DuPage County is on the verge of passing sweeping restrictive zoning and land use ordinances which will have an adverse impact on all religious institutions. Here are some of the proposed changes that will cause undue hardship on religious institutions:

• The Proposed zoning and land use restrictions will prevent the building and construction of new religious institutions, including churches, synagogues, mosques, and religious schools in residential areas.

• Secular schools are allowed to build and develop in residential areas but religious schools are not.  This restriction of religion violates the First Amendment.

• By prohibiting the establishment of churches, mosques, and synagogues in residential areas, DuPage County is forcing religious institutions to seek locations in high traffic and commercial areas that essentially defeats the purpose of having religious institutions near families.

• By forcing religious institutions to seek locations outside of residential areas such as business and commercial districts, it imposes a financial burden upon churches, synagogues and mosques that is unfair and unnecessary.

• Current and existing religious institutions will not be able to expand which means no additional parking lots, youth centers, sports facilities, or play grounds.

As a faith leader, here are five (5) easy steps you can take to help put DuPage County back toward a more pro-family and pro-community direction:

1)     Stand with us and sign or sponsor this letter/petition in opposition to the proposed anti-religious zoning restriction and land use ordinance.

2)     Read about the proposed changes yourself at: http://www.co.dupage.il.us/building/generic.cfm?doc_id=4638

3)     Share this letter with your congregation, parish, and colleagues.

4)     Attend the next Zoning Committee meeting and voice your opinion. We suggest that you send at least one representative from your organization to the Development Committee meeting to speak against the Text Amendments.  The next public hearing will be on September 27, 2010 at 5:30 pm in the Cafeteria at the Jack T. Knuepfer Administration Building, 421 N. County Farm Road in Wheaton.

5)     Voice your concern by sending letters and e-mails and making phone calls to the chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals:

Mr. Robert J. Kartholl, Chairman

DuPage County Zoning Board of Appeals

Jack T. Knuepfer Administration Building

421 North County Farm Road

Wheaton, Illinois  60187

Or any of the following individuals personally:

a.       Robert J. Kartholl, Chairman, Zoning Board of Appeals, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187 (630.924.0500).

b.      Anthony Michelassi, County Development Committee, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187 (630.407.6023) anthony.michelassi@dupageco.org.

c.       Jeff Redick, County Development Committee, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187 (630.407.6023) jredick@dupageco.org.

d.      Thomas Bennington, Jr., County Development Committee, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187 (630.407.6023) tbennington@dupageco.org.

e.       Dirk Enger, County Development Committee, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187 (630.407.6023) dirk.enger@dupageco.org.

f.        Ritz Gonzalez, County Development Committee, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187 (630.407.6023) rgonzalez@dupageco.org.

g.       Debra Olson, County Development Committee, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187 (630.407.6023) dolson@dupageco.org.

h.      John Zediker, County Development Committee, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187 (630.407.6023) jzediker@dupagco.org.