### IN THE CO URT OF APPEALS OF TE NNE SS EE

AT NASHVILL E

Mar ch 9, 2 01 0 S es si on

LAMAR TENNESS EE, LL C d/b/ a L AMAR ADVERTISI NG OF

TENNES SEE a nd TL C PROPERTIE S, INC.

v.

MURFREESBO RO BOARD OF Z ONI NG APPEALS a nd CI TY OF

MURFREESBO RO, TENNES SEE

A p p e a l f r o m t h e C h a n c e r y C o u r t f o r R u t h e r f

o r d C o u n t y

N o

. 0 7

- 1 3 2 2 C V R o y c e T a y l o r , J u d g e ( b y d e s i g n a t i o n )

N o

. M 2 0 0 9

- 0 1 4 5 6

- C O A

- R 3

- C V

- F i l e d A p r i l 3 0

, 2 0 1 0

T h i s a p p e a l c o n c e r n s a b i l l b o a r d p e r m i t

. T h e p e t i t i o n e r b i l l b o a r d o w n e r a p p l i e d t o t h e

r e s p o n d e n t c i t y f

o r a p e r m i t t o t e a r d o w n a n d r e p l a c e a g r a n d f a t h e r e d b i l l b o a r d

. T h e c i t y

g r a n t e d a p e r m i t f

o r a n i n d i r e c t l y i l l u m i n a t e d b i l l b o a r d

. T h e o w n e r t h e n b u i l t a b i l l b o a r d

w i t h a d i g i t a l d i s p l a y f

a c e

. T h e c i t y r e v o k e d t h e o w n e r ’ s p e r m i t b e c a u s e

, i n t e r a l i a

, t h e s i g n

a c t u a l l y c o n s t r u c t e d v a r i e d f r o m t h e p e r m i t

. T h e o w n e r a p p e a l e d t o t h e c i t y ’ s b o a r d o f

z o n i n g a p p e a l s

, w h i c h u p h e l d t h e c i t y ’ s r e v o c a t i o n o f t h e b i l l b o a r d p e r m i t

. T h e b i l l b o a r d

o w n e r f i l e d a p e t i t i o n f

o r a w r i t o f c e r t i o r a r i

, s e e k i n g j u d i c i a l r e v i e w o f t h e r e v o c a t i o n

. T h e

t r i a l c o u r t d i s m i s s e d t h e b i l l b o a r d o w n e r ’ s p e t i t i o n

, f i n d i n g t h a t t h e c i t y ’ s r e v o c a t i o n o f t h e

p e r m i t w a s v a l i d b e c a u s e t h e b i l l b o a r d e r e c t e d b y t h e o w n e r w a s n o t c o v e r e d b y t h e p e r m i t

.

T h e b i l l b o a r d o w n e r n o w a p p e a l s

. W e a f f i r m

.

T e n n

. R

. A p p

. P

. 3 A p p e a l a s o f R i g h t ; J u d g m e n t o f t h e C h a n c e r y C o u r t A f f i r m e d

H O LLY M

. K IR B Y

, J

. , d e l i v e r e d t h e o p i n i o n o f t h e C o u r t

, i n w h i c h A LA N E

. H IG H E R S

, P

. J

. ,

W

. S

. , a n d J

. S T E V E N S T A F F O R D

, J

. , j o i n e d

.

L a w r e n c e P

. L e i b o w i t z a n d J e n n i f e r L

. K n a p p

, K n o x v i l l e

, T e n n e s s e e

, f o r t h e a p p e l l a n t s

,

L a m a r T e n n e s s e e

, L L C d / b / a L a m a r A d v e r t i s i n g o f T e n n e s s e e a n d T L C P r o p e r t i e s

, I n c

.

D a v i d A

. I v e s

, S u s a n E m e r y M c G a n n o n

, a n d W i l l i a m E

. S q u i r e s

, M u r f r e e s b o r o

, T e n n e s s e e

, f o r t h e a p p e l l e e s

, M u r f r e e s b o r o B o a r d o f Z o n i n g A p p e a l s a n d C i t y o f M u r f r e e s b o r o

,

T e n n e s s e eO P I N I O N

F A C T S A N D P R O C E D U R A L H IS T O R Y

P e t i t i o n e r / A p p e l l a n t L a m a r T e n n e s s e e

, L L C ( “ L a m a r ” ) i s e n g a g e d i n t h e b u s i n e s s o f o u t d o o r

a d v e r t i s i n g

, i

. e

. , b i l l b o a r d s

, t h r o u g h o u t T e n n e s s e e

, d o i n g b u s i n e s s a s L a m a r A d v e r t i s i n g o f

T e n n e s s e e

. L a m a r l e a s e s p a r c e l s o f r e a l p r o p e r t y f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f e r e c t i n g a n d 1

m a i n t a i n i n g b i l l b o a r d s

. T h i s a p p e a l i n v o l v e s a b i l l b o a r d l o c a t e d a t 1 8 0 4 O l d F o r t P a r k w a y

,

w i t h i n t h e R e s p o n d e n t / A p p e l l e e C i t y o f M u r f r e e s b o r o

, T e n n e s s e e ( “ C i t y ” )

.

T h e b i l l b o a r d a t 1 8 0 4 O l d F o r t P a r k w a y w a s f i r s t e r e c t e d i n S e p t e m b e r 1 9 8 4

. A t t h e t i m e

, i t w a s a p p a r e n t l y o u t s i d e o f M u r f r e e s b o r o ’ s c i t y l i m i t s

. T h e s t r u c t u r e c o n s i s t e d o f a

m o n o p o l e s u p p o r t b e a m w i t h t w o b i l l b o a r d f a c e s a t t h e t o p o f t h e p o l e

. T h e b i l l b o a r d f a c e s

w e r e i n d i r e c t l y i l l u m i n a t e d w i t h e x t e r i o r l i g h t s p o s i t i o n e d t o s h i n e o n t h e b i l l b o a r d f a c e s a t

n i g h t

. A t s o m e p o i n t

, t h e C i t y a p p a r e n t l y a n n e x e d o r t o o k i n t h e l a n d o n w h i c h t h e s i g n w a s

l o c a t e d

. L a t e r

, t h e C i t y e n a c t e d z o n i n g a n d s i g n o r d i n a n c e s

. T h e O l d F o r t P a r k w a y b i l l b o a r d

d i d n o t c o n f

o r m t o t h e n e w o r d i n a n c e s

, b u t i t w a s “ g r a n d f a t h e r e d ” a n d t h u s c o n s i d e r e d t o

2

b e a p r e e x i s t i n g

, n o n c o n f o r m i n g b u t l e g a l u s e

. 3

T he pro per ty on whic h t he b il lbo ar d at is sue is lo cat ed i s own ed b y Peti ti one r/ Appel la nt T LC Pro per ti es, 1

I nc., and we us e t he t er m “La m ar ” a s i ncl usi ve of b oth Appe ll ant s.

