Opinion ID: 2123776
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: In 1972, Berry Corporation began developing a real estate subdivision known as Spring Brook Acres. Berry Corporation owned the land at the center of this dispute (hereinafter Tract B). Although, Berry Corporation developed covenants and restrictions for Spring Brook Acres, it did not impose any on Tract B (except to limit further subdivision to no more than seven sites). On November 30, 1973, Dawn Mazzio and George purchased Tract B from Berry Corporation. On the same day, Berry Corporation, Mazzio, George, and the Spring Brook Acres Water Users Association executed an Easement and Right of Way Agreement (hereinafter Easement). The Easement contained a clause which states: No commercial business and/or business offices or businesses of any kind shall be operated or maintained upon Tract B, or any subdivision thereof. Mazzio and George subsequently divided Tract B between themselves. George built a house on his portion of Tract B. Mazzio has not developed her property. In 1985, George gave Tom-Tom Communications a reasonable assurance that it could build an FM radio communications tower (hereinafter FM tower) and a small accessory building on his property in Tract B. Tom-Tom Communications pursued the appropriate federal approval and gave public notice of its intent to build a 500-foot tower on Tract B. Tom-Tom Communications eventually received approval from the Federal Communications Commission to proceed with its plans to build the FM tower. In 1988, Tom-Tom Communications signed an agreement with George to purchase a portion of Tract B as a site for their FM tower. Tract B is zoned as a Suburban Residential District which permits utility substations and communications towers under conditional use permits. After litigation, Tom-Tom Communications obtained a conditional use permit for its FM tower. Just before erection of the FM tower was started, Mazzio and Spring Brook Acres Water Users Association filed suit alleging violation of the covenant in the 1973 Easement. Tom-Tom Communications continued construction of the FM tower and the associated FM radio station went on the air in January, 1992. Tom-Tom Communications and George answered the complaint and denied the FM tower was in violation of the covenant in the 1973 Easement. After a trial, Circuit Judge James Anderson entered findings of fact and conclusions of law in which he concluded the covenant in the Easement was ambiguous. After considering extrinsic evidence of the parties' intent, Judge Anderson concluded the covenants and agreements of the parties clearly limited Tract B and Spring Brook Acres' properties to residential use. Judge Anderson issued a permanent injunction requiring Tom-Tom Communications to cease using George's property as a radio transmission tower site and requiring them to remove the FM tower. Judge Anderson also stayed that order pending appeal. George and Tom-Tom Communications appeal.