NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) — Norfolk officials have acknowledged that the U.S. Justice Department has opened an investigation into a zoning dispute with a Norfolk church.

An Oct. 24 letter sent to Norfolk Mayor Sue Fuchtman by the federal agency says it has initiated an investigation into how the city’s zoning laws treats religious land uses. The agency says it also will review the city’s rejection of a building permit for renovations to a former beer distributing building now owned by Our Savior Lutheran Church in Norfolk.

City attorney Clint Schukei says a request to rezone the property was rejected because it came from a leasing company. He says city law requires rezoning application to come from a property’s owner.