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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Church sues city over zoning rules

Here's a news item from the Associated Press:  MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho (AP) — A church is suing the city of Mountain Home in federal court, contending the city's zoning rules violate the U.S. Constitution by discriminating against religious groups. No Limits Christian Ministries applied for a conditional use permit so the church could worship in a vacant building. But the city denied the church's request, saying that there weren't enough parking spaces for the congregation and that people who parked on blocks adjacent to the building would have to cross busy city streets, possibly posing a hazard. In the lawsuit, the church says Mountain Home's zoning rules violate the First and 14th Amendments because while it allows clubs, lodges and other group activities without requiring special permits, it specifically bars churches and requires that religious groups prove they deserve a conditional use permit.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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