CAUSE NO. 2013-26155 Penelope Loughhead, et al. &. 1)1) *+,,onnet, LLC N !"E # S!$ C! COU$! O% "A$$ S COUN!

COUN!', ! E ( A S 15)th -U# C AL # S!$ C!

Brief of Hugh Rice Kelly, Amicus Curi, in Support of Plaintiffs Motion for Permanent Injunction a. /+l+ng th+, a.+0u, 0u1+2 31+e/ on .4 o5n 3ehal/ and at .4 o5n e6pen,e. !h+, 31+e/ 5a, not ,ol+0+ted 34 pla+nt+//,, no1 5a, +t 51+tten o1 1e&+e5ed 34 the. o1 the+1 t1+al 0oun,el. !he a1gu.ent, and autho1+t+e, 0+ted 1ep1e,ent onl4 .4 &+e5, and not tho,e o/ an4 pa1t4. 74 +nte1e,t +n th+, 0a,e goe, to +t, &alue a, a p1e0edent and a, a 0he08 on a3u,+&e p1ope1t4 de&elop.ent, a, /ound 34 the 9u14 +n th+, 0a,e. *4 :a3u,+&e de&elop.ent; .ean 0+10u.,tan0e, +n 5h+0h one p1ope1t4 o5ne1 ,ee8, to en1+0h h+.,el/ 34 app1op1+at+ng the p1ope1t4 1+ght, o/ ad9a0ent lando5ne1, and deg1ad+ng 3oth the ,u39e0t+&e en9o4.ent and the .a18et &alue, o/ the+1 p1ope1t4. This is not a case of developers being deprived of their property rights; it is a case of developers trying to take away the property rights of others. 1. Interest of Amicus Curi and Summary of Argument. ha&e l+&ed at 1<36 $+0e *oule&a1d, a d+,tan0e o/ ,e&en 3lo08, /1o. the p1opo,ed A,h34 p1o9e0t, /o1 32 4ea1,. 74 p1e&+ou, th1ee 1e,+den0e, ,+n0e 1<=) ha&e 3een 5+th+n a .+le o/ 5he1e l+&e no5. attended ne+gh3o1hood ,0hool, th1ough g1aduat+on /1o. $+0e Un+&e1,+t4 +n 1<65. A/te1 ,e1&+0e +n the A1.4, g1aduated /1o. the Un+&e1,+t4 o/ !e6a, la5 ,0hool +n 1<)2. a. an a0t+&e .e.3e1 o/ the ,tate 3a1 3ut l+.+t .4 p1a0t+0e to unpa+d legal 5o18 +n .atte1, 3el+e&e to 3e +n the pu3l+0 +nte1e,t. !h+, 0a,e +, one ,u0h .atte1. Coun,el /o1 Pla+nt+//, ha&e a3l4 ,e1&ed the Cou1t th1ough a1gu.ent and autho1+t+e, on all .atte1, ne0e,,a14 /o1 the Cou1t to pe1.anentl4 en9o+n de/endant and +t, ,u00e,,o1, /1o. de&elop+ng the+1 p1ope1t4 a3u,+&el4. "o5e&e1, 5+ll add1e,, t5o po+nt, that ha&e att1a0ted pu3l+0 0o..ent> ?a@ the 0la+. that +,,uan0e o/ 3u+ld+ng pe1.+t, p1e0lude, the 9u1+,d+0t+on o/ a 0ou1t to hea1 a 0au,e o/ a0t+on and g1ant 1el+e/ p1e&ent+ng the 0on,t1u0t+on o/ a p1+&ate nu+,an0eA and ?3@ the 0la+. that the1e +, no 0lea1, 1ead+l4 ad.+n+,te1ed ,tanda1d unde1 5h+0h th+, Cou1t 0ould en9o+n the 0u11ent h+gh-1+,e ,t1u0tu1e 5h+le allo5+ng 0on,t1u0t+on o/ a p1o/+ta3le 3ut non-a3u,+&e ,0aled-3a08 p1o9e0t.

