Court Opinion

ID: 4162665
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-04-24 17:17:33.732393+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:37:51.995829
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Osborne v. Leroy Twp., 2017-Ohio-1506.]

                                  IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                               ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                       LAKE COUNTY, OHIO

RICHARD M. OSBORNE,                                :   OPINION
TRUSTEE, et al.,
                                                   :
                 Plaintiffs-Appellants,
                                                   :   CASE NO. 2015-L-118
        - vs -
                                                   :
LEROY TOWNSHIP,
                                                   :
                 Defendant-Appellee.

Criminal Appeal from the Lake County Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 12 CV
002089.

Judgment: Affirmed.

William T. Wuliger, and Amy A. Wuliger, Wuliger, Fadel & Beyer, LLC, The Brownell
Building, 1340 Sumner Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115 (For Plaintiff-Appellants).

Abraham Cantor, Johnnycake Commons, 9930 Johnnycake Ridge Road, #4-F,
Concord, OH 44060 (For Defendant-Appellee).

THOMAS R. WRIGHT, J.

        {¶1}     Appellants, Richard M. Osborne, Trustee, and Great Plains Exploration,

L.L.C., appeal the trial court’s summary judgment ruling against them. They contend

that the trial court misinterpreted the Leroy Township zoning resolution preventing them

from maintaining an outdoor sign. For the following reasons, we affirm.

        {¶2}     This appeal is the second time appellants have sought review of a
summary judgment ruling. In Osborne v. Leroy Twp., 11th Dist. Lake No. 2014-L-008,

2014-Ohio-5774, our opinion states the essential facts:

       {¶3}   “Osborne owns land located at the interchange of Interstate 90 and

Vrooman Road in Leroy Township, Lake County, Ohio. The parcel is vacant except for

an oil and gas well that is owned by Great Plains Exploration. As the operator of the

well, Great Plains Exploration is the holder of all necessary state permits governing the

production of the oil and gas.

       {¶4}   “In addition to the well, the parcel has a roadway running from the site of

the well to Vrooman Road. Due to the nature of the vehicles using the roadway, it

needs to be constantly repaired. To facilitate these repairs, Osborne and Great Plains

Exploration, appellants, maintain piles of concrete and asphalt debris on the property.

Moreover, to facilitate their accumulation of the debris, they erected a sign at the front of

the parcel that reads: WE TAKE CONCCRETE & ASPHALT.

       {¶5}   “In March 2010, appellants filed an application for a permit to have the

sign. As part of the application, they explained that the concrete and asphalt debris

would be ‘stored’ in piles on the property, and that the debris would be used to repair

the existing roadway.     Approximately one month later, [Leroy Township’s] zoning

inspector sent appellants a letter stating that neither the sign nor the storage of the

debris on site are permissible under the township zoning resolution. In relation to the

storage or accumulation of the debris, the inspector cited two different sections of the

zoning resolution supporting his determination. However, the letter also stated that the

zoning resolution does not forbid appellants from bringing the debris upon the parcel

and immediately applying it to the roadway.

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       {¶6}   “In addition, the zoning inspector’s letter stated that appellants could apply

for a conditional use permit regarding the storage of the concrete and asphalt debris,

and a variance for the proposed sign. Instead of attempting to obtain the permit or

variance, appellants erected the sign and began to accumulate the debris.                This

ultimately led to a criminal action against Osborne in a local municipal court. Before

that case proceeded to trial, the parties negotiated a settlement under which appellants

agreed to remove the sign in exchange for dismissal.” Id. at ¶2-5.

       {¶7}   Prior to settlement, appellants filed the underlying case for declaratory

judgment and injunctive relief. Essentially, they alleged that Leroy Township, appellee,

does not have the authority to control the accumulation of the debris or the erection of

the sign because the regulation of oil and gas wells is pre-empted by state law.

       {¶8}   After the case was pending for approximately one year, appellee moved

the trial court for summary judgment on appellants’ entire complaint. Four months later,

in January 2014, the trial court rendered its first final order, granting appellee’s motion

and entering final judgment in its favor. As to the storage of concrete and asphalt debris

on the property, the court concluded that appellee has the authority to ban storage

because the state statutory scheme governing oil and gas wells, R.C. Chapter 1509,

does not contain any conflicting provisions. Regarding the sign, the trial court again

held that appellee has the authority to regulate outdoor signs, and that the zoning

inspector correctly concluded that appellants’ sign is unpermissible under section 22.11

of the township zoning resolution.

