Court Opinion

ID: 7275387
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-25 14:06:28.502171+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:18:49.113713
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
                               APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
        This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ." Although it is posted on the
     internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.

                                                        SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                                        APPELLATE DIVISION
                                                        DOCKET NO. A-1376-20

STATE OF NEW JERSEY,

          Plaintiff-Respondent,

v.

WHEN PIGS FLY, LLC,

     Defendant-Appellant.
_______________________

                   Argued June 9, 2022 – Decided July 25, 2022

                   Before Judges Hoffman, Geiger and Susswein.

                   On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
                   Division, Sussex County, Municipal Appeal No. 15-11-
                   19.

                   George T. Daggett argued the cause for appellant.

                   Jonathan E. McMeen argued the cause for respondent
                   (Laddey, Clark & Ryan, LLP, attorneys; Jonathan E.
                   McMeen, on the brief).

PER CURIAM
      Defendant, When Pigs Fly, LLC, (WPF or defendant) appeals from a

January 11, 2021 Law Division order denying its motion for reconsideration of

trial de novo convictions for municipal ordinance violations followin g a trial in

municipal court. The ordinance violations pertain to limitations imposed on the

storage of items in airplane hangars adjacent to Sussex Airport in Wantage

Township. After carefully reviewing the record in light of the arguments of the

parties and the applicable legal principles, we affirm the convictions and

sentence substantially for the reasons set forth in the Law Division judge's

thorough August 31, 2020 written opinion rendering de novo guilty verdicts, and

the ensuing January 11, 2021 written opinion denying defendant's motion for

reconsideration.

                                        I.

      The circumstances giving rise to this prosecution developed over the

course of many years. To provide context, we briefly summarize the pertinent

facts and procedural history, which we discern from the record.         In 1997,

William Gennaro, the owner of WPF, applied to the Wantage Township

Planning Board (Planning Board) "for preliminary site approval so as to permit

the . . . construct[ion] of airplane hangars." The Planning Board concluded that

WPF satisfied the requirements of the Municipal Land Use Law and proposed a

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                                        2
use that was consistent with Wantage Township's Zone Plan and Master Plan.

On September 16, 1997, the Planning Board issued a Resolution concerning the

use of the property. That Resolution reflected an intention to store aircrafts.

      In 2006, WPF applied to the Wantage Land Use Board (Board) for an

amended preliminary site plan and final site plan, seeking relief from certain

prior conditions of approval. WPF sought to store vehicles, other than airplanes,

in the hangars, including collectible cars, recreational vehicles, snowmobiles,

boats, tractors, and other related vehicles "as permitted customary and accessary

use in Industrial and Airport Hazard Zones." The Board denied the request,

determining that "the storage of a multitude of types of vehicles . . . was [not]

intended as a permitted customary and accessory use in applicable Zones" for

the property at issue. The Board concluded that the only vehicles permitted to

be stored in the hangars are those "use[d] to arrive at and depart from the Subject

Property."

      In 2009, WPF applied to the Board for an amended preliminary and final

site plan with "C" variance 1 relief "so as to permit the storage of additional

1
   Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70(c), a "C" variance "is available from any
regulation, other than restrictions on use, enacted pursuant to the zoning power,
including, for example, requirements as to lot size, setbacks, land coverage,
height, and parking." Com. Realty and Res. Corp. v. First Atl. Props. Co., 235

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materials in airplane hangars . . . ." The Board granted the requested relief,

determining that various items "be they tractors, cars, snowmobiles, boats,

trailers, ATVs, motorcycles, bicycles, canoes and campers [are] clearly

accessory to the principal use of an airplane storage hangar." We refer to this

as the 2009 Resolution.     The Board determined that the use proposed by

defendant would be "incidental to the principal use as is envisioned under

N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70(c) and case law." The Board added:

            Having reached this determination, the Board
            specifically notes the hangars in order to accommodate
            this additional activity must continue to function as an
            airplane hangar, and therefore the Board shall require
            the Applicant to specifically delineate in each of the
            hangars with precision the areas where the airplane is
            to be kept along with the other storage materials. It is
            not the Board's intent to allow these hangars to become
            depositories for all kinds of bric-a-brac and other
            collectibles[,] but rather as equipment that one would
            commonly associate with an airplane and its users.

