Federated Church v. Historic District Commission

I. Background

This is an action brought by the Federated Church (“the Church”), a charitable corporation located in the Town of Edgartown, Massachusetts, seeking judicial review of a decision of the Edgartown Historic District Commission (“the Commission”) and a judgment declaring that a cease and desist order the Commission issued is invalid. For its part, the Commission seeks enforcement of the cease and desist order. At bottom, the controversy centers on whether the Church may use vinyl siding to cover three exterior sides the Parish House adjacent to the Church in lieu of the wooden siding…