Nevada County Judge Removes Roadblock

The court case involving Juliet Erickson and Peter Lockyer of Penn Valley, California, saw a turn of events when Superior Court Judge Sean Dowling allowed the couple to obtain a building permit on their property near a Verizon cell tower. Erickson and Lockyer were seeking to secure a building permit, but that was halted due to a restriction that required them to preserve and maintain trees around the tower for screening purposes. Dowling said the deed restriction concerning the trees was actually an easement, which may not be exacted in the permit process. This ruling reverses the previous, tentative ruling by Dowling issues on December 19. Michael Colantuono, the attorney representing Nevada County, will speak with the Board of Supervisors to determine whether they will ask Judge Thomas Anderson, who is taking over for Dowling, to reconsider the ruling.