RLUIPA and Church Signs

In Baltimore County, Maryland, the zoning Board of Appeals is considering another twist on RLUIPA, according to yesterday's Towson Times. In June, a state circuit court judge ordered the Board to consider the impact of RLUIPA on the request by Trinity Assembly of God Church in Ruxton for a zoning variance to permit it to put up a neon, 25-foot-high, 250-square-foot sign with a changing electronic message. The Church wants to place the sign on its property next to the Baltimore Beltway to help eastbound drivers find the megachurch. At hearings on Dec. 21, Trinity's lawyer, C. William "Bud" Clark, argued that it would place a "substantial burden" on the church to require a smaller sign because there would be no room for scriptural messages or times of services. The county argued however that neutral application of sign controls in a residential zone is not a burden on religious exercise. The Board plans public deliberations on the matter at a future date.