Moulding Legal Complaint
Moulding Legal Complaint
Hogle, #7223
Chelsea J. Davis, #16436
HOLLAND & HART LLP
222 S. Main Street, Suite 2200
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
Telephone: (801) 799-5800
Facsimile: (801) 799-5700
[email protected]
[email protected]
Defendants.
counsel of record, hereby files this Complaint, Petition for Review, and Jury Demand against
Defendants Box Elder County, Utah, and Jeff Hadfield, Jeff Scott, and Stan Summers, in their
1. This is a civil action arising under the Utah Constitution, the United States
Constitution, and the Utah Code alleging violations of equal protection rights, and arbitrary and
capricious agency action related to Defendants’ denial of Moulding’s petition to rezone 225
PARTIES
3. Defendant Box Elder County, Utah is a political subdivision of the State of Utah.
7. This Court has jurisdiction over the state constitutional and statutory claims under
Utah Code Ann. § 78A-5-102(2) (original jurisdiction in all matters civil and criminal), Utah
Code Ann. § 17-27a-801(2)(a) (judicial review of county land use decisions), and Box Elder
County Code Land Use Management & Development Code (“Box Elder County Code”) 2-2-
080-F (judicial appeal of final decisions to amend the County’s zoning map).
8. Venue is proper in this district pursuant Utah Code Ann. § 78B-3-302(2) (actions
against public officers), Utah Code Ann. § 78B-3-303(1) (actions against a county), and Utah
Code Ann. § 78B-3-307(1) because all defendants reside in this district and the claims arose in
this district.
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9. This action qualifies for a Tier 3 designation under Utah R. Civ. P. 26(c) because
the amount in controversy herein, including attorney fees and costs, is greater than $300,000.
GENERAL ALLEGATIONS
10. Moulding owns 2,200 acres of private property located approximately 8 miles
11. On April 18, 2014, Moulding filed an application with the Box Elder County
Planning Commission to rezone 225 acres of his 2,200-acre property to a municipal solid waste
zone for the proposed Franklin Hill Regional Landfill (“Franklin Hill Landfill”). Moulding’s
12. The Franklin Hill Landfill will be constructed applying modern, efficient, and
environmentally protective design criteria and is designed to have a positive impact on Box Elder
County—fees generated from the landfill are expected to generate $400,000-to-$500,000 a year
13. Additionally, the Franklin Hill Landfill is designed to be self-sufficient and have a
minimal impact on County resources—the landfill will be accessed by a private road, it will have
its own power and dust control systems, and Moulding has drilled its own water well on site and
constructed a pipeline with four water troughs for local livestock and wildlife use.
application Z14-002 for the Franklin Hill Landfill on May 15, 2014.
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15. At the public hearing, concerns were raised about, among other things, water
contamination, seismic activity, flooding, local wildlife, the location of the landfill, and traffic to
the site. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, dated May 15, 2014 (Ex. A), at 5-12.
16. At Moulding’s request, rezone application Z14-002 was tabled on August 28,
2014, so that the concerns raised at the public hearing could be addressed by the appropriate
17. On April 18, 2014, Moulding filed an application with the State of Utah
for a permit to operate the Franklin Hill Landfill as a Class I municipal solid waste landfill.
18. The intensive, five-year permitting process with the DEQ concluded on December
12, 2019, with the issuance of the Franklin Hill Regional Landfill Permit No. DSHW-2019-
19. The draft State Permit was subject to a 30-day public comment period, and a
public hearing was held on October 3, 2017, at the Commission Chambers at the Box Elder
County Courthouse. See Utah Dep’t of Envtl. Quality, Franklin Hill Statement of Basis
20. Box Elder had a full and fair opportunity to participate in the permitting process
21. Public comments on the draft State Permit raised concerns about the landfill
affecting the local sage grouse population, attracting predators, contaminating ground water and
surface water, and being built in a seismically active area. Statement of Basis (Ex. C) at 4-6.
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22. The Director of the Utah Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control
fully addressed the public comments and concerns in the Franklin Hill Regional Landfill
Statement of Basis Document, dated December 12, 2019. Statement of Basis (Ex. C) at 4-6.