“A grandf

at her cl aus e is def

ine d as ‘a n exc ept ion to a re st ri ct ion tha t al lows al l tho se al re ady doi n g 2

somethi ng to con ti nue doi ng it

, even if the y woul d b e st oppe d by the new re st ri ct ion .’ ” Outd oor W. of

Tenn.

, Inc

. v. Johns on Cit y

, 39 S.W .3d 131, 135 (T enn

. Ct. App. 2000 ) (qu oti ng B L A C K ’ S L A W D I C T I O N A R Y

629 (5t h ed . 197 9))

.

T enn ess ee Code Annot at ed § 13- 7- 208 pro vides in per ti nen t p ar t: 3

(b) (1) I n the event th at a zoni ng chan ge occu rs in any la nd ar ea wher e suc h la nd ar ea was

not pre viousl y covere d by any zoning re st ri ct ion s of any gov er nm ent al agency of thi s st at e

or it s po li ti cal sub divis ion s, o r wh er e s uch la nd are a is covered by z oni ng res tr ic ti ons of a

gov er nm ent al agency of thi s st at e or it s pol it ic al sub divis ion s, and suc h zoning re st ri ct ion s

dif fe r fr om zoning re st ri ct ion s imposed af te r the zoning cha nge

, the n any ind ust ri al

,

comm er ci al or bus ine ss est abl is hm ent in ope ra ti on, per m it te d to ope ra te unde r zoning

re gulat ion s or exc ept ion s the re to pri or to the zoning cha nge sha ll be al lowe d to con ti nue in

ope ra ti on and be per m it te d; pro vided, tha t no cha nge in the use of the la nd is unde rt aken by

suc h i ndus tr y or bus ine ss.

T .C.A. § 1 3- 7- 208( b)( 1) (20 09 Su pp.)

.

-2-O n M a y 1 7

, 2 0 0 4

, L a m a r s u b m i t t e d a n a p p l i c a t i o n t o t h e C i t y ’ s B u i l d i n g a n d C o d e s

D e p a r t m e n t f

o r a p e r m i t t o d e m o l i s h a n d r e b u i l d t h e O l d F o r t P a r k w a y b i l l b o a r d

. A s p e r t h e 4

C i t y o r d i n a n c e s

, L a m a r a t t a c h e d t o t h e a p p l i c a t i o n c e r t i f i e d e n g i n e e r i n g p l a n s o f t h e

p r o p o s e d b i l l b o a r d a n d a s u r v e y o f t h e p r o p e r t y

. T h e a p p l i c a t i o n a n d e n g i n e e r i n g p l a n s 5

i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e n e w b i l l b o a r d w o u l d h a v e i l l u m i n a t e d t r i v i s i o n f a c e s

, a n d d i d n o t s p e c i f y 6

w h e t h e r t h e i l l u m i n a t i o n w o u l d b e i n t e r n a l o r e x t e r n a l

.

T enn ess ee Code Annot at ed § 13- 7- 208 pro vides in per ti nen t p ar t: 4

(d) I ndus tr ia l, c om m er ci al

, or oth er bus ine ss est abl is hm ent s in ope ra ti on a nd p er m it te d t o

ope ra te unde r z oni ng re gulat ion s or exc ept ion s the re to imm edi at el y pre ced ing a change in

zoning sha ll be al lowe d to des tr oy pre sen t fa ci li ti es and re con st ruc t new fa ci li ti es nec ess ar y

to the con duc t of suc h ind ust ry or bus ine ss sub seq uen t to the zoning cha nge; pro vided, tha t

no des tr uct ion and re bui ldi ng sha ll occ ur whic h sha ll act to cha nge the use cl ass if ic at ion of

the la nd as cl ass if

ie d unde r any zoning re gulat ion s or exc ept ion s the re to in ef fe ct

imm edi at el y pri or to or sub seq uen t to a cha nge in the zoning of the la nd ar ea on whic h suc h

ind ust ry or bus ine s s i s loc at ed. No bui ldi ng per m it or li ke per m is si on for demolit ion

,

con st ruc ti on or la nds cap ing sha ll be den ie d to an ind ust ry or bus ine ss see king to des tr oy and

re con st ruc t fa ci li ti es nec ess ar y to the con ti nue d con duc t of the act ivit ie s of tha t ind ust ry or

bus ine ss, wher e suc h con duc t was per m it te d pri or to a cha nge in zoning; pro vided, tha t the re

is a re aso nab le amount of spa ce for suc h exp ans ion on the pro per ty owned by suc h ind ust ry

or bus ine ss si tua te d wit hin the ar ea whic h is af fe ct ed by the cha nge in zoning, so as to avoid

nui san ces to adj oin ing la ndown er s.

. . . . (h) T he p rovis ion s of

sub sec ti ons (b )- (d) sha ll app ly to an o ff

- si te si gn . . ..

T .C.A. § 1 3- 7- 208 (20 09 Su pp.)

.

T he M urf re esb oro Cit y Code pr ovides in per ti nen t p ar t: 5

(6) For ground si gn s o n- si te le ss tha n thi rt y- fi ve fe et in hei ght, two dimensi ona l sketc hes

sho wing the hei ght, sha pe and sur fa ce ar ea dis pla y of the si gn; two dimensi ona l sketc hes of

the fou nda ti on for the si gn; and

, two dimensi ona l si te pla ns, sho wing the loc at ion of the si gn

on t he s it e a re re qui re d. . .

. (7) For ground si gns on- si te great er tha n thi rt y- fi ve f eet in hei ght, the same as re qui re d in

sub sec ti on ( 6) abo ve, exc ept al l p la ns r equ ir ed must be dra wn to scal e a nd must b e s eal ed

by a re giste re d T enn ess ee engine er

, . . . . (8) For off

- si t e gr o und si gns, sca le d si te pla ns sho wing the same as sub sec ti on (7) abo ve,

plu s loc at ion pla ns sho wing spa ci ng of exi st ing off

- si te per m ane nt ground si gns wit hin one

tho usa nd f

eet on t he s ame sid e of

th e s tr eet or in te rs ta te hi ghway in bot h di re ct ion s.

