Brewer, Bangor -
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against the city of Brewer filed by a property owner claiming religious discrimination against a local church.
Earlier this year, the city denied a permit to the Rock Church to expand in the North Brewer Shopping Center.
The code enforcement officer said it would be a violation of zoning laws.
Property owner Dana Cassidy sued, saying the city's land use regulations were unfair toward the church and would cost him thousands of dollars in lost rent.
The judge dismissed the suit Monday, saying it was too early in the process for him to decide in the case.
Since the code enforcement officer doesn't have the final say, the church would have needed to appeal to the zoning board before Cassidy could file the lawsuit.
The Rock Church left Brewer and expanded at its Bangor location.