Terry Sutton, Brenda Sutton and Chris Cinkaj have filed a federal lawsuit against Chanceford Township and various township officials over the denial of a permit to open a strip club last year in York County.
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Harrisburg. The lawsuit names the township, the members of the planning commission, the township supervisors, the members of the zoning hearing board, a zoning officer and a township engineer as defendants.
The plaintiffs argue their constitutional rights were violated when their request for a special exemption to the township’s zoning laws was denied. The township’s zoning hearing board issued a written decision denying the request on August 15 of last year.
“The language of Chanceford Township Zoning Ordinance is overly broad, vague, and is intended to hinder Constitutionally protected First Amendment activity,” the lawsuit states. “The denial of Plaintiffs’ Constitutional right to engage in protected speech and to use the Property for same has caused Plaintiffs monetary damages.”
“The Office” was presented as an adult cabaret with plans to move into the Brogue strip mall along Delta Road.
The lawsuit states, “Plaintiffs challenge the agreement by Defendants to allow a church to leas space in the same mall as the proposed Cinkaj Brogue Limited Partnership facility was made after the zoning application by Brogue was received and before a hearing was commenced by the Chanceford Township Zoning Hearing Board.”
Community members held prayer vigils last year to show their opposition to the proposed club.
The lawsuit seeks to have the township’s zoning ordinance declared unconstitutional and award monetary damages to the Suttons and Cinkaj. Their lawyer has requested a jury trial.
To read the lawsuit, click here: Chanceford Twp Lawsuit.