The city of Des Plaines, Illinois has entered into a consent decree with the Justice Department to ensure it acts in accordance with the law regarding future zoning requests from religious institutions.
By denying the rezoning of a piece of land for use as a mosque, the city of Des Plaines, Illinois violated a Bosnian Muslim congregation's religious freedom, according to a civil rights lawsuit brought forward by the Federal Government. Manya Brachear Pashman of the Chicago Tribunereports that Des Plaines has entered into a consent decree with the Justice Department and is required to pay a fine of $580,000 for violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act in denying the rezoning of land for the mosque, despite the recommendation for approval by the city's planning commission.
The consent decree, which remains in effect for three years, requires the city to post signs in City Hall stating that it does not discriminate based on religion or any other protected status. It mandates continuing education for staff and elected officials. And it instructs the city to share news of the settlement with any party that has been denied rezoning since Jan. 1, 2010.
For 180 days, the city also must post on the front page of its website a pledge to comply with the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLIUPA), a federal law that prohibits unequal treatment of religious and nonreligious institutions, according to the settlement.
FULL STORY: Mosque, feds reach settlement with Des Plaines over zoning
New Jersey Mosque Beats 'Discriminatory' Zoning
A proposed mosque in Bernards Township will move forward, after the DOJ sued the town for using zoning ordinances to undermine Muslims' religious freedom.
Department of Justice Steps in to Halt Religious Discrimination Through Zoning
As the U.S. Department of Justice takes action to protect the religious freedoms of Muslims in the United States, zoning decisions have proven a particularly common source of anxiety among Muslim communities.
RLUIPA Ripeness Rule Reinforced
The concept of ripeness in several realms is elusive. I have never figured out how to properly thump a melon at a grocery store, although I have made a thorough study of it. You might want to click here, or here, or here for some guidance, none of which seems to work when it’s just me in a stare down with a cold, stone faced and silent honeydew. Just yesterday one of my younger children from what we call the “second litter” asked me at dinner how I could tell if a coconut was ripe. I paused, realized that I had no answer, and did what every good parent should do and asked instead why they weren’t eating their salad. Yes, attack and divert. You think melons and coconuts are tough — try ripeness in land use litigation.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
Montreal’s Gorilla Park Repurposes Defunct Railway Track
The park is part of a global movement to build public spaces that connect neighbors and work with local elements to serve as key parts of a city’s green infrastructure.
Spirit Lake Nation Reclaims 680 Acres After Century-Long Effort
After decades of advocacy, the Spirit Lake Nation successfully reclaimed 680 acres of its original treaty land from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, marking a significant step toward healing and future development.
Bourbon Street Could Be a Model for Pedestrian Spaces
The conversation around pedestrianizing public streets isn’t new — think Times Square. Could one of America’s oldest streets lead the way in a revival of the pedestrian mall?
Multiple Lawsuits Aim to Save NYC Congestion Pricing
Environmental and transit advocacy groups, along with the MTA, are suing USDOT over its recent crusade to end the cordon pricing program.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA)
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research