Court Opinion

ID: 4269392
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-04-24 00:51:24.570223+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:31:29.878871
License: Public Domain

STATE OF VERMONT
 SUPERIOR COURT                                                                   ENVIRONMENTAL DIVISION
                                                                                   Docket No. 169-12-16 Vtec

                                Diverging Diamond Interchange A250

                                     ENTRY REGARDING MOTION

Title:              Motion to Dismiss Timberlake's Request for Party Status (Motion 6)
Filer:              Vermont Agency of Transportation
Attorney:           Justin E. Kolber
Filed Date:         January 19, 2017

       Timberlake Associates, LLP (Timberlake) filed a notice of cross appeal and entry of
appearance in this matter on December 28, 2016. Timberlake seeks to appeal an Act 250 permit
granted to the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) to construct a Diverging Diamond
Interchange and related improvements (the DDI project) at I-89 Exit 16 in Colchester. VTrans
responded to Timberlake’s notice of cross appeal with this motion to dismiss on January 19, 2017.
Timberlake filed a response on February 2, 2017, VTrans filed a reply on February 10, 2017, and
Timberlake filed a surrebuttal reply on February 21, 2017.1
       In its notice of appeal Timberlake claims party status as a landowner and as an aggrieved
person whose interests may be adversely affected by the proposed project. VTrans, in its motion
to dismiss, argues that Timberlake does not qualify for party status as a landowner or an
aggrieved person, and further contends that Timberlake should be dismissed for failing to
affirmatively move for party status.
       Timberlake is represented by David L. Grayck, Esq., and VTrans is represented by Justin E.
Kolber, Esq. and John K. Dunleavy, Esq.
    I.          Governing Law
        Because a party must have standing to bring an appeal for us to have subject matter
jurisdiction over a matter, we review a motion to dismiss for lack of standing under V.R.C.P.
12(b)(1).2 In re Killington Village Master Plan Act 250 Application Appeal, No. 147-10-13, slip op.
at 7–8 (Vt. Super. Ct. Envtl. Div. Aug. 6, 2014) (Durkin, J.). Under Rule 12(b)(1) we accept as true

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             Other parties to this matter have not weighed in on Timberlake’s status or standing.
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           Although styled as a motion to dismiss Timberlake’s request for party status, VTrans’ motion more
accurately challenges Timberlake’s standing to appeal. As we explained in Verizon Wireless Barton Act 250 Permit
Telecommunications Facility, No. 6-1-09 Vtec, slip op. at 1 n.1 (Vt. Envtl. Ct. Feb. 2, 2010) (Durkin, J.), “‘party status’
is a designation used when new parties seek to join an action initiated by another, but ‘standing’ is the proper
analysis when parties wish to appeal, or their right to do so is being challenged.” Id. (citations omitted). Here,
Timberlake has filed a notice of appeal, and VTrans’ challenge goes to Timberlake’s right to appeal. While party
status and standing are technically different, the analysis of whether a party has party status in Act 250 permit
proceedings and whether that party has standing to appeal the Act 250 permit decision is similar, if not identical. In
re JLD Properties of St. Albans, LLC, Nos. 129-5-06 Vtec, 242-10-06 Vtec, 92-5-07 Vtec, 221-10-07 Vtec, 80-4-08 Vtec,
116-6-08 Vtec slip op. at 29 (Vt. Envtl. Ct. Jan. 20, 2016) (Durkin, J.).
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all uncontroverted factual allegations and construe them in the light most favorable to the
nonmoving party (here, Timberlake). In re Goddard Coll. Conditional Use, No. 175-12-11 Vtec,
slip op. at 1 (Vt. Super. Ct. Envtl. Div. July 5, 2012) (Walsh, J.).
        Timberlake argues that it has standing to appeal both as a landowner, and as a person
whose particularized interest may be affected by the DDI project. We base our decision here on
Timberlake’s landowner status, and therefore do not reach Timberlake’s argument that it also
qualifies as a person whose particularized interest may be affected by the DDI project.
   II.      Whether Timberlake Has Standing as a Landowner
        Timberlake asserts standing as a landowner and therefore a party by right. 10 V.S.A.
§ 8502(5)(B) (defining “the landowner, if the applicant is not the landowner” as a party by right).
Timberlake claims party status as a landowner through the mechanism set out in 10 V.S.A. §
8504(a), which allows “any party by right” to appeal an act or decision of a District Commission
to the Environmental Division.
       VTrans contends that Timberlake should be dismissed for failing to affirmatively move for
party status, and because Timberlake is not a “landowner” for the purposes of the relevant
statutes.
            a. Whether Timberlake Should Have Moved for Status as a Landowner
       VTrans argues that Timberlake’s appeal should be dismissed for failure to affirmatively
move for party status. To support this argument VTrans points to 10 V.S.A. § 8504(d)(1), which
reads:
         No aggrieved person may appeal an act or decision that was made by a District
         Commission unless the person was granted party status by the District
         Commission pursuant to subdivision 6085(c)(1)(E) of this title, participated in the
         proceedings before the District Commission, and retained party status at the end
         of the District Commission proceedings. In addition, the person may only appeal
         those issues under the criteria with respect to which the person was granted party
         status.
If a person wishes to appeal the District Commission decision on grounds for which he was not
granted party status, an appeal to that party status denial can be brought to the Environmental
Division. 10 V.S.A. § 8504(d)(2)(B). This appeal must be made in the form of a “motion filed not
later than the deadline for filing a statement of questions on appeal.” V.R.E.C.P. 5(d)(2).
       The requirements of § 8504(d) and V.R.E.C.P. 5(d)(2), including the provision that the
party must file a motion to appeal the denial of party status, do not apply to a party claiming
standing as a landowner.
        Section 8504(d)(1) refers specifically to an “aggrieved person,” and to party status under
§ 6085(c)(1)(E). Section 6085(c)(1)(E) gives status in a District Commission proceeding to “any
adjoining property owner or other person who has a particularized interest protected by [Act
250] that may be affected by an act or decision by a District Commission.” This mirrors the
definition of an “aggrieved person,” who is a person “who alleges an injury to a particularized
interest” caused by the District Commission Act 250 permit decision. 10 V.S.A. § 8502(7).
       Landowners are different. In a District Commission proceeding, a “landowner, if the
applicant is not the landowner,” is given party status under 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1)(B), not
§ 6085(c)(1)(E). Under 10 V.S.A. § 8504(a), a District Commission decision on an Act 250 permit
can be appealed by “a[] person aggrieved by an act or decision of . . . a District Commission . . .
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or any party by right.” The term “party by right” is separate and distinct from an “aggrieved
person” in this section. Elsewhere, the definition for “party by right” includes, among others,
“the landowner, if the applicant is not the landowner.” 10 V.S.A. § 8502(5)(B).
       Because an aggrieved person is different from a landowner, and the requirements
regarding party status before the District Commission in § 8504(d) refer specifically to aggrieved
persons, we conclude that these requirements do not apply to landowners. Even if Timberlake
did not participate below or failed to retain status as a landowner at the end of the District
Commission hearing, Timberlake would not have to move for party status as a landowner in the
proceeding before us.
      Because Timberlake was not required to file a motion requesting party status, VTrans’
motion to dismiss Timberlake as a landowner for failing to file a motion requesting that status is
DENIED.
               b. Whether Timberlake Has Standing as a Landowner
        VTrans next contends that Timberlake should not be given landowner status because the
land in question is to be condemned by the state before construction, and Timberlake will no
longer be a landowner once condemnation takes place.
       To support its argument, VTrans cites a portion of an Act 250 rule and identical statute
which state that when the party filing an application is a state agency “empowered to condemn
the involved land or an interest in it, the application need only be signed by that party.” Act 250
Rule 10(A); 10 V.S.A. § 6083(f). While this provision makes clear that the owner of land to be
condemned need not sign an Act 250 application, it does not appear to have any bearing on
whether that landowner can obtain party status as a landowner under 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1)(B).
        The parties agree that Timberlake currently owns a part of the land on which the project
will be built. While VTrans argues that it is only a small piece, it cites to no legal authority
supporting the idea that landowners who own only a small piece of land on which a project will
be built do not qualify for status under § 6085(c)(1)(B). Nor has VTrans offered the Court any
authority supporting the proposition that the owner of land that is to be condemned in the
future, but has not yet been condemned, does not qualify as a landowner.3
           VTrans’ motion to dismiss Timberlake as a landowner is therefore DENIED.
    III.       Whether Timberlake Has Standing as an Aggrieved Person Whose Interests May Be
               Adversely Affected by the Proposed Project
        In addition to claiming standing as a landowner, Timberlake claims standing to appeal as
an aggrieved person whose particularized interest may be adversely affected by the DDI project.
10 V.S.A. § 8504(a) (“a[] person aggrieved by an act or decision of . . . a District Commission . . .
may appeal to the Environmental Division”); 10 V.S.A. § 8502(7) (defining an “aggrieved person”
as “an[] adjoining property owner or other person who has a particularized interest protected by
[Act 250] that may be affected by an act or decision by a District Commission”).

