The Sts. Joachim and Anna Orthodox Church is suing Sumter County after its special use permit was revoked in April.
Commissioners have scheduled a closed session before their June 23 meeting to consider a possible settlement.
In a court petition, the church claims that revoking the permit violated Florida’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1998.
The revocation “substantially burdens the exercise of religion,” the petition stated, because “the Orthodox faith requires parishioners to engage in weekly worship services.”
The small church is located along County Road 246 west of County Road 475 in the northwest area of the county.
A 2021 permit allowed a 60-seat sanctuary and a residential structure on the property that could be used as a parsonage or for visitors. Another permit issued in February allowed a graveyard and playground.
A Feb. 17 inspection found code violations including trash, a recreational vehicle used as a residence and a semi-trailer used for storage.
Representing the church, Stanley Borowski told commissioners at a public hearing that the trash had been cleaned up and the church was working on foliage to screen it from neighbors, whose complaints prompted the inspection. He said the semi-trailer had been on the property for decades.
The church is seeking a court order prohibiting the county from enforcing the revocation along with reimbursement of attorney’s fees.