An appeals court in Illinois has ruled that the zoning rules in the city of Rockford do not allow an abortion industry representative to set up its corporate activities inside a residential neighborhood.
The fight involves residents and homeowners who objected to the move by abortionist Dennis Christensen, his corporation, Rockford and its Zoning Board of Appeals.
The Thomas More Society represented the residents and homeowners.
Peter Breen, society head of litigation, explained, “The court’s ruling sends a crystal-clear message: zoning laws exist to protect our communities, and they must be enforced fairly and consistently, even when they impact the abortion industry.
“The court has exposed the Rockford Zoning Board’s flawed reasoning and upheld the rule of law, ensuring that businesses, even abortion businesses, cannot ignore the laws and may not set up shop wherever they want, including in the middle of quiet family neighborhoods filled with young children.”
The ruling is from the Illinois Appellate Court for the Fourth District.
The decision confirmed both Rockford officials and a lower court erred in allowing an abortion business to move into a residential neighborhood by calling itself a “home business.”
Christensen and his abortion corporation Rockford Family Planning Center in 2022 sought to convert a residential property, which originally allowed a homeowner to operate a home business. into an abortion business.
The ruling cited a long list of significant variances between the abortion business and the prior chiropractor’s home business, including that Christensen’s new business is not a “home business.”
Plaintiffs included Shawn and Lisa Rylatt who challenged the scheme for its rules violations, noise and reduced property values.
