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Renting now easier for faith groups
2/19/06 Miami Herald 6
BAY HARBOR ISLANDS: Renting now easier for faith groups
BY CHRISTINA KENT, ckent@MiamiHerald.com
At its meeting Monday, Bay Harbor Islands Town Council members unanimously approved an ordinance that eliminates the need for special variances by religious institutions that want to hold services in the business district.
The law comes on the heels of requests by the Sephardic Community Center to sign a lease at an office building at 1108 Kane Concourse.
The synagogue, which has 150 members, was previously unable to get an occupational license because it was unable to meet a town requirement that religious institutions provide one parking space for every four fixed seats.
Under the new law, religious institutions will no longer be required to request parking variances every time they want to lease space, Town Attorney Craig Sherman said. Instead, their applications can be considered and approved by the council on a case-by-case basis.
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Town officials say the ordinance is in compliance with the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, which prohibits local governments from denying applications from religious institutions based on land use regulations.