{ "id": 3805855, "name": "GERHARDA H. SANCHEZ, Petitioner v. TOWN OF BEAUFORT, BEAUFORT BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT, BEAUFORT HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION, and DOUGLAS E. SMITH, Respondents", "name_abbreviation": "Sanchez v. Town of Beaufort", "decision_date": "2011-05-03", "docket_number": "No. COA10-750", "first_page": "574", "last_page": "583", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "211 N.C. App. 574" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.", "id": 14983, "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "667 S.E.2d 239", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "case_ids": [ 12642008 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2008, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "242" }, { "page": "242", "parenthetical": "internal quotation and citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/se2d/667/0239-01" ] }, { "cite": "465 S.E.2d 324", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "327", "parenthetical": "\"The failure to make findings of fact is not, however, fatal if the record sufficiently informs [the court] of the basis of decision of the material issues[.]\" (internal quotation and citation omitted)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "121 N.C. App. 346", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11917055 ], "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "350-51", "parenthetical": "\"The failure to make findings of fact is not, however, fatal if the record sufficiently informs [the court] of the basis of decision of the material issues[.]\" (internal quotation and citation omitted)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/121/0346-01" ] }, { "cite": "344 S.E.2d 272", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "278", "parenthetical": "internal citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "317 N.C. 51", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4771671 ], "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "60", "parenthetical": "internal citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/317/0051-01" ] }, { "cite": "603 S.E.2d 393", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2004, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "399", "parenthetical": "internal quotations, citations, and brackets omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "166 N.C. App. 586", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8412437 ], "year": 2004, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "595", "parenthetical": "internal quotations, citations, and brackets omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/166/0586-01" ] }, { "cite": "193 N.C. App. 96", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 4161429 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2008, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "101" }, { "page": "101" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/193/0096-01" ] }, { "cite": "496 S.E.2d 825", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "827", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" }, { "parenthetical": "emphasis added" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "128 N.C. App. 703", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11656677 ], "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "706-07", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/128/0703-01" ] }, { "cite": "669 S.E.2d 279", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 2008, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "283" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "362 N.C. 640", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4150246 ], "year": 2008, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "644" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/362/0640-01" ] }, { "cite": "300 S.E.2d 869", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "870" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "61 N.C. App. 612", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8523215 ], "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "614" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/61/0612-01" ] }, { "cite": "166 S.E.2d 78", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1969, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "82", "parenthetical": "internal citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "275 N.C. 155", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8558203 ], "year": 1969, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "161", "parenthetical": "internal citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/275/0155-01" ] }, { "cite": "388 S.E.2d 235", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "236" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "97 N.C. App. 287", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8520571 ], "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "289" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/97/0287-01" ] }, { "cite": "560 S.E.2d 875", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "878-79" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "149 N.C. App. 320", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 9127650 ], "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "324" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/149/0320-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 863, "char_count": 20641, "ocr_confidence": 0.746, "pagerank": { "raw": 7.176713082402297e-08, "percentile": 0.42966655584939506 }, "sha256": "af9d4527ebc99a70589134022ddbb28fc5f0e1b87b8b2911d12ef3d2d36864ba", "simhash": "1:4129fc2d54bdc565", "word_count": 3248 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:31:50.212435+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judges HUNTER, Robert C. and ELMORE concur." ], "parties": [ "GERHARDA H. SANCHEZ, Petitioner v. TOWN OF BEAUFORT, BEAUFORT BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT, BEAUFORT HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION, and DOUGLAS E. SMITH, Respondents" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "CALABRIA, Judge.\nGerharda H. Sanchez (\u201cpetitioner\u201d) appeals the superior court\u2019s order affirming the decision of the Town of Beaufort (\u201cthe Town\u201d) Board of Adjustment (\u201cthe BOA\u201d). The BOA reversed the decision of the Beaufort Historic Preservation Commission (\u201cthe BHPC\u201d) and ordered the BHPC to issue a Certificate of Appropriateness (\u201cCOA\u201d) to respondent Douglas E. Smith (\u201cSmith\u201d). We affirm.\nI. Background\nPetitioner lives at 117 Front Street, in the historic district of Beaufort, North Carolina. Petitioner\u2019s home is located across the street from a property owned by Smith. Smith\u2019s property, located at 122 Front Street, contains a sixteen foot, two inch structure known as the \u201cCarpenter Cottage.\u201d Smith purchased the property intending to demolish the Carpenter Cottage and construct a two-story structure in its place. In order to commence demolition and construction in the historic district, Smith was required by statute to submit applications for COAs to the BHPC. The BHPC denied three of Smith\u2019s applications, and Smith appealed these denials to the BOA. The resulting BOA decisions were then appealed to the Carteret County Superior Court by either Smith or the Town, depending upon which party prevailed before the BOA.\nThe Carteret County Superior Court ordered Smith and the Town, including two members of the BHPC, to conduct mediation. The mediation was conducted in August 2008, and the parties reached a proposed settlement whereby Smith agreed to submit a new application for a one-and-one-half story structure with the condition that, if the new application was approved by the BHPC, all parties would dismiss any pending litigation. Smith submitted the new COA application, which proposed a one-and-one-half story structure that was twenty-nine feet tall, to the BHPC on 14 March 2009. The new application was considered and discussed at three separate public BHPC hearings, 7 April 2009, 5 May 2009, and 2 June 2009.\nAt the 7 April 2009 BHPC hearing, Smith explained his proposal to demolish the Carpenter Cottage as well as his construction plans for a new structure on the property. Smith\u2019s demolition plan was approved since the Carpenter Cottage was found to be beyond repair. However, petitioner, along with other members of the community, objected to the height of Smith\u2019s proposed new construction. Specifically, petitioner objected that the new structure would inhibit her view of Carrot Island and Taylor\u2019s Creek from her porch. Petitioner\u2019s husband testified that he estimated that the view added approximately $100,000-$150,000 of value to petitioner\u2019s home. At the conclusion of the hearing, the COA for new construction was tabled so that the BHPC could conduct further research regarding the possibility of building a one-and-one-half story structure at a reduced height.