Musco Propane, LLP v. Town of Wolcott

891 F. Supp. 2d 261, 2012 WL 4074420, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 134088
CourtDistrict Court, D. Connecticut
DecidedAugust 30, 2012
DocketCivil Case No. 3:10-cv-1400 (JCH)
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 891 F. Supp. 2d 261 (Musco Propane, LLP v. Town of Wolcott) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Connecticut primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Musco Propane, LLP v. Town of Wolcott, 891 F. Supp. 2d 261, 2012 WL 4074420, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 134088 (D. Conn. 2012).

Opinion

RULING RE: DEFENDANTS’ MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT (DOC. NOS. 103, 104, 105, 108, 110, 111, 112 & 113) AND DEFENDANTS’ MOTIONS TO DISQUALIFY PLAINTIFF’S EXPERTS (DOC. NOS. 106, 107 & 109)

JANET C. HALL, District Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff Musco Propane, LLP (“Mus-co”), brings this suit, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, against the Town of Wolcott (“Wolcott”); Wolcott’s Planning and Zoning Commission (“PZC”); Wolcott’s Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”); Wolcott’s Mayor, Thomas Dunn (“Mayor Dunn”); Wolcott’s Zoning Enforcement Officer, David Kalinowski (“ZEO Kalinowski”); five individual members of the PZC in 2009 and 2010; and four individual members of the ZBA in 2009 and 2010. Each of the individual defendants is sued in both his or her official and individual capacities. Musco claims that each of the defendants (1) violated its right to equal protection, and (2) retaliated against it in violation of its First Amendment right to freedom of speech.

Currently pending before the court are eight separate motions for summary judgment filed by the defendants, as well as three motions to disqualify the plaintiffs expert witnesses and preclude their testimony. For the following reasons, the Motions for Summary Judgment are granted. Consequently, the Motions to Disqualify Plaintiffs Experts are denied as moot.

II. BACKGROUND

A. 2006 Tank Approval

In 2006, Musco applied to install a 30,-000 gallon above-ground, propane storage tank on its property located at 585 Wolcott Road. Am. Compl. (Doc. No. 70) ¶ 22; Answer (Doc. No. 71) ¶ 22. Attached to Mus-co’s application was a handwritten statement describing its proposed use of the tank. Defendants’ 56(a)(1) Statement of Undisputed Facts (Doc. No. 114) (“Defs.’ 56(a)(1) St.”) ¶ 3; Plaintiffs Statement of Disputed Issues of Material Fact (Doc. No. 124) (“Pl.’s St. Disputed Issues”) ¶7. The statement read, in relevant part: “My use of intent is to install a 30,000 gallon LP [264]*264propane bulk tank for loading our propane tanks for deliveries thru out our service area.” Pl.’s Ex. 4 at 4.1

While Permitted Use Section C-17 of the Wolcott Zoning Regulations allows for “[r]etail sale and distribution of a heating fuel and natural gas” in the town’s General Commercial Zone, “storage tanks having a capacity in excess of 10,000 gallons” are specifically excluded. Pl.’s Ex. 3 (“Zoning Regs.”) at Schedule A, p. 8. Thus, installation of the 30,000 gallon tank proposed by Musco was not permitted under the Regulations. Nevertheless, following a public hearing, the PZC approved Musco’s application. Am. Compl. ¶ 24; Answer ¶ 24. A building permit was issued on July 17, 2006. Am. Compl. ¶ 30; Answer ¶ 30. Musco received a Certificate of Occupancy on December 28, 2006, Am. Compl. ¶ 32; Answer ¶ 32, as well as a Certificate of Compliance issued by the ZEO, which stated that an inspection had been made at 585 Wolcott Road and that the property was in compliance with the Wolcott Zoning Regulations, Am. Compl. ¶ 33; Answer ¶ 33.

