"Town Will Change Law To Permit Small Churches To Meet In Residences"

From the ReligionClause blog:

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Town Will Change Law To Permit Small Churches To Meet In Residences

Responding to an appeal (full text) filed by the Alliance Defense Fund with the Board of Adjustment, the Gilbert, Arizona Town Council announced yesterday that it will move quickly to change the town's zoning code to permit small church groups to meet in individual homes. The Arizona Republic yesterday describes Council's statement as "extremely apologetic." The issue arose when Gilbert's zoning administrator upheld a cease-and-desist order issued to the Oasis of Truth Church. The administrator said that the church's religious services for 10 to 15 people on a rotating basis at the pastor's home constitute a "religious assembly" under the town zoning ordinance, and that Bible study, church leadership meetings and fellowship activities were "church-sponsored activities," all of which are prohibited in single-family residences. To show their concern over the order issued to Oasis of Truth, the town's mayor and acting town manager attended Sunday services there this past week end.

"Eminent Domain Battle in Virginia"

Here is an interesting item from the PropertyProf blog:

Eminent Domain Battle in Virginia

Fox News reported yesterday about an eminent domain battle in Virginia over the amount properly awarded in just compensation. The city that condemned the property offered approximately $20 million, but the landowner claims he received market offers for more than twice that amount prior to the condemnation. In addition to the differing numbers, though, the story raises the larger question of whether property owners are truly made whole by awards limited to fair market value only. Finally, the story reveals an interesting fact that I did not know -- in Virginia, jurors in an eminent domain case must be property owners.