Pennsylvania Church Loses Zoning Challenge

In First Korean Church of New York v. Cheltenham Township Zoning Hearing Board, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 25968 (ED PA, Feb. 29, 2012), a Pennsylvania federal district court granted summary judgment to defendants in a lawsuit by First Korean Church that had been prevented by township zoning ordinances from using a 33.8 acre property for a church and seminary. The property, purchased by the church at a sheriff's sale, formerly housed another seminary. Plaintiff argues that a series of zoning actions and amendments since 1998 violated RLUIPA as well as the 1st and 14th Amendments. The court disagreed.