      The relief afforded under the 2009 Resolution was set to expire on

February 17, 2011. As we explain, on several occasions, WPF sought and

received an extension of the relief afforded by the 2009 Resolution. We refer to

the resolutions extending the relief granted under the 2009 Resolution as

N.J. Super. 577, 587 (App. Div. 1989) (quoting Davis Enters. v. Karpf, 105 N.J.
476 (1987)).
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extension resolutions.    In 2011, the Board granted WPF's request for an

extension resolution until February 17, 2013. In 2012, WPF again requested an

extension resolution, which was granted through February 17, 2014. WPF then

filed a third extension request, which was granted by an extension resolution

effective through June 30, 2015. The last extension resolution sought by WPF

was requested in 2015. The Board granted that extension resolution through

June 30, 2018.

      In 2017, WPF pursued a different approach. It applied to the Board to

expand the permitted uses of its airport hangars. While WPF was at that time

permitted to use the hangars for certain storage purposes pursuant to the 2009

Resolution and subsequent extension resolutions, WPF's 2017 application

sought to "expand the definition of 'storage' to include items 'not accompanied

by airplanes and the like.'" In support of its application, WPF relied in part on

a 2016 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) policy.2 The Board considered

2
  The FAA policy "applies to all aircraft storage areas or facilities on a federally
obligated airport . . . ." Policy on Non-Aeronautical Use of Airport Hangars, 81
Fed. Reg. 38,906 (June 15, 2016). We believe the FAA policy does not apply
in this case. Even assuming for argument's sake that the FAA policy applies, it
"neither creates nor constitutes a right to store non-aeronautical items in
hangars" and requires written approval from the FAA. Id. at 38, 910–911.
Nothing in the record suggests that WPF obtained written approval from the
FAA.

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                                         5
the application at a hearing on September 26, 2017. On October 24, 2017, the

Board denied WPF's application to expand the use of hangars "to allow general

storage without restriction."

      On December 13, 2017, WPF filed a civil action in lieu of prerogative

writs challenging the Board's denial of WPF's expansion application pursuant to

N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70(c). WPF contended in its two-count complaint that the

Board's decision was arbitrary and capricious, and that it did not comport with

the FAA policy regarding storage of items in airplane hangars.

      On February 22, 2019, the Assignment Judge issued a thorough written

opinion in the civil matter, commenting that the hearing before the Board "was

notable for its acrimony" and noting that the Board chairman had a personal

interest in the adjoining property. 3 The Assignment Judge determined that the

Board chairman's comments "poisoned the spirit of impartiality" and that such

3
    The Assignment Judge noted that at the start of the hearing, the Board
Chairman gave extensive opening remarks in which he expressed dissatisfaction
with WPF's failure to comply with ordinances and previous representations
made to the Board. The judge further determined that the Board Chairman (1)
alleged that WPF previously lied to the Board regarding prior applications, (2)
acknowledged he had previously recused himself from reviewing WPF's
applications due to a conflict of interest, (3) advised the Board of facts and
conclusions based on his personal knowledge outside of the record, and (4)
admitted he had preconceived notions about WPF's application. The court also
noted that additional Board members offered facts that were not in evidence.

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                                      6
"animosity spread to the Board Attorney and other Board Members, tainting

their objectivity." As a result, the Assignment Judge remanded the matter to the

Board for a new hearing. 4 The record before us suggests that the remand hearing

has not yet occurred.