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           Timberlake points out in its surrebuttal that there is currently no condemnation action against its land.
We note only that there is nothing on the record now before us indicating that a condemnation proceeding has been
initiated against Timberlake.
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        Because we conclude that Timberlake has standing as a landowner, we need not reach
the question of whether Timberlake would also have standing as a person whose particularized
interest may be impacted by the DDI project.
         In reaching this conclusion, we note that Timberlake’s status as a landowner will likely no
longer exist if Timberlake ceases to be a landowner during the course of this appeal. See In re
Estate of Swinington, 169 Vt. 583, 585 (1999) (holding that a party’s “interest in [an Act 250]
permit was at all times contingent upon its rights in the land subject to the permit, and that
interest was defeasible upon loss of those rights”); In re Killington Village Master Plan Act 250
Application Appeal, No. 147-10-13, slip op. at 7–8 (Vt. Super. Ct. Envtl. Div. Aug. 6, 2014) (Durkin,
J.) (party status may be challenged at any time pursuant to V.R.C.P. 12(b)(1)). If Timberlake loses
its status as a landowner at some point during this litigation, we may at that time consider
whether Timberlake should maintain status under certain criteria as a person whose
particularized interests may be impacted by the DDI project.
       IV.      Conclusion
             For the reasons set out above, VTrans’ motion to dismiss Timberlake is DENIED.

             Electronically signed on March 17, 2017 at 02:20 PM pursuant to V.R.E.F. 7(d).

_________________________________________
Thomas G. Walsh, Judge
Superior Court, Environmental Division

Notifications:
Jon T. Anderson (ERN 1856) and Alexander J. LaRosa (ERN 5814), Attorneys for Appellant R.L.
Vallee, Inc.
Peter J. Gill (ERN 4158), Attorney for Interested Person Natural Resources Board
David L. Grayck (ERN 4510), Attorney for Additional Appellant Timberlake Associates, LLP
Justin E. Kolber (ERN 4303) and John K. Dunleavy (ERN 1949), Attorneys for Interested Person
SOV AOT
Leslie A. Welts (ERN N/A) and Hannah W. Smith (ERN 6759), Attorneys for Interested Person
Agency of Natural Resources
Elena M. Mihaly (ERN 8101), Attorney for Conservation Law Foundation

nlow

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