Opinion ID: 72625
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Plaintiff's Second Application

Text: 15. On May 7, 1993, Plaintiff submitted its second application for development of the Property to the Escambia County Department of Growth Management Services. Staff, under the direction and control of Defendant Page, caused Plaintiff to submit its second development application for the Property. Its second application requested two special exceptions: (1) one for an amusement/recreational facility; and (2) another for a PUD. 16. On May 26, 1993, the Staff held a pre-development meeting to discuss Plaintiff's second development application. Defendant Kenney, an Escambia County employee for nineteen years, attended the May 26, 1993, pre-development meeting at the express invitation of Defendant Page. Defendant Kenney worked as an assistant to Defendant Lee who was an Escambia County Commissioner at all relevant times hereto. Defendant Kenney resided at Perdido Key. Defendant Kenney had not attended a pre-development meeting during the nineteen years she worked for Defendant Escambia, and she had never been personally notified or invited to do so until such meeting. Defendant Page arranged for Defendant Kenney to attend the meeting knowing that (a) she was an employee of Escambia County and worked for Defendant Lee, (b) she had no responsibility, authority or duty in her job capacity with Escambia County which entitled her to attend such meeting, (c) she openly opposed Plaintiff's development, (d) she lived on Perdido Key, and (e) she was acting in concert with other property owners on Perdido Key to oppose Plaintiff's development. 17. During the meeting, Staff disclosed its intent to recommend approval of Plaintiff's second application but Defendant Page told Plaintiff that he recommended denial of Plaintiff's second development application despite the fact that his own staff recommended its approval. In order to obtain a development permit, Defendant Page told Plaintiff that Plaintiff would be required to present its application itself to the Escambia County Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) and convince the ZBA that Plaintiff met the criteria. No previous applicant had ever been required to make such a presentation to the ZBA. 18. During the May 26, 1993, pre-development meeting, Defendant Minshew, an attorney employed by Defendant Escambia County, advised the Staff to reject Plaintiff's second application. Defendant Minshew stated that Plaintiff is an out-of-state developer and that the residents of Escambia County opposed a Campground on Perdido Key. Defendant Minshew offered that Plaintiff's development was a political issue and that Staff should protect the citizens of Perdido Key, Florida, by denying Plaintiff's application. 19. On June 8, 1993, Defendant Minshew instructed Staff, which had previously approved Plaintiff's second development application, to continue its review of compatibility guidelines and support for a PUD requirement in a Coastal High Hazard Area. Defendant Minshew informed the Staff that its involvement at the June 9, 1993, Escambia County Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) meeting would be limited and that Plaintiff had the burden to prove to the ZBA that its project met the required criteria. Defendant Minshew additionally advised that Plaintiff's second development application should not be presented to the ZBA because it was not complete even though it was standard procedure for Staff to submit similarly situated applications to the ZBA for approval.