Growing churches butt heads with city planners

Monte Whaley
The Denver Post
Posted: 03/21/2010

Growing churches and their home communities sometimes find themselves at an uncomfortable crossroads, where the demands of a burgeoning congregation conflict mightily with local land-use rules. Colorado churches, backed by a powerful federal law, have been bold in making their case for expansion, with some arguing that plans for bigger, better church campuses trump planning maps.

But when churches clash with communities over how much square footage is truly needed for worship and education, the cost can be high — personally, politically and to the government pocketbook.

Churches say they are chafing under severe land-development restrictions and the demands of their growing congregations. the rest