M U R F R E E S B O R O

, T E N N

., C O D E § 25 1⁄4 - 20( B) ( 2007 ). We not e t hat Lamar ap pli ed f or the per m it in 2004

, and it is unc le ar fr om

th e r eco rd whet her th e pr ovisi ons of se ct ion 251⁄4

- 20( b) wer e i n ef fe ct at th e t ime.

A tr ivisi on bil lbo ar d fa ce has me c h a n ic al ly rot at ing pan el s tha t al low the dis pla y of thr ee dif fe re nt 6

advert is ements at in te rvals

.

-3-A f

t e r s o m e d e l a y

, o n O c t o b e r 1 9

, 2 0 0 4

, t h e D i r e c t o r o f M u r f r e e s b o r o ’ s B u i l d i n g a n d C o d e s

D e p a r t m e n t

, B e t t s N i x o n ( “ D i r e c t o r N i x o n ” )

, s e n t a l e t t e r t o L a m a r i n f o r m i n g i t t h a t a p e r m i t

w o u l d i s s u e f

o r t h e p r o j e c t

. T h e l e t t e r

, h o w e v e r

, c o n t a i n e d a c a v e a t ; t h e n e w s i g n c o u l d n o t

o v e r h a n g a n e a r b y r i g h t o f w a y a n d c o u l d n o t c o n t a i n m o v i n g d e v i c e s

. I n t h e l e t t e r

, D i r e c t o r

N i x o n p o i n t e d o u t t o L a m a r t h a t t r i v i s i o n b i l l b o a r d d i s p l a y s w e r e p r o h i b i t e d b y C i t y

o r d i n a n c e s a n d c o n f

i r m e d a p r i o r c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h L a m a r ’ s a g e n t i n w h i c h L a m a r ’ s a g e n t

s t a t e d a f f i r m a t i v e l y t h a t t h e n e w b i l l b o a r d w o u l d n o t h a v e t r i v i s i o n f a c e s

.

O n N o v e m b e r 1 2

, 2 0 0 4

, t h e C i t y i s s u e d p e r m i t n u m b e r S 5 1 5 3 ( “ f i r s t p e r m i t ” ) t o L a m a r

. T h e

p e r m i t s p e c i f

i e d t h a t i t w a s f

o r c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a n “ I n d i r e c t I l l u m i n a t e d B i l l b o a r d ” a n d

d e s c r i b e d t h e w o r k a s f

o l l o w s : “ R e m o v e E x i s t i n g M o n o p o l e S i g n

. R e p l a c e W i t h N e w 1 0 ' 6 "

X 3 6 ' ( 3 7 8 S q

. F t

. ) M o n o p o l e / B i l l b o a r d S i g n P e r P l a n s S u b m i t t e d

. ” U n d e r a s e c t i o n t i t l e d

“ S p e c i a l C o n d i t i o n s

, ” t h e p e r m i t r e f e r e n c e d D i r e c t o r N i x o n ’ s p r i o r l e t t e r t o L a m a r a n d

r e i t e r a t e d t h e c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e l e t t e r

, n a m e l y

, t h a t t h e n e w s i g n m u s t n o t o v e r h a n g t h e n e a r b y

r i g h t o f w a y a n d m u s t n o t c o n t a i n m o v i n g d e v i c e s

.

F o r r e a s o n s n o t a p p a r e n t i n t h e r e c o r d

, L a m a r a l l o w e d t h e f i r s t p e r m i t t o e x p i r e

. I n a l e t t e r

d a t e d M a r c h 2 4

, 2 0 0 6

, L a m a r r e q u e s t e d r e n e w a l o f t h e f i r s t p e r m i t

, a t t a c h i n g a p h o t o c o p y

o f t h e f i r s t p e r m i t a n d s t a t i n g : “ L a m a r d e s i r e s t o p e r f o r m t h e e x a c t w o r k a s o u t l i n e d i n o u r

p e r m i t

. ” I n r e s p o n s e

, t h e C i t y i s s u e d p e r m i t n u m b e r S N

- 0 6

- 1 0 5 9 ( “ s e c o n d p e r m i t ” ) t o L a m a r

o n A p r i l 1 2

, 2 0 0 6

. A s w i t h t h e f i r s t p e r m i t

, t h e s e c o n d p e r m i t w a s f o r d e m o l i t i o n o f t h e

e x i s t i n g s t r u c t u r e a n d c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a “ N e w 1 0 ' 6 " x 3 6 ' B i l l b o a r d P e r P l a n s S u b m i t t e d A n d

N o t e s A t t a c h e d

. ” T h e r e f e r e n c e d n o t e s i n c l u d e d t h e s a m e c o n d i t i o n s s p e c i f i e d i n D i r e c t o r

N i x o n ’ s O c t o b e r 2 0 0 4 l e t t e r

, t h a t t h e n e w s i g n m u s t n o t o v e r h a n g t h e n e a r b y r i g h t o f w a y a n d

m u s t n o t c o n t a i n m o v i n g d e v i c e s

.

F o r r e a s o n s a g a i n n o t i n t h e r e c o r d

, t h e s e c o n d p e r m i t w a s a l l o w e d t o e x p i r e o n O c t o b e r 1 2

,

2 0 0 6

. T h e n e x t m o n t h

, t h e C i t y i s s u e d t o L a m a r p e r m i t n u m b e r S B

- 0 6

- 6 3 9 7 ( “ t h i r d p e r m i t ” )

.

T h e t h i r d p e r m i t h a d t h e s a m e s p e c i f i c a t i o n s a n d c o n d i t i o n s

. T h e t h i r d p e r m i t a l s o a t t a c h e d

p h o t o c o p i e s o f D i r e c t o r N i x o n ’ s O c t o b e r 2 0 0 4 l e t t e r

, t h e M a r c h 2 0 0 6 l e t t e r i n w h i c h L a m a r

r e q u e s t e d r e n e w a l o f t h e f i r s t p e r m i t

, a n d t h e f

i r s t p e r m i t i t s e l f

.

A f t e r o b t a i n i n g t h e t h i r d p e r m i t i n N o v e m b e r 2 0 0 6

, L a m a r b e g a n d e m o l i t i o n o f t h e O l d F o r t

P a r k w a y b i l l b o a r d

. B y F e b r u a r y 2 0

, 2 0 0 7

, d e m o l i t i o n o f t h e e x i s t i n g s t r u c t u r e w a s c o m p l e t e

.

