Pastors suing Marysville over land use code issue

MARYSVILLE, Wash. — Two pastors who operate halfway houses for sex offenders are suing the City of Marysville.

John and Jane Mack run Holy Ghost Revival Ministries, which is a 12-step residential program.

The Daily Herald reports Marysville has cited the Macks for housing nine people in a building zoned for commercial use.

The city told the group they are no longer allowed to use their two properties to operate because they were using them outside of code – such as parking trailers on land that is supposed to be for residential use.

One property is in a suburban neighborhood and another is in a mixed-commercial, light-industrial neighborhood.

The pair of pastors filed the suit in Snohomish Superior Court. They say residency is allowed under what's called the 'caretaker's quarters' provision.

The suit also alleges the city is trying to drive them out of town.

The Macks have nine halfway houses in Snohomish County, but the suit only involves two.

KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter David Ham is working on the story and will have more details in our 5 p.m. newscast.

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