2. The Grant of Building ermits !oes "ot reclude a #iti$en%s Right to Bring Suit Alleging a "uisance #ause of Action. t +, d+//+0ult to ta8e ,e1+ou,l4 the 0la+. that +,,uan0e o/ 3u+ld+ng pe1.+t, p1e0lude, a 0+t+BenC, 0au,e o/ a0t+on /o1 nu+,an0e. !h+, +, 3e0au,e an4one 5ho ,u//e1, a legal 51ong +, ent+tled to 5hate&e1 legal 1e.ed4 the la5 p1o&+de,. !he la5 o/ nu+,an0e ha, a long h+,to14 +n Engl+,h 0o..on la5, 5h+0h !e6a, /o1.all4 adopted +n 1D=0. E60ept a, late1 .od+/+ed o1 1epealed, the 0o..on la5 0ont+nue, to p1o&+de :the 1ule o/ de0+,+on +n th+, ,tate; pu1,uant to Se0t+on 5.001, !e6a, C+&+l P1a0t+0e E $e.ed+e, Code. F+&en the e6+,ten0e o/ a legal 51ong, the 0o..on la5 p1o&+de, a 1e.ed4. !hat 3e+ng the 0a,e, the1e +, onl4 one 5a4 /o1 de/endant, to 0la+. p1e0lu,+onG34 ,ho5+ng that the .atte1 ha, al1ead4 3een l+t+gated. !h+, ,ee., to 3e the po+nt de/endant +, .a8+ngGthat the C+t4 o/ "ou,tonC, g1ant o/ 3u+ld+ng pe1.+t, ,at+,/+e, th+, legal 1eHu+1e.ent. Un/o1tunatel4 /o1 the+1 a1gu.ent, that p1o0e,, /a+l, to a ,+ngle po+nt ne0e,,a14 to p1e0lu,+on. !he o3&+ou, /+1,t ,top +, the $e,tate.ent o/ -udg.ent,, Se0t+on 1, 5h+0h ,tate, that p1e0lu,+on 0o.e, a3out onl4 5hen the /+1,t alleged de0+,+on-.a8e1Ghe1e, the C+t4 o/ "ou,tonC, 3u+ld+ng pe1.+t autho1+t+e,Gha, autho1+t4 to 1ende1 9udg.ent on the .atte1 +n 0ont1o&e1,4, 9u1+,d+0t+on o&e1 the ,u39e0t .atte1 o/ the a0t+on, and pe1,onal 9u1+,d+0t+on o&e1 the pa1t+e,. !o Huote /1o. the $e,tate.ent 1epo1te1C, note, to Se0t+on 1> :A /unda.ental ele.ent o/ p1o0edu1al /a+1ne,, +, that a t1+3unal p1e,u.+ng to ad9ud+0ate a 0ont1o&e1,4 ha&e legal autho1+t4 to do ,o. One a,pe0t o/ the Hue,t+on o/ autho1+t4 +, 5hethe1 the t1+3unal +, e.po5e1ed to ad9ud+0ate the t4pe o/ 0ont1o&e1,4 that +, p1e,ented. !h+, +, 0on&ent+onall4 1e/e11ed to, and +, 1e/e11ed to he1e+n, a, the Hue,t+on o/ ,u39e0t .atte1 9u1+,d+0t+on.; :-u,t ad9ud+0at+on 1eHu+1e, not onl4 that the t1+3unal ha&e autho1+t4 +n the .atte1 3ut al,o that the pa1t+e, ha&e oppo1tun+t4 to o//e1 p1oo/ and legal a1gu.ent, +n ,uppo1t o/ a 0la+. o1 de/en,e.; E6a0tl4 5he1e de/endantC, p1e0lu,+on 0la+., /+t th+, /1a.e5o18 +, no5he1e appa1ent. !he 3u+ld+ng o//+0+al, o/ the C+t4 ha&e 9u1+,d+0t+on onl4 o&e1 pe1.+t appl+0ant,, 3ut ha&e no 9u1+,d+0t+on to hold hea1+ng,, 0o.pel the appea1an0e o/ 5+tne,,e,, ente1ta+n te,t+.on4 and 01o,,-e6a.+nat+on unde1 oath, o1 +,,ue 1ul+ng, on an4 to1t la5 ,u39e0t. No dou3t the,e o//+0+al, 5ould 3e a,ton+,hed 5e1e an4one to ,ugge,t the4 do ,o. n th+, 0a,e, the1e +, no 0la+. that an4one othe1 than the de&elope1, 5a, +n&ol&ed +n the pe1.+tt+ng p1o0e,,. Ce1ta+nl4 the1e 5a, no not+0e g+&en that the 1+ght, o/ pe1,on, l+&+ng nea134 5e1e go+ng to 3e ad9ud+0ated, o1 that tho,e pe1,on, 0ould appea1 and p1e,ent a1gu.ent,, o1 that the 3u+ld+ng app1o&al o//+0+al, had an4 9u1+,d+0t+on to de0+de 5hethe1 o1 not the p1o9e0t 5ould a.ount to a legal nu+,an0e. I+th no not+0e, no hea1+ng, no 01o,, e6a.+nat+on o/ 5+tne,,e,, no t1+3unal ha&+ng autho1+t4 to de0+de Hue,t+on, o/ to1t la5, +t +, e6t1e.el4 ha1d to ta8e ,e1+ou,l4 the 0la+. that the +,,uan0e o/ 3u+ld+ng pe1.+t, p1e0lude, to1t a0t+on, 34 pe1,on, ad&e1,el4 a//e0ted 34 the 0on,t1u0t+on.

