Twp. of Cranberry v. R.J. Spencer ( 2021 )

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Township of Cranberry :
:
:
v. : No. 375 C.D. 2020
: Argued: February 8, 2021
Randy J. Spencer, :
Appellant :
BEFORE: HONORABLE RENÉE COHN JUBELIRER, Judge
HONORABLE MICHAEL H. WOJCIK, Judge
HONORABLE J. ANDREW CROMPTON, Judge
OPINION BY
JUDGE COHN JUBELIRER FILED: March 24, 2021
Randy J. Spencer appeals from a March 13, 2020 Order (Order) of the Court
of Common Pleas of Venango County (trial court), which imposed fines for six
different properties (Properties) owned by Spencer at six separate docket numbers
pursuant to complaints filed by the Township of Cranberry based on Spencer
operating a junkyard in violation of Township ordinances. Before this Court,
Spencer argues that, although he filed only one notice of appeal, he preserved his
arguments on the merits as to all six properties. As for the merits, Spencer argues
the trial court abused its discretion in imposing the fines, the trial court committed
an error of law in determining that the Township’s ordinance does not require
business use for a property to be considered a junkyard, and the trial court erred in
dismissing his selective enforcement challenge. However, under Commonwealth v.
Walker, 185 A.3d 969 (Pa. 2018), Spencer was required to file individual notices of
appeal for each of the six cases, as they had not been consolidated before the trial
court. Under these specific facts, we are constrained to quash Spencer’s appeal as
to the five orders entered at the trial court’s dockets 705-2019 to 709-2019, from
which no appeals were filed. We do not quash the notice of appeal which was
properly filed from the order issued at trial court docket 704-2019, involving the
Deep Hollow Property. Upon review of the record, we determine that the trial court
made no error in imposing the fine for the violations on the Deep Hollow Property.
Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s order in that case.
I. BACKGROUND
On January 31, 2019, the Township Zoning Officer (Zoning Officer) issued
six zoning enforcement notices (Notices) to Spencer for violations at the Properties
identified as follows: the “Deep Hollow Property,” trial court docket 704-2019; the
“Waugaman Property,” trial court docket 705-2019; the “Hill Property,” trial court
docket 706-2019; the “Trailer #1 Property,” trial court docket 707-2019; the “Trailer
#2 Property,” trial court docket 708-2019; and the “Goodman Property,” trial court
docket 709-2019.1
Five of the Notices, for the Deep Hollow Property, the Waugaman Property,
the Hill Property, the Trailer #1 Property, and the Trailer #2 Property, were for
violations of Sections 195-4 and 195-11 of the CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP,
PENNSYLVANIA, ZONING ORDINANCE (2012) (Zoning Ordinance), Zoning Ordinance
1
The Deep Hollow Property is located at 4949 United States 322 (U.S. 322), Cranberry
Township, and is identified as tax parcel number 08,024.-011.-000. The Waugaman Property is
located at U.S. 322, Cranberry Township, and is identified as tax parcel number 08,024.-012A.-
000. The Hill Property is located at 5273 U.S. 322, Cranberry Township, and is identified as tax
parcel number 08,001.-073.-000. The Trailer #1 Property is located at U.S. 322, Cranberry
Township, and is identified as tax parcel number 08,024.-01G.-000. The Trailer #2 Property is
located at 4110 Deep Hollow Road, Cranberry Township, and is identified as tax parcel number
08,001.-066.-000. The Goodman Property is located at 166 Garden Lane, Cranberry Township,
and is identified as tax parcel number 08,024.-001B.-000.
2
§§ 195-4, 195-11.2 These five Notices informed Spencer he was located in an A-1
Conservation District and that a junkyard is not a permitted use in that district. The
Notices stated that Spencer had 7 days to begin removing the abandoned motor
vehicles from each of the Properties and 30 days to completely do so. The 5 Notices
also advised Spencer of his right to appeal the Notices to the Township Zoning
Hearing Board within 30 days.
The sixth Notice, for the Goodman Property, which is located in a different
district, informed Spencer that he was in violation of Section 132-4(D) of the
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA, PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE (2018)
(Property Maintenance Code), which limits the number of abandoned or junked
vehicles on one’s property.3 Property Maintenance Code § 132-4(D). That Notice
2
Section 195-4 states that
[n]o structure shall be located, erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved, altered,
converted or enlarged, nor shall any structure or land be used or be designed to be
used except in full compliance with all the provisions of this chapter and after the
lawful issuance of all permits and certificates required by this chapter.
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, PA., ZONING ORDINANCE (2012) § 195-4. Section 195-11 lists Junkyards
as a Conditional Use, id. § 195-11, and Section 195-6A defines a “Junkyard” as
[l]and or structures used for the collection, storage, processing and sale of scrap
metal, scrapped, abandoned or junked motor vehicles, machinery, equipment,
wastepaper, glass, rags, containers and other discarded materials. It shall not
include, however, refuse or garbage kept in a proper container for the purpose of
prompt disposal.
Id. § 195-6A.
