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Sandy Springs prevails on part of Scientology lawsuit (updated)

By on October 5, 2011.
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The city of Sandy Springs reported on Oct. 5 that it has prevailed in a lawsuit filed against it by the Church of Scientology over a zoning matter.

U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg ruled in favor of the city on Sept. 30, saying the city objectively enforced its parking ordinance. The court still must decide whether the city violated the church’s free exercise rights.

The Church of Scientology filed an application to convert a 32,053 square foot office building into an estimated 44,000 square foot church, the city reported. The City Council approved the use of the property for a church, but limited the size of the building to the existing space citing a lack of sufficient parking. The Church of Scientology sued the city for religious discrimination in federal court in January.

More than 600 residents opposed the zoning application, according to newspaper archives.

“We are pleased that the judge recognized that the city’s staff acted in accordance to city ordinance procedures, and chose to dismiss that claim against the city,” Sandy Springs City Attorney Wendell Willard said in a press release.

City Spokeswoman Sharon Kraun said the city insurance carrier picked up the cost of defending the lawsuit.

Attempts to reach Church of Scientology officials on Oct. 5 for comment were unsuccessful.

 

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5 Responses to Sandy Springs prevails on part of Scientology lawsuit (updated)

  1. ethercat

    October 5, 2011 at 5:41 pm

    This frivolous lawsuit is finally over! Let the citizens of Sandy Springs rejoice!

  2. Mary McConnell

    October 5, 2011 at 7:34 pm

    This is terrific news. Kudos to Sand Springs government and all who contributed to helping fight back and protect the rights of the people of Sandy Springs in this matter.

  3. deb mackay

    October 5, 2011 at 10:21 pm

    These two earlier posts are quite interesting since I happen to know personally that neither one of them live anywhere near Sandy Springs but are simply “rabble-rousing”.

  4. GaryRayBetz

    October 6, 2011 at 8:18 am

    I’m not a member of the Church of Scientology nor believe in its tenets (not like that was necessary for me to declare as Thomas Jefferson once uttered, “Say nothing of my religion. It is known to my god and myself alone.”); however, the city of Sandy Springs must now realize that it has set a precedence with this zoning decision and must from here on out treat all other similar requests from other religions in an identical manner.

  5. GaryRayBetz

    October 6, 2011 at 8:20 am

    I’m not a member of the Church of Scientology nor believe in its tenets (not like that was necessary for me to declare as Thomas Jefferson once uttered, “Say nothing of my religion. It is known to my god and myself alone.”); however, the city of Sandy Springs must now realize that it has set a precedent with this zoning decision and must from here on out treat all other similar requests from other religions in an identical manner.