\nAt the 5 May 2009 hearing, Smith learned the BHPC would issue a COA for the construction of his. proposed structure if he reduced the maximum height of the structure to twenty-four feet. On 2 June 2009, Smith presented additional drawings and explained his inability to reduce the height to twenty-four feet. Smith provided computer-aided design drawings that were professionally produced to demonstrate that a height of twenty-seven feet, three inches was the lowest height he would be able to build a structure that could be considered a reasonable use of the property. Smith explained to the BHPC the details regarding the proposed height of the ceilings on the first and second floor, as well as the requirements for the height of the foundation to comply with flood safety regulations. Nevertheless, the BHPC voted to deny Smith\u2019s application for a COA, because the twenty-seven foot, three inch height was considered non-conforming to the maximum height of twenty-four feet that had been approved at the conclusion of the 5 May 2009 hearing.\nSmith appealed the BHPC\u2019s decision to the BOA. Smith\u2019s appeal was heard at a BOA hearing on 26 October 2009. At the hearing, Smith\u2019s counsel and the attorney for the Town addressed Smith\u2019s appeal. Petitioner\u2019s attorney also attempted to address the BOA, but the Town\u2019s attorney advised the BOA that the superior court was the proper forum for any appeals. Consequently, the BOA did not consider the arguments of petitioner\u2019s attorney. On 3 December 2009, the BOA entered an order which determined that the BHPC\u2019s twenty-four foot height requirement was arbitrary and capricious and remanded Smith\u2019s application to the BHPC with instructions to issue Smith a COA. On 15 December 2009, the BHPC voted to issue Smith the COA.\nPetitioner filed a petition for a writ of certiorari in the Carteret County Superior Court, requesting that the court reverse the decision of the BOA and uphold the BHPC\u2019s denial of Smith\u2019s COA application. In response to the petition, the Town filed a response which asserted, inter alia, that petitioner did not have standing to challenge the BOA\u2019s decision. On 24 March 2010, the superior court entered an order affirming the BOA\u2019s decision. The superior court\u2019s order stated, \u201cthe height limitation for the proposed structure of 24 feet was arbitrary and not supported by evidence\u201d and \u201cthe proposed structure height of 27 feet, 3 inches is congruous with the structures in the historic district as required by law.\u201d Petitioner appeals.\nII. Standing\nAs an initial matter, we address the Town\u2019s argument that petitioner\u2019s appeal should be dismissed because petitioner lacks standing. While the Town raised this argument before the superior court, it was not explicitly addressed in the court\u2019s order affirming the decision of the BOA. Nevertheless, since \u201c[standing is a necessary prerequisite to a court\u2019s proper exercise of subject matter jurisdiction,... issues pertaining to standing may be raised for the first time on appeal[.]\u201d Aubin v. Susi, 149 N.C. App. 320, 324, 560 S.E.2d 875, 878-79 (2002).\n\u201cCity ordinances creating historic districts, as other ordinances which limit the use of property, are zoning ordinances.\u201d Unruh v. City of Asheville, 97 N.C. App. 287, 289, 388 S.E.2d 235, 236 (1990). In the context of zoning ordinance disputes, our Supreme Court has stated:\nThe mere fact that one\u2019s proposed lawful use of his own land will diminish the value of adjoining or nearby lands of another does not give to such other person a standing to maintain an action, or other legal proceeding, to prevent such use. If, however, the proposed use is unlawful, as where it is prohibited by a valid zoning ordinance, the owner of adjoining or nearby lands, who will sustain special damage from the proposed use through a reduction in the value of his own property, does have a standing to maintain such proceeding.\nJackson v. Bd. of Adjust., 275 N.C. 155, 161, 166 S.E.2d 78, 82 (1969) (internal citations omitted).\nPursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 160A-400.9, a historic preservation commission \u201cshall. . . prepare and adopt principles and guidelines . . . for new construction, alterations, additions, moving and demolition\u201d in the historic district. N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 160A-400.9 (c) (2009). Moreover,\nno exterior portion of any building or other structure (including masonry walls, fences, light fixtures, steps and pavement, or other appurtenant features) . . . shall be erected, altered, restored, moved, or demolished . . . within [a historic] district until after an application for a certificate of appropriateness as to exterior features has been submitted to and approved by the preservation commission.\nN.