Zoning Churches: An Update on Religious Land Use Litigation

摘要

Today's churches, mosques and synagogues provide not only formal worship services but also help maintain the social fabric of local communities by offering such services as food banks, homeless shelters and youth camps. These multifaceted religious complexes, especially those located in residential areas, often create increased traffic, parking needs and noise levels. As a result, public agencies, as land use regulators, are increasingly being caught in the middle of land use conflicts created by the impact of these expanding social services.