Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Summary
Plaintiff Vogue Tower Partners, LLC (“Vogue”) files this action against Hamilton
County, Tennessee, the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners, and the Chattanooga-
This action arises out of the County’s unlawful denial of Vogue’s Application to
necessary facility that will remedy a significant cellular coverage gap in the surrounding
area. Verizon Wireless is one carrier that intends to utilize this proposed facility to improve
its coverage, and the facility will be able to accommodate other carriers that also desire to
satisfied all requirements of the relevant local regulation, Hamilton County Zoning
Regulation Article VI, Section 410. The County’s denial also violates federal law,
not supported by substantial evidence contained in a written record and effectively prohibits
wireless service in the vicinity of the proposed facility. The County’s denial also violates
Tennessee law because it was illegal, arbitrary, capricious, and not supported by material
evidence.
Vogue therefore requests that this Court issue such declaratory relief necessary to
clarify and adjudicate Vogue’s rights under federal and Tennessee law and that the Court
issue a permanent injunction requiring the County to grant Vogue’s Application and to issue
all necessary permits for the construction and operation of the telecommunications tower.
Vogue also requests that the Court resolve this matter on an expedited basis pursuant to 47
U.S.C. § 332(c)(7)(B)(v).
Parties
its principal place of business located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Vogue, on behalf of itself
and its affiliates, constructs, owns, and manages wireless telecommunications facilities that
are used by telecommunications carriers to provide voice, data, internet, and other wireless
may be served with process through its County Mayor, Jim Coppinger, at his office at 208
governmental body existing under Tennessee law and may be served with process through
its Chairman, Sabrina Smedley, at her office at 401 Courthouse, 625 Georgia Avenue,
Chattanooga, TN 37402.
and may be served with process through its Chair, Ethan Collier, at 1250 Market Street,
Chattanooga, TN 37402.
5. This Court has original subject matter jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to
28 U.S.C. § 1331 because this action involves federal questions arising under the
2201(a).
7. This Court has supplemental jurisdiction over the state law claims pursuant to
28 U.S.C. § 1367.
Defendants reside in this District; because a substantial part of property that is the subject of
this action is situated in this District; and because a substantial part of the events or
9. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the “Act”) governs federal, state, and local
governmental regulation of the siting of personal wireless service facilities such as the one at
10. The Act further provides that any person adversely affected by a state or local
government’s act, or failure to act, that is inconsistent with 47 U.S.C. § 332(c)(7) may seek
review in federal court and that the court shall hear and decide the action on an expedited
basis.
11. Vogue, on behalf of itself and its affiliates, constructs, owns, and manages
wireless communications facilities in Tennessee and elsewhere in the country. Vogue leases
space on its facilities to national and regional wireless carriers who provide personal and
advanced wireless services, as well as other telecommunications services, as those terms are
defined under federal law, to end-user wireless consumers. In providing this valuable
advanced wireless and broadband connectivity consistent with the goals of the Act. Vogue
also provides space on its facilities free of charge to federal, state, and local first responders,
possible, to all people of the United States, without discrimination . . . a rapid, efficient,
nationwide, and world-wide wire and radio communication service with adequate facilities
at reasonable charges, for the purpose of national defense, [and] for the purpose of
47 U.S.C. §151.
13. To advance this national policy, Vogue constructs towers and other wireless
facilities that allow wireless carriers, such as Verizon Wireless, to create and maintain a
network of “cell sites,” each of which consists of antennas and related electronic
communications equipment designed to send and receive radio and other electronic signals.
14. To provide reliable service to a user, coverage from cell cites must overlap in a
grid pattern resembling a honeycomb. If Vogue is unable to construct a cell site within a
specific geographic area, the wireless carriers it serves, such as Verizon Wireless, will not be
(“RF”) engineers use various techniques, such as sophisticated computer programs and field
testing, to complete a propagation study, which shows where cell sites need to be located in
order to provide service. The propagation study also takes into account the topography of
the land, the coverage boundaries of neighboring cell sites, and other factors. For a wireless
network to perform as intended, cell sites must be located, constructed, and operated so that
reliable service can be achieved. If there is no functioning cell site within a given area, there
will be no reliable service for customers within that area, and customers who live or travel in
the area will experience an unacceptable level of dropped calls and call connection failures.