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 160A-400.9 (a) (2009). There is no dispute that, pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 160A-400.9 (a), Smith must comply with established BHPC guidelines in order to obtain a COA from the BHPC and legally construct a new structure in place of the Carpenter Cottage. Although petitioner alleged that Smith\u2019s application did not comply with BHPC guidelines, in order to establish her standing, petitioner still has the burden of demonstrating that she would sustain \u201c \u2018special damages\u2019 distinct from the rest of the community.\u201d Heery v. Zoning Bd. of Adjust., 61 N.C. App. 612, 614, 300 S.E.2d 869, 870 (1983).\nWhen making a standing determination, \u201cwe view the allegations as true and the supporting record in the light most favorable to the non-moving party.\u201d Mangum v. Raleigh Bd. of Adjust., 362 N.C. 640, 644, 669 S.E.2d 279, 283 (2008). Petitioner alleged in her petition for writ of certiorari that her property was directly across the street from Smith\u2019s property. This allegation \u201cin and of itself, is insufficient to grant standing, [but] it does bear some weight on the issue of whether the complaining party has suffered or will suffer special damages distinct from those damages to the public at large.\u201d Id.\nPetitioner additionally alleged that the height of Smith\u2019s proposed structure did not conform with BHPC guidelines and thus should not have been granted a COA. She also alleged that at its proposed height, Smith\u2019s non-conforming structure would interfere with her use of her property by causing her to lose her private waterfront view. Both petitioner and her husband asserted during HPC hearings on Smith\u2019s application that the loss of this view would reduce the value of petitioner\u2019s property by at least $100,000. Treating petitioner\u2019s allegations as true and viewing the supporting record in the light most favorable to petitioner, she has established the special damages necessary to confer standing to challenge the BOA\u2019s decision. Accordingly, we address the merits of petitioner\u2019s appeal.\nIII. Standard of Review\nargues that the BOA erred by reversing the decision of the BHPC and ordering the BHPC to issue Smith a COA. The review of the BHPC\u2019s decision by the BOA, the superior court, and this Court is an appellate review in the nature of certiorari. See N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 160A-400.9 (e) (2009). A proper certiorari review includes:\n(1) Reviewing the record for errors in law,\n(2) Insuring that procedures specified by law in both statute and ordinance are followed,\n(3) Insuring that appropriate due process rights of a petitioner are protected including the right to offer evidence, cross examine witnesses, and inspect documents,\n(4) Insuring that decisions of . . . boards are supported by competent, material and substantial evidence in the whole record, and\n(5) Insuring that decisions are not arbitrary and capricious.\nFantasy World, Inc. v. Greensboro Bd. of Adjust., 128 N.C. App. 703, 706-07, 496 S.E.2d 825, 827 (1998) (citation omitted).\nIII. Consruitv\nWhile N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 160A-400.9(a) requires the issuance of a COA before construction can occur in a historic district, the statute also limits the discretion of a historic preservation commission in determining whether a COA should issue.\nUnder N.C.G.S. \u00a7 160A-400.9(a), the discretion of the preservation commission is limited: \u201cthe commission . . . shall take no action under this section except to prevent the construction . . . which would be incongruous with the special character of the landmark or district.\u201d Id. (emphasis added). In A-S-P Associates, the Court interpreted this phrase to be \u201ca contextual standard.\u201d A-S-P Associates, 298 N.C. at 222, 258 S.E.2d at 454. \u201cIn this instance the standard of \u2018incongruity\u2019 must derive its meaning, if any, from the total physical environment of the Historic District.\u201d Id.\nMeares v. Town of Beaufort, 193 N.C. App. 96, 101, 667 S.E.2d 239, 242 (2008). In the instant case, the BHPC determined that any structure on Smith\u2019s property over twenty-four feet in height would be incongruous with the historic district, and thus, denied Smith\u2019s application. On appeal, the BOA determined that this height requirement was arbitrary and capricious. We agree.\n\u201cAn administrative ruling is deemed arbitrary and capricious when it is whimsical, willful, and an unreasonable action without consideration or in disregard of facts or law or without determining principle.\u201d Ward v. Inscoe, 166 N.C. App. 586, 595, 603 S.E.2d 393, 399 (2004) (internal quotations, citations, and brackets omitted). \u201c[A] determination which is not supported by substantial evidence is an arbitrary decision. A decision which lacks a rational basis \u2014 where there is no substantial relationship between the facts disclosed by the record and conclusions reached by the board \u2014 is also termed \u2018arbitrary.