City of Wayzata Settles in 4-Year Long Zoning Dispute With Church

The Wayzata City Council says it has reached a settlement in the suit between Unitarian Universalist Church of Minnetonka (UUCM) and the City of Wayzata, ending a four-year dispute over zoning restrictions.

The church filed a lawsuit in 2010 charging that Wayzata's Comprehensive Land Use Plan is discriminatory and denied the church of its First Amendment Rights. The suit came after an application by UUCM to rezone land designated for single-family residency was denied in 2008. 

Under the terms of the settlement, the city agreed to amend its comprehensive plan and rezone two plots of land in the Holdridge Neighborhood to a Planned Unit Development, allowing the church to build its previously proposed plan. The city will also pay the church $500,000 in damages, including attorneys' fees.

In return, UUCM dismissed its lawsuit and agreed to work through the city's normal process to apply for and complete its building project, meaning the church would have to build and occupy a church building on the property within six years, or the land will revert to its previous zoning.

"This was a difficult decision for us. We believe the law supports our position and the City has right to control the planning and zoning within its borders," said Wayzata Mayor Ken Willcox. "However, it became clear that ending this expensive and detrimental proceeding was in the overall best interest of the citizens of Wayzata."

The settlement is still subject to formal City Council action.