A. Rhodes Wilson is no stranger to Plumstead Township, nor is his property at 5571 Easton Road.
For nearly five years, Wilson and his wife, Jana, have been at war with the township over how they can use the single-family dwelling they have never lived in. The couple lives in Buckingham.
In the most recent turn of events, the Wilsons are looking for approval to use the building, once home to Rhodes Wilson's accounting business, as the Church of Scientology Mission of Bucks County.
Wilson was not available for comment Tuesday but his attorney, Robert Gundlach, said he expected the conditional use request to be "straight forward."
"He's not proposing any changes to the existing structure," said Gundlach.
On the application, Wilson is listed as a principle in the church.
The Scientology church Web site says the religion, founded by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard in 1954, "offers a pathway to greater freedom."
It said there are more than 3,000 churches, missions and related Scientology organizations around the world.
Under the township's zoning, a house of worship is considered a permitted use on the site, providing it doesn't harm the general health, safety and welfare of the neighborhood.
A public hearing on the application is scheduled for Sept. 16, during the township's supervisors meeting at 7:30 p.m.
Vacant for the past two years, the property has been a source of ongoing contention with Plumstead officials. Much of the controversy centered on whether the building could be used as an office.
In 2007, the struggle moved to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, where the township prevailed, with the state's highest court upholding its ruling that a business could not be housed there.
John Reiss, an attorney for Plumstead, said the Wilson saga began in 2003 when the couple began renovating the house without the proper permits.
After an inspection showed there were fluorescent lights in the bedrooms, Reiss said, it was clear Rhodes intended to use the property as an office, a use that township zoning did not allow.
Rhodes appealed to the zoning hearing board and lost. He won at the county court level, but the township won on appeal at a higher court. The Wilsons then appealed to the state Supreme Court and lost.
The property was on the market, but the "for sale" sign has come down.
