In Young v. Jackson County, (OR Land Use Bd. App., Dec. 23, 2008), the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals held that the "equal terms" provision of RLUIPA was violated when a county denied an application to operate a church in an existing dwelling on land zoned for farm use, but within three miles of an urban growth boundary. Scott and Sulara Young, who practice a form of
Native American Animism known as Huichol Shamanism, already use the 10-bedroom house as a religious retreat center. The Board found that the county permits a number of other uses that have a similar impact on agricultural land, such as parks, playgrounds, community centers golf courses and living history museums. Today's Medford (OR) Mail Tribune reports on the decision.