3
Section 132-4(D) prohibits “[t]he storage or accumulation of more than two abandoned
or junked motor vehicle[s] that can be seen from any public highway, road, street, avenue, lane or
alley which is maintained by the Township or by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, PA., PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE (2018) § 132-4(D). Section 132-
4(D) does not “apply to a business enterprise that is regularly engaged in the repair of motor
(Footnote continued on next page…)
3
required Spencer to begin removing the vehicles from the Goodman Property within
20 days and to completely do so within 30 days. All six Notices warned Spencer
that failure to comply could result in fines being imposed. Spencer did not appeal
any of the Notices or remedy the violations.
The Township then filed six civil complaints with a Magisterial District Judge
(MDJ), seeking to enforce the six Notices. The MDJ entered six judgments in the
Township’s favor and against Spencer, imposing fines and costs in the amount of
$609.25 for each of the Properties. (Reproduced Record (R.R.) at 10a.) Spencer
then appealed the six MDJ judgments to the trial court. The Township filed one
complaint for each of the six Properties asserting the alleged violations were
conclusively established by Spencer’s failure to appeal to the Zoning Hearing Board.
Accordingly, for each of the Properties, the Township asked the trial court to grant
judgment in its favor for $21,500, representing $500 per day for each day in which
Spencer was violating the Code, plus court costs and attorneys’ fees. (Compl. ¶ 15,
R.R. at 6a.) Spencer subsequently filed answers with new matter, and the Township
filed replies to the new matter. Importantly, at no time did either party move to
consolidate, nor did the trial court sua sponte consolidate, the six matters.
On March 10, 2020, a joint evidentiary hearing was held in the six cases. The
Township called the Zoning Officer to testify. The Zoning Officer testified as
follows. The Zoning Officer had 10 years of experience in zoning enforcement and
worked for the Township for 2½ years. (R.R. at 41a.) The Zoning Officer inspected
Spencer’s Properties “numerous times.” (Id. at 44a.) The Zoning Officer testified
vehicles or the sale of motor vehicles.” Id. It also “does not apply to [an] active farm.” Id. A
junked motor vehicle is defined as “[a]ny motor vehicle that[] [] [i]s not in operable condition[]
and/or [] [d]oes not have properly affixed thereto . . . a current license plate.” Section 132-3 of
Property Maintenance Code, Property Maintenance Code § 132-3.
4
as to sending the Notices, from which Spencer did not appeal to the Zoning Hearing
Board, and filing the complaints with the MDJ, who ruled in the Township’s favor.
The Zoning Officer cited other individuals during this time for their properties and
they generally complied and worked with the Zoning Officer to remedy the
violations, so they were not required to pay fines, (id. at 57a, 70a, 72a-74a), whereas
Spencer did not take any action, (id. at 45a, 56a, 85a-86a). On cross-examination,
the Zoning Officer was asked about William Rodibaugh, an individual who was sent
notices by the Zoning Officer related to Rodibaugh’s property, and who testified
later at the hearing. The Zoning Officer explained that Rodibaugh was permitted to
contest the validity of the notices because he contacted and met with the Zoning
Officer several times before the 30-day notice expired. (Id. at 84a-85a, 88a.) The
Zoning Officer filed the citation with the MDJ but withdrew it upon Rodibaugh
working with the Township and demonstrating a nonconforming use. (Id. at 77a,
89a-90a.)
Spencer offered the testimony of the Township’s former Zoning and Code
Enforcement Officer (Former Zoning Officer), Rodibaugh, and testified on his own
behalf. The Former Zoning Officer testified as follows. On the day of his hiring,
the Former Zoning Officer was told of ongoing issues with Spencer and to give
special attention to Spencer and his Properties. (Id. at 106a-07a.) The Former
Zoning Officer claimed that other individuals were issued notices of violation “in
order to be able to cite [] Spencer.” (Id. at 113a.) He was told to issue around 9 to
10 notices of violations to others, and if they complied, the Former Zoning Officer
could withdraw the notices. (Id. at 113a-14a.) The Former Zoning Officer refused
to do so because he “was not going to fabricate charges.” (Id. at 114a.) During
cross-examination, the Former Zoning Officer, who was terminated by the Township
5
in 2017, admitted that he currently had a pending lawsuit against the Township. (Id.
at 118a, 121a.)
Spencer also presented the testimony of Rodibaugh, who testified as follows.
Rodibaugh received a notice of violation and was ultimately fined by the MDJ. (Id.
at 128a-29a.) Following the MDJ’s decision but before the 30-day period to appeal
to the trial court expired, Rodibaugh communicated with the Zoning Officer and
offered evidence4 that he had a lawful, nonconforming use. (Id. at 129a, 132a.)
Spencer testified on his own behalf as follows. Spencer attempted to work
with the Township to remedy the current issues for over 20 years. (Id. at 135a.) In
2016, Spencer met with the Township to discuss moving his vehicles from the
Properties to another property, which is naturally screened and would qualify for a
special exception under the Township’s Zoning Ordinance. (Id. at 139a.) Spencer
applied for a junkyard license but received no response. (Id. at 140a.) Spencer also
previously applied for a conditional use permit many times, but the Township has
not acted on those applications. (Id. at 141a, 145a-46a.) In response to questions
from the trial court, Spencer explained that the Deep Hollow Road and the
Waugaman Properties are separate but “adjoining parcels,” the Trailer #1 Property
and the Trailer #2 Property, both on Garden Lane, are also adjoining, and the
Goodman Property and Waugaman Property “touch each other.” (Id. at 151a-52a.)
