City fixes church definition

The city's run-ins with a couple of home Bible studies have led the Planning Department to change the definition of "church" in the municipal code.

Following some neighborhood complaints last year and in March, code enforcement asked a couple of Bible study groups to obtain conditional use permits in order to perform church activities at home. That led to threats of litigation.

Wanting an end to these controversies, the City Council decided it was time to change the explanation of "church" so that Bible studies and other religious activities taking place in homes will not be included in the definition.

This week, the Planning Commission approved this definition of church:

A use provided by a legally constituted religious organization, in a building or buildings maintained solely for and limited to public and family worship of a deity or deities, together with buildings and uses that are accessory thereto, and limited to the teaching of religious dogma, accessory social functions, and one single-family dwelling for use as a minister or caretaker residence. This definition includes synagogues, temples, mosques, and other buildings used for the purposes stated herein but excludes, day care centers, community recreation facilities, and private and/or secondary educational facilities.