T h e n e x t d a y

, t h e C i t y ’ s B u i l d i n g a n d C o d e s D e p a r t m e n t s i g n i n s p e c t o r a p p r o v e d t h e f o o t i n g

f o r t h e n e w b i l l b o a r d s t r u c t u r e

. T h e n e w s t r u c t u r e w a s b u i l t

, a n d a t s o m e p o i n t

, L a m a r

e r e c t e d a n i n d i r e c t l y i l l u m i n a t e d b i l l b o a r d p a n e l o n o n e f a c e o f t h e n e w b i l l b o a r d

, a s

s p e c i f i e d i n t h e p e r m i t

.

-4-I n t h e m e a n t i m e

, t h e B u i l d i n g a n d C o d e s D e p a r t m e n t c o n d u c t e d a s t u d y o n e l e c t r o n i c s i g n s

f o c u s i n g o n t h e f

e a s i b i l i t y o f r e g u l a t i n g t h e i r h i g h i n t e n s i t y b r i g h t n e s s a n d r a p i d l y c h a n g i n g

i m a g e r y

. T h e s t u d y u l t i m a t e l y c o n c l u d e d t h a t s u c h r e g u l a t i o n w a s n o t f e a s i b l e a n d

r e c o m m e n d e d a p r o h i b i t i o n o n a l l e l e c t r o n i c m e s s a g e s i g n s

. A f t e r r e c e i v i n g t h e r e s u l t s o f

t h e s t u d y

, o n J a n u a r y 2 5

, 2 0 0 7

, t h e C i t y e n a c t e d a m o r a t o r i u m o n e l e c t r o n i c m e s s a g e c e n t e r

s i g n s

. 7

O n M a r c h 3

, 2 0 0 7

, L a m a r m o u n t e d a d i s p l a y o n t h e o t h e r f a c e o f t h e n e w l y c o n s t r u c t e d

b i l l b o a r d o n O l d F o r t P a r k w a y

, u t i l i z i n g n e w e r t e c h n o l o g y

, a d i g i t a l d i s p l a y

. T h e d i g i t a l

d i s p l a y o n t h e b i l l b o a r d w a s a n i n t e r n a l l y i l l u m i n a t e d e l e c t r o n i c d e v i c e

, m u c h l i k e a

t e l e v i s i o n s c r e e n

, t h a t p e r m i t t e d m u l t i p l e s t a t i c i m a g e a d v e r t i s e m e n t s t o b e d i s p l a y e d i n t h r e e

,

s i x

, o r t e n

- s e c o n d i n t e r v a l s

. T h e n e w b i l l b o a r d w a s n o t i m m e d i a t e l y i l l u m i n a t e d

, p e n d i n g 8

C i t y i n s p e c t i o n

. F i v e d a y s l a t e r

, t h e B u i l d i n g a n d C o d e s D e p a r t m e n t s i g n i n s p e c t o r m a d e t h e

f i n a l i n s p e c t i o n a n d a p p r o v e d t h e n e w s t r u c t u r e

.

O n M a r c h 1 3

, 2 0 0 7

, L a m a r a c t i v a t e d t h e O l d F o r t P a r k w a y b i l l b o a r d w i t h t h e d i g i t a l d i s p l a y

.

T h e C i t y ’ s s i g n i n s p e c t o r i m m e d i a t e l y n o t i c e d t h e d i g i t a l d i s p l a y o n t h e b i l l b o a r d a n d

r e p o r t e d i t t o t h e B u i l d i n g a n d C o d e s D e p a r t m e n t

. D i s c u s s i o n s e n s u e d b e t w e e n t h e C i t y a n d

L a m a r

, w i t h n o r e s o l u t i o n o f t h e d i s p u t e

.

T h e C i t y t h e n r e v o k e d L a m a r ’ s t h i r d b i l l b o a r d p e r m i t p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 2 5 1⁄4

- 2 0 ( I ) o f t h e

M u r f r e e s b o r o C i t y C o d e

, a n d o n M a r c h 2 7

, 2 0 0 7

, n o t i f i e d L a m a r o f t h e s i g n p e r m i t 9

r e v o c a t i o n

. T h e n o t i c e o f r e v o c a t i o n s t a t e d t h a t t h e d i g i t a l d i s p l a y o n t h e O l d F o r t P a r k w a y

s t r u c t u r e “ v i o l a t e [ d ] t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e p e r m i t

, [ a n d w a s ] n o t i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e

s u b m i t t e d p l a n s

, ” a n d s p e c i f i e d a s w e l l t h a t t h e d i g i t a l d i s p l a y v i o l a t e d t h e p r o h i b i t i o n i n t h e

On Apr il 19, 2007 , th e Ci ty Counc il amended the or din anc e t o pr ohi bit el ect ron ic m ess age ce nte r s igns. 7

T enn ess ee’ s Bi ll boa rd Regulat ion and Cont rol Act of 1972 , ap pli cab le to out door adver ti si ng adj ace nt to 8

int er st at e a nd p ri m ar y highways, def ine s t he t er m

“di gital di spl ay” as :

“D i gi t a l dis pla y” m ean s a type of cha ngeabl e m ess age si gn tha t dis pla ys a ser ie s of

m ess ages at int er vals thr ough the el ect ron ic cod ing of li ghts or li ght emitt ing dio des or any

oth er m ean s t hat doe s no t u se or re qui re m ech ani cal ro ta ti ng pane ls

.

T .C.A. § 5 4- 21- 102( 6) (20 08)

.

Sec ti on 251⁄4

- 20( I ) provide s: “ Per mit rev oca ti on

. Per m it s iss ued unde r thi s chapt er sha ll be v al id for the 9

li fe of the si gn app roved. However, any per m it m ay be re vok ed by the Chie f Buil din g Off ic ia l upon

det er m ina ti on tha t the si gn is not in ful l complia nce wit h the pro visio ns of thi s cha pte r.” M U R F R E E S B O R O

, T E N N

., C O D E § 25 1⁄4 - 20( I ) ( 2007 ).

-5-M u r f

r e e s b o r o C i t y C o d e a g a i n s t f l a s h i n g s i g n s a n d e l e c t r o n i c m e s s a g e c e n t e r s i g n s w i t h

1 0

c o m m e r c i a l m e s s a g e s

. L a m a r t h e n a p p e a l e d t h e p e r m i t r e v o c a t i o n t o t h e

R e s p o n d e n t / A p p e l l e e M u r f r e e s b o r o B o a r d o f Z o n i n g A p p e a l s ( “ B Z A ” )

. 1 1

O n J u n e 2 7

, 2 0 0 7

, t h e B Z A c o n d u c t e d a h e a r i n g o n L a m a r ’ s a p p e a l

. T h e d o c u m e n t s

s u b m i t t e d a t t h e h e a r i n g i n c l u d e d p h o t o c o p i e s o f t h e p e r m i t s

, t h e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e b e t w e e n

L a m a r a n d t h e C i t y

, a n d p h o t o g r a p h s o f t h e b i l l b o a r d w i t h d i g i t a l d i s p l a y

. T h e B Z A t h e n

v o t e d u n a n i m o u s l y t o d i s m i s s L a m a r ’ s a p p e a l

.

