Massachusetts Church Settles RLUIPA Lawsuit

In Lanesville, Massachusetts, a settlement between the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Orthodox Congregational Church ends a federal RLUIPA lawsuit as well as state court litigation, according to Saturday's Gloucester Daily Times. At issue is the building of a new fellowship hall next to the church's existing building. The city had denied the church a building permit because it had not provided for adequate parking, ruling that the new building was a function hall rather than a "place of worship" that is exempt from parking requirements. The settlement calls for the church to provide 31 parking spaces by parking cars in tandem and to notify parishioners of the parking plan, along with other provisions. The settlement also pays the church $10,000 in damages.