By COLlive reporter
A Long Island village will pay $19 million after a decades-long legal battle over blocking the construction of a Chabad center, according to a report by the New York Post.
The case involves the Village of Old Westbury, one of the most affluent communities in the United States, and a Chabad-Lubavitch congregation led by Rabbi Aaron Konikov.
The dispute dates back to 1999, when the rabbi purchased a 9-acre property with plans to build a synagogue to serve the growing Jewish population in the area.
According to the New York Post, village officials opposed the project and, in 2001, passed a zoning ordinance requiring houses of worship to be built on a minimum of 12 acres—effectively preventing the Chabad center from moving forward.
Local authorities cited concerns such as traffic, parking, and neighborhood character, but the congregation argued the restrictions unfairly targeted their project.
After nearly two decades of litigation in federal court, the parties reached a settlement that was recently approved by U.S. District Judge Gary Brown. As part of the agreement, the village will pay $19 million in damages to the Chabad group.
The settlement also allows the congregation to proceed with plans for a synagogue, pending the approval of a special-use permit. Preliminary plans include a roughly 20,000-square-foot facility with space for prayer, community programming, and parking.
The case was brought under federal protections for religious land use, including the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), which prohibits municipalities from imposing zoning regulations that place substantial burdens on religious institutions.
The New York Post noted that the outcome represents a significant legal and financial consequence for the village, bringing an end to a dispute that has spanned more than 20 years.
The ruling is expected to have broader implications for similar cases involving zoning laws and religious institutions across the United States.