O n A u g u s t 2 2

, 2 0 0 7

, L a m a r f i l e d a p e t i t i o n f

o r a w r i t o f c e r t i o r a r i i n t h e R u t h e r f o r d C o u n t y

C h a n c e r y C o u r t ( “ t r i a l c o u r t ” )

, s e e k i n g j u d i c i a l r e v i e w o f t h e b i l l b o a r d p e r m i t r e v o c a t i o n

.

T h e p e t i t i o n n a m e d t h e C i t y a n d t h e B Z A a s r e s p o n d e n t s ( c o l l e c t i v e l y

, “ R e s p o n d e n t s ” )

. I n

t h e p e t i t i o n

, L a m a r a l l e g e d t h a t t h e R e s p o n d e n t s e x c e e d e d t h e i r j u r i s d i c t i o n a n d a c t e d

a r b i t r a r i l y

, c a p r i c i o u s l y

, a n d i l l e g a l l y i n r e v o k i n g t h e p e r m i t

. 1 2

T h e w r i t w a s i s s u e d a n d t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e r e c o r d w a s f i l e d

. T h e r e a f

t e r

, t h e R e s p o n d e n t s

a n s w e r e d L a m a r ’ s p e t i t i o n a n d d e n i e d t h e a l l e g a t i o n s

. 1 3

S u b s e q u e n t l y

, t h e B Z A f i l e d a m o t i o n t o s u p p l e m e n t t h e r e c o r d t o i n c l u d e e n g i n e e r c e r t i f i e d

d r a w i n g s p u r p o r t e d l y s h o w i n g t h a t L a m a r ’ s b i l l b o a r d a s a c t u a l l y c o n s t r u c t e d v a r i e d

s i g n i f i c a n t l y f r o m t h e p l a n s s u b m i t t e d w i t h L a m a r ’ s a p p l i c a t i o n f o r t h e f i r s t p e r m i t

. T h e t r i a l

c o u r t d e n i e d t h e m o t i o n o n t h e b a s i s t h a t t h e l i m i t e d s c o p e o f r e v i e w i n w r i t o f c e r t i o r a r i

p r o c e e d i n g s p r e c l u d e d s u c h s u p p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e r e c o r d

.

A f t e r a h e a r i n g o n L a m a r ’ s p e t i t i o n

, t h e t r i a l c o u r t i s s u e d a w r i t t e n o r d e r o n J u n e 1 5

, 2 0 0 9

.

I n t h e o r d e r

, t h e t r i a l c o u r t c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e B Z A a c t e d w i t h i n i t s a u t h o r i t y i n u p h o l d i n g

T he not ic e of re vocati on ind ic at ed tha t a fl ash ing si gn was def ine d as a “si gn, the il luminat ion of whic h is 1 0

on o r o ff ... c han ges col or, or whi ch d is pla ys any m ovem ent or si m ula te s mov ement...”

On J une 5, 2007

, the Cit y sen t Lamar a sup ple m en t a l not ic e of re vocati on add ing ano the r bas is for 1 1

re voc a t i o n, the cat ch- al l pro visio n of the ord ina nce gov er nin g si gns, sec ti on 251⁄4

- 24( A)( 23)

, whic h

pro hib it ed Lamar’s bil lbo ar d bec aus e i t wa s no t o f the type exp re ssl y pe rmitt ed by t he Mu rf re esb oro Cit y

Code

.

T he cas e was or igina ll y assi gned to C han cel lor Robe rt E. Corle w, I I I

. Aft er Chan cel lor Corl ew re cus ed 1 2

himsel f, t he c ase was as si gned to J udge Royce T aylor

.

Wi th the ir ans wer

, the Resp onde nts fi le d a m oti on to dis m is s the Cit y an d T LC Pr ope rt ie s, Inc., ar guing 1 3

tha t the y wer e not pro per par ti es to the pet it ion

. T he re c o r d d o e s n ot con ta in an ord er dis pos ing of the

m oti on.

-6-t h e p e r m i t r e v o c a t i o n b e c a u s e L a m a r ’ s b i l l b o a r d p e r m i t d i d n o t c o v e r t h e d i g i t a l d i s p l a y t h a t

L a m a r i n c l u d e d o n t h e b i l l b o a r d t h a t i t b u i l t

. T h e t r i a l c o u r t s t a t e d :

T h e C i t y g r a n t e d a p e r m i t t o c o n s t r u c t a s i g n

, h o w e v e r n o w h e r e i n t h e

a p p l i c a t i o n o r e n g i n e e r i n g p l a n s w a s a n y i n d i c a t i o n t h a t t h e s i g n w o u l d c o n t a i n

a d i g i t a l s i g n f

a c e

. T h e o r i g i n a l p e r m i t w h i c h w a s r e i s s u e d h a d i n d i c a t e d t h a t

t h e s i g n f

a c e w o u l d b e e x t e r n a l l y i l l u m i n a t e d

. . . . L a m a r A d v e r t i s i n g c a n n o t

n o w c o m p l a i n t h a t t h e M u r f r e e s b o r o B o a r d o f Z o n i n g A p p e a l s h a s r e v o k e d

t h e i r p e r m i t t o b u i l d a s i g n s t r u c t u r e w h e n t h e y k n o w i n g l y f a i l e d t o s u b m i t

p l a n s t o t h e C i t y t h a t i n c l u d e d t h e d i g i t a l f a c e s p e c i f

i c a t i o n s

.

T h u s

, t h e t r i a l c o u r t d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e b i l l b o a r d p e r m i t i s s u e d t o L a m a r c o v e r e d o n l y a n

i n d i r e c t l y i l l u m i n a t e d b i l l b o a r d f a c e

, a n d L a m a r h a d k n o w i n g l y i n s t a l l e d a d i g i t a l d i s p l a y

b i l l b o a r d f

a c e i n c o n t r a v e n t i o n o f t h e p e r m i t

, w i t h o u t s u b m i t t i n g r e v i s e d p l a n s t o t h e C i t y

.