The Proposed Facility, Vogue’s Application, And The County’s Wrongful Denial
15. Based upon its research and knowledge, Vogue determined that the area in
and around 9031 Jennifer Lane in Hamilton County was an area experiencing inadequate
wireless coverage.
its ability to provide reliable service to its customers in the vicinity surrounding 9031
Jennifer Lane.
17. Verizon Wireless has deemed this coverage gap to be significant, and the gap
must be remedied for Verizon Wireless to provide effective service to the targeted area.
9031 Jennifer Lane with capacity to allow multiple carriers to improve their coverage gaps
and to better serve their customers in this area. Verizon Wireless is one such carrier and has
19. Vogue and Verizon Wireless investigated properties within the surrounding
area, referred to as the “search ring,” that were suitable for a wireless telecommunications
facility. Among other requirements, a suitable site must be sufficiently close to the coverage
gap, must be of a sufficient height and topography to provide adequate coverage within the
gap, must comply with local zoning regulations, must be leasable, and must be buildable.
20. The investigation of potential sites in and around the search ring resulted in
structures within the search ring that were suitable to remedy the coverage
gap;
Methodist Church on East Brainerd Road to gauge its interest in leasing some
of its property for a telecommunications facility. Vogue and the church had
several meetings and communications exploring this issue, but the church
from the engineering analysis performed by Verizon Wireless, this site would
not have been feasible to remedy the coverage gap at issue because the church
determined that Shelter Church was not a feasible alternative because the
church was outside the search ring, was not sufficiently close to the coverage
d. other nearby properties within residential areas were investigated and were
deemed insufficient because those sites would not allow for a facility to be
21. After evaluating properties within the search ring, Vogue and Verizon
Wireless concluded that 9031 Jennifer Lane was the only available property suitable for
22. Based on the above, Vogue and Verizon Wireless have demonstrated that
they undertook a good-faith effort to identify available and feasible sites to construct a
23. The site at 9031 Jennifer Lane was the only site that met the numerous
County for the required Special Use permit to construct the telecommunications facility.
tower within a fenced compound at the designated location at 9031 Jennifer Lane,
within an 11-acre wooded tract, and the site drawings and other plans show that Vogue
intends to minimize the amount of tree cutting and disturbance to the surrounding
vegetation so that when constructed, the Proposed Facility will be as least intrusive as
possible.
Compliance Statement with supporting materials demonstrating that the Proposed Facility
complied with applicable law, including Hamilton County Zoning Regulation Article VI,
Section 410, the operative zoning regulation (the “Zoning Regulation”). The Application
also included propagation maps and other materials demonstrating the existence of a
coverage gap and information explaining that there are no feasible or available alternative
sites.
Engineer from Verizon Wireless attended and presented in support of Vogue’s Application.
Vogue’s Application. The staff’s written report recommending approval of the Application
states:
1) Retain all existing vegetation on the site except for the access road and cell
tower lease area.
29. But the Regional Planning Commission voted against Vogue’s Application
30. On August 8, 2018, Vogue’s Application was again considered during the
Vogue’s counsel presented and explained that, among other things, the Proposed Facility
complied with the Zoning Regulation and other applicable law. No vote on Vogue’s
31. Although not required by the Zoning Regulation or other applicable law,
some concerns from nearby residents. At the August 8 Preparation Session, Vogue
announced that it was amending the site plan for the Proposed Facility by: (a) increasing
the set back of the monopole from one of the property lines so that the 150-foot monopole
would be constructed 190 feet from that property line rather than the originally planned 156
feet from that line; and (b) to construct an intentionally designed break point at the 75-foot
point of the 150-foot monopole, which would effectively reduce the monopole’s fall radius
by half.
