Tennessee Appeals Court rules in favor of rezoning to allow Bible Park in Rutherford County

Tenn. Appeals Court rules for Bible Park rezoning

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The Tennessee Court of Appeals at Nashville has ruled in favor of a rezoning that would allow a Bible-based theme park to be built in Rutherford County.

At issue is a section of the county zoning resolution that requires a two-thirds vote, rather than a simple majority, if at least 20 percent of neighboring property owners petition against the rezoning.

In the decision Friday, the Appeals Court ruled that the supermajority approval requirement was invalid. It directed the Rutherford County Board of Commissioners to declare the zoning application for Bible Park USA granted since a majority had approved it.

Developers have filed a separate lawsuit against the county in U.S. District Court in Nashville for $2 million — money they say they had invested in the planning and initial work on the park.