An4 nu.3e1 o/ h4pothet+0al, 0ould +llu,t1ate the po+nt. %o1 e6a.ple, +/ a 0o.pan4 5a, g1anted a 3u+ld+ng pe1.+t to 0on,t1u0t a /a0to14 5+th+n a ,ho1t d+,tan0e o/ a 1e,+dent+al a1ea, and the /a0to14 u,ed t5o potent 0a10+nogen,, 3enBene and &+n4l 0hlo1+de, +n +t, p1o0e,,e,, 5ould an4one ta8e ,e1+ou,l4 the 0la+. that +,,uan0e o/ the 3u+ld+ng pe1.+t p1e0luded a nu+,an0e 0la+. 3a,ed on 0h1on+0 1elea,e o/ the,e 0he.+0al,J !he 3u+ld+ng o//+0+al,, o/ 0ou1,e, 5ould ne&e1 0on,+de1 ad9ud+0at+ng th+ng, o/ th+, ,o1t. Fo+ng /1o. 0a10+nogen+0 0he.+0al, d1+/t+ng o&e1 the /a0to14 /en0e to othe1 8+nd, o/ nu+,an0e, doe,nCt 0hange the 3a,+0 p1+n0+ple,. *u+ld+ng o//+0+al, do not a0t a, t1+3unal, +n an4 ,en,e o/ the 5o1d. Not onl4 +, the p1e0lu,+&e e//e0t non,en,+0al /1o. the ,tandpo+nt o/ the la5 o/ 9udg.ent,, +t +, non,en,+0al /1o. a due p1o0e,, po+nt o/ &+e5. !he !e6a, Con,t+tut+on p1o&+de, that :All 0ou1t, ,hall 3e open, and e&e14 pe1,on /o1 an +n9u14 done h+., +n h+, land,, good,, pe1,on o1 1eputat+on, ,hall ha&e 1e.ed4 34 due 0ou1,e o/ la5.; #ue 0ou1,e o/ la5 +, the eHu+&alent o/ the ph1a,e :due p1o0e,,; +n /ede1al 0on,t+tut+onal la5. !he 0la+. that the 3u+ld+ng pe1.+t +,,uan0e p1o0e,, a//o1d, ad9a0ent lando5ne1, the+1 :due 0ou1,e o/ la5; +, not onl4 51ong on +t, /a0eA +t 5ould 3e un0on,t+tut+onal. &. There Is a #lear Guideline A'aila(le to Allo) Issuance of a ermanent In*uction That rotects laintiffs +ithout Im,airing a rudent !e'elo,er%s A(ility to rofita(ly -se His .and One need onl4 get +n an auto.o3+le and ,pend t5o hou1, tou1+ng the +..ed+ate 0o.pet+t+&e a1ea o/ the A,h34 P1o9e0t to +dent+/4 the 1+ght 4a1d,t+08 /o1 a pe1.anent +n9un0t+on> the C+t4 o/ "ou,tonC, 3u+ld+ng 0ode /o1 apa1t.ent 3u+ld+ng, 0on,t1u0ted o/ 5ooden /1a.+ng. O/ a doBen /1e,hl4-.+nted p1o9e0t,, o1 p1o9e0t, ,t+ll unde1 0on,t1u0t+on, all 3ut one a1e 5ood /1a.e 5+th 0on01ete ga1ag+ng and /+1e e,0ape,Ga /o1.ula that 3a,+0all4 l+.+t, 3u+ld+ng, to a /+6ed den,+t4 and .a6+.u. he+ght o/ a1ound /+&e to ,+6 ,to1+e,. !he /ollo5+ng ele&en a1e /+&e to ,+6 ,to1+e, tall. 7o,t 5e1e 0on,t1u0ted on the ,+te o/ de.ol+,hed ga1den apa1t.ent, /o1t4 o1 .o1e 4ea1, old. And all 5e1e p1e,u.a3l4 0on,t1u0ted 34 de&elope1, 5ho had p1o/+t, +n .