County settles church camp suit

Peninsula News Network

1/12/06

Clallam County, WA - Clallam County commissioners have approved an out-of-court settlement that gives a Sequim-area church the go-ahead to construct a controversial youth camp.

King's Way Foursquare Church had initially been given permission to build “Camp King's Way” on property adjacent to the church on Kitchen-Dick Road two years ago. And that was after an earlier plan had already been shot down because of incompatibility with the surrounding rural neighborhood.

But because the county attached conditions limiting the size of the camp and its hours of operation, the church sued, saying its constitutional religious rights were being violated.

After the church prevailed in that latest lawsuit, the county agreed to sign the out-of-court settlement of the case Tuesday. Under the deal, the church agrees to abide by the county’s rules governing “festival-style” events and both the county and the church agree to be responsible for their own legal fees.

That gives the church permission to operate a camp that could serve as many as 350-people during peak times in the summer. King's Way Church must still overcome a separate legal case filed in Washington State Superior Court questioning whether the church filed its legal actions in time.