Recent Accomplishments Of The Housing And Civil Enforcement Section

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Recent Accomplishments Of The Housing And Civil Enforcement Section
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https://www.justice.gov/crt/recent-accomplishments-housing-and-civil-enforcem... ↗

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secular uses and unreasonably limit religious land use. Kingston’s zoning ordinance requires that places of worship obtain discretionary special exception use permits, while comparable nonreligious assembly uses are permitted as of right. The ordinance also restricts places of worship to one-acre or more parcels, while no acreage restriction is placed on comparable nonreligious assembly uses. As a result of these restrictions, Kingston’s Orthodox Jewish Chabad community has struggled to find sufficient suitable places for prayer, religious study, religious schools, and mikvahs (ritual baths). The consent order requires Kingston to revise its zoning ordinance to allow places of worship and religious schools as a permitted use in commercial districts and as a special use in residential districts; eliminate the acreage requirements for places of worship and religious schools; and treat places of worship on comparable terms to nonreligious places of assembly with respect to other zoning concerns like parking and landscaping. The consent order also requires Kingston to train its officials and employees on RLUIPA’s requirements, establish a procedure
On September 5, 2025, the United States executed a settlement agreement with the defendant resolving the United States’ claims in United States v. Brunswick (S.D. Ga.). The complaint, which was filed on December 16, 2024, alleges that the City of Brunswick violated RLUIPA in its many efforts to shut down The Well, a daytime resource center for those experiencing homelessness, run as an expression of The Well’s staff and leadership’s faith. The Settlement Agreement requires the City to dismiss its state court lawsuit seeking a permanent injunction against The Well, post notice of the Settlement Agreement on the City’s website,