A c c o r d i n g l y

, t h e t r i a l c o u r t d i s m i s s e d L a m a r ’ s p e t i t i o n

. L a m a r n o w a p p e a l s

.

I S S U E S O N A P P E A L A N D S T A N D A R D O F R E V IE W

O n a p p e a l

, L a m a r a r g u e s t h a t t h e B Z A e r r e d i n u p h o l d i n g t h e p e r m i t r e v o c a t i o n

, a n d t h a t t h e

t r i a l c o u r t e r r e d i n u p h o l d i n g t h e B Z A r u l i n g

. L a m a r a l s o c o n t e n d s t h a t i t i s e n t i t l e d t o

p r o t e c t i o n u n d e r T e n n e s s e e C o d e A n n o t a t e d § 1 3

- 7

- 2 0 8 b e c a u s e i t s b i l l b o a r d i s a p r e e x i s t i n g

n o n c o n f o r m i n g l e g a l u s e

. P u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 1 3

- 7

- 2 0 8

, L a m a r a s s e r t s t h a t i t w a s e n t i t l e d t o

d e m o l i s h

, r e b u i l d a n d e x p a n d i t s b i l l b o a r d o p e r a t i o n o n O l d F o r t P a r k w a y r e g a r d l e s s o f a n y

p r o v i s i o n t o t h e c o n t r a r y i n t h e C i t y ’ s o r d i n a n c e s

.

T h e R e s p o n d e n t s a r g u e o n a p p e a l t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t e r r e d i n d e n y i n g t h e i r m o t i o n t o

s u p p l e m e n t t h e r e c o r d

.

I n c e r t i o r a r i p r o c e e d i n g s

, r e v i e w i n g c o u r t s a p p l y a v e r y l i m i t e d s t a n d a r d o f r e v i e w

. S t a t e e x

r e l

. M o o r e & A s s o c s

. , I

n c

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. W e s t

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, 5 7 4 ( T e n n

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. A p p

. 2 0 0 5 )

. T h e

d e c i s i o n o f t h e l o w e r t r i b u n a l w i l l b e s e t a s i d e o n l y i f t h e r e v i e w i n g c o u r t c o n c l u d e s “ t h a t

[ t h e ] d e c i s i o n m a k e r e x c e e d e d i t s j u r i s d i c t i o n

, f o l l o w e d a n u n l a w f

u l p r o c e d u r e

, a c t e d

i l l e g a l l y

, a r b i t r a r i l y

, o r f r a u d u l e n t l y

, o r a c t e d w i t h o u t m a t e r i a l e v i d e n c e t o s u p p o r t i t s

d e c i s i o n

. ” I

d

. ( c i t i n g P e t i t i o n o

f G a n t

, 9 3 7 S

. W

. 2 d 8 4 2

, 8 4 4

- 4 5 ( T e n n

. 1 9 9 6 ) )

. T h u s

, t h e

r e v i e w i n g c o u r t i s n o t p e r m i t t e d t o “ ( 1 ) i n q u i r e i n t o t h e i n t r i n s i c c o r r e c t n e s s o f t h e l o w e r

t r i b u n a l ' s d e c i s i o n

, ( 2 ) r e w e i g h t h e e v i d e n c e

, o r ( 3 ) s u b s t i t u t e [ i t s ] j u d g m e n t f o r t h a t o f t h e

l o w e r t r i b u n a l

. ” R o b i n s o n v

. C l e m e n t

, 6 5 S

. W

. 3 d 6 3 2

, 6 3 5 ( T e n n

. C t

. A p p

. 2 0 0 1 ) ( c i t a t i o n s

o m i t t e d )

. T h i s l i m i t e d s t a n d a r d o f r e v i e w a p p l i e s t o b o t h t h e t r i a l c o u r t a n d t o t h i s C o u r t

.

W r i g h t v

. T e n n

. P e a c e O

f f i c e r S t a n d a r d

s & T r a i n i n g C o m m ’ n

, 2 7 7 S

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.

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.

-7-W e r e v i e w t h e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s d e c i s i o n t o d e n y t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f n e w e v i d e n c e t o s u p p l e m e n t

t h e r e c o r d u n d e r a n a b u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n s t a n d a r d

. W e a v e r v

. K

n o x C o u n t

y B d

. o f Z o n i n g

A p p e a l s

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, 7 8 4 ( T e n n

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, 7 5 5 S

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, 7 9 7 ( T e n n

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.

A N A L Y S IS

L a m a r a r g u e s t h a t R e s p o n d e n t s e x c e e d e d t h e i r a u t h o r i t y a n d a c t e d a r b i t r a r i l y

, c a p r i c i o u s l y

,

a n d i l l e g a l l y b y r e v o k i n g L a m a r ’ s p e r m i t p u r s u a n t t o t h e C i t y ’ s o r d i n a n c e s w h e n L a m a r h a d

a n a b s o l u t e r i g h t t o d e m o l i s h a n d r e b u i l d t h e O l d F o r t P a r k w a y b i l l b o a r d u n d e r t h e T e n n e s s e e

C o d e A n n o t a t e d

. I n s u p p o r t o f i t s a r g u m e n t

, L a m a r p o i n t s o u t t h a t b i l l b o a r d s

, i n c l u d i n g

d i g i t a l b i l l b o a r d s

, w e r e n o t p r o h i b i t e d b y t h e C i t y ’ s o r d i n a n c e s a t t h e t i m e a n d p l a c e t h a t t h e

O l d F o r t P a r k w a y b i l l b o a r d w a s f i r s t e r e c t e d

. A s s u c h

, L a m a r c o n t e n d s t h a t u n d e r t h e

g r a n d f a t h e r s t a t u t e

, T e n n e s s e e C o d e A n n o t a t e d § 1 3

- 7

- 2 0 8 ( b ) ( 1 )

, L a m a r w a s e n t i t l e d t o

c o n t i n u e i t s b i l l b o a r d o p e r a t i o n s a t t h e O l d F o r t P a r k w a y l o c a t i o n

. M o r e o v e r

, L a m a r

c o n t e n d s t h a t u n d e r T e n n e s s e e C o d e A n n o t a t e d § 1 3

- 7

- 2 0 8 ( d ) L a m a r w a s e n t i t l e d t o t e a r

d o w n a n d r e b u i l d t h e b i l l b o a r d s o l o n g a s t h e u s e o f t h e l a n d d i d n o t c h a n g e

.