      The previously-granted extension of relief afforded under the last

extension resolution expired on June 30, 2018. 5 So far as the record reflects,

WPF did not apply for another extension resolution or seek any form of judicial

relief to extend the authority to store items as had been permitted under the terms

of the 2009 resolution and ensuing extension resolutions. On that date, Patrick

Stefanelli, a zoning officer for Wantage Township, inspected the fifty -four

hangars on WPF's property to determine whether it was in compliance with the

resolutions associated with the property at issue. 6       Stefanelli's inspection

determined that twenty-five hangars were satisfactory—meaning those hangars

4
  We note that the order granting a remand in the prerogative writs action is not
before us in this appeal. We emphasize that the civil action initiated by WPF is
separate and distinct from the quasi-criminal matter now before us.
5
  We note the expiration occurred after the Board had denied the variance
application, but before the Assignment Judge issued its ruling remanding to the
Board for a new hearing on the variance application.
6
  The record indicates that Stefanelli obtained a court order authorizing entry to
conduct the administrative inspection.

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                                        7
complied with the resolutions. Those hangars "had an [airplane] being stored in

it or multiple [airplanes] being stored in them." Stefanelli's inspection revealed,

however, that "about [nineteen] of the [hangars] had motor vehicles, tools,

different types of equipment being stored . . . with . . . a couple parts to an

airplane and/or some drones." Because most of those hangars had drones or

"remote controlled airplane[s]," Stefanelli determined that such hangars were

not in compliance with the resolutions.

      Stefanelli subsequently issued three summonses, charging WPF with

violation of the following: (1) Wantage Municipal Code § 16-3 (site plans); (2)

Wantage Municipal Code § 13-12A.1 (violation of permitted uses in Airplane

Hangar Zone); and (3) Wantage Municipal Code § 13-25.2 (failing to obtain a

zoning permit).

      On June 28, 2019, the municipal code violations were tried in municipal

court. Prior to hearing testimony, the municipal court judge denied WPF's

motion to dismiss.

      Stefanelli testified that he inspected and took photographs of the hangars

on WPF's property and determined that approximately nineteen of the hangars

did not comply with the resolutions for the property; those hangars were being

used to store other motor vehicles, tools, equipment, drones, model airplanes,

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                                          8
remote-controlled airplanes, or drones in unopened boxes. The hangars did not

comply because the applicable resolutions permitted airplane or aeronautical

storage. He also testified that vehicles used as transportation to and from the

hangars could be stored as an ancillary use.

      Stefanelli further testified that he did not consider the drones or remote-

controlled airplanes to be aeronautical in nature, pursuant to the applicable

resolutions associated with the property. He added that "the permitted use of

the hangar would be for [airplane] storage, aeronautical use[,] and any other us es

that . . . would have been secondary to" those permitted uses.

      On cross-examination, Stefanelli acknowledged that he had previously

disqualified himself from one of WPF's applications submitted to the Board and

testified that he knew WPF had a pending civil action in Superior Court. He had

denied having knowledge of the civil lawsuit at the time of his inspection on

June 30, 2018.

      Stefanelli also testified that he was unaware that drones are regulated

under the FAA. He acknowledged that storage of an actual airplane is not the

only permissible use in a hangar, but that other aircraft, such as a helicopter,

would pass muster under the resolutions. Stefanelli further testified that drones

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                                        9
were located in almost every hangar on WPF's property, and that drones would

fall within the category of "aircraft."

      The owner of WPF, Gennaro, testified that he was familiar with the FAA

policy governing hangars. Specifically, he noted that the policy allows for

alternative uses of vacant hangars at federally-owned airports in order to keep

those airports economically viable. The policy is silent as to off-airport or

privately-owned facilities.

      Gennaro also testified that he does have hangars that do not store

airplanes; those hangars store drones. Gennaro testified that he considered

drones to be aircraft because they are regulated under the FAA and require

registration and pilot certificates.

      On cross-examination, Gennaro testified that approximately twenty-two

hangars do not contain an airplane, but rather contain either a drone or model

airplane. He also acknowledged that the drones and model airplanes were both

unmanned aircrafts. Additionally, he acknowledged that FAA regulations do

not permit drones to land at airports, without permission, and are required to

remain three miles away from airports when flying.

      Gennaro further testified that he made substantial income from renting

hangars for drones or model airplanes. While acknowledging that the applicable

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                                          10
resolutions do not permit general storage in the hangers, Gennaro maintained

that storing drones and model airplanes did not constitute general storage.