When asked if the Properties were “four [] basically separate non-contiguous
properties,” Spencer replied “yes.” (Id. at 152a.)
On March 13, 2020, the trial court issued its Opinion and Order in which all
six docket numbers were listed in the caption. The trial court found that each of the
4
The evidence offered included titles for the vehicles, photographs of the vehicles taken
before the Zoning Ordinance was enacted, copies of inspections, and license plates for the vehicles.
(R.R. at 132a.)
6
Properties was used as a “junkyard” as defined in Section 195-6A of the Zoning
Ordinance. The trial court dismissed the testimony of the Former Zoning Officer,
stating the Former Zoning Officer was incorrect in his “personal interpretation of the
Zoning Ordinance,” the Former Zoning Officer’s refusal to enforce does not
foreclose future action being taken against an individual, Spencer had the ability to
pursue other avenues beyond appealing the decision of the MDJ, and selective
enforcement was not proven in this instance. (Trial Ct. Op. at 4.) The trial court’s
only issue with the MDJ decision related to the fines. The trial court noted that
fining each “parcel” was incorrect and instead it should have been “land,” which is
the term used in the definition of junkyard under Section 195-6A of the Zoning
Ordinance. The trial court explained that “two adjoining parcels having a frontage
width of 110 feet each (220 feet combined) resulted in damages being awarded of
$1,000.00 ($500.00 each) compared to a [50-]acre parcel where only $500.00 was
awarded as damages.” (Trial Ct. Op. at 5.) The trial court concluded that the MDJ’s
fine “was excessive in that it considered adjoining parcels as separate pieces of land,
rather than one piece of land.” (Id.)
The trial court, accordingly, ordered damages to be assessed as follows: the
Waugaman Property and Goodman Property were to be considered one piece of
land, and the fine was “reduced from $1,000.00 to $500.00 plus costs of $109.25
because they are used for the same purpose, i.e.[,] a ‘JUNKYARD’ and are
contiguous to each other[;]” the fine for the Trailer #1 Property and Trailer #2
Property was reduced from $1,000.00 to $500.00 plus costs of $109.25 as they were
contiguous to each other and used for the same purpose; the fine for the Deep Hollow
Property and the Hill Property remained at $1,000.000 plus costs of $218.50 because
“they are not contiguous to nor do they adjoin any other properties subject to these
7
appeals.” (Trial Ct. Order.) The trial court’s order was filed at each of the six trial
court dockets.
Thereafter, Spencer filed a single Notice of Appeal to this Court listing all six
trial court docket numbers and attaching thereto a single copy of the trial court’s
order where a handwritten check mark appeared next to docket number 704-2019.
The trial court directed Spencer to file a Statement of Errors Complained of on
Appeal pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 1925(b), Pa.R.A.P.
1925(b) (1925(b) Statement).5 Spencer filed the 1925(b) Statement, asserting the
trial court erred in: denying Spencer’s appeal when the Township presented no
evidence establishing a violation of the Zoning Ordinance or the extent of the
violation to the trial court; imposing the maximum fine with no evidence presented
by the Township on the extent of the violation; concluding that Spencer “waived the
issue of the violation or stipulated that the issue of violation was not to be decided
where [Spencer] merely acknowledged the Township’s position in the matter and
the Township offered no proof of any violation[;]” concluding that Spencer was in
violation of the Zoning Ordinance; “failing to find facts demonstrating that the
[P]roperties were used as a ‘junkyard’ . . . in the absence of any evidence that
[Spencer] was operating the properties as a business or maintaining junk thereon[;]”
dismissing Spencer’s claim of selective enforcement; and adopting the findings of
facts of the MDJ. (1925(b) Statement at 1-2.)
5
Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) provides:
If the judge entering the order giving rise to the notice of appeal (“judge”) desires
clarification of the errors complained of on appeal, the judge may enter an order
directing the appellant to file of record in the trial court and serve on the judge a
concise statement of the errors complained of on appeal (“Statement”).
8
The trial court responded with its “Opinion Sur 1925” (1925(a) Opinion),6
stating that counsel for Spencer agreed that the trial was for the mitigation of the
penalty and not the violation itself.7 The trial court stated that it “did not consider
the question of whether [Spencer] had actually violated the [Zoning O]rdinance,” as
“this had already been determined.” (1925(a) Opinion at 3.) The trial court “found
facts as they related to the appropriate amount of the penalty awarded which included
and necessitated examination of the applicable language of the Zoning Ordinance
and . . . a review of the calculation of fines and costs by the [MDJ.]” (Id. at 3-4.)
On July 1, 2020, this Court issued an order, stating that upon review, it
appeared Spencer filed a single notice of appeal to the trial court’s order disposing
of six related matters at separate dockets. Accordingly, the parties were directed to
“address in their principal briefs on the merits or other appropriate motion the
propriety of filing a single notice of appeal from matters appearing at six (6) different
docket numbers,” citing the Supreme Court’s decision in Walker. (July 1, 2020
Order.)