C i t i n g T e n n e s s e e C o d e A n n o t a t e d § 1 3

- 7

- 2 0 8 ( c )

, L a m a r m a i n t a i n s t h a t i t w a s e n t i t l e d t o

e x p a n d i t s o p e r a t i o n s a t t h e O l d F o r t P a r k w a y l o c a t i o n a n d s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e s t a t u t e i m p l i e d l y

a u t h o r i z e s a d v a n c e s i n m o d e r n t e c h n o l o g y w i t h i n t h e r u b r i c o f e x p a n s i o n

. A n a l o g i z i n g t h e

c h a n g e i n b i l l b o a r d f

a c e s t o t h e c h a n g e f

r o m w o o d e n s u p p o r t b e a m s t o s t e e l s u p p o r t b e a m s

,

L a m a r a r g u e s t h a t t h e d i g i t a l s i g n f a c e i s s i m p l y a m o d e r n i z a t i o n e x p a n s i o n o f L a m a r ’ s

b i l l b o a r d o p e r a t i o n s

. T h u s

, L a m a r c o n t e n d s t h a t i t h a d a n a b s o l u t e r i g h t u n d e r T e n n e s s e e

C o d e A n n o t a t e d § 1 3

- 7

- 2 0 8 t o d e m o l i s h

, r e b u i l d a n d i n s t a l l a d i g i t a l f a c e b i l l b o a r d a t t h e O l d

F o r t P a r k w a y l o c a t i o n

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r e v o k i n g t h e p e r m i t p u r s u a n t t o t h e C i t y ’ s o r d i n a n c e s b e c a u s e t h e C i t y ’ s o r d i n a n c e s c a n n o t

t r u m p t h e T e n n e s s e e C o d e A n n o t a t e d

.

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, t h e R e s p o n d e n t s a r g u e t h a t t h e r e v o c a t i o n o f L a m a r ’ s p e r m i t w a s l a w f u l b e c a u s e

t h e p e r m i t c o v e r e d o n l y a n i n d i r e c t l y i l l u m i n a t e d b i l l b o a r d f a c e

, a n d t h e d i g i t a l d i s p l a y

b i l l b o a r d L a m a r a c t u a l l y e r e c t e d w a s n o t w i t h i n t h e s c o p e o f t h e p e r m i t

. C o n s e q u e n t l y

, t h e

R e s p o n d e n t s a s s e r t

, r e f

e r e n c e t o T e n n e s s e e C o d e A n n o t a t e d § 1 3

- 7

- 2 0 8 i s u n n e c e s s a r y

. I n

t h e a l t e r n a t i v e

, c i t i n g s e c t i o n 1 3

- 7

- 2 0 8 ( b ) ( 2 )

, t h e R e s p o n d e n t s a r g u e t h a t t h e r e v o c a t i o n o f 1 4

T enn ess ee Code Annot at ed § 13- 7- 208( b)( 2) pro vides : 1 4

Wh en t he u se per m it te d t o co nti nue to exp and , or to be re bui lt pur sua nt to any sub sec ti on

of thi s sec ti on is an off

- pre m is es si gn, suc h use sha ll not pre cl ude any n e w o r a d d i t ion al

(c ont inu ed.. .)

-8-L a m a r ’ s p e r m i t w a s l a w f u l b e c a u s e t h e d i g i t a l d i s p l a y o n t h e b i l l b o a r d c o n s t i t u t e d a n e w

s t r u c t u r e t h a t v i o l a t e d t h e C i t y ’ s o r d i n a n c e s a t t h e t i m e t h e p e r m i t w a s g r a n t e d

.

I t i s u n d i s p u t e d o n a p p e a l t h a t

, f o r L a m a r t o d e m o l i s h a n d r e b u i l d a p r e e x i s t i n g a n d

n o n c o n f o r m i n g b i l l b o a r d p r o t e c t e d u n d e r T e n n e s s e e C o d e A n n o t a t e d § 1 3

- 7

- 2 0 8

, i t n e e d e d

t o o b t a i n a v a l i d p e r m i t f r o m t h e m u n i c i p a l i t y i n w h i c h t h e b i l l b o a r d i s l o c a t e d

, h e r e

, t h e C i t y

o f M u r f r e e s b o r o

. S e e U

n i v e r s a l O u t d o o r

, I n c

. v

. T e n n

. D e p ’ t o f T r a n s p

. , N o

. M 2 0 0 6

-

0 2 2 1 2

- C O A

- R 3

- C V

, 2 0 0 8 W L 4 3 6 7 5 5 5

, a t * 8 ( T e n n

. C t

. A p p

. S e p t

. 2 4

, 2 0 0 8 ) ( r e f e r e n c i n g

O u t d o o r W

. o f T e n n

. , I n c

. v

. J o h n s o n C i t

y

, 3 9 S

. W

. 3 d 1 3 1 ( T e n n

. C t

. A p p

. 2 0 0 0 ) ) ; s e e a l s o

T e n n

. D e p ’ t o f T r a n s p

. v

. T h o m a s

, N o

. W 2 0 0 8

- 0 0 8 5 3

- C O A

- R 3

- C V ( T e n n

. C t

. A p p

. A p r

.

2 7

, 2 0 1 0 )

. T o t h a t e n d

, L a m a r s u b m i t t e d a b i l l b o a r d a p p l i c a t i o n t o t h e C i t y

, a t t a c h i n g a n

e n g i n e e r c e r t i f

i e d p l a n f

o r a n i l l u m i n a t e d t r i v i s i o n b i l l b o a r d

. T h e p e r m i t u l t i m a t e l y g r a n t e d

b y t h e C i t y p r o v i d e d f

o r c o n s t r u c t i o n o n l y o f

a n “ I n d i r e c t I l l u m i n a t e d B i l l b o a r d

. ” I t i s a l s o

u n d i s p u t e d t h a t t h e b i l l b o a r d L a m a r c o n s t r u c t e d i n c l u d e d a d i g i t a l d i s p l a y o n o n e f a c e r a t h e r

t h a n t h e p e r m i t t e d i n d i r e c t l y i l l u m i n a t e d b i l l b o a r d f a c e

. T h u s

, t h e b i l l b o a r d c o n s t r u c t e d b y

L a m a r w a s n o t w i t h i n t h e d e s c r i p t i o n o n t h e C i t y p e r m i t i s s u e d t o L a m a r

.