+nd. 1 Allu,+on at Ie,t Un+&e1,+t4, Auden at *+,,onnet, 5K6 ,to1+e,, 3egan lea,+ng 201= ?*+,,onnet +, /ou1 lane, he1e@. !he "ano&e1 on #+n8+n, at *+,,onnet, 5K6 ,to1+e,, ad&an0ed 0on,t1u0t+on ,tage. One 3lo08 5e,t o/ L+134, a ,+6 lane .a9o1 ,t1eet. *+,,onnet = lane, he1e. !he "ano&e1 at $+0e M+llage, 5K6 ,to1+e,. 7o,tl4 /+n+,hed 2012, lea,+ng 2013. $e,+dent ent14 on Lel&+n, 1 3lo08 no1th o/ $+0e *l&d, 1 3lo08 ea,t o/ L+134, 5h+0h +, 5 lane, at th+, lo0at+on. !he %a+1.ont at 7u,eu. #+,t1+0t, ne5 ,e0t+on 0u11entl4 unde1 0on,t1u0t+on dupl+0at+ng o1+g+nal de&elop.ent 0o.pleted ,e&e1al 4ea1, ago. #unla&4 at $+0h.ond, 5K6 ,to1+e,. #unla&4 +, a 2 lane .+no1 ,t1eet, 3ut $+0h.ond +, a .a9o1 /ou1 lane ,t1eet, a, +t +, at othe1 p1o9e0t, on $+0h.ond +n th+, l+,t.
1

So.e o/ the p1e0+,e deta+l, o/ the,e p1o9e0t, .a4 3e o// to an +..ate1+al deg1ee due to the need /o1 ha,te, 3ut the +n/o1.at+on 5+ll 3e ,upple.ented +/ ne0e,,a14.

 Po,t 50, 500 $+0h.ond A&enue at the South5e,t %1ee5a4, 5K6 ,to1+e,, Co.pleted +n 201= and no5 lea,+ng. 1300 $+0h.ond A&enue, 5K6 ,to1+e,, 0on,t1u0t+on nea1 0o.plet+on ?on $+0h.ond at F1au,ta18@ La 7a+,on Lu6u14 Apa1t.ent,, 2D00 $e&e1e at $o,a.ond, 5K6 ,to1+e,, 0on,t1u0t+on 0o.pleted 2010 ?2 3lo08, 5e,t o/ L+134, 6 lane, at th+, po+nt@ !he Fa3le,, 3100 $e&e1e and 2300-2=00 *1ana1d ?2 3lo08, ea,t o/ L+134 #1+&e, ad9a0ent to ,+ngle /a.+l4 1e,+dent+al, t5o 3lo08, /1o. +nte1,e0t+on o/ F1een31+a1, a th1ee-lane ,t1eet@. A3out a th+1d /+n+,hed and lea,+ng, the 3alan0e +n ad&an0ed 0on,t1u0t+on ,tage. *1oad,tone 3D00, 7a+n at Ala3a.a, 0u11entl4 unde1 0on,t1u0t+on, 5K6 ,to1+e,. !he #+,t1+0t at F1een31+a1, 5K6 ,to1+e,, 0o.pleted 2013. !he "ano&e1 on Ie,t F1a4 at Iaugh, 5K6 ,to1+e,, 0o.pleted 2013. $ound+ng out the doBen, and ,+.+la1 to the,e .+d1+,e 3u+ld+ng,, +, the ,l+ghtl4 talle1 Su,anna apa1t.ent,, Ala3a.a at #unla&4. !h+, .+d1+,e +, D ,to1+e,, 0u11entl4 unde1 0on,t1u0t+on. !h+, 3u+ld+ng u,e, ,teel 1athe1 than 5ooden ,tud 0on,t1u0t+on, 5h+0h p1o3a3l4 e6pla+n, +t, g1eate1 pe1.