23. In regards to the wildlife concerns, the Director responded that the Utah Division
of Wildlife Resources reviewed the landfill application and determined that the Franklin Hill
Landfill “will not jeopardize the continued existence of sage grouse or adversely modify habitat
critical to sage grouse” and that the State Permit includes a notification requirement if predators
24. In regards to the water contamination concerns, the Director responded that
“[t]here has been no designation of a sole source aquifer in Hansel Valley” and that, based on
conditions contained in the State Permit, “leachate from the landfill in unlikely to contaminate
25. The Director also noted in his response that the State Permit “requires that the
Moulding “to construct run-on/run-off control to ensure that water contaminated by waste is
captured and managed at the landfill,” and requires ground water monitoring at the landfill to
detect releases from the landfill to the groundwater.” Statement of Basis (Ex. C) at 5-6.
26. In regards to seismic activity, the Director responded that Moulding “is required
to construct the landfill so that it satisfies the requirements for construction in a seismic impact
zone” and that, in his opinion, “the landfill meets the design requirements outlined in R315-302-
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27. The DEQ evaluated Moulding’s Class I landfill permit application as required by
Section 19-6-108 of the Utah Solid and Hazardous Waste Act and R315-301 through -320 of the
Utah Solid and Hazardous Waste Rules and determined that it was appropriate to issue a permit
28. The final 75-page State Permit establishes several state-enforceable requirements
and design criteria that go beyond what Utah law requires in order to protect both the land
underlying the landfill and the surrounding property, including, among other things, surface and
groundwater protective measures, daily covers, gas monitoring, waste inspections, litter control,
29. The Box Elder Planning Commission held a meeting on Moulding’s rezone
30. Under Box Elder County Code Section 2-2-060-A(2)(b),1 the County may
consider the following when making a decision on an application for a zoning map amendment:
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Excepts of the Box Elder County Land Use Management & Development Code, Article 2 –
Administration and Enforcement are attached as Exhibit D.
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31. Under Box Elder County Code Section 2-2-080-E, the County may consider the
3. The extent to which the proposed amendment may adversely affect adjacent
property.
4. The adequacy of facilities and services intended to serve the subject property,
including, but not limited to, roadways, parks and recreation facilities, police
and fire protection, schools, storm water drainage systems, water supplies, and
waste water and refuse collection.
Commission ignored credible testimony and evidence presented to it in violation of Box Elder
County Code Section 2-2-060-A, improperly applied the criteria contained in Box Elder County
Code Section 2-2-080-E, and, instead, based its decision on unsupported environmental findings
34. The Planning Commission denied rezone application Z14-002 on the grounds that
the proposed Franklin Hill Landfill was located in an aquifer recharge area, the area was prone to
flash flooding, and the landfill site was a known seismic zone. See County Commission Meeting
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35. The Planning Commission did not identify or present credible evidence to support
its environmental findings, and the evidence contained in the State Permit and presented to the
36. Moulding presented testimony and evidence to the Planning Commission that the
DEQ fully addressed the environmental concerns, including water contamination and seismic
activity concerns, during the state permitting process and determined that a landfill was
appropriate. See State Permit (Ex. B); Statement of Basis (Ex. C) 4-6.
37. Moulding also submitted two letters to the Planning Commission at the August
20, 2020, meeting in support of the Franklin Hill Landfill—one from the Wasatch Integrated
Waste Management District regarding its intent to participate with Moulding during the
construction and operation of the Franklin Hill Landfill, and another from the County
Commission of Weber County, a neighboring county, stating that Box Elder County’s alternative
landfill site at Promontory Point is not viable for Weber County and that the county is
“exceptionally satisfied” with the landfill services Moulding provides in Weber County. (Letters
38. The Planning Commission also denied rezone application Z14-002 on the grounds
that the Franklin Hill Landfill would adversely affect the adjacent properties, adversely affect the
I-84 corridor, and that there was not a need for the landfill. See County Commission Meeting
39. The Planning Commission did not identify or present credible evidence to support
these findings.
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2020 County Commission Meeting
40. The County Commission held a meeting on September 2, 2020, at which the
41. Moulding requested 15 minutes to present at the meeting, but the Commissioners
42. Due to the limitation on its time to present, Moulding submitted an 11-page letter
to the County Commission prior to the meeting, which presented evidence that rebutted the
Randy Moulding, and attached a copy of the State Permit. See Letter to the County Commission
from C. Hogle, dated September 2, 2020 (“Moulding’s Letter to the County Commission”) (Ex.
G).
43. In addition to pointing out that the State Permit fully addressed the public’s
Planning Commission’s findings by explaining there can be no adverse effects on existing and
future development because there is no current or future development in Hansel Valley, that
there can be no adverse effects on the I-84 corridor because the landfill is in a topographic low
spot and cannot be seen from the road, and that the Franklin Hill Landfill fulfills a need within
Box Elder County for a cost-effective landfill. See Moulding’s Letter to the County Commission
44. The Commissioners, however, refused to read Moulding’s Letter to the County
Commission. See County Commission Meeting Minutes, dated September 2, 2020 (Ex. E) at 4.