However, he acknowledged that the original purpose of the 1997 resolution was

for individuals to "take [their] airplanes, fly it to [the] hangar, take [their]

personal automobile out, bring it back, [and then] take [their] airplane back."

      Gennaro also acknowledged that, although he was in the process of

seeking approval to use the hangars for general storage, at the time the

summonses were issued he had not yet received approval from the Board. He

also acknowledged that the photographs taken during Stefanelli's inspection

"probably" reflected the current state of those hangars.

      The municipal court judge rendered an oral decision in open court on

November 4, 2019. The judge recounted the history of the property and the

testimony from the trial.    Ultimately, the municipal judge was "convinced

beyond a reasonable doubt that the . . . pictures and testimony of . . . Stefanelli

are credible and indeed dispositive of a guilty finding with regard to improper

use of what's allowed in [the] zone" where WPF's property is located. The

municipal judge emphasized that WPF was storing items "beyond the scope of

what was approved" in the initial 1997 resolution and subsequent resolutions.

The municipal judge thereupon found WPF guilty of twenty-one counts of

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                                       11
operating a non-permitted use in an airport hazard zone, Wantage Municipal

Code § 13-2A.1, and one count of failing to obtain a zoning permit, Wantage

Municipal Code § 13-25.2(a)(2). The judge found WPF not guilty of the site

plan violation.

       Pursuant to Wantage Municipal Code § 3.1.1, 7 the municipal judge

sentenced WPF to serve ninety days of community service and ninety days in

jail, which would be suspended in its entirety if the property were to come into

conformance with the resolutions. The judge also imposed a $2,000 fine per

violation, totaling $44,000.

       WPF appealed the municipal court convictions and sentence to the

Superior Court for a trial de novo. On August 21, 2020, the Law Division judge

7
    Wantage Municipal Code § 3.1.1 states,

             For violation of any provision of this chapter, any other
             chapter of this revision, or any other ordinance of the
             township where no specific penalty is provided
             regarding the section violated, the maximum penalty,
             upon conviction, shall be a fine not exceeding $2,000,
             or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 90 days, or
             both. In addition to or in lieu of a fine or imprisonment,
             the court may impose a penalty of community service
             for a period not exceeding 90 days. (N.J.S.A. 40:49-5).

             [(emphasis added).]

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                                        12
heard oral arguments. WPF raised the following points in its trial de novo

appeal:

            (1) that the hangars at Sussex Airport are vacant due to
            the deteriorated conditions of the airport facilities and
            [WPF] allowed non-aeronautical uses in order to keep
            the hangars viable; (2) that it sought approval from the
            Land Use Board for the use which it was permitting in
            the hangars (i.e. general storage without the presence of
            an "aircraft") but, due to the Land Use Board's bias
            against it, it has been unfairly deprived of such
            approval; (3) that it has attempted to implement FAA
            policy in keeping the hangars viable by permitting non-
            aeronautical uses, and; (4) that his [c]ourt can
            implement the FAA policy of keeping the hangars
            viable by setting aside the fine imposed by the
            Municipal Court and allowing Appellant to proceed to
            the newly-reconstituted Land Use Board.

      On August 31, 2020, the Law Division judge issued a twelve-page

opinion.   The court began its analysis by noting that "there has been no

persuasive legal argument set forth by [WPF] demonstrating that the FAA policy

preempts or in any way overrides local zoning ordinances governing [WPF's]

hangars." The court recognized that both parties agree that WPF was in violation

of the resolutions and local ordinances. The court also recognized that the FAA

policy "does not create a right to store non-aeronautical materials in airplane

hangars and airport sponsors are free to limit or prohibit such storage operations

within their discretion." Further, the court noted that "any use of hangers for

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                                       13
non-aeronautical purposes under the FAA policy requires advance written

approval from the FAA." The record did not reveal any such approval.