6
Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)(1) provides in part:
(1) General rule. Except as otherwise prescribed by this rule, upon receipt of the
notice of appeal, the judge who entered the order giving rise to the notice of appeal,
if the reasons for the order do not already appear of record, shall within the period
set forth in Pa.R.A.P. 1931(a)(1) file of record at least a brief opinion of the reasons
for the order, or for the rulings or other errors complained of, or shall specify in
writing the place in the record where such reasons may be found.
7
While the trial court indicated that counsel for Spencer agreed the merits of the violation
were not before the trial court, from a review of the transcript it is not clear that such an agreement
was made.
9
II. PARTIES’ ARGUMENTS8
Spencer argues that this Court may consider the case without “implicat[ion
of] any of the considerations of . . . Walker.” (Spencer’s Brief (Br.) at 21.) Spencer
cites Commonwealth v. Johnson, 236 A.3d 1141 (Pa. Super. 2020),9 for the
proposition that “Walker does not require quashal when a single Notice of Appeal
lists multiple docket numbers.” (Spencer’s Br. at 21.) Furthermore, in 2303
Bainbridge, LLC v. Steel River Building Systems, Inc., 239 A.3d 1107 (Pa. Super.
2020), Spencer contends, “[t]he Superior Court declined to quash [the appeal],
noting that the concerns present in Walker were not present in that there were not
multiple defendants, the facts and issues applied only to one [a]ppellant, and the
outcome will affect only one [a]ppellant.” (Spencer’s Br. at 22.) Therefore, Spencer
asserts Walker does not require quashal in this case as the concerns from a single
filing are likewise not present here.
Spencer next asserts that the trial court abused its discretion in awarding the
maximum amount of damages to the Township because “the Township did not offer
any evidence regarding the extent or nature of the alleged violation” before the trial
court. (Spencer’s Br. at 14.) Spencer contends that the trial court possessed
discretion in awarding penalties under the Zoning Ordinance based on the evidence
presented; however, there was no evidence to establish that the maximum fine
should be imposed. (Id. at 14-15.) Spencer maintains that the trial court lacked any
evidence to impose a fine, especially as Spencer “presented evidence that he had
been singled out for enforcement and treated differently than [other] Township
We have reordered Spencer’s arguments to first address whether this appeal should be
8
quashed pursuant to Walker as that is a threshold issue in this case.
9
While not binding, Superior Court decisions “offer persuasive precedent where they
address analogous issues.” Lerch v. Unemployment Comp. Bd. of Rev., 180 A.3d 545, 550 (Pa.
Cmwlth. 2018).
10
residents.” (Id. at 17.) Spencer also argues that, to qualify as a junkyard, the Zoning
Ordinance requires that the Properties be used for “processing and sale.” (Id. at 18
(quoting Zoning Ordinance § 195-6A).) Spencer argues that “the violation becomes
de minimis” because the “junk” is not being sold and, thus, the Properties cannot be
junkyards. (Id. at 18-19.) Spencer also asserts that a business use is necessary
because the “Township, presumably in order to address this issue, has enacted a
‘Property Maintenance Code’ dealing with ‘junked motor vehicles.’” (Id. at 19.)
This is because “the ‘Property Maintenance Code’ does not apply to ‘a business
enterprise that is regularly engaged in the repair of motor vehicles or the sa[l]e of
motor vehicles.’” (Id. (quoting Property Maintenance Code § 132-4(D)).)
Spencer also contends that selective prosecution was present in this case, and
it was an error for the trial court to conclude otherwise. Spencer argues that he was
not treated the same as other individuals, like Rodibaugh, who were also issued
violations around the same time. (Id. at 23-24.) The Former Zoning Officer’s
testimony, Spencer argues, supports the fact that “Spencer was singled out.” (Id. at
24.)
The Township asserts that this matter should be quashed pursuant to Walker
and that Spencer is incorrect in its interpretation of Johnson because the Superior
Court determined that the appellant in that case filed four separate notices of appeal,
not one notice with four docket numbers attached. (Township’s Br. at 7-8 (citing
Johnson, 236 A.3d at 1148).) The Township also argues that Bainbridge is contrary
to other Superior Court precedent, and this Court is not beholden to those decisions.
(Township’s Br. at 8.) The Township argues that, pursuant to Commonwealth v.
Larkin, 235 A.3d 350 (Pa. Super. 2020), this is a bright-line rule and is not dependent
on any set of facts. (Township’s Br. at 9.)
11
As to the merits, the Township argues that there was no abuse of discretion in
this instance because the merits of the zoning violation could not be challenged since
Spencer did not appeal the Notices to the Zoning Hearing Board. (Id. at 10-11.) The
Township asserts that Section 617.2(a) of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning
Code (MPC), 53 P.S. § 10617.2(a),10 does not require any evidence for “a trial court
to impose a $500 fine for each day that the violation occurred.” (Township’s Br. at
12-13.) The Township also argues that Spencer’s business argument is waived
because he did not appeal the Notices and, even if not waived, it is without merit.
