Opinion ID: 200116
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Results

Text: 38 After reviewing the record, we find that the plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate that the Board's selection was not supported by substantial evidence. The Planning Board was presented with two proposed towers that were virtually identical: the towers were of the same height; covered the same area; accommodated almost the same number of wireless providers; could be seen, in comparable fashion, from Route 125; had residential abutters; and were roughly equidistant from commercial zones. There is only one substantive difference between the proposed towers: unlike American Tower's application, plaintiffs' proposal engendered much opposition due to its adverse impact on the surrounding neighborhood aesthetic. 39 We must reiterate that our review is not focused on whether the Planning Board made the best or the correct decision. See AT & T Wireless PCS, Inc. v. Winston-Salem Zoning Bd. of Adjustment, 172 F.3d 307, 314 (4th Cir.1999) (The reviewing court cannot replace the agency's judgment, even if the court could have reached a justifiably different conclusion between two conflicting views had it reviewed the matter de novo. ). Rather, we must simply determine whether the plaintiffs have demonstrated that the Board's decision to choose American Tower's application over their application is supported by substantial evidence. Given the extreme similarity between the two proposals, and the Board's justifiable reliance on abutter comments to distinguish between them, we find that more than a scintilla of evidence exists to support the Board's decision and direct the district court to enter summary judgment in favor of the Town.