      The trial court then considered whether drones, model airplanes, or

remote-controlled airplanes qualify as "airplanes" or "aircrafts" under the

applicable resolutions and ordinances. The trial court noted that while it is

unclear whether the FAA considers these items as "aircrafts," "FAA regulations

and policy do not control whether [WPF] was in violation of Wantage Township

zoning ordinances and resolutions at the time the summonses were issued" and

that "[a]ny argument that the drones [WPF] was keeping in the hangars

constitutes 'airplanes' or 'aircrafts' under the applicable local resolutions is

belied by the fact that [WPF] continuously sought approval . . . to amend the

scope . . . of permitted uses." The court added, "[s]uch approval would not be

necessary if the drones[,] which [WPF] was keeping[,] actually constituted

'airplanes' under the governing resolutions."

      The court further determined that even if the drones were considered

airplanes under the governing rules, "there is no question that the storage of the

drones or toy airplanes here was entirely accessory to and subsumed by the

hangars' use for general storage." This was so because, as the municipal court

also found, WPF "[e]ffectively made a 'farce' of the zoning ordinances and

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                                       14
resolutions by 'arranging' to have unboxed . . . drones or other model aircrafts

stored amongst . . . the clutter."

      The court acknowledged the bias WPF experienced at the 2017 Board

hearing and the argument that absent such bias, WPF would have succeeded in

obtaining the variance for the general storage it had sought. The court rejected

WPF's argument because (1) the Board's determination about a variance, absent

the bias, is "pure speculation"; (2) WPF had received a summons in 2016 for an

identical violation, which was before any bias was found by the Superior Court;

and (3) WPF was in violation of the resolutions and ordinances (2018) prior to

any judicial finding of bias (2019).

      The court thereupon found WPF guilty of twenty counts of operating a

non-permitted use in an airport hazard zone, Wantage Municipal Code § 13-

2A.1.8 The court imposed a $2,000 fine for each of the twenty counts, totaling

$40,000, but declined to impose any period of incarceration or community

service.

      Regarding the failure to obtain a zoning permit, Wantage Municipal Code

§ 13-25.2(a)(2), the Law Division judge disagreed with the municipal court's

8
   The trial court determined that one of the photographs of the hangars was
duplicative of another. As a result, it did not impose the additional one count
that the municipal court found.
                                                                          A-1376-20
                                       15
finding. The Law Division judge determined that WPF did attempt to obtain

zoning permits in 2017 but was denied a fair procedure because the Board was

biased. The Law Division judge added, "[t]o hold [WPF] liable for violation of

this ordinance would, in this [c]ourt's view and under these circumstances,

violate due process." As a result, the court dismissed the zoning permit charge.

      WPF subsequently filed a motion for reconsideration. On January 6,

2021, the trial court heard oral arguments. On January 11, 2021, the trial court

issued a five-page opinion, denying the motion.

      As a threshold matter, the trial court noted that "[a]ll of [the] facts [in this

case] have already been considered and rejected by this [c]ourt . . . ." The court

next noted that WPF failed to "cite to any controlling precedent which the [c]ourt

overlooked, []or any precedent governing the standards of the underlying or

instant motions." As well, WPF did "not offer new factual material, or even new

conceptualizations of already-proffered facts."

      As a result, the trial court denied the motion for reconsideration because

the motion was merely "an attempt at appealing the [c]ourt's decision

indirectly." This appeal follows.

      Defendant raises the following contentions for our consideration:

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                                        16
            POINT I

            THE DECISION OF THE SUPERIOR COURT ON A
            TRIAL DE NOVO.

            POINT II
            A USE VARIANCE (D) MUST SHOW THAT A
            BENEFIT COMES TO THE COMMUNITY.
            IMPLEMENTING THE FAA POLICIES WOULD
            HAVE DONE THAT.

                                       II.

      Because we affirm substantially for the reasons explained in the Law

Division judge's thorough and thoughtful opinions, we need not address

defendant's contentions at length. We add the following comments:

      In a trial de novo, the Law Division is obliged to "determine the case

completely anew on the record made in the Municipal Court, giving due,

although not necessarily controlling, regard to the opportunity of the [municipal

court judge] the credibility of the witnesses." State v. Johnson, 42 N.J. 146, 157

(1964). In the context of a trial de novo, the Law Division

            does not affirm or reverse what occurred in the
            municipal court. Rather, the . . . judge reviews the
            transcript and makes an independent determination of
            the sufficiency of the evidence presented, giving
            appropriate deference to any credibility assessments
            that the municipal court judge may have made . . . .