(Id. at 14.) Spencer was still in violation of the Zoning Ordinance, the Township
contends, and thus the trial court had the authority to impose the full amount of the
fine per violation. (Id.) The Township argues that Spencer’s argument that the
Zoning Ordinance’s definition of a junkyard is limited to business purposes is
incorrect. (Id. at 16.) Further, the Township asserts that “Spencer’s interpretation
is not the only reasonable interpretation of the [Zoning O]rdinance and[,] in fact[,]
is unreasonable. Rather, the trial court’s interpretation of the governing ordinance
is the proper interpretation.” (Id.) The Township likewise contends that the selective
enforcement challenge was waived by Spencer’s failure to appeal to the Zoning
Hearing Board or, if not waived, is meritless. (Id. at 17.) Spencer did not meet his
burden of demonstrating selective enforcement, the Township asserts, because
Rodibaugh’s testimony showed he worked with the Township, whereas Spencer did
not. (Id. at 18-19.)
10
Act of July 31, 1968, P.L. 805, as amended, added by Act of December 21, 1988, P.L.
1329, 53 P.S. § 10617.2(a).
12
III. DISCUSSION
A. Whether a single notice of appeal is sufficient to appeal the trial
court’s orders in six docket numbers.
Upon review of the appeal to this Court, we directed both parties to address
the propriety of filing one notice of appeal as to an order entered at six separate,
unconsolidated docket numbers based upon the Supreme Court’s decision in Walker.
As this issue presents a question of law, our scope of review is plenary and the
standard of review is de novo. Walker, 185 A.3d at 974. In Walker, the Supreme
Court considered the Commonwealth’s single notice of appeal from an order
disposing of four motions to suppress evidence filed by four different criminal
defendants at four separate docket numbers. Id. at 971. The Superior Court, on
appeal from the trial court, examined the Official Note of Rule 341 of the
Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate Procedure, which states, in relevant part, that
“[w]here, however, one or more orders resolves issues arising on more than one
docket or relating to more than one judgment, separate notices of appeal must be
filed.” Pa.R.A.P. 341(a), Official Note (emphasis added). The Superior Court
determined that four separate notices of appeal should have been filed and quashed
the appeal. The Supreme Court “agree[d] with the Superior Court’s analysis,” citing
potential issues and “unintended consequences” when a court “must ‘go behind’ the
notice of appeal to determine if the same facts and issues apply to all of the
appellees.” Walker, 185 A.3d at 976-77. However, despite this agreement with the
Superior Court’s reasoning, the Supreme Court reversed the Superior Court’s order
quashing the appeal. In doing so, the Supreme Court determined that the Official
Note should be applied prospectively and not to the cases then on appeal, as it goes
against decades of courts seldom quashing appeals on this ground. Id. The Supreme
Court stated that in future cases, the courts will “require that when a single order
13
resolves issues arising on more than one lower court docket, separate notices of
appeal must be filed. The failure to do so will result in quashal of the appeal.” Id.
at 977 (emphasis added). This is a “bright-line mandatory instruction to practitioners
to file separate notices of appeal.” Id. at 976-77.
Before this Court, Spencer cites two subsequent Superior Court decisions,
Johnson and Bainbridge, for the proposition that this appeal should not be quashed.
The facts of those cases, however, are distinguishable from the facts before this
Court. In Johnson, the appellant filed four notices of appeal and listed all four trial
court docket numbers on each notice of appeal. The appellant “italicized only one
case number on each notice of appeal,” which the Superior Court held “perfected
four appeals from each of the four common pleas court dockets.” Johnson, 236
A.3d at 1148 (emphasis added). The Superior Court stated that “it is indisputable
that Johnson filed a separate notice of appeal for each of the four dockets below.”
Id. (emphasis added). The fact that more than one docket number was listed on the
notice of appeal was not, and should not be, disqualifying. In contrast, here, Spencer
did not file six separate notices of appeal; he filed only one notice of appeal listing
all six docket numbers. Accordingly, the Superior Court’s decision in Johnson does
not resolve the issue before us.
Spencer’s reliance on Bainbridge is likewise misplaced. Bainbridge
superficially appears similar, because the appellant in Bainbridge included three
docket numbers in a single notice of appeal and the Superior Court declined to quash
the appeal. Bainbridge, 239 A.3d at 1110 n.1. However, the Superior Court
reasoned that the dockets were consolidated or disposed of, with only one of the
docket numbers remaining open. Id. We recognize that the Superior Court also
“note[d] that the concerns present in Walker [were] not present [t]here: there [were]
14
not multiple defendants, the facts and issues appl[ied] only to one appellant, and the
outcome [] affect[ed] only one appellant.” Id. Spencer argues that, as in Bainbridge,
the concerns present in Walker are likewise not implicated here, and therefore, as in
Bainbridge, we should not quash this appeal. This argument overlooks one key
distinction between this matter and Bainbridge: here, there is no evidence, nor do
the parties argue, that the six dockets were consolidated before the trial court.
Therefore, Bainbridge is not applicable to the case before us.
Here, Spencer filed one notice of appeal from the trial court’s order, which
levied fines for the six Properties at six separate docket numbers. There was no
consolidation of those cases, whether by the trial court sua sponte or at the behest of
the parties. Without consolidation, this singular appeal is not proper according to
Walker and its interpretation of the Note to Rule 341(a) of the Pennsylvania Rules
of Appellate Procedure. We are bound by the precedent set by the Supreme Court
in Walker establishing this bright-line rule. However, unlike cases quashing the
appeal in its entirety, see, e.g., Commonwealth v. Casey, 218 A.3d 429, 431 (Pa.
