City's Settlement of RLUIPA Lawsuit Leaves Challenged Ordinance In Effect

The city of Bellmead, Texas (under prodding from a federal judge as trial approached) is close to settling a RLUIPA lawsuit brought against it by the Church of the Open Door which was refused zoning permission to move its halfway house for released prisoners into a former nursing home building it had purchased. According to yesterday's Waco (TX) Tribune-Herald, a month after the church bought the former nursing home property for its House Where Jesus Shines ministry, the city passed a zoning law prohibiting halfway-house facilities within 1000 feet of any residence, school or public park. Under the settlement, which still has to be formally approved by City Council, the city will pay the Church damages of $550,000, but the zoning law will remain into effect and the Church will need to find a different location if it still wants to expand its operations. $250,000 of the settlement will be paid by the city's insurer. The city said its main concern is that the ordinance remain in effect.