A New York State judge on Thursday, ruled that the Village of Chestnut Ridge’s “Houses of Worship” (HOW) law, adopted in 2019, is null and void.
The HOW law was originally enacted to establish a clear and equitable process for the legal recognition of houses of worship within the village. Since its adoption, several neighborhood-based houses of worship were legally established under its provisions.
However, a lawsuit filed by Hilda Kogut, president of Citizens United to Protect Our Neighborhoods (CUPON), along with two co-plaintiffs, challenged the law on the grounds that the Village had not adequately complied with the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). The judge agreed with the plaintiffs, ruling the law invalid due to insufficient environmental review.
In response, the Village Board issued a statement expressing respectful disagreement with the court’s decision and confirmed it would consult legal counsel to determine the appropriate next steps to safeguard residents’ interests and uphold the integrity of local legislation.
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No building should have taken place while this lawsuit was pending..Now we have two 10,000 square foot HOWs within two blocks of our house, along with the attendant noise and pollution. Homes were torn down with no proper removal of asbestos. Hundreds of cars park in front of our homes so that we can’t even do yard maintenance. Dozens of school busses speed by daily, and untold numbers of heavy trucks and equipment have torn up our roads. Lights blare from these buildings 24/7, making sleep nearly impossible.. Wildlife has been effected. And all of this could have been avoided if only common sense had prevailed.
Doesn’t seem you believe in FREEDOM OF RELIGION !
DISGUSTING,ANTISEMITIC,BABYISH
Thanks for doxing yourself, anti-semite
This is yet another example of a anti-semitic ruling, this ruling should be appealed immediately, the house of worship law should stay intact,as it is much needed for religious purposes as our community’s continue to grow and strive.
ALL PERMITS ISSUED UNDER THIS LAW MUST STAY INTACT…
PERIOD,NO DISCUSSIONS NECESSARY.
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Yes I do believe in freedom of religion. The freedom to practice one’s religion is essential. When this freedom disrupts an established community, however, it crosses a line. To build an enormous synagogue in a largely Chistian neighborhood can be viewed as provocative. To overturn long-held zoning and building laws to accomodate one religion, and not any other, is a violation of the concept of seperation of church and state. To say that an unjust law must stay in place to benefit one religion over another, with no discussion, is the very definition of violating the Establishment Clause. And don’t call me anti semitic. I’m a practicing Jew.