Super. 2019) (failure to file separate petitions was fatal and the petition for
permission to appeal was denied); Commonwealth v. Nichols, 208 A.3d 1087, 1090
(Pa. Super. 2019) (the appellant’s appeal was quashed because appellant did not file
separate notices of appeal for each of the trial court’s docket numbers), we will not
quash the entirety of the appeal. “[T]he Rules of Appellate Procedure are to be
liberally construed to effectuate justice. Pa.R.A.P. 105(a), see also 1 Pa.C.S.[]
§ 1928(c).” Johnson, 236 A.3d at 1148. Unique to this case, the trial court order
appended to the Notice of Appeal identifies it as belonging to Docket No. 704-2019,
related to the Deep Hollow Property. Therefore, we conclude Spencer has properly
preserved his appeal of that matter. However, because Spencer has not filed a notice
15
of appeal from the other trial court orders for Case Nos. 705-2019 through 709-2019,
pursuant to Walker, we are constrained to quash those appeals.11
B. Whether the trial court abused its discretion or committed an error
of law in imposing the fines.
Having concluded Spencer properly appealed from the trial court’s order in
Case No. 704-2019, we move to the merits of Spencer’s arguments involving the
Deep Hollow Property.12 Spencer asserts that the trial court abused its discretion
because the Township did not offer adequate evidence to support the fine, the trial
court committed an error of law when it determined that the Township’s Zoning
Ordinance does not require a business use for a property to be a “junkyard,” and the
trial court erred in dismissing the selective enforcement challenge. We address each
of these arguments in turn.
1. Adequate Evidence
Section 617.2(a) of the MPC provides the following regarding fines associated
with violations of any zoning ordinance:
11
During argument, for the first time, Spencer contended that the trial court faxed only one
copy of the trial court’s Opinion and Order to him and not six. Therefore, he contended generally
that his filing only one appeal from that order should be acceptable. The Township asserted that
Spencer waived any argument based on his alleged receipt of only one order because any argument
should have been raised in his brief when ordered by the Court to address the issue. We agree that
this contention, and any legal argument in support thereof, should have been raised in Spencer’s
brief, as issues not adequately raised by a party in its brief are waived. Saad v. Sacred Heart Hosp.,
700 A.2d 604 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1997). Moreover, there has been no legal argument made in support
of his general contention that receipt of one order here absolves Spencer of filing notices of appeal
in all six dockets. Regardless, even if we had not quashed the five appeals, as we explain infra,
we would have affirmed the trial court.
12
“In an appeal from a trial court’s decision in a zoning enforcement proceeding, our
review is limited to determining whether the trial court committed an abuse of discretion or error
of law.” Loganville Borough v. Godfrey, 58 A.3d 1149, 1151 n.4 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2012).
16
Any person[] . . . who . . . has violated or permitted the violation of the
provisions of any zoning ordinance enacted under this act or prior
enabling laws shall, upon being found liable therefor in a civil
enforcement proceeding commenced by a municipality, pay a judgment
of not more than $500 plus all court costs, including reasonable
attorney fees incurred by a municipality as a result thereof.
53 P.S. § 10617.2(a) (emphasis added). When a landowner does not appeal
enforcement notices to the zoning hearing board, “the failure to appeal renders the
violation notice unassailable.” Township of Penn v. Seymour, 708 A.2d 861, 864
(Pa. Cmwlth. 1998). If a municipality then files a complaint with the MDJ, the MDJ
and, later the trial court, may only address “whether the penalty imposed for the
violation was proper,” and not the violation itself. Id. at 865. Stated another way,
when a landowner, such as Spencer in this case, is given notice of violations, the
landowner must first challenge the violations before the municipality’s zoning
hearing board; the landowner cannot challenge the violations in the first instance
before the trial court or MDJ. Johnston v. Upper Macungie Township, 638 A.2d
408, 411 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1994). In Johnston, because the landowner did not appeal
the notice of violation to the local zoning hearing board, the trial court and MDJ
were barred from considering whether a violation, in fact, occurred, and were limited
by Section 617.2(a) of the MPC to determining the amount of a fine based upon the
evidence of that violation. Johnston, 638 A.2d at 412. We explained a trial court
and MDJ should “accept evidence that a landowner violated the ordinance,” and then
“may accept evidence relating to a landowner’s assertion that he had a good faith
belief that he had not violated a zoning ordinance,” as it “relates to the [MDJ or trial
court]’s power to impose sanctions.” Id. (emphasis added).
Spencer argues that the trial court’s imposition of the maximum fine was an
abuse of discretion as there was a lack of evidence of the violation from the
17
Township. However, per Johnston and the MPC, the Township need only provide
“evidence of a landowner’s failure to appeal a zoning officer’s determination,”
which the Township provided, through the Zoning Officer’s testimony that Spencer
did not appeal to the Zoning Hearing Board. Johnston, 638 A.2d at 412. Once the
Township proffered this evidence, the trial court possessed discretion to determine
the fines. See Loganville Borough v. Godfrey, 59 A.3d 1149, 1152 (Pa. Cmwlth.