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45. Commissioners Hadfield, Scott, and Summers denied rezone application Z14-002
at the County Commission Meeting on September 2, 2020, based on the recommendation from
the Planning Commission and adopted the Planning Commission’s findings. See County
46. The County Commission has treated the Franklin Hill Landfill differently than
another similarly-situated landfill located in Box Elder County at Promontory Point (the
47. The Promontory Point Landfill is located at the southernmost portion of Box
Elder County, within a half-mile from the Great Salt Lake, and consists of approximately 2,000
48. The Promontory Point Landfill is located for access by rail and can only be
accessed by several miles of county road, which must be regularly maintained at the County’s
49. Due to the Promontory Point Landfill’s remote location, waste must be
50. In 2003, the owners of the Promontory Point Landfill petitioned the Planning
Commission for a conditional use permit to operate the Promontory Point Landfill as a
commercial landfill.
51. The Planning Commission held a public meeting on the Promontory Point
52. The proposed Promontory Point Landfill was strongly opposed by the public.
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53. At the public hearing on the Promontory Point Landfill, concerns were raised
about, among others, access and public safety, environmental harm, blowing debris, the location
of the landfill, and traffic to the site. See Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, dated June 19,
54. Despite the great public concern, the Planning Commission recommended
approval of the Promontory Point Landfill at the conclusion of the June 19, 2003, public hearing.
See Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, dated June 19, 2003 (Ex. H) at 11.
55. The County Commission approved the Promontory Point Landfill on July 22,
2003. See County Commission Meeting Minutes, dated July 22, 2003 (Ex. I) at 4-6.
56. On July 6, 2011, the County Commission adopted Ordinance 350, which created a
landfill corridor. A copy of the Box Elder County Land Use Management & Development Code
57. As enacted, Ordinance 350 in effect excluded the Promontory Point Landfill.
58. In January 2015, Box Elder County submitted a Letter of Intent to purchase the
Promontory Point Landfill, which Commissioners Hadfield, Scott, and Summers unanimously
approved. The County ultimately did not enter into the contemplated purchase agreement for the
Promontory Point Landfill. See Box Elder County Letter for Intent, dated January 2015 (Ex. K).
59. In mid-2015, Box Elder County and the Promontory Point Landfill intended to
enter into a County Host Fee and Services Agreement (“Profit Share Agreement”) with Strata
Renewable Resources, LLC (“Strata”), by which Box Elder County would own part of the
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60. As part of the Profit Share Agreement, Box Elder County would facilitate power
generation and landfill project opportunities for Promontory Point Landfill and Strata by acting
as the sponsoring body politic. County Commission Meeting Minutes, dated August 5, 2015 (Ex.
L) at 4-5.
61. As part of the Profit Share Agreement, Box Elder County, the Promontory Point
Landfill, and Strata would agree to cooperate and not to compete against each other in order to
62. As part of the Profit Share Agreement, Strata would create a subsidiary owned
60% by Box Elder County. See County Commission Meeting Minutes, dated August 5, 2015
(Ex. L) at 4-5.
63. Moulding informed Box Elder County that it believed that the Profit Share
Agreement was contrary to law and would seek legal redress if it proceeded to enter into the
agreement.
informed the Commissioners that the proposed Profit Share Agreement raised concerns about
constitutional violations. County Commission Meeting Minutes, dated August 5, 2015 (Ex. L) at
4-5.
65. Box Elder County later determined not to go through with the Profit Share
Agreement. Box Elder County, however, has continued to cooperate with Promontory Point
Landfill and acted to eliminate competition to Promontory Point Landfill posed by Moulding.
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66. In 2016, while the Franklin Hill Landfill rezone application was still tabled, Box
Elder County proposed to rezone the Promontory Point Landfill to a solid waste zone in order to
67. On June 16, 2016, the Planning Commission recommended that the County
Commission approve the rezone of the Promontory Point Landfill. Planning Commission
68. The Planning Commission did not enter findings when recommending approval
for the rezone of the Promontory Point Landfill. See Planning Commission Meeting Minutes,
69. Commissioners Scott, Summers, and Hadfield approved the rezone for the
Promontory Point Landfill on July 6, 2016, based on the recommendation from the Planning
Commission. See County Commission Meeting Minutes, dated July 6, 2016 (Ex. N) at 4.