conducted its regular meeting and considered Vogue’s Application. A Vogue representative
seconded to table Vogue’s Application for two weeks so that the Commission could receive
more evidence regarding the merits of Vogue’s Application, the stated intent of which was
to have further time to consider the issues of whether a gap in coverage existed and whether
34. A majority of the Commission voted “No” on the motion. The Commission
35. By letter dated August 30, 2018, the Hamilton County Attorney provided a
letter to Vogue’s counsel purporting to explain the reasons why the County rejected Vogue’s
36. That August 30 letter lists three reasons purportedly explaining why the
(1) The Commission was not satisfied that it heard sufficient evidence
from the Applicant that there were no other already established sites
where an antenna could be erected (“co-location”), to substantiate the
need for an additional tower in the subject area;
(2) The Commission was not satisfied that there presently exists any
“gap” in coverage that is experienced by cell phone users in the subject
area; and
37. Nowhere in that letter does the County: describe in detail any underlying
support for those reasons, describe any alleged evidence purportedly supporting those
reasons, or explain why it chose not to credit any of the information Vogue submitted in
39. In fact, substantial evidence in the written record directly refutes each of these
alleged reasons for the denial, as demonstrated in part by the recommendation of the
40. Vogue’s Application and other submitted materials, as well as live testimony
from representatives of Vogue and Verizon Wireless, showed that there exists a significant
coverage gap in the vicinity of the Proposed Facility and that the Proposed Facility would
remedy that gap. To Vogue’s knowledge, there is no competent evidence in the record that
41. Vogue’s Application and other submitted materials, as well as live testimony
from representatives of Vogue and Verizon Wireless, also showed that a good-faith search
was conducted to determine whether any feasible, available alternative sites existed. The
conclusion of that search revealed that the Proposed Facility was the only feasible, available
site. Nor does it appear that the County ever exercised its right under Section (5) of the
knowledge, there is no competent evidence in the record demonstrating the existence of any
feasible, available alternative to the Proposed Facility that might remedy the coverage gap
or that might otherwise do so through means less intrusive than the Proposed Facility.
telecommunications facilities is also not a competent or relevant basis for denial. This basis
for denial is irrelevant under federal and state law as well as the County’s own Zoning
hearing process, it was never clearly identified and authenticated, nor was such report
properly presented to the Regional Planning Commission, the Commission, or to Vogue for
“report” the Commission is referring to, it appears to be nothing more than hearsay and
the Proposed Facility. To Vogue’s knowledge, there is no competent evidence in the record
showing that construction of the Proposed Facility would result in any material reduction in
43. Moreover, the County’s official position that it “was not satisfied” that there
was a significant coverage gap and that there were no feasible alternative sites is further
unjustified. Just before the Commission voted to reject Vogue’s Application, a majority of
the Commission voted “No” on an official motion to table the Application for two weeks,
the stated intent of which was to give the Commission further time to consider and receive
evidence on those exact two issues. In other words, the Commission formally declined to
grant itself more time to receive and review additional evidence regarding Vogue’s
Application, but they rejected the Application anyway by claiming that there wasn’t enough
47 U.S.C. § 332(c)(7)(B)(iii)
personal wireless service facilities shall be in writing and supported by substantial evidence
46. The United States Supreme Court has held that to comply with Section
332(c)(7)(B)(iii), the County must state its reasons for denying the request “with sufficient
clarity” to enable effective judicial review and must issue that writing “essentially
contemporaneously” with the denial. T-Mobile South, LLC v. City of Roswell, 135 S. Ct. 808,
818 (2015).
47. The County rejected Vogue’s Application on August 15, 2018, but at that
time did not provide a writing with reasons allegedly supporting that denial.
