What was shaping up as a classic battle freedom of religion versus government was averted.

Neighbors of the Blue Mountain Zendo, a residence on Deere Lane where Zen Buddhists gathered to pray and meditate, complained to West Penn Township officials that the use of the property violated the terms of their deeds, which describe Deere Lane as a private road.In September, the West Penn Township zoning officer served the owners of the property with a cease and desist notice for operating a house of worship.Zen monk Joriki Baker has leased the property from Honey Badger LLC, Allentown, since July; Baker lives at the residence with his family.In October, Honey Badger/Blue Mountain Zendo and Baker let the township know they would appeal the cease and desist notice, and the matter was scheduled to be heard by the township's zoning hearing board.But when representatives from all parties met for the West Penn Township zoning hearing board meeting in November, where the issue was to be heard, lawyers for the township and Zendo announced that they'd reached an agreement.They convened the meeting long enough to read the agreement into the record and took no testimony not associated with the agreement.The agreement left some Zendo neighbors feeling that they hadn't been given the opportunity to have a voice in the matter. They also felt they'd been unfairly portrayed as in opposition to the Zen Buddhists.It was never about religion, some said."They're trying to twist it around to make it a religious issue," neighbor Janet Plasha said. "Our stance is that you're not allowed to open a deeded private road and make it open to the public."And yet, Plasha said, that is what has been allowed in the agreement forged between the township and the Zendo."The decision still allows the public to use the deeded private drive to go there," she said. "The township is now regulating the number of people who can be in a private residence how can the township put those stipulations on it, and still say that they're not operating a business there?"Her husband, Bruce Plasha, said specifics of maintenance and liability regarding Deere Lane are spelled out on each deed."The way it's laid out we all own the whole thing (Deere Lane)," he said. "That's why it's only friends, family and invitees who are permitted to use it."It wouldn't be any different for me if they had opened an ice cream stand, or even a bed and breakfast," he said."It was absolutely never about religion, it was about a business operating on a private road."Neighbor Mike Oswald said the township made a mistake by issuing a cease-and-desist order for a house of worship. The cease and desist should have been for operating a business, Oswald said."I'm only about 75 yards from the house, and in the beginning it was only a couple of people getting together," Oswald said. "But it got to be where there were 15 to 20 cars there, Friday to Sunday; they were running a business, no doubt about it."I'm worried about whether or not the septic system of the house can handle it, because historically there was a problem at the house," Oswald said. "I'm downhill from them, and my well is below their septic."Oswald also said that the disagreement was "never about religion.""It all comes down to liability, because on our deeds we all own that road," Oswald said. "When they (the township) made that deal, they didn't look into that side of it; in fact, they didn't listen to us at all."Oswald said some neighbors are discussing possible legal actions that could be taken regarding the use of the deeded private road. To date, nothing has been decided, he said.Township secretary Bobbi Jo Muffley said no further issues have been brought to the attention of township officials. Joan London of Kosloff Stoudt law firm in Wyomissing, which represents Honey Badger/Blue Mountain Zendo, said there have been no further issues with the township or the Deere Lane neighbors."I have not heard anything, and I'll assume no news is good news," London said. "Hopefully everybody is coexisting peacefully."