       {¶9}   On appeal from the first final order, this court upheld the trial court’s ruling

on the storage of concrete and asphalt debris. As to the sign, though, we reversed the

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trial court’s determination that section 22.11 governs. Osborne, 2014-Ohio-5774, at

¶54. Our opinion noted that section 23 of the zoning resolution governs the placement

and maintenance of outdoor signs throughout the township, not section 22.11. Id. at

¶55. We further noted that, due to the lack of evidence, the record would not allow the

resolution of the issue concerning whether appellants’ sign was permissible under

section 23. Id. at ¶56. Thus, we remanded, permitting the parties to raise argument

and submit evidence required. Id.

       {¶10} On remand, appellee again moved the trial court for summary judgment

on the sign dispute. Appellee argued that section 23.05 precludes outdoor signs on the

subject property unless it relates to a business activity taking place on the land.

Appellee further contended that, since appellants were not engaged in any business

activity permitted in a “special interchange” district, they needed a variance.

       {¶11} In response, appellants maintained that the at issue property contains a

building from which Osborne conducts business associated with the oil and gas well.

Based upon this, they argued that business activity was occurring on the property, and

that their “concrete and asphalt” sign was related to that activity. In support, appellants

attached to their response Osborne’s affidavit regarding his actions on the property.

       {¶12} In September 2015, the trial court granted summary judgment in favor of

appellee on the remainder of appellants’ complaint. In interpreting section 23.05, the

trial court concluded that, to be permissible, the outdoor sign must advertise the

business located on the property. In light of this, the court held that appellants’ sign was

not permissible because the sign’s reference to the acceptance of concrete and asphalt

for the roadway did not “advertise the oil and gas business.”

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        {¶13} In pursuing this second appeal, appellants assign the following as error:

        {¶14} “[1.] The trial court erred in granting summary judgment to Leroy Township

by interpreting Section 23.05 of Leroy Township’s zoning regulations in a manner that

violates well-established rules of statutory construction.

        {¶15} “[2.] Section 23.05 of Leroy Township’s zoning regulations as interpreted

by the trial court violates the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and

Article I, Section 11 of the Ohio Constitution.”

        {¶16} Under the first assignment, appellants contest the trial court’s conclusion

as to the correct interpretation of section 23.05. They maintain that the trial court’s

narrow interpretation is improper because it has the effect of adding words to the

provision that are not present. Specifically, appellants state that, by holing that the

acceptance of concrete and asphalt debris is not a “service rendered” to the public by

his business, the court incorrectly construed section 23.05 as requiring a direct

relationship between the service and the primary purpose of the business. As to this

point, they contend that their acceptance of the debris is a benefit their oil and gas

business provides to the public.

        {¶17} As noted above, the at issue property is located near the intersection of a

local road and a four-lane highway. Thus, the land is zoned as a “special interchange”

district.   That type of district/zone is governed by the provisions of the resolution’s

section 29. In relation to signs, section 29.03 requires signs to comply with section 23.

        {¶18} Section 23 governs all outdoor signs in all districts within the township. In

reviewing the general provisions of this section, the trial court provided this summary in

its analysis:

                                              5
      {¶19} “Section 23.03 permits certain types of signs in all districts. Specifically, it

permits construction signs, entrance and exit signs for parking lots, civic organization

temporary signs, and signs relating to wind farms, none of which appear applicable to

the sign at issue in this case. Section 23.05 regulates signs in non-residential districts.

It permits all signs permitted in residential districts. Section 23.04 regulates signs in

residential districts. It only permits identification signs, subdivision signs, directional

signs and temporary signs, such as political signs and ‘for sale’ signs, none of which

appear applicable in this case.”

      {¶20} In addition to allowing any sign that is permissible in a residential district,

section 23.05 has two provisions governing “Off Premises Signs” and “On Premises

Signs.” As to the first type of sign, the provision indicates that such signs are known as

billboards and are not allowed anywhere in Leroy Township. In relation to the second

type, section 23.05 states:

      {¶21} “On Premises Signs shall be permanent signs, which may be illuminated,

shall be limited to advertising the proprietor or company, or the brand name and the

goods sold or services rendered * * *.”

