Church has no right to bypass vote of the people

The people of Simi Valley and Moorpark have a right to be incensed. The attempt to circumnavigate the voting process set forth for land use by SOAR on the Tierra Rejada greenbelt is unconscionable at best.

SOAR requires voter approval for all zoning changes involving open space or agricultural land in unincorporated areas. Why would the county allow a church to forgo such procedures?

What in this world gives Cornerstone Church the idea that they should be granted an exemption of the land-use policies? Because they are a church? I think not.

Do they not think the citizens of both Simi Valley and Moorpark have a say as to what happens to the open spaces they have designed to set aside as a greenbelt between the two cities?

Are their values as a church so clouded that they would allow their leadership to stoop to what amounts as theft to get what they want?

The church cited the Religious Land Use Act, which would allow them to bypass the voting process. This is preposterous. This is nothing more than another attempt, by a church, to shove and bully city governments into acts favorable to them because of their status as a place of worship.

We have already been through this with a church in Simi harboring an illegal alien. Does this city really have to continue to kow-tow to the wants and demands of "strip mall" churches?

Do Simi and Moorpark have to bend over yet again and relinquish rights to properties that should remain undeveloped and free as the greenbelt was meant to be? Because Cornerstone wants to put in parking facilities, a school, auditorium, etc., does this mean everyone in the two cities wants the same thing? No, it doesn't.

Whereas I certainly agree with their right to build whatever they want, I don't feel it should be on lands set aside as a greenbelt.

The blatant attempt of usurping lands and the bald-faced insinuation that the citizens of both Simi and Moorpark are stupid enough to believe their rhetoric and allow this land grab to take place need to be followed by a cacophony of voices raised finally in unison with a big fat . . . not no- "Hell, no!" Jim Christina Simi Valley