+tted he+ght. !he1e +, al,o one talle1 3u+ld+ng unde1 0on,t1u0t+on, 1epo1tedl4 12 ,to1+e, 3ut on a 0o.pa0t /ootp1+nt, a01o,, /1o. the "ano&e1 $+0e M+llage. !h+, 5+ll 3e a 0on&ent+onal /+1ep1oo/ 3u+ld+ng due to +t, he+ght. !he1e +, al,o a h+gh 1+,e unde15a4 on 7ont1o,e, the Chel,ea !o5e1, ,+te no5 3e+ng 0lea1ed, one 3lo08 /1o. the 20 ,to14 7u,eu. !o5e1 and anothe1 /e5 3lo08, /1o. 5000 7ont1o,e at the 7u,eu., al,o a 20 ,to14 3u+ld+ng. !he,e h+gh 1+,e, 9o+n ,+.+la1 p1ope1t+e, that 3egan 5+th 0on,t1u0t+on o/ the 12 ,to14 ?a h+gh 1+,e /o1 the t+.e@ Ia15+08 "otel on 7a+n at 7ont1o,e +n the 1<20C,. Anothe1 ,t+ll-e6tant 1<20C, h+gh 1+,e +, the /o1.e1 PlaBa "otel, nea1 the 7u,eu. o/ %+ne A1t, on 7ont1o,e, al,o 12 ,to1+e,. Anothe1 1elat+&el4 tall apa1t.ent hou,e, de.ol+,hed de0ade, ago, on0e o00up+ed the p1e,ent ,+te o/ the 7u,eu.C, outdoo1 ga1den. !he,e e,ta3l+,hed h+gh 1+,e a1ea, l+n+ng 7a+n and 7ont1o,e ha&e 1e.a+ned ,ta3le /1o. the 1<20C, to the p1e,ent. !he pla+n /a0t +, that the .a18etpla0e ha, done a /a+1l4 good 9o3 o/ dete1.+n+ng 5he1e h+gh 1+,e 3u+ld+ng, 3elong> on o1 &e14 nea1 .a9o1 tho1ough/a1e,, +n th+, a1ea 7a+n St1eet, 7ont1o,e and L+134 #1+&e. !he /a1the,t a5a4 /1o. th+, ,tanda1d +, the ,e0ond "ano&e1 $+0e M+llage 3u+ld+ng, not an e,pe0+all4 la1ge p1o9e0t at 12 ,to1+e, on a ,.all /ootp1+nt 5h+0h +, a 3lo08 and a hal/ ea,t o/ L+134 #1+&e. Othe15+,e, no h+gh 1+,e, ha&e 3een 3u+lt 34 p1+&ate ente1p1+,e +n the 1oughl4 t5o-.+le 1ad+u, o/ the A,h34 p1o9e0t. !he .a18et +, ,uppl4+ng all o/ the p1a0t+0al +n/o1.at+on th+, Cou1t need, to ente1 a pe1.anent +n9un0t+on that +, /a+1 3oth to the p1ope1t4 o5ne1 pla+nt+//, and to the de&elope1, o/ the A,h34 p1o9e0t, not5+th,tand+ng the de&elope1,C ,el/-+nte1e,ted 0la+., to the 0ont1a14. t 5ould 0o.pel the de&elope1, to d1op the+1 h+gh 1+,e a.3+t+on, and adopt a /o1. o/ de&elop.ent that +, /+nan0+all4 1e5a1d+ng enough to att1a0t a ho,t o/ de&elope1, to the a1ea. !he Cou1t 5ould not need to de,+gn an4th+ng, o1 ,pe0+/4 an4th+ng. $athe1, 3el+e&e the Cou1t 0ould ,+.pl4 l+.+t the de&elope1, to a p1o9e0t that

