X

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

OPINION AND ORDER Plaintiffs David Eisenbach, George H. Eisenbach, Joanne Eisenbach, Jennifer Young, Dana Carini, Rosemarie Olshakoski, Michael Olshakoski, Jonathan D. Champlin, Anne Champlin, Raymond H. Champlin, Kenneth Levine, Catherine Polera, Julien Davies, Hope Rogers, Phil Weiss, Cynthia King, Jo Mango, and Lauralee Holmbo bring this action against the Village of Nelsonville (the “Village”); Village of Nelsonville Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”); Village of Nelsonville Planning Board (“Planning Board”); and William Bujarski, as Building Inspector of the Village (the “Building Inspector,” and, collectively with the Village, ZBA, and Planning Board, “Municipal Defendants”); and Homeland Towers, LLC (“Homeland”); New York SMSA Limited Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless; and New Cingular Wireless PCD LLC d/b/a AT&T (together, the “Wireless Defendants”). Now pending is the Wireless Defendants’ motion to dismiss the amended complaint pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6). (Doc. #42). For the reasons set forth below, the motion is GRANTED. BACKGROUND For the purpose of ruling on the motion to dismiss, the Court accepts as true all well pleaded factual allegations in the amended complaint and draws all reasonable inferences in plaintiffs’ favor, as summarized below. I. Factual Background The Wireless Defendants planned to build a wireless service generating facility (the “Facility”) at 15 Rockledge Road (the “Premises”) in Nelsonville, New York. To that end, on July 20, 2017, they made three relevant applications: (i) to the ZBA for a special-use permit to construct the Facility; (ii) to the ZBA for a variance from New York State Village Law §7-736, which prohibits construction of any municipal utility or structure on landlocked property; and (iii) to the Planning Board for site plan approval of the Facility. The ZBA and Planning Board conducted public hearings on the applications from November 15, 2017, to April 4, 2018. The ZBA and Planning Board denied the applications on May 30, 2018, and published notice of the denial on June 12, 2018. On June 29, 2018, the Wireless Defendants sued the Municipal Defendants in a separate action before this Court. See N.Y. SMSA Ltd. P’ship v. Village of Nelsonville, No. 18-CV-5932 (S.D.N.Y. filed June 29, 2018). The Wireless Defendants alleged the denial of their applications violated, among other things, the federal Telecommunications Act. (See Doc. #29 (“Am. Compl.”) Ex. A). The case resolved on January 29, 2020, by the entry of a consent order (the “Consent Order”), which provided for the construction of a modified version of the Facility. (See id. Ex. B). Following the entry of the Consent Order, the Wireless Defendants applied to the Village Building Department for a building permit. The application was denied. Defendant Homeland supplemented the application by letter dated May 28, 2020. The supplemented permit application was granted, and the permit was issued on June 15, 2020. Plaintiffs allege the Wireless Defendants made “significant and unstudied changes” to the project following the entry of the Consent Order. (Am. Compl. 88). For example, the new project provides for removal of sixty-six trees rather than the forty-three trees provided for in the Consent Order. (Id.). II. Procedural History Plaintiffs, who own property or reside near the Premises, commenced this action on October 14, 2020. Plaintiffs filed the first amended and operative complaint on February 10, 2021, and assert eight claims against defendants. The first five claims are styled as federal claims, and the remaining three are styled as state-law claims. First, plaintiffs allege the Municipal Defendants violated the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”) and the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”) by denying the Wireless Defendants’ initial applications with respect to the Facility without appropriate environmental review. (Count I) (Am. Compl.

103-04, 106, 112-14). Plaintiffs also allege all defendants violated NEPA and SEQRA when they entered into the Consent Order without appropriate environmental review. (Id.

 
Reprints & Licensing
Mentioned in a Law.com story?

License our industry-leading legal content to extend your thought leadership and build your brand.

More From ALM

With this subscription you will receive unlimited access to high quality, online, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry. This is perfect for attorneys licensed in multiple jurisdictions or for attorneys that have fulfilled their CLE requirement but need to access resourceful information for their practice areas.
View Now
Our Team Account subscription service is for legal teams of four or more attorneys. Each attorney is granted unlimited access to high quality, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry along with administrative access to easily manage CLE for the entire team.
View Now
Gain access to some of the most knowledgeable and experienced attorneys with our 2 bundle options! Our Compliance bundles are curated by CLE Counselors and include current legal topics and challenges within the industry. Our second option allows you to build your bundle and strategically select the content that pertains to your needs. Both options are priced the same.
View Now
September 05, 2024
New York, NY

The New York Law Journal honors attorneys and judges who have made a remarkable difference in the legal profession in New York.


Learn More
July 11, 2024
New York, NY

The National Law Journal Elite Trial Lawyers recognizes U.S.-based law firms performing exemplary work on behalf of plaintiffs.


Learn More
July 22, 2024 - July 24, 2024
Lake Tahoe, CA

GlobeSt. Women of Influence Conference celebrates the women who drive the commercial real estate industry forward.


Learn More

Skolnick Legal Group, P.C., a construction and commercial litigation firm with offices in New Jersey and New York is seeking a Litigation As...


Apply Now ›

Cullen and Dykman is seeking an associate attorney with a minimum of 5+ years in insurance coverage experience as well as risk transfer and ...


Apply Now ›

McCarter & English, LLP is actively seeking a midlevel insurance coverage associate for its Newark, NJ and/or Philadelphia, PA offices. ...


Apply Now ›
06/27/2024
The American Lawyer

Professional Announcement


View Announcement ›
06/21/2024
Daily Business Review

Full Page Announcement


View Announcement ›
06/14/2024
New Jersey Law Journal

Professional Announcement


View Announcement ›