L a m a r a r g u e s t h a t

, u n d e r T e n n e s s e e C o d e A n n o t a t e d § 1 3

- 7

- 2 0 8

, i t i s a l l o w e d t o t e a r d o w n

a n d r e c o n s t r u c t i t s g r a n d f a t h e r e d b i l l b o a r d

. S e e T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 1 3

- 7

- 2 0 8 ( b ) ( 1 )

, ( d )

( 2 0 0 9 S u p p

. )

. L a m a r o b t a i n e d a v a l i d C i t y p e r m i t t o t e a r d o w n a n d r e c o n s t r u c t i t s b i l l b o a r d

w h i c h c o n t a i n e d c e r t a i n c o n d i t i o n s

, i

. e

. , t h e s i g n w o u l d n o t o v e r h a n g t h e r i g h t

- o f

- w a y

, i t

w o u l d n o t i n c l u d e m o v i n g d e v i c e s

, a n d i t w o u l d n o t i n c l u d e t r i v i s i o n m o v i n g p a n e l s

. L a m a r

n o t e s t h a t t h e b i l l b o a r d t h a t w a s u l t i m a t e l y e r e c t e d d i d n o t v i o l a t e a n y o f t h e s e e x p l i c i t

c o n d i t i o n s

.

L a m a r a r g u e s t h a t t h e d i g i t a l d i s p l a y o n t h e O l d F o r t P a r k w a y b i l l b o a r d i s n o t a s i g n i f i c a n t

d e v i a t i o n f

r o m t h e p e r m i t t h a t w a s i s s u e d ; i t s i m p l y a l l o w s L a m a r t o c o n t i n u e i t s b u s i n e s s

,

a s s p e c i f i c a l l y a l l o w e d u n d e r s e c t i o n 1 3

- 7

- 2 0 8 ( c )

. L a m a r a s s e r t s t h a t “ [ t ] h e C i t y d i d n o t 1 5

(... con ti nue d) 1 4

con for m ing use or st ruc tur e on the pro per ty on whic h the si gn st ruc tur e is loc at ed or on any

adj ace nt pro per ty unde r the same owner shi p; pro vided, h owever, tha t any suc h new or

add it ion al use or st ruc tur e doe s not re sul t i n a ny viola ti ons of the app li cab le zoning

re st ri ct ion s oth er tha n tho se nonc onf ormiti es ass oci at ed wit h the o f f -pr e m is es si gn as

al lowe d un der th is sub divis ion (b )( 2).

T .C.A. § 1 3- 7- 208( b)( 2) (20 09 Su pp.)

.

Subs ect i o n (c ) st at es: “No bui ldi ng per m it or li ke per m is si on for con st ruc ti on or la nds cap ing sha ll be 1 5

den ie d to an ind ust ry or bus ine ss see king to exp and and co n t i n u e a c t i viti es con duc te d by tha t ind ust ry or

bus ine ss whic h wer e pe rmitt ed p ri or to the cha nge in zoning.” T .C.A. § 1 3- 7- 208( c) (2 009 Supp .).

-9-a s k f

o r a n y o t h e r s e t o f

p l a n s

, a n d c a n n o t n o w a r g u e t h a t t h e y d i d n o t k n o w w h a t w a s b e i n g

b u i l t

. ”

I t i s u n d i s p u t e d o n a p p e a l t h a t

, f o r L a m a r t o t e a r d o w n a n d r e c o n s t r u c t i t s n o n c o n f o r m i n g b u t

l e g a l b i l l b o a r d u n d e r s e c t i o n 1 3

- 7

- 2 0 8

, i t m u s t f i r s t o b t a i n a v a l i d p e r m i t f r o m t h e

m u n i c i p a l i t y

. L a m a r a r g u e s i n e s s e n c e t h a t i t m a y w i t h h o l d f r o m i t s C i t y p e r m i t a p p l i c a t i o n

i t s i n t e n t t o p u t a d i g i t a l d i s p l a y o n t h e n e w l y c o n s t r u c t e d b i l l b o a r d

, a n d t h e n u p o n

r e v o c a t i o n o f t h e p e r m i t f o r h a v i n g a d i g i t a l d i s p l a y

, i t s h o u l d b e a l l o w e d t o a r g u e t h a t t h e

C i t y m u s t a c c e d e t o h a v i n g a d i g i t a l d i s p l a y o n t h e n e w b i l l b o a r d

.

T h i s a r g u m e n t i s w i t h o u t m e r i t

. H a d L a m a r d i s c l o s e d t o t h e C i t y i t s i n t e n t t o p l a c e a d i g i t a l

d i s p l a y o n t h e r e c o n s t r u c t e d b i l l b o a r d

, a n d h a d t h e C i t y t h e n d e n i e d a p e r m i t o n t h a t b a s i s

,

L a m a r c o u l d a r g u e t o a r e v i e w i n g c o u r t t h a t t h e C i t y i s r e q u i r e d t o i s s u e i t a p e r m i t f o r a

b i l l b o a r d w i t h a d i g i t a l d i s p l a y

. H o w e v e r

, L a m a r c h o s e n o t t o d i s c l o s e t h i s c r u c i a l

i n f o r m a t i o n i n i t s p e r m i t a p p l i c a t i o n

. T h e C i t y w a s e n t i t l e d t o t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n i n m a k i n g i t s

d e c i s i o n o n L a m a r ’ s p e r m i t a p p l i c a t i o n

, a n d c a n v a l i d l y r e v o k e L a m a r ’ s p e r m i t o n t h e

g r o u n d s t h a t t h e b i l l b o a r d t h a t w a s c o n s t r u c t e d w a s n o t a s d e s c r i b e d i n t h e p e r m i t t h a t w a s

i s s u e d

. T h u s

, w e d o n o t r e a c h t h e i s s u e o f w h e t h e r L a m a r w o u l d h a v e b e e n e n t i t l e d u n d e r

s e c t i o n 1 3

- 7

- 2 0 8 t o a p e r m i t f o r a b i l l b o a r d w i t h a d i g i t a l d i s p l a y h a d i t d i s c l o s e d t h i s

i n f o r m a t i o n t o t h e C i t y i n i t s p e r m i t a p p l i c a t i o n

.

T h i s h o l d i n g p r e t e r m i t s a l l o t h e r i s s u e s o n a p p e a l

.

C O N C L U S IO N

T h e d e c i s i o n o f t h e t r i a l c o u r t i s a f f i r m e d

. T h e c o s t s o n a p p e a l a r e t a x e d t o t h e

R e s p o n d e n t / A p p e l l a n t s L a m a r T e n n e s s e e

, L L C a n d T L C P r o p e r t i e s

, I n c

. , a n d t h e i r s u r e t y

, f o r w h i c h e x e c u t i o n m a y i s s u e i f n e c e s s a r y

.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ H O L L Y M

. K I R B Y

, J U D G E

-10-