.eet, the C+t4 o/ "ou,ton 3u+ld+ng 0ode /o1 5ood /1a.ed 3u+ld+ng, o/ a t4pe ,+.+la1 to tho,e +n the a3o&e l+,t, 5ho,e /unda.ental de,+gn, a1e 1e.a18a3l4 un+/o1.. *u+ld+ng 0ode, ha&e o/ten had the e//e0t o/ ,hap+ng the 3u+ld+ng, 0on,t1u0ted unde1 the+1 9u1+,d+0t+on, a, the4 a1e do+ng toda4 +n "ou,ton 5+th 5ood-/1a.ed .+d1+,e 3u+ld+ng,. !he /a.ou, :5edd+ng 0a8e; apa1t.ent ,t1u0tu1e, e1e0ted /o1 .an4 4ea1, to .a6+.+Be /loo1 ,pa0e +n Ne5 'o18 C+t4 a1e a 0la,,+0 e6a.ple. 7o1e 0ele31ated ha&e 3een the ,u00e,,+&e 3u+ld+ng 0ode, o/ the Pa1+, 5h+0h ga&e the 3oule&a1d, o/ that 0+t4 .u0h o/ the +t, 5o1ld-1eno5ned e,thet+0 &alue, p1e,t+ge, not to .ent+on +..en,e .a18et &alue,. /. ostscri,t #oncerning Houstonians for Res,onsi(le Gro)th%s Regarding Issuance of a ermanent In*unction osition

3el+e&e the /o1ego+ng a1gu.ent adeHuatel4 add1e,,e, "$FC, 0la+. that the +,,uan0e o/ 3u+ld+ng pe1.+t, ,hould p1e0lude 0la+., /o1 nu+,an0e. A, to the de3ate, o&e1 autho1+t+e,, ,u3.+t that &e14 nea1l4 all o/ he 0a,e, 0+ted a1e, at 3e,t, analogou, autho1+t4. n t1uth, Hue,t+on, l+8e th+, a1e a1gued th1oughout !e6a, on a 1egula1 3a,+,, 3ut the4 a1e a1gued 3e/o1e Bon+ng autho1+t+e,, 5ho,e 9u1+,d+0t+on ha, e//e0t+&el4 p1ee.pted the /+eld. !h+, +, the 3a,+0 1ea,on 5h4 the a0tual 1ele&ant 0a,e la5 +, no .o1e &olu.+nou, than +t +,. do not /a&o1 Bon+ng +n "ou,ton, 3ut "$FC, +n&o0at+on o/ Bon+ng a, the 8e4 to "ou,tonC, ,t1ong g1o5th ha, l+ttle ,u3,tan0e. !he .an4 0+t+e, o/ the #alla,-%o1t Io1th .et1ople6 a1e hea&+l4 Boned, and the+1 g1o5th 1ate ha, ea,+l4 .at0hed that o/ "ou,ton. 7o1eo&e1, a .u0h /a,te1 g1o5+ng 0+t4 +n !e6a, +, Au,t+n, 5+del4 1e0ogn+Bed a, ha&+ng the .o,t to6+0 Bon+ng +n the ,tate. %+nall4, o/ 0ou1,e, a 0la+. o/ nu+,an0e ha, &+1tuall4 no legal ,+.+la1+t4 to the 0on0ept o/ Bon+ng. "$FC, la,t ,t1a5 .an +, the 0la+. that pla+nt+//, a1e atte.pt+ng to 3lo08 all de&elop.ent o/ the A,h34 ,+te. !h+, a3,u1d 0la+. ha, ne&e1 3een the po,+t+on o/ the pla+nt+//,. t 0e1ta+nl4 +, noth+ng 5ould ,uppo1t> de/endant, de,p+te +t, 1e0o1d o/ 3ad 0ondu0t, ,t+ll ha, the 1+ght to de&elop +t, land p1o/+ta3l4. ,ugge,t a &e14 p1a0t+0al 5a4 th+, 0an 3e done, 3ut 5ould +n no e&ent ,uppo1t an4 +n9un0t+on that d+d not pe1.+t 1ea,ona3le and p1o/+ta3le u,e o/ the+1 land