Proposed ban on storefront churches called illegal

Proposed ban on storefront churches called illegal
Associated Press - 7/25/2009 4:15:00 AMBookmark and Share

Associated Press smallBROADWAY, VA - A business group that floated the idea of preventing churches from moving into a three-block stretch of Main Street in Broadway, Virginia, has been told it would be illegal.


Some merchants worried that storefront churches could put a crimp in commerce, so they asked Broadway's Town Council to look into a ban on houses of worship in their retail area.


Many residents disagreed. Some felt the restriction might be sacrilegious, or look like it was.


The council referred the matter to the Planning Commission, which tabled the request until staff could research the legal ramifications of such a ban.

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=615832

A tourist town near where I used to live had a brief discussion at the town council level on banning real estate offices on Main Street -- because it hurt the tourist character of the town.

It didn't go anywhere, as the building owners pointed out no one else could afford the high rent prices. :eyes:

No church next to a sex shop?

That being in sight of a church would discourage people from participating in.

segments of the American public. I live virtually next to 'a church' which is a good church, but there are still others that I will not go near, and so I avoid the area that they are in. Their congregants do no like my sort of people, and they have a tendency to make trouble that would not exist if they did not exist, so being far from bigoted people is often a wise decision. Remember, the Aryan Nation has a church, as do all the most homophobic bigots in America. Shall they open next to the bookstore too, with full regalia? Will that make the area welcoming to all? I think not.

Is churches..

You can drive dozens of miles in Virgina and never see a single church..

Oh, wait..

;)

:rofl:

There are plenty of places that specify where churches can set up. For instance, you can't run a church out of your private residence in many areas, primarily because of traffic and parking concerns.

or apply for a variance. Singling out churches would not only effect the rights of the church members but also the land owner, both will table this proposal.

From http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/03/us/no-church-zoning-district-faces-a-challenge.html:

...the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000. The law prohibits zoning regulations that impose a substantial burden on religious exercise unless the government can show that there is a compelling interest in doing so and no less restrictive way to further that interest. Legal experts say the test is very difficult.

Then there is this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_Land_Use_and_Institutionalized_Persons_Act

So yes, religious institutions can get around many zoning regulations.

That is not a constitutional issue, right? It sounds like the businesses wanted the zoning board to make the rule.

a refusal.

Small town in Virginia? I wonder if the proposed ban has to do with the usual congregants of storefront churches.

Broadway, pop. 2000+ is in Rockingham County. Both have roughly a white population of 97%.

I suspect that some black church wanted to open in a storefront. Feh!