2012). In Loganville, the trial court issued a fine of $0 and explained that, although
not determinative, there was “no harm to the [b]orough; [the l]andowner derived no
economic benefit from [the] violation; and [the landowner] brought [the] property
into compliance with the [z]oning [o]rdinance within the five-day timetable
demanded by the [b]orough.” Id. Unlike Loganville, there are no such
considerations in this case as Spencer has not cooperated with the Township.
Accordingly, we find no abuse of discretion in the trial court’s imposition of the
fines in light of the evidence brought before it, particularly when the trial court
reduced the amount of fines previously imposed by the MDJ.
2. Business Use Requirement
Spencer also asserts that the trial court committed an error of law in
determining that a business use is not required for a property to be considered a
“junkyard” under the Zoning Ordinance. The Zoning Ordinance defines “junkyard”
as
[l]and or structures used for the collection, storage, processing and sale
of scrap metal, scrapped, abandoned or junked motor vehicles,
machinery, equipment, wastepaper, glass, rags, containers and other
discarded materials. It shall not include, however, refuse or garbage
kept in a proper container for the purpose of prompt disposal.
Zoning Ordinance § 195-6A.
18
Before the trial court, Spencer argued that the absence of a comma in the term
“processing and sale” meant that both processing and sale was required to qualify a
property as a junkyard. (R.R. at 148a.) Furthermore, he argued the term “processing
and sale” within the definition required the landowner to be “engaged in the
business,” which he was not. (Id. at 147a-48a.) The trial court rejected Spencer’s
argument that the Zoning Ordinance required a business use, citing the Zoning
Ordinance’s plain language. (Id. at 148a-49a.)
Although Spencer invites the Court to engage in an analysis of the definition
of “junkyard,” which in his opinion, will show there is no violation of the Zoning
Ordinance, such an analysis is unnecessary here. As stated above, because Spencer
did not appeal the Notice, he cannot now argue that there is no violation.
Even if we were to undertake such an analysis, we disagree with Spencer’s
interpretation of the Zoning Ordinance. In reading the language of an ordinance, the
goal is to determine the intent of the legislative body that enacted the ordinance. Tri-
Cnty. Landfill, Inc. v. Pine Twp. Zoning Hearing Bd., 83 A.3d 488, 509 (Pa. Cmwlth.
2014). We first look to the plain language of the statute, in which “[w]ords and
phrases shall be construed according to rules of grammar and according to their
common and approved usage.” Id. (quoting Section 1903(a) of the Statutory
Construction Act of 1972, 1 Pa.C.S. § 1903(a)). If an ordinance is unambiguous, we
are to apply it as written. Id. at 510. However, if ambiguous, “we must then ascertain
the legislative body’s intent by statutory analysis, wherein we may consider
numerous relevant factors. An ambiguity exists when language is subject to two or
more reasonable interpretations and not merely because two conflicting
interpretations may be suggested.” Id. (internal citation omitted). Moreover, an
ordinance “shall be construed, if possible, to give effect to all its provisions so that
19
no provision is ‘mere surplusage.’” Id. at 509 (citing Section 1921(a) of the
Statutory Construction Act of 1972, 1 Pa.C.S. § 1921(a)). Finally, it is presumed
that a municipality did “not intend a result that is absurd, impossible of execution or
unreasonable.” Section 1922 of the Statutory Construction Act of 1972, 1 Pa.C.S.
§ 1922. Spencer and the Township offer two reasonable interpretations of the
Zoning Ordinance. Spencer contends that the Zoning Ordinance requires the
collection, storage, processing and sale of junked material, because of the use of the
conjunction. The Township argues that all four acts are not required because such
an interpretation would render parts of the definition superfluous, and had the
Township intended to instill a business use requirement, it could have plainly stated
as much in the Zoning Ordinance, which it did not. Given these two reasonable
interpretations, we agree that the Zoning Ordinance is ambiguous. Therefore, we
will use the above outlined principles to discern the Township’s intent.
We disagree with Spencer that the word “and” at the beginning of Section
195-6A of the Zoning Ordinance necessitates a business use or inherently connects
“processing and sale” together, since there is a lack of a comma. (See Spencer’s Br.
at 18-19.) While the “[c]ourt[s] ha[ve] generally taken ‘and’ to mean ‘and,’” the
