A New Hampshire planning board has cleared the way for a man to display an electric sign on U.S. Route 4 in Chichester that would display a bible verse.
For background, read Scripture Display Nixed by City Board
-- From "NH man cleared for sign with religious message" by The Associated Press 4/8/11
Last year Fab Cusson was denied the permit.
The board said at the time its decision had nothing to do with the sign's religious message, but that it would distract drivers.
The decision prompted Cusson and a group called "Signs for Jesus" to sue the town of Chichester, arguing the decision violated their free speech and equal protection rights.
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From "Look for 'Sign for Jesus' in Chichester" by Dan O'Brien, Union Leader Correspondent 4/8/11
The town's planning board voted 5-2 Thursday to allow construction of the Bible verse-displaying sign at the intersection of Route 4 and Main Street. The board originally voted 4-3 in February not to allow the sign, but changed its mind after the project's applicant, Fabrizio Cusson of Barnstead, filed a federal lawsuit against the planning board alleging religious discrimination and not following land use laws.
Chichester planning officials approached Cusson's attorney shortly after he filed a motion for a hearing Monday in federal court, Cusson said.
Planning Board Chairman Thomas Jameson . . . said the board members who changed their minds likely did so because there was no hard evidence that a "Sign for Jesus" would cause traffic crashes by drivers distracted by it, which was the justification for denial.
A new Bible verse will be displayed on the sign each day, and Cusson will change those messages remotely from a computer.
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