# @chapelboronews on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DH84IUCO3Jw
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/28919842-chapelboronews-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/f854eff236.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-04-02T16:39:21.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Chapelboro.com (@chapelboronews) — https://gondola.cc/chapelboronews

## Caption

The Chatham County government took its latest step in responding to a lawsuit alleging its elected officials violated the religious rights of Summit Church, as it filed a motion to dismiss the case last week.

After petitioning for more time to craft its retort in court, the local government asked the U.S. Middle District Court of North Carolina to dismiss the request for a preliminary injunction due to lack of standing and lack of discrimination by county officials against Summit Church based on their religious practices. The evangelical Baptist church filed the lawsuit in February saying the county commissioners violated the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act by denying its request to build a new worship site in December.

Summit Church – a multi-congregation organization based out of Durham – is looking to find a new and expanded home for its Chapel Hill campus, which currently operates out of East Chapel Hill High School’s facilities. The group acquired interest in 93 acres across the county line in Dec. 2023, just north of Vickers Road where the housing community Herndon Farms was once approved. With an option to purchase the land set through July 1, 2025, Summit designed and proposed building a two-story, 82,000 square foot facility with outdoor amenities and parking on roughly 50 acres in a rezoning request to the county.

In its February lawsuit, Summit’s representation argues Chatham’s elected officials failed to “treat religious assemblies and institutions on equal terms with nonreligious assemblies and institutions” in their rejection of the request on Dec. 16. The case points to the county’s comprehensive plan (Plan Chatham) designating the U.S. 15-501 corridor for denser development and activity, considering its existing neighborhoods and approved construction of other projects.

Full story on Chapelboro.com.
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#chatham #chathamcounty #chathamcountync #chathamnews

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## Tags

chatham, chathamnews, chathamcounty, chathamcountync

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