48. By written letter dated August 30, 2018, the County first purported to explain
49. The County’s August 30 letter was not provided to Vogue at essentially the
50. The purported reasons for the denial—instead of being sufficiently clear to
competent evidence (much less substantial evidence), and otherwise fail the writing
Section 332(c)(7)(B)(iii) and should be set aside and enjoined by the Court. The Court
should also issue an injunction requiring the County to approve Vogue’s Application.
47 U.S.C. § 332(c)(7)(B)(iii)
personal wireless service facilities shall be in writing and supported by substantial evidence
facility.
Vogue’s Application.
56. At the August 8 and August 15, 2018 hearings before the Commission, Vogue
presented evidence demonstrating that the Proposed Facility would remedy a substantial
gap in Verizon’s coverage; that there were no feasible site alternatives; and that the
57. The Commission disregarded the evidence in the record supporting Vogue’s
Application as well as the recommendation from the staff of the Regional Planning
by, Section 332(c)(7)(B)(iii) and should be set aside and enjoined by the Court. The Court
should also issue an injunction requiring the County and Commission to approve Vogue’s
Application.
47 U.S.C. § 332(c)(7)(B)(i)
61. Section 332(c)(7)(B)(i) provides that state and local regulation of personal
(II) shall not prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting the provision of
63. Vogue has also shown that a good-faith effort was made to explore and to
review alternatives other than the Proposed Facility that might remedy the coverage gap.
But despite those efforts, the Proposed Facility is the only suitable site (as well as the least
64. The County’s denial of Vogue’s Application has the effect of prohibiting the
discrimination against Vogue considering that the County has, upon information and belief,
preempted by, Section 332(c)(7)(B)(i) and should be set aside and enjoined on that basis.
The Court should also issue an injunction requiring the County to approve Vogue’s’
Application.
68. Tenn. Code Ann. § 13-24-301 states that “no municipal, county or regional
otherwise, exclude the location or relocation of any facility used to provide telephone or
69. Vogue complied with all of the requirements of the Zoning Regulation and
services to the public, and the wrongful denial otherwise constitutes action in excess of the
Code Ann. § 13-24-301 et seq. and should be set aside and enjoined on that basis. The Court
should also issue an injunction requiring the County to approve Vogue’s Application.
74. Vogue submitted its Application to construct the Proposed Facility, and the
Application was supported by evidence demonstrating that all of the requirements of the
76. The County’s denial of Vogue’s Application was arbitrary and capricious as
a. The Commission failed to base its denial on the Zoning Regulation or on any
and
c. The Commission formally declined to grant itself more time to receive and
77. The Commission failed to follow its own Zoning Regulation and denied
Commission’s denial is arbitrary, capricious, illegal and is therefore null and void.
79. The County’s denial of Vogue’s Application was not supported by material or
substantial evidence.
Regulation.
81. No material or substantial evidence was submitted showing that Vogue had
not met the requirements of the Zoning Regulation, nor was there any material or
substantial evidence in the record that would support the County’s denial of Vogue’s
Application.
82. Consequently, the County’s denial was illegal, arbitrary, and capricious and is
WHEREFORE, Vogue respectfully requests that the Court grant the following relief:
332(c)(7)(B)(v);
2. That the County compile and submit a copy of all applications, submissions,
evidence, statements, transcripts, minutes, and other materials comprising the entire record
relating to Vogue’s Application, so that this Court and Vogue may conduct an effective
3. That the Court issue a declaratory judgment that the County wrongfully
sufficiently clear writing setting forth the reasons for its denial;
4. That the Court enter a judgment that the County’s denial violated Section
5. That the Court issue a declaratory judgment that the County wrongfully
6. That the Court enter a judgment that the County’s denial violated Tennessee
7. That the Court issue a permanent injunction and enter an order requiring the
County to grant Vogue’s Application and grant such further permission as may be necessary
to allow construction of the Proposed Facility and to otherwise cease any further attempt to
8. That the Court grant Vogue its reasonable attorneys’ fees pursuant to Tenn.
10. That the Court grant Vogue such other further relief as is just and proper.