SEATTLE – A tent city of homeless people can remain on a Bothell church’s property, a judge decided Thursday.
The city of Bothell had sought a King County Superior Court order against St. Brendan’s Catholic Church, arguing the church needed a permit for the campground, which opened May 17 and is home to about 80 people.
The church said it accepted the encampment under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000. The federal law limits local zoning restrictions on religious institutions.
“I’m so happy for these folks tonight,” said Ted Hunter, lawyer for the homeless advocacy group in charge of the tent city. “They came into the courtroom not knowing if they would have to go and pack up a tent.”
The parties will return to court Tuesday to argue over who should pay for Bothell police overtime and whether the church should be required to put up a $1 million bond in case something goes wrong.
Bothell spokeswoman Joyce Goedeke said Judge Steven Scott’s ruling was a victory for both sides.
“The judge has allowed that the tent city may stay but he’s also said the city has the right to enforce its code and that measures can be taken to protect the health, safety and welfare of residents,” Goedeke said.
The homeless camp is the latest in a series organized by the Seattle Housing and Resource Effort and the Women’s Housing, Equality and Enhancement League.
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