In my opinion, no.
Secular authorities do have the right to set reasonable conditions on how a property is used. Otherwise you could find yourself with a neighbour who likes to hold commercial rock concerts.
I’m personally fine with a neighbour holding personal Bible studies for small groups. However, the moment his small Bible studies have grown sufficient, where traffic and safety do become legitimate concerns, it becomes an issue.
most cases of local govt. being a pain in the arse with zoning resides in business zones. Cities dont’ want business zones being converted into untaxable church owned property and well to do churches usually expand into adjacent properties. Its usually not about a church per se, its the taxes.
In the case of this ‘pastor reverend’ fellow well he is just a regular(perhaps self promoting) manipulating pest to his neighbors and the city commission.
“The city claims that the issue is simply the fact that the building does not meet many construction, zoning, and fire code requirements that any church of that size would need to meet. “
Yeah, I’ve heard the city’s arguments. Same old government-must-protect-the-idiots BS that has brought us every other freedom-choking regulation. Does the city really believe the people don’t know where the exits are? Come on.
People should be allowed to do what they want with their own property. To hell with zoning laws. These suburbanites are going to live ten feet from their neighbors, in a 2000 people per square mile area, and expect to be free? If a person wants to put on a rock concert next door to you, that’s the price you pay for the convenience of being five minutes from everything. You can’t, and shouldn’t, have it all.
If you don’t like it, move to the country. It’s just not that hard to do.
In the meantime, stop acting like fascists, trying to control everyone around you to make things like YOU think they ought to be.
The guy is obviously trying to be a pain in the ass. I have no tolerance for people are purposefully causing problems. They have an agenda, and they don’t care who they hurt. What he wants is free publicity for his cult. He should be sued into the ground by the township and his neighbors.