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44 articulates that "there is a need for the adoption of coordinated plans, programs and controls by all local governmental units in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the metropolitan area and to ensure coordinated, orderly, and economic development." In addition to considering its statutory charges from the Minnesota Legislature, the City must be cognizant of the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act ("RLUIPA") before deciding how to amend its 'Zoning Code. See 42 U.S.C. § 2000ec. Under RLUIPA, religious institutions must be treated as well as comparable secular institutions. The "Equal Terms" provision of RLUIPA states that a municipality may not treat "a religious assembly or institution on less than equal terms with a nonreligious assembly or institution." 42 U.S.C. § 2000ce(b)(1). RLUIPA is relatively unclear as to how "assembly" should be defined, and it is even more uncertain within the state of Minnesota. In addition to the City's review of its ordinance in relation to appropriate use of its limited industrial and commercial areas, the lack of clarity in the ordinance was one reason for undertaking this Study. Therefore, if the City Council chooses to amend its Zoning Code, besides ensuring that the Zoning Code clearly reflects the intent of the City's zoning plan and best interests of the City as a whole, the City Council should consider whether the amended code is sufficiently clear for purposes of RLUIPA. Section 6.0 of this Study proposes three possible options for the City in accomplishing both of these goals. 6.0 POSSIBLE OPTIONS FOR THE CITY This section lists three possible options for the City to resolve issues surrounding the issuance of CUPs for "assemblies, meeting lodges, or convention halls" within the City's light industrial and commercial zoning districts. Option #3 would be most appropriate in accomplishing the City's goals as stated within Section 2.0 of this Study. However, a combination of these options might also work in maintaining the economic development goals of the City and establishing clarity for purposes of RLUIPA. 6.1 OPTION #1: Change Terms or Clarify Definitions Option #1 suggests clarifying or defining terms related to "assembly" and "church" use under the Zoning Code. This option would solve problems concerning clarity and consistency but may not, by itself, create a sufficient distinction between the two terms. One option the City could pursue is to specifically define the terms "churches, temples, or synagogues" and "assembly, meeting lodges, or convention halls." A number of other Minnesota communities may offer some guidance within their own definitions of such terms. -14- $'1'UDY OP ASSEA9H1.ws, MI'M ING LODGES, AND CONV EN'i'ION IA1.I.S C I'I'Y OP SAM ANTHONY VILLAGE