70. In late 2016, Box Elder approved a $35 million, tax-free bond for the Promontory
71. In 2017, the owners of the Promontory Point Landfill applied for a Class V permit
with the DEQ, which would allow the landfill to accept industrial and out-of-state waste.
Promontory Point later requested to withdraw the Class V permit in 2018 “until further notice.”
72. By March 2020, the Promontory Point Landfill had failed to make payment to
73. Moulding incorporates by reference, and alleges in full, the allegations included
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74. Defendant Box Elder is a political subdivision of the State of Utah.
75. Defendants Hadfield, Scott, and Summers represent Box Elder in their official
76. The Declaration of Rights in the Utah Constitution provides that “[a]ll laws of
general nature shall have uniform operation.” Utah Const. Art. I, Sec. 24.
77. Defendants, under color of state law, deprived Moulding of its constitutional right
78. Defendants have treated Moulding differently from others similarly-situated and
79. Defendants had no reasonable basis for denying rezone application Z14-002 for
80. Moulding presented credible evidence in support of the rezone application Z14-
002 that contradicted Defendants’ grounds for denying the application, such that Defendants’
decision to deny the application was neither supported by substantial evidence, nor did it meet
81. Defendants considered and relied on factors outside the criteria contained in Box
Elder County Code Sections 2-2-060-A and 2-2-080-E, such that Defendants intentionally
82. The Franklin Hill Landfill is similarly-situated with the Promontory Point Landfill
in that both are landfills located within Box Elder County, both landfills were publicly opposed
based on similar concerns, and both landfills were in effect excluded by Ordinance 350 when it
was enacted.
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83. Despite evidence that the Franklin Hill Landfill meets the criteria contained in
Box Elder County Code 2-2-080-E more comprehensively than the Promontory Point Landfill by
being a more cost-effective waste management system, better located, more easily accessible,
and less burdensome on County resources, Defendants approved the rezone for the Promontory
Point Landfill and denied the rezone application for the Franklin Hill Landfill.
84. Due to its remote location, the Promontory Point Landfill must be accessed by rail
over several miles of county road, which must be regularly maintained by the County; the
Franklin Hill Landfill, however, will be accessed by a private road, is centrally located, and will
have its own power and dust control systems such that it will be self-sufficient and have a
85. Additionally, due to its close proximity to the Great Salt Lake, the Promontory
Point Landfill poses a greater environmental threat to ecological systems and habitat than posed
by the proposed Franklin Hill Landfill, which will be constructed applying modern, efficient, and
86. Box Elder County has demonstrated clear preferential treatment for the
Promontory Point Landfill and taken action to eliminate competition in favor of the Promontory
Point Landfill, including, but not limited to, approving a multi-million-dollar bond for the
Promontory Point Landfill, seeking to enter into a profit share agreement with the Promontory
Landfill in 2015, and denying Moulding’s rezone application for the Franklin Hill Landfill.
87. Defendants had no conceivable legitimate or rational basis for treating the
Franklin Hill Landfill differently from the Promontory Point Landfill with respect to its rezone
application.
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88. Defendants’ actions were not based on any legitimate government policy.
89. Upon information and belief, Defendants’ disparate treatment of the Franklin Hill
Landfill was motivated by illegitimate animus, including, but not limited to, the subjective ill-
will of Planning Commission Chairwoman Laurie Munns and other Box Elder County staff and
representatives against the Franklin Hill Landfill, Moulding, and Moulding’s President, Mr.
Moulding.
90. Defendants’ violation of Moulding’s constitutional rights, as set forth above, has
91. Because the denial of Moulding’s rezone application Z14-002 resulted from a
violation of Moulding’s right to uniform application of the law, Moulding is entitled to an order
92. Moulding incorporates by reference, and alleges in full, the allegations included
94. Defendants Hadfield, Scott, and Summers represent Box Elder in their official
95. The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution provides that “[n]o state shall . . . deny any person within its jurisdiction the equal
96. Defendants, under color of state law, deprived Moulding of its federal
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97. Defendants have treated Moulding differently from others similarly-situated and
98. Defendants had no reasonable basis for denying rezone application Z14-002 for
that contradicted Defendants’ grounds for denying the application, such that Defendants’
decision to deny the application was not supported by substantial evidence in the record.
