Opinion ID: 1127178
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Violation of City Zoning Ordinances.

Text: The second facet of the temporary injunction prohibits Ms. Town from using her residence as a church in violation of Miami Beach zoning ordinances. We concur with the trial court's finding that the residence was indeed serving as a center of operations for the Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church. At least three times a day members of the church would gather in the main building to pray. Prayer meetings would consist of chanting and singing and would sometimes last for several hours. Testimony of several neighbors revealed that approximately thirty people participated in the regular prayer sessions. Ms. Town did not contest, either in her written brief or at oral argument, the trial court's finding that the church was in violation of the city's zoning. Rather, she argued that (1) the zoning ordinances must yield to the first amendment, and (2) the trial court's injunctive order was unconstitutionally vague. She contends that enforcement of this order will necessitate impermissible governmental entanglement. See, e.g., Lemmon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602, 91 S.Ct. 2105, 29 L.Ed.2d 745 (1971). We reject both arguments. The petitioner never sought a zoning exception and did not question the general authority of the city to zone this property. Further, the land was so zoned prior to its purchase for church purposes. The authority of a city or county to reasonably regulate the location of churches has previously been approved by this Court. See Pyland v. Orange County, 328 So.2d 199 (Fla. 1976); United Lutheran Church of the Epiphany v. City of Miami Beach, 82 So.2d 880 (Fla. 1955). Under the circumstances set forth in this record, we believe the temporary injunction prohibiting the use of the property identified as 43 Star Island as a church was entirely reasonable and proper and was not unconstitutionally vague. The order of the trial court is affirmed. It is so ordered. ENGLAND, C.J., and ADKINS, SUNDBERG and ALDERMAN, JJ., concur. BOYD, J., concurs in part and dissents in part with an opinion.