Church held hostage by suburb's zoning schemes

The Blanchard Road Alliance Church wants to create a satellite house of worship in Warrenville, a suburb west of Chicago.

But it doesn't fit into "the plan" of Warrenville officials. According to this Daily Herald article:

The (city's plan) commission, an advisory board that reviews all new developments, said church officials would have to ask for a zoning change.

But the commission said it was unlikely the city council would grant a change because the city's comprehensive plan has the southwest area of Route 59 and Butterfield slated for a larger-scale commercial and retail development.

But right next to the property is another church.

More: from a press release sent by friend of the blog Tom Ciesielka:

Ironically, while Warrenville will not allow the Blanchard Church property to be used as a place for worshipers to gather, its zoning code permits the church's property to be used for other assembly purposes including: civic buildings, schools, and union halls.

"When people come to church they are gathering for a common purpose. It makes little sense for Warrenville to say Teamsters can meet in our building to decide on union benefits, but people who want to assemble to worship and do good for the community cannot gather in the same place." said Skye Jethani, pastor for the Blanchard Church in Warrenville.

So Blanchard Road Alliance is left with no other option. They're suing Warrenville, charging the city with violating the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment and religious discrimination.