Supreme Court has explained that this is not required when the result would be
“unreasonable, absurd, or incapable of execution.” Gen. Motors, LLC v. Bureau of
Pro. & Occupational Affairs, State Bd. of Vehicle Mfr., Dealers, & Salespersons,
212 A.3d 40, 49 (Pa. 2019); see also Lewis v. Thornburgh, 462 A.2d 310, 317 (Pa.
Cmwlth. 1983) (interpreting “and” as the disjunctive “or” and reviewing cases doing
same). This would be the case here. Reading “and” as a conjunctive in the definition
of “junkyard” would lead to an unreasonable interpretation. For example, as pointed
out by the Township, the final sentence of the definition provides an exception for
20
refuse or garbage that is kept in a proper container for disposal. (Township’s Br. at
16.) Spencer’s interpretation would render this exception “superfluous” because the
exception would not be needed for a business selling such items. We agree with the
Township that this exception contradicts Spencer’s argument that a business use is
required to violate the Zoning Ordinance. We also note that the definition includes
“and” later in the definition, in listing “machinery, equipment, waste paper, glass,
rags, containers and other discarded materials” as types of items that may comprise
a junkyard. Zoning Ordinance § 195-6A (emphasis added). Under Spencer’s
interpretation, if one of these items was not present, i.e., no waste paper, it would
not qualify as a junkyard. We, therefore, conclude this is one of those circumstances
where interpreting “and” as a conjunctive leads to an absurd result, and instead we
interpret “and” as a disjunctive. Gen. Motors, 212 A.3d at 49; Lewis, 462 A.2d at
317.
Finally, in looking to the text of Section 195-6A of the Zoning Ordinance,
there is no mention of the land being connected to a business directly; instead, a
variety of uses are listed for a piece of land to be considered a junkyard. Had the
Township intended to require such a business use, it could have provided as much
in the Zoning Ordinance, which it did not. We, therefore, find no error in the trial
court’s interpretation of the Ordinance, and we will not overturn the fine it imposed
based on the evidence presented before it.
3. Selective Enforcement
Spencer’s final argument proposes that the trial court erred in determining
there was no selective enforcement in this case. In order to establish selective
prosecution, Spencer was required to establish that “others similarly situated were
not prosecuted for similar conduct” and that the government’s “prosecution was
21
based on impermissible grounds such as race, religion, the exercise of some
constitutional right, or any other such arbitrary classification.” Commonwealth v.
Mulholland, 702 A.2d 1027, 1034 (Pa. 1997).
In support of his selective enforcement claim, Spencer cites to the testimony
of the Zoning Officer that other individuals, such as Rodibaugh, who were cited but
were not required to pay fines. The Zoning Officer testified he cited other
individuals for the same violations around “the same time period.” (R.R. at 56a.)
Those individuals, while they did not pay fines, complied with the Zoning Officer’s
request by making calls to the office, allowing inspections, and removing the junk
vehicles. (Id. at 56a.) Even the testimony of Spencer’s own witness, Rodibaugh,
established that he worked with the Township before and after the notice of
violation. Spencer, in contrast, did not work with the Township at any stage of the
proceedings to remedy the violations or make a showing that the violations were
wrong by appealing to the Zoning Hearing Board. Therefore, Spencer has not shown
he is similarly situated to those individuals.
Spencer also relies upon the testimony of the Former Zoning Officer to
support his claim. The trial court, though, dismissed the Former Zoning Officer’s
testimony and determined that it was “not relevant to this inquiry” because the
Former Zoning Officer’s interpretation of the Zoning Ordinance was incorrect and
the refusal to enforce provisions of the Zoning Ordinance does not foreclose a future
Zoning Officer from doing so. (Trial Ct. Op. at 4.) As the trial court is the fact
finder, we are bound by its findings and credibility determinations. Ziegler v. City
of Reading, 216 A.3d 1192, 1202 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2019). Additionally, Spencer
proffered no evidence to support a finding that Spencer was treated differently from
other similarly situated individuals who also did not comply or work with the
22
Township and Zoning Officer. Therefore, we cannot conclude that the trial court
erred in determining that there was no selective enforcement by the Township.
IV. CONCLUSION
Following the Supreme Court’s opinion in Walker, it is improper for a party
to file one notice of appeal from an order which “resolve[d] issues arising on more
than one lower court docket.” 185 A.3d at 977. This is a bright-line rule, and we
are, therefore, constrained to quash five of the six cases Spencer attempted to appeal
from the trial court.13 We do not quash Spencer’s appeal on the Deep Hollow
Property, Case No. 704-2019, because the Notice of Appeal properly appealed the
order related to that matter. On the merits, we conclude the trial court did not abuse
its discretion or commit an error of law in its imposition of the fines. The Township
proffered evidence that Spencer did not appeal the violation to the Zoning Hearing
Board, and thus this fact was binding on the trial court. Johnston, 638 A.2d at 412.
The record also establishes that Spencer did not cooperate with the Township, while
others, similarly cited by the Township, worked with the Zoning Officer.
Accordingly, we find no error or abuse of discretion by the trial court and we affirm
the trial court’s order in regards to the Deep Hollow Property, Case No. 704-2019.
_____________________________________
RENÉE COHN JUBELIRER, Judge
13
Even if we had not quashed the appeals, we would conclude that the trial court did not
commit an error of law or abuse its discretion for the other five Properties for the same reasons
discussed with regard to the Deep Hollow Property.
23
IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Township of Cranberry :
:
:
v. : No. 375 C.D. 2020
:
Randy J. Spencer, :
Appellant :
ORDER
NOW, March 24, 2021, the March 13, 2020 Order of the Court of Common
Pleas of Venango County (trial court) entered at trial court docket 704-2019 is
hereby AFFIRMED. Appellant’s appeal of the orders entered at trial court dockets
705-2019, 706-2019, 707-2019, 708-2019, 709-2019 is QUASHED.
_____________________________________
RENÉE COHN JUBELIRER, Judge