An ongoing dispute between the city of Denton and a University of North Texas religious student organization spilled into federal court Wednesday when the group sued the city.

The UNT chapter of Chi Alpha, a coeducational Christian student ministry, is fighting city orders that the group must follow zoning regulations for its home on the corner of West Oak and Miller streets, on grounds that the city is discriminating against its religion.

By doing so, the group says, the city violates the group’s First and 14th Amendment rights.

“We want them to just leave this Christian ministry alone,” said Hiram Sasser, director of litigation for Liberty Legal Institute, which is representing the chapter. “The ministry is happy to comply with any health, fire and safety regulations.”

The disagreement began last December when the city issued an illegal-use citation against the group because more than four unrelated people were living in the home. Under city code, no more than four unrelated people can live in a single-family home.

Denton City Attorney Ed Snyder said the city had not been served the lawsuit, so he could not discuss specific accusations. But he denied any religious discrimination had occurred.

“We’re not discriminating based on anybody’s religious beliefs,” Snyder said. “We’re just enforcing our zoning ordinance to maintain the integrity of the single-family neighborhood. We would take the same position regardless of anyone’s beliefs.”

Darby Binder, a resident of the Oak Street neighborhood, said she was surprised that the dispute escalated to a law suit, and she called it unnecessary.

“It is a sad use of taxpayers’ money,” she said. “It isn’t fair to our neighborhood, the city or their students. The majority of the people in the neighborhood have made it known that they don’t want a fraternity on the street.”

Binder said that despite numerous votes and public opinion against Chi Alpha, the group continues to pursue a goal that isn’t appropriate.

The city has hired an outside attorney, Lowell F. Denton of the San Antonio firm Denton, Navarro, Rocha & Bernal P.C., for representation in the case.

In its suit, the group claims that under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, which was passed in 2000, the city cannot restrict the group’s use of the land unless there is a compelling reason to do so, such as safety, fire or health issues.

“The city’s own experts have said that isn’t the case,” Sasser said.

He said the Liberty Legal Institute had tried to educate the city on the act through phone calls and letters since the chapter’s special-use permit was denied.

However, the talks fell apart when the city said that it would take the group to court, Sasser said.

“It left us with no other option but to file a suit in federal court,” Sasser said.

The group is an interdenominational ministry that is supported by the Assemblies of God, and it is recognized by UNT. Bonita Jacobs, UNT’s vice president of student development, said the university isn’t really involved in the issue and the group will continue to be recognized by the university.

Last December, a resident saw a sign posted on the West Oak Street address and asked code enforcement officers to investigate. The code enforcement officers found that the land was not following correct zoning regulations.

In November, the group applied for a special-use permit that would have classified it as a fraternity house, which is considered nonresidential. However, the City Council denied that request.

Residents of the neighborhood said the city’s master plan calls for existing neighborhoods to be “vigorously protected and preserved,” and they submitted a petition to the city with 36 signatures opposing the group’s request.

Sasser said the group feels confident about its chances.

“It is impossible for us to lose this case,” Sasser said. “The city is in a dangerous situation legally. They don’t have a legal leg to stand on.”

Staff writer Lowell Brown contributed to this report.