Rodriguez

This is an appeal from a judgment denying appellants’ petition for writ of mandate to compel respondent Director of Development for the City of Fresno (Director) to issue permits to erect freestanding signs on the premises of the Rodway Auto Center.

BR Enterprises (BR), a California general partnership, and Shasta Enterprises (Shasta), a California general partnership, are record owners of the property where Rodway Auto Center is located. Rodway Hyundai, a California corporation, doing business as Rodway Hyundai-Jeep/Eagle; Fresno Imports, a California corporation, doing business as Fresno Toyota Isuzu; Valley Imports, a California corporation, doing business as Rodway Mazda Buick; and Century Ford, a California corporation, doing business as Rod-way Auto Center Auto Body, sell and service automobiles at Rodway Auto Center. Antonio Rodriguez, an individual, is the managing general partner of BR and Shasta and sole shareholder of the corporations involved in this appeal. (The parties are hereafter collectively referred to as appellants.)

Since 1987, appellants have developed Rodway Auto Center as a single automobile sales and service complex. Rodway Auto Center is…