\u2019 \u201d Godfrey v. Zoning Bd. of Adjust., 317 N.C. 51, 60, 344 S.E.2d 272, 278 (1986) (internal citations omitted).\nIn the instant case, the whole record does not contain substantial evidence that would support the BHPC\u2019s determination that Smith\u2019s proposed new construction was not congruous with the rest of the historic district because it exceeded twenty-four feet. While there was evidence presented before the BHPC that there were other one- and-one-half story structures in the historic district that ranged between twenty and twenty-two feet in height, there was also evidence presented that the residences closest to the Smith property ranged from twenty-six to thirty-five feet in height. N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 160A-400.9 does not permit the BHPC to \u201ccherry pick\u201d certain properties located within the historic district in order to determine the congruity of proposed construction; instead, the BHPC must determine congruity contextually, based upon \u201cthe total physical environment of the Historic District.\u201d Meares, 193 N.C. App. at 101, 667 S.E.2d at 242 (internal quotation and citation omitted). Since a twenty-four foot maximum height requirement was not supported by the facts disclosed by the record, the decision of the BHPC to deny Smith\u2019s application was arbitrary and cannot stand.\nMoreover, it is clear from the transcripts of the BHPC hearings that the BHPC\u2019s twenty-four foot height requirement was not reached on the basis of any particular determining principle. Rather, each BHPC member reached what he or she considered an appropriate height based on their own personal preferences. For example, BHPC member Fred McCune (\u201cMcCune\u201d) indicated that he reached the twenty-four foot requirement in the following manner:\nI think that five feet (51) could be removed from the project without materially harming the internal design features, and I think that it is important to reduce the height on the south side of Ann Street. I mean Front Street. I think it is a unique area, and it does have a . . . there isn\u2019t much to compare it to, but I think that at twenty-nine foot (291) structure . . .\nChairman Wilson: What are you basing your reduction of five feet (5') on?\n[McCune]: Well five feet (51) would be if you had a . . . This is his determination, with a ten foot (101) ceiling downstairs, and a nine foot (91) ceiling upstairs, if you had eight foot (81) ceilings, that\u2019s three feet (31).\nAnd then, if the duct work was to be relocated, that\u2019s two more feet. So that would be five feet (5') without a lot of material changes. Now it could be a different number, but I\u2019m just throwing that out.\n(Emphasis added). Similarly, BHPC member Dan Krautheim (\u201cKrautheim\u201d) made his own calculations on how the interior of Smith\u2019s structure could be configured so that it could reach a height of \u201ctwenty two and a half or twenty four\u201d feet. BHPC member Les Sadler (\u201cSadler\u201d) simply stated that \u201ctwenty five feet (251) is a reasonable height.\u201d When the twenty-four foot requirement was put to a vote by the BHPC, Krautheim explicitly admitted that none of the BHPC guidelines were used to determine that height. Since the twenty-four foot height requirement was established by each member of the BHPC without the use of any determining principle from the BHPC guidelines, it was clearly arbitrary. Petitioner\u2019s arguments to the contrary are overruled.\nV. Vista\nPetitioner additionally argues that the BHPC\u2019s decision should have been upheld because Smith\u2019s application violated BHPC guidelines protecting the historic district\u2019s \u201cvistas.\u201d However, the record clearly indicates that the BHPC did not reach its decision to deny Smith\u2019s application on the basis of any guidelines regulating vistas. During one of the meetings, BHPC members Krautheim and Sadler engaged in the following dialogue:\n[Krautheim]: We see the impact of the vista on twenty two feet (22'). So you know you\u2019re going to lose that.\n[Sadler]: That vista is gone.\n[Krautheim]: It\u2019s gone, let\u2019s face it. The only way it\u2019s going to stay there is if he builds an eighteen foot (181) structure. And you\u2019re still losing some of it.\nAs the BHPC continued to deliberate, BHPC Chairman Mamre Wilson reiterated that \u201canything above sixteen feet, two inches is going to obstruct the view.