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                                       17
            "A trial de novo by definition requires the trier to make
            his own findings of fact."

            [State v. Kashi, 360 N.J. Super. 538, 545 (App. Div.
            2003).]

      Moreover, the Law Division proceeding is not an appellate one. The judge

determines anew, based on the municipal court record, whether the State proved

the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Ibid.

      Our own standard of review on appeal from a trial de novo in the Law

Division uses a markedly different standard from that applied by the Law

Division judge. Unlike the Law Division, we do not make our own findings of

fact and our standard of review is deferential. State v. Locurto, 157 N.J. 463,

474 (1999). We focus our review on "whether there is 'sufficient credible

evidence . . . in the record' to support the trial court's findings."   State v.

Robertson, 228 N.J. 138, 148 (2017) (alteration in original) (quoting Johnson,

42 N.J. at 162).

      Deference is especially appropriate when, as in this case, two judges have

examined the facts and reached the same conclusion. As the Supreme Court

made clear in Locurto, "[u]nder the two-court rule, appellate courts ordinarily

should not undertake to alter concurrent findings of facts and credibility

determinations made by two lower courts absent a very obvious and exceptional

                                                                          A-1376-20
                                      18
showing of error." 157 N.J. at 474 (citing Midler v. Heinowitz, 10 N.J. 123,

128–29 (1952)). Therefore, our review of the factual and credibility findings of

the municipal court and the Law Division "is exceedingly narrow." State v.

Reece, 222 N.J. 154, 167 (2015) (quoting Locurto, 157 N.J. at 470). However,

we are not bound by a trial court's interpretations of either the law or the legal

consequences that flow from established facts. See Manalapan Realty L.P. v.

Twp. Comm. of Manalapan, 140 N.J. 366, 378 (1995); State v. Harris, 457 N.J.

Super. 34, 43–44 (App. Div. 2018).

      Applying this deferential standard of review, we conclude the Law

Division judge properly found that WPF violated the applicable resolutions and

ordinances. As the Law Division judge aptly stated:

            There is no dispute that [WPF] was in violation of the
            governing resolutions and ordinances. As . . . Stefanelli
            and . . . Gennaro both testified, [WPF] did not have
            permission to store the materials it was storing in the
            hangars at the time the summonses were issued.
            Although [WPF] suggested at oral argument that its
            willful violation . . . was an attempt to bring itself in
            line with FAA policy, the fact remains that [WPF] was
            in actual violation of Wantage Township ordinances.
            The general storage . . . in its hangars was specifically
            disallowed under both the 2006 and 2006 Resolutions.
            The pictures taken by . . . Stefanelli unequivocally show
            that [WPF] was utilizing the airplane hangars directly
            contrary to what was permitted under the 2009
            Resolution. The photographs prove that there are no
            airplanes or manned aircraft stored in any of the

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                                       19
            hangars which form the basis of the Municipal Court's
            decision and that there would be little room, if any, to
            store such aircraft given the state of the hangars in the
            pictures. As the Municipal Court found, this Court also
            finds that Appellant effectively made a "farce" of the
            zoning ordinances and resolutions by "arranging" to
            have unboxed . . . drones or other model aircraft stored
            amongst the clutter. This clearly is not what was
            envisioned by the Land Use Board in permitting
            accessory storage within Appellant's hangars under the
            governing 2009 Resolution.

      The trial court also considered and appropriately rejected WPF's argument

that but for the bias WPF experienced during the 2017 Board hearing, WPF

would have succeeded in obtaining a variance to permit general storage. We

agree with the Law Division judge that this argument is "pure speculation." We

add that the trial record clearly shows that WPF was in violation of the

applicable resolutions and ordinances prior to any judicial finding of bias by the

Board.

      To the extent we have not addressed them, any remaining arguments

raised by defendant lack sufficient merit to warrant consideration in this opinion.

R. 2:11-3(e)(2).

      Affirmed.

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                                       20