Zoning Ordnances and churchs (Allentown, Bethlehem: homes, neighborhood, schools)

[PacoMartin]

In May 2002 Hanover Township (north of Bethlehem) rejected a zoning ordnance variance request for Allentown's Church on the Move to allow them to build a church in the township.At the time Church on the Move had about 1,500 members and a building in East Allentown (a little over 4 miles away) the campus of the former United Wesleyan College in the former gymnasium that seats only 650. The church was holding three services to handle it's present membership, and was expected to continue to grow. The church planned to build a campus and a 55,000 sq foot sanctuary for 2500 on the 31 acre former farm. The township has a little over 10,000 residents.

The farm was on a suburban street corner which also had a Jewish synagogue (11,238 square feet built 1985 on 5.6 acres) and a 7th day Adventist church, (similar in size to Synagogue).

The township has 8 places of worship, including such diverse faiths as a Hindu Temple, Russian Orthodox, Friends, Christ UCC, Grace Bretheren, Moravian, in addition to the churches nearby. Although there were two existing places if worship in the same neighborhood, they would be dwarfed by this new facility with large sanctuary and schools.

The township ruled against the zoning change. The church sued under a new federal law -- the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act -- which was designed to protect places of worship from undue land use restrictions.

As part of the settlement, the township changed the zoning to permit over 100 homes to be built on the land. The church was now able to sell the land at considerable profit to a national builder. Some lots are now almost as small as 1/7 acre (50' wide), whereas most of the surrounding lots are 1/3, 1/2, and 1 acre.

Now, clearly I have no beef whatsoever with a successful church in an urban area. Many of the older denomination churches (Methodist, Catholic, Presbyterian) have abandoned their pre-WWI locations to build new larger churches in the suburbs.

I also admire Steve Wynn's successful land deal in 1971 where he frightened Howard Hughes so badly with his proposed use for a small tract of land, that Howard Hughes bought the land from him at a huge profit. Steve Wynn used that money to build his empire that makes him one of the countries best known billionaires.

I also believe that the church was not trying to make money on a land deal, but was genuinely interested in building a new campus. They no doubt used the profits to improve their property on the present location.

Although I think you can build a mega-church in any industrial or commercial area, and certainly a new 52,000 square foot baptist church opened up in rural section of Bethlehem township. This church was only interested in locations a few miles from their present location.

Of the 8 places of worship
5 are in R1-S Zoning District (Suburban) including the synagogue and 7th Day Adventist church on the intersection in question
1 is in PIBD (Planned Industrial/Business District) although the church is probably older than the district zoning
2 are in AFHBD (Airport Flight Path Highway Business District)

The Hindu Temple was built in 1985 in the AFHBD zoning district. The property was extensively developed and almost the entire property is covered with buildings and parking lots.

It is the same distance from Lifechurch to the Hindu Temple as from Lifechurch to the suburban intersection in question.

Do you think the right to build a place of worship should take precedence over local ordinances? It is not a cut and dry issue, so your opinions are of interest.

[PacoMartin]

I don't believe there would have been any objections to building the mega-church if they had purchased land in a business district (like the Hindu Temple Society). Even if a zoning change was required. Also it should be pointed out that even though the Hindu Temple is a zoning district called Airport Flight Path, it is still a mile from the lightly used runway. It is not as if the services are being interrupted constantly.
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Churches in the Township by Year constructed
1)1940 Seventh Day Adventist *
2)1940 Friends Church - zoned business
3)1963 Holy Cross Evangelical
4)1964 First Moravian Church
5)1965 United Church of Christ - zoned business
6)1975 Brethren Church
7)1979 St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox
8)1985 Brith Shalom *
9)1987 Hindu Temple Society - zoned business

* At intersection in question