Suit Challenges Zoning Refusal For Christian School

On Tuesday, a Christian school in Upper Arlington, Ohio filed suit in federal court claiming violations of RLUIPA, of the 1st and 14th Amendments and of Ohio's constitution.  The case stems from the city's rejection of the school's attempt to apply for zoning approval of a new site on which the school planned to consolidate its four separate campuses. The complaint (full text) in Tree of Life Christian Schools v. City of Upper Arlington, Ohio, (SD OH, filed 1/4/2011), argues that other similar or identical uses-- such as child day care centers and hotels-- are allowed by the city's zoning rules. In its press release announcing the filing of the lawsuit, Alliance Defense Fund said: "A city’s zoning code cannot give preferential treatment to non-religious institutions that function similarly to a Christian school...."