FERNDALE - The City Council voted unanimously on Monday, Jan. 7, to strike a line from residential zoning code that limits the height of church steeples.
There are currently no plans in Ferndale for a church exceeding 35 feet in height. Council wanted to eliminate a restriction that conflicts with federal law.
The height limit remained in city code after the city reversed a decision in 2005 to not allow the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to erect a spire 71 feet high, Community Development Director Jori Burnett said.
At the time, city officials decided to allow the construction out of concern that such a restriction would violate the First Amendment.
The city struck the height restriction Monday, after learning it specifically violates a 2000 federal law that prohibits local governments from unreasonably limiting religious structures.
Reach Ralph Schwartz at 360-715-2289 or ralph.schwartz@bellinghamherald.com. Read his politics blog at blogs.bellinghamherald.com/politics or follow him on Twitter at @bhamheraldpolitics.
