Anyone who has done any amount of internet searching re JWs knows that local congs are constantly appearing before local governments asking for zoning variances for consruction of new KHs.
Typically, such excerpts are not post worthy, but this apears to be an exception.
IMO, this article demonstrates how JWs/WTS arrogantly expect authorities to kowtow to their every desire by bending and breaking rules and laws, while they maintain an attitude that noone better even think about abridging their legal rights, or they will sue their ass:
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Thou shall not build House of worship plan postponed
By: Prescott Tolk
Reporter staff writer
December 23, 2001
INEXPLICABLE ? Ernest Ricketts could not convince the Planning Board why the new Jehovah's Witness house of worship should be granted a handful of zoning ordinance variances.
Failing to provide a "compelling" reason for needing a grab bag of zoning ordinance variances, representatives for the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witness were granted a second chance to return to the Planning Board on Jan. 22 with better expert testimony.
Planning Board commissioners at a meeting Tuesday focused on the lack of parking provided in the group's plans. Updated zoning ordinances require a minimum of one parking space for every 10 seats inside a house of worship. But even with "stacked" parking in the rear of the proposed building, only 15 spaces would be available for the expected 200 congregants attending a Sunday service. However, stacked parking, which inhibits a natural flow of traffic by having cars block each other, would need a variance as well.
Also, the plans call for 380 seats, an amount that commissioners used to discuss the parking issue. "It's not a parcel that allows 380 congregants," said commissioner Gerald Sheehan.
Although Ricketts said that the building would never have that many people inside at time, he was told that his guarantees do not alter what the plans describe. Therefore, the board would have to make its decision on what the plans indicate.
The proposed plan calls for a two-story temple covering 12,430 square feet in the Heights on 531 Palisade Ave. Ernest Ricketts, the project manager for the Jehovah's Witness group building the new site, claimed that the minimal parking would not add congestion to the neighborhood because most congregants would be walking. The building would serve two separate Jehovah's Witness congregations that have recently sold their First Kingdoms in the surrounding area.
Another issue commissioners raised involved the variance requested for making a structure bigger than the zoning ordinance allowed. Because the lot is vacant now, commissioners could not understand why the applicant designed a plan that purposely skirted the zoning ordinance requirements for lot coverage. "You're asking the board to make major deviations," said Commissioner Sheehan.
Ricketts said that it was necessary to occupy more space than allowed so it could house all of the congregants attending Sunday services. He guaranteed that throughout the week, there would never be more than 100 people inside the building at a time. By the end of his testimony, Ricketts suggested that the number of seats could be reduced if it would alleviate the Planning Board's concerns.
William Bell, the applicant's legal representation, asked for a continuance when he realized that an architect had not shown up for the meeting to deliver expert testimony. Board commissioners recommended that the applicant find a licensed planner to deliver testimony as well.
More than 50 residents of the Heights came to the meeting to speak against the proposed plans. They said that parking is the area's worst problem. However, the Planning Board decided to postpone any public comments until the applicant completed its testimony.
"We can't even find one parking spot on the street," said area resident Ceil Augusta.
Heights Councilman William Gaughan joined the group opposing the plans. "It is very clear that this building is not conforming [to the zoning ordinances," Gaughan said. "Parking is the key issue."
Luis Rosario, a minister for the Jehovah's Witnesses, said that the former Kingdom Halls in the Heights had no parking spaces and did not create parking problems. These Kingdom Halls were sold because renovation costs exceeded the amount of building a new structure, Rosario said.