      {¶22} In construing this provision, the trial court held that it only allows signs that

“advertise the business” located on the underlying property. As noted above, the sign in

this case only stated: “WE TAKE CONCRETE & ASPHALT.” Applying the provision to

this language, the court concluded that the sign is not permissible because it does not

advertise any “goods sold or services rendered” by appellants’ business.

      {¶23} “Zoning ordinances are in derogation of the common law and tend to

deprive the land owner of lawful use of the land. Saunders v. Clark Cty. Zoning Dept.

                                             6
(1981), 66 Ohio St. 2d 259, 261, 421 N.E.2d 152. Consequently, ordinances which

restrict the use of private property are strictly construed in favor of the land owner and

their scope cannot be extended to include limitations not clearly prescribed. Id. Since

zoning ordinances ‘deprive property owners of certain uses of their property, they will

not be extended to include limitations by implication.’ Henley v. Youngstown Bd. of

Zoning Appeals (2000), 90 Ohio St. 3d 142, 152, 2000-Ohio-493, 735 N.E.2d 433.

       {¶24} “If the ordinance language is unambiguous, courts apply the plain and

ordinary meaning of the words. Roxane Laboratories, Inc. v. Tracy (1996), 75 Ohio

St.3d 125, 127, 1996-Ohio-257, 661 N.E.2d 1011. Unambiguous language does not

require court interpretation or application of the rules of statutory construction. 4522

Kenny Rd., L.L.C. v. Columbus Bd. of Zoning Adjustment, 152 Ohio App. 3d 526, 2003-

Ohio-1891, ¶13, 789 N.E.2d 246. Rather, the ‘court must only read and follow the

words of the ordinance.’ Id.” Bd. of Trustees of Springfield Twp. v. Anderson, 6th Dist.

Lucas No. L-06-1014, 2007-Ohio-1530, ¶10-11.

       {¶25} Similarly, as a general rule of statutory construction, a “‘statute should be

given that construction, unless such is prohibited by the letter of the statute, which will

accord with common sense and reason and not result in absurdity or great

inconvenience.’” Paulus v. Paulus, 95 Ohio App. 3d 612, 614, 643 N.E.2d 165 (1994),

quoting Kundrat v. Kundrat, 11th Dist. Lake No. 92-L-097, 1993 Ohio App. LEXIS 1218

(Feb. 26, 1993).

       {¶26} The applicable language of Section 23.05 is unambiguous; accordingly,

there is no need for the trial court to apply rules of construction. The provision plainly

states that on-premises signs can advertise the “company, or the brand name and the

                                            7
goods sold or services rendered.” As the sign does not advertise the company, brand

name, goods sold, or services rendered, it is noncompliant.

       {¶27} Appellants’ first assignment lacks merit.

       {¶28} Under their second assignment, appellants assert that section 23.05 is

unconstitutional because it violates their right to free speech under the First

Amendment. They failed, however, to raise this in the trial court.

       {¶29} When a party fails to assert a constitutional issue to the trial court, we

review for plain error. In re: J.F., 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2011-T-0078, 2011-Ohio-

6695, ¶34. Section 23.05 of the resolution limits permanent signs to stating the name of

the business located on the property or the goods sold. In light of the clarity of the

provision, appellants were placed on notice that the trial court would be obligated to

interpret and apply the provision in determining whether their sign was barred under the

section. Accordingly, their First Amendment argument should have been presented to

the trial court.

       {¶30} This court rejects appellants’ contention that the alleged First Amendment

violation rises to the level of a plain error. In the context of civil appeals, the plain error

doctrine is not favored and, thus, can only be invoked under exceptional circumstances.

Goldfuss v. Davidson, 79 Ohio St. 3d 116, 679 N.E.2d 1099 (1997), syllabus. That is, a

plain error is one that “seriously affects the basic fairness, integrity, or public reputation

of the judicial process, thereby challenging the legitimacy of the judicial process itself.”

Id. Appellants have not established that a manifest miscarriage of justice will occur if

we do not address their First Amendment argument.

       {¶31} Appellants’ second assignment is also without merit.

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     {¶32} The judgment of the Lake County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.

TIMOTHY P. CANNON, J., concurs,

COLLEEN MARY O’TOOLE, concurs in judgment only.

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