Source: https://www.justice.gov/crt/case-document/complaint-united-states-v-bensalem-township-ed-pa
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 22:46:00+00:00

Document:
1345 and 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc-2(f).
action occurred in tho Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
by granting and denying requests for zoning variances.
outside of the Institutional District, religious uses must seek zoning relief from Bensalem.
schools, colleges, and universities, are permitted in the BP Business Professional District.
may attach conditions in granting a variance.
applicant's property. 42 U.S,C. §§ 2000cc(a)(2)(A)-(C).
be developed according to the zoning ordinance.
architectural elements, such as a dome and a minaret.
for many members of the Bensalem Masjid to drive for daily prayers.
religious organization, which permits the Bensalem Masjid to use the fire hall for this purpose.
practice, its members are limited in their ability to exercise their religion in a number of ways.
hall is not large enough to accommodate the Bensalem Masjid for large religious events.
before prayers. Consequently, members of the Bensalem Masjid are required to lift their feet to ..
restroom sinks to wash before prayer.
for this purpose prevents all congregants from viewing the worship leader during prayer services.
unable to conduct religious education, including religious education for their children.
was available for sale during its search.
Residential District. This parcel also contains a single-family home.
Residential District, as described above.
Institutional District, and several residential zones.
Property was proximate to commercial uses.
a use variance rather than a rezoning throughout 2014.
and on the treatment of zoning variance applications for other assembly uses.
Building and Planning Department for permission to use the Subject Property for a mosque.
construct a mosque of approximately 27,243 square feet with 143 parking spaces.
constitutes "religious exercise" under RLUIPA. 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000cc-5(7)(A)-(B).
engage in assembly uses in districts where such uses were not permitted.
search for a suitable property, and the inadequacies of its current worship location.
institutional and commercial uses and the commercial nature of Hulmeville Road.
character of the zoning district or impede appropriate development of adjacent properties.
Friday afternoon prayer services instead of one.
raised concerns that were unrelated to the zoning variance analysis.
· repeatedly questioned whether parking at the proposed mosque would be adequate.
unsuccessful at obtaining a rezoning through the Council.
the denial on December 5, 2014.
development of land." 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc-5(5).
degree and in the way they believe they are compelled to do.
and services, and the use of interstate highways.
whether it would attract members from outside of Bensalem Township.
Bensalem has treated similarly situated use variance applications for religious and non-religious .
Bensalem or on the Bensalem Code.
46. The allegations above are hereby incorporated by reference.
interest, in violation of RLUIPA, 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(a)(l).
48. The allegations above are hereby incorporated by reference.
a nonreligious assembly or institution, in violation ofRLUIPA, 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(b)(l).
50. The allegations above are hereby incorporated by reference.
of RLUIPA, 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(b)(2).
52. The allegations above are hereby incorporated by reference.
its land use regulations, in violation of RLUIPA 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(b)(3).
maintaining records and submitting reports relating to RLUIPA compliance.
United States' costs and disbursements in this action.

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