\u201d Thus, the BHPC believed that any protected vista would be obstructed once a structure over sixteen feet, two inches was constructed. Since the BHPC was willing to allow Smith to construct a structure that was twenty-four feet in height, which was almost eight feet higher than sixteen feet, two inches, it could not have denied Smith\u2019s subsequent COA application on the grounds of any vista protections. Consequently, the BHPC\u2019s decision cannot be upheld on this basis. This argument is overruled.\nV. Conclusion\nTreating petitioner\u2019s allegations as true and viewing the record in the light most favorable to petitioner, she established standing to challenge the decision of the BOA. The BHPC\u2019s twenty-four foot height requirement for Smith\u2019s COA application was not supported by the facts disclosed by the whole record and was made without the use of any determining principle. Therefore, the BOA correctly reversed the BHPC\u2019s arbitrary decision and ordered the BHPC to issue a COA to Smith. The decision of the superior court, affirming the decision of the BOA, is affirmed.\nAffirmed.\nJudges HUNTER, Robert C. and ELMORE concur.\n. However, the superior court necessarily concluded that petitioner had standing by hearing the merits of her appeal.\n. The BHPC did not issue a formal order with findings of fact or conclusions of law. However, the transcript makes clear that the BHPC denied Smith\u2019s application because the proposed construction exceeded the twenty-four foot requirement it had previously established. This is sufficient for appellate review. See Ballas v. Town of Weaverville, 121 N.C. App. 346, 350-51, 465 S.E.2d 324, 327 (1996) (\u201cThe failure to make findings of fact is not, however, fatal if the record sufficiently informs [the court] of the basis of decision of the material issues[.]\u201d (internal quotation and citation omitted)).\n. The vista discussed by the BHPC members referred to the view of the general public from the street level on Front Street. The lost \u201cvista\u201d which petitioner alleged damaged the value of her property was a private vista from a porch located on her property.", "type": "majority", "author": "CALABRIA, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Harvell and Collins, P.A., by Wesley A. Collins and Russell C. Alexander, for petitioner-appellant.", "Kirkman Whitford Brady & Berryman, P.A., by Neil B. Whitford, for respondent-appellee Town of Beaufort.", "Poyner Spruill LLP, by Chad W. Essick, for respondent-appellee Douglas E. Smith." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "GERHARDA H. SANCHEZ, Petitioner v. TOWN OF BEAUFORT, BEAUFORT BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT, BEAUFORT HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION, and DOUGLAS E. SMITH, Respondents\nNo. COA10-750\n(Filed 3 May 2011)\n1. Standing\u2014 challenge \u2014 Certificate of Appropriateness\u2014 special damages shown\nPetitioner established the special damages necessary to confer standing to challenge the Board of Adjustment\u2019s order requiring the Beaufort Historic Preservation Commission to issue a Certificate of Appropriateness to respondent Smith for the structure Smith proposed to build.\n2. Administrative Law\u2014 Board of Adjustment \u2014 Certificate of Appropriateness \u2014 height requirement \u2014 arbitrary and capricious\nThe Board of Adjustment did not err by reversing the decision of the Beaufort Historic Preservation Commission (BHPC) and ordering the BHPC to issue respondent Smith a Certificate of Appropriateness for the structure Smith proposed to build. The height requirement imposed by the BHCP was arbitrary and capricious.\n3. Administrative Law\u2014 Board of Adjustment \u2014 Certificate of Appropriateness \u2014 denial not based on vistas\nPetitioner\u2019s argument that the Beaufort Historic Preservation Commission\u2019s (BHPC) decision to deny respondent Smith a Certificate of Appropriateness should have been upheld because Smith\u2019s application violated BHPC guidelines protecting the historic district\u2019s \u201cvistas\u201d was overruled. The BHPC did not reach its decision to deny Smith\u2019s application on the basis of any guidelines regulating vistas.\nAppeal by petitioner from order entered 24 March 2010 by Judge W. Allen Cobb, Jr. in Carteret County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 1 December 2010.\nHarvell and Collins, P.A., by Wesley A. Collins and Russell C. Alexander, for petitioner-appellant.\nKirkman Whitford Brady & Berryman, P.A., by Neil B. Whitford, for respondent-appellee Town of Beaufort.\nPoyner Spruill LLP, by Chad W. Essick, for respondent-appellee Douglas E. Smith." }, "file_name": "0574-01", "first_page_order": 582, "last_page_order": 591 }