100. Defendants considered and relied on factors outside the criteria contained in Box
Elder County Code Sections 2-2-060-A and 2-2-080-E, such that Defendants intentionally
101. The Franklin Hill Landfill is similarly-situated with the Promontory Point Landfill
in that both are landfills located within Box Elder County, both landfills were publicly opposed
based on similar concerns, and both landfills were in effect excluded by Ordinance 350 when it
was enacted.
102. Despite evidence that the Franklin Hill Landfill meets the criteria contained in
Box Elder County Code 2-2-080-E more comprehensively than the Promontory Point Landfill by
being a more cost-effective waste management system, better located, more easily accessible,
and less burdensome on County resources, Defendants approved the rezone for the Promontory
Point Landfill and denied the rezone application for the Franklin Hill Landfill.
103. Due to its remote location, the Promontory Point Landfill must be accessed by rail
over several miles of county road, which must be regularly maintained by the County; the
Franklin Hill Landfill, however, will be accessed by a private road, is centrally located, and will
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have its own power and dust control systems such that it will be self-sufficient and have a
104. Additionally, due to its close proximity to the Great Salt Lake, the Promontory
Point Landfill poses a greater environmental threat to ecological systems and habitat than posed
by the proposed Franklin Hill Landfill, which will be constructed applying modern, efficient, and
105. Box Elder County has demonstrated clear preferential treatment for the
Promontory Point Landfill and taken action to eliminate competition in favor of the Promontory
Point Landfill, including, but not limited to, approving a multi-million-dollar bond for the
Promontory Point Landfill, seeking to enter into a profit share agreement with the Promontory
Landfill in 2015, and denying Moulding’s rezone application for the Franklin Hill Landfill.
106. Defendants had no conceivable legitimate or rational basis for treating the
Franklin Hill Landfill differently from the Promontory Point Landfill with respect to its rezone
application.
107. Defendants’ actions were not based on any legitimate government policy.
108. Upon information and belief, Defendants’ disparate treatment of the Franklin Hill
Landfill was motivated by illegitimate animus, including, but not limited to, the subjective ill-
will of Planning Commission Chairwoman Laurie Munns and other Box Elder County staff and
representatives against the Franklin Hill Landfill, Moulding, and Moulding’s President, Mr.
Moulding.
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109. Defendants’ violation of Moulding’s constitutional rights, as set forth above, has
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and its attorney’s fees incurred pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1988.
110. Because the denial of Moulding’s rezone application Z14-002 resulted from a
111. Moulding incorporates by reference, and alleges in full, the allegations included
112. Moulding’s rezone application Z14-002 sought to amend the County’s zoning
map to rezone 225 acres of Moulding’s property located in Box Elder County.
115. Rezone application Z14-002 met the relevant approval standards provided under
116. Defendants, however, relied on improper factors when deciding to deny rezone
application Z14-002, including, but not limited, unsubstantiated and purely speculative
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117. Moulding presented credible evidence in support of the rezone application Z14-
002 that demonstrated that the application met the criteria in Box Elder County Code 2-2-080-E
118. The evidence presented to the County included, but is not limited to, evidence that
any potential environmental concerns were evaluated by environmental experts within the State
of Utah and resolved by the State Permit, evidence that neighboring properties would not be
negatively affected due to the remote and private location of the landfill site, evidence that the
Franklin Hill Landfill would not impact the views from I-84 due to the surrounding topography,
and evidence that the Franklin Hill Landfill is supported by neighboring counties.
Moulding at the August 20, 2020, meeting and entered findings that directly contradicted this
evidence.
120. The Box Elder County Code Sections 2-2-060-A and 2-2-080-E do not authorize
the Planning Commission to deny a rezone application on the basis of alleged environmental
impacts, nor is it within the Planning Commission’s expertise to make environmental findings.
121. Moulding presented its evidence to the Planning Commission at the August 20,
2020 Meeting, to the County Commission Meeting on September 2, 2020, and also submitted a
letter to the County Commission enclosing a sworn declaration of Randy Moulding, as well as
other documentary evidence prior to the September 2, 2020 County Commission Meeting.
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123. Because Defendants’ decision to deny rezone application Z14-002 was arbitrary
and capricious, and not supported by evidence in the record, Moulding is entitled to an order of
1. That the Court award damages in favor of Moulding against Defendant Box Elder
County in excess of $300,000 and believed to be in the millions of dollars in an amount equal to
Equal Protection and uniform application of the law, in an amount to be proven at trial;
3. That the Court award such other and further relief as the Court deems just and
equitable.
Pursuant to Rule 38 of the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure, Moulding demands a jury trial
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Plaintiff’s Address:
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