Synagogue Wins $2.5M Settlement For RLUIPA Violations

JNS reported this week that a New Jersey synagogue has won a $2.5 million settlement in a mediation proceeding against the town of Clifton, New Jersey. The synagogue claims that Clifton violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act by creating over ten years of delays in approving construction of a building for Shomrei Torah congregation.  According to one of the synagogue's attorneys:

Shomrei Torah had been commanded to appear before the Planning Board 25 times between March 2013 and October 2015, and before the zoning board seven times between November 2008 and January 2013. They had to appear in state court four times.

The settlement terms, reached in December, were made public on Jan. 3. [Thanks to Steven H. Sholk for the lead.]