C o u n ty

, 2 5 8 Ga

. Ap p

. 66 6

, 6 68 ( 5 7 4 S E2 d 8 7 4) (2 0 0 2 )

(h o ld in g th a t in

ju n c tio n wo u ld n o t lie to sim p ly re q u ire a pa rty to o be y th e la w ).

It is a x io m a tic th a t “ [a ] c o u rt h a s th e a uth o rity to in te rp re t an d c la rify [its

o wn ] o rd e r.” Bla ir v. Bla ir, 2 7 2 Ga

. 9 4

, 9 6 (1 ) (5 2 7 S E 2 d 1 7 7 ) (2 0 0 0 ). As th e

tria l c o u r t h a s c o nfirm e d

, its De c e m b e r 2 0

, 2 0 1 3 o rd e r d id n o m o re th a n

d e te rm in e th a t th e Bu rto ns’ use o f th e ir p ro p e rty wa s in v io la tio n o f th e z o n in g

o rd in a n c e a n d dire c t th e m h e nc e fo rth to c o m ply with th e te rm s of th e o rd in a n c e

.

As su c h

, th e De c e m

b e r 2 0

, 20 1 3 o rd e r c o nstitu te d a d e c la ra to ry ju dg m e n t. Th is

b e in g th e c a se

, th e tria l c o urt la c k e d ju risd ic tio n to e n te rta in th e m o tio n fo r

c o n te m pt d u rin g th e p e n de n c y o f th e a p p e a l. S e e Da v is, 2 8 1 Ga

. a t 2 5 3

. Ra th e r

th a n p u rp ortin g to d e n y th e m o tio n

, h o we v e r

, t h e tria l c o u rt

– o n c e it h a d

d e te rm in e d th a t it la c k e d ju risd ic tio n

– sh o uld h a v e re fra in e d fro m a c tin g fu rth e r

o n th e m o t io n

. We th e re fo re a ffirm th e Au g ust 1 2

, 2 0 1 4 ord e r to th e e x te n t it

c o n stru e d th e De c e m

b e r 2 0

, 2 0 1 3 o rd e r a s a d e c la ra to ry ju d g m e n t, b u t w e v a c a te

th e Au g u st 12

, 20 1 4 o rd e r to th e e x te n t it d e n ie d th e m o tio n fo r c o n te m p t ra th e r

th a n d ism issin g th e m o tio n fo r l a c k o f ju risd ic tio n o r h o ld in g it in a b e y a n c e

p e n d in g d isp o sitio n o f th e a p p e a l.

13Ca se No . S 1 5 X0 0 83

5

. Th e Co un ty c o n te n d s in its c ro ss-a p p e a l th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d to th e

e x te n t it g ra n te d o n ly de c la ra to ry re lie f a ga in st th e Bu rto n s. Ha vin g a ffirm e d

th e tria l c o u r t ’s c o n c lu sio n th a t th e Bu rto n s’ use o f th e ir p ro p e rty v io la te d th e

z o n in g o rd in a n c e

, a n d h a vin g a ffirm e d th e tri a l c o urt’s c h a ra c te riz a tio n o f its

in itia l o rd e r a s d e c l a ra to ry a n d n o t in ju n c tiv e

, we no w a lso a ffirm th e tria l

c o u rt’s e x e rc ise o f d isc re tio n n o t to a wa rd a n in ju n c tio n

. A tria l c o urt’s d e c isio n

to g ra n t o r d e n y a re q ue st fo r a n in ju n c tio n m

u st b e a ffirm e d a

b se n t a n a b u se o f

d isc re tio n

. OCGA § 9 -5 -8 (d e c isio n to g ra nt a n in ju n c tio n “ sh a ll a lwa y s re st in

th e so u n d d isc re tio n ” o f th e tria l c o u rt); P e n n sy lv a n ia Po o rb o y

, In c

. v

. Ro b b in s

Re sta u ra n t, In c

., 2 3 8 Ga

. 5 3 9 (2 3 3 S E2 d 79 1) (1 9 7 7 ). We fin d n o a b u se o f

d isc re tio n h e re

. 6

Ca se No . S 1 5 X0 6 27

6

. Be c a u se we h a v e a ffirm e d th e tria l c o u rt’s c o nc lu sio n th a t th e Bu rto n s’

u se o f th e ir p ro p e rty v io la te d th e z o n in g o rd in a n c e

, we m u st ne c e ssa rily re

je c t

6 Of co u rs e, t h e fact t h at t h e t ri al co u rt d ecl in ed t o award an i n j u n ct i o n at t h e

s am e t im e i t g ran t ed d ecl arat o ry rel i ef d el i n eat in g t h e Bu rt o n s ’ ri gh t s an d o b li g at i on s

u n d er t h e zo n i n g o rd i n an ce wo u l d n o t p recl u d e t h e t ri al co u rt fro m co n s i d er i n g

i n ju n ct i v e re l i ef i n t he fu t u re s ho u l d t h e Bu rt o n s co nt i nu e t o op erat e t h ei r p ro p ert y

i n v i o l at i o n o f t h e o rd in an ce.

14th e Bu rto n s’ c la im in t h is c ro ss-a p p e a l th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d in re a ffirm in g

th is c o n c lu sio n in its Au g ust 1 2 , 2 0 1 4 o rd e r.

Ju d g m e n t a ffirm e d in C a se No s. S 1 5 A0 0 8 2 an d S 1 5X0 0 8 3

. Ju d g m e n t

a ffirm e d in pa rt a n d v a c a te d in p a rt in Ca se No s. S1 5 A0 6 2 6 a n d S 1 5 X0 6 2 7

. All

th e Ju stic e s c o n c u r.

15De c id e d Ju ly 1 3 , 2 0 1 5

.

Zo n in g . Gly n n S u p e rio r Co urt. Be fo re Ju dg e Ke lle y

.

Ro b e rts Ta te

, Ja m e s L. Ro b e rts IV, Ja so n M. T a te

, La c e y L. Ho ug hto n

, fo r

Bu rto n e t a l.

Aa ro n W. Mu m fo rd ; Bro wn Re a dd ic k Bu m g a rtn e r C a rte r S tric k la n d &

Wa tk in s, Gre go ry T. Ca rte r, B ra d le y J. Wa tk in s, Em ily R

. Ha n c o c k

, fo r Gly n n

Co u n ty e t a l.

Ma ry H. Mo se s, a m ic u s c u ria e

.

16