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Coconino County board affirms hearing officer in Church of the Common Good code-enforcement appeal
Summary
The Board of Supervisors unanimously upheld a hearing officer's order finding zoning violations at the Church of the Common Good property, rejecting the church's claim that enforcement violated federal religious-land-use protections.
The Coconino County Board of Supervisors unanimously affirmed a hearing officer's decision on Sept. 23, 2025, finding that the Church of the Common Good was responsible for zoning violations at a property on BNSFRR Road and upholding sanctions and a 30-day compliance deadline set by the hearing officer.
The decision matters because the appellant argued the county's enforcement imposed a substantial burden on its religious exercise and invoked the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). The board concluded the hearing officer's findings were supported by substantial evidence and that the officer did not abuse his discretion.
Pastor Andrew Stevens, representing the Church of the Common Good, told the board the property had been bought under a land contract in July 2020 during COVID-era closures and that inspections and enforcement actions occurred before the church…
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