B.2009 Application for Second 30,000 Gallon Tank

In the spring of 2009, Musco applied for permission to install a second 30,000 gallon, above-ground propane storage tank to be located directly behind the existing tank. Am. Compl. ¶ 46; Answer ¶ 46. On April 16, 2009, ZEO Kalinowski sent a letter to the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation (“DOT”), enclosing Musco’s site plan for the second tank and asking for “input in regards to traffic concerns that had been brought to [the PZC’s] attention during the Public Hearing on April 15, 2011, in the Wolcott Council Chambers.” Am. Compl. ¶ 50; Answer ¶ 50; Pl.’s Ex. 17. The letter noted that “[t]he stored propane will be sold for wholesale use for other companies as well as use for Musco Fuel customers.” Pl.’s Ex. 17. According to Musco, before a public hearing was held on its application, it “was abruptly notified that the 2009 Tank Application would likely be denied based upon a ‘recently discovered’ zoning regulation prohibiting fuel storage tanks in excess of 10,000 gallons.” Am. Compl. ¶ 52. Musco was also told that approval of its 2006 application had been granted in error. Am. Compl. ¶ 53; Answer ¶ 53. Musco subsequently withdrew the 2009 application. Am. Compl. ¶ 54; Answer ¶ 54.

C. Randy Petroniro’s Election to Wolcott Town Council

Randy Petroniro is a 50% owner of Mus-co. Pl.’s Ex. 57 (“Petroniro Dep.”) at 1:15. According to Petroniro, he became involved in Wolcott politics in June 2009. Id. at 6:9-14. He was elected to the Town Council in November 2009. Am. Compl. ¶ 44; Answer ¶ 44.

D. Resident Complaint Regarding 2006 Tank Approval & Subsequent Investigation

At a Wolcott Town Council Meeting on October 6, 2009, Wolcott resident Adolph Birkenberger stated that the Planning and Zoning Commission had violated Section 23. 2.4 of the Town Zoning Regulations by approving the installation of a 30,000 gallon fuel tank by Musco. Defs.’ 56(a)(1) St. ¶ 176; Plaintiffs Local Rule 56(a)(2) State[265]*265ment (Doc. No. 124) (“Pl.’s 56(a)(2) St.”) ¶ 176. Birkenberger formally requested an investigation by the Town Council of Mayor Dunn and the PZC. Id.

In January 2010, the Chairman of the Town Council, Michael Santagotta, formed a three-member subcommittee to investigate the PZC’s granting of Musco’s 2006 application. Defs.’ 56(a)(1) St. ¶ 178; PL’s St. Disputed Issues ¶ 56.

E. 2010 Tank Applications

In January 2010, Musco re-submitted its application for the installation of a second 30,000 gallon, above-ground propane storage tank (“the 30K Tank Application”). Am. Compl. ¶ 65; Answer ¶ 65. Musco also submitted an alternative application for the installation of four 10,000 gallon, above-ground propane storage tanks (the “10K Tanks Application”). Am. Compl. ¶ 66; Answer ¶ 66. Finally, it proposed an amendment to the Zoning Regulations to allow for propane storage tanks up to 30,-000 gallons (“the Text Amendment Application”). Am. Compl. ¶ 67; Answer ¶ 67.

ZEO Kalinowski declined to put the 30K Tank Application on the agenda for the PZC’s February 3, 2009 meeting, because he believed a 30,000 gallon tank was prohibited by the Wolcott Zoning Regulations. PL’s Ex. 23 (“Feb. 3 PZC Minutes”) at 3. Nevertheless, Musco’s attorney appeared at the meeting and formally requested that the 30K Tank Application be added to the agenda. Id. The PZC unanimously voted to accept the 30K Tank Application for review. Id. at 5.

The minutes from the February 3, 2009 PZC meeting reflect that, during the discussion of Musco’s applications, members of the PZC questioned Musco’s attorney about whether Musco was engaged in purely retail or both retail and wholesale propane sales:

Cathe Sherman said [Permitted Use Section] C-17 specifically talks about retail sales and is this retail sales for Wolcott or are you talking wholesale .... Attorney Salvatore said there is retail and wholesale as there has been since 2006 and that’s why when the 2009 application was submitted there was a concern from the Commission and various neighbors that it would be dangerous for trucks to be entering and exiting the area.

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Bluebook (online)
891 F. Supp. 2d 261, 2012 WL 4074420, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 134088, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/musco-propane-llp-v-town-of-wolcott-ctd-2012.