Connecticut Supreme Court Hears Arguments In Buddhist Temple Case

On Tuesday, the Connecticut Supreme Court heard arguments in a case brought by the Cambodian Buddhist Society of Connecticut challenging Newtown's denial of a special permit so that the Society could build a temple on 10 acres of land it owns. The case was brought under RLUIPA and Connecticut's Religious Freedom Act. Yesterday's Hartford Courant reports that in the Superior Court decision being appealed, Judge Deborah Kochiss Frankel ruled that a number of reasons given by the Newtown Planning and Zoning Commission for the denial were unsubstantiated, but upheld the denial based on the PZC's concern that the Society had not yet obtained well and septic tank permits. (See prior related posting.)