Meeteetse monastery public hearing continued

Posted 8/19/10

After nearly four hours of dialogue on the issue and with about 20 residents still waiting to be heard Tuesday night, Park County Planning and Zoning Commission members voted to continue the public hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 7.

Under the nonprofit …

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Meeteetse monastery public hearing continued

Posted

Whether a group of monks can build a 145,000-square-foot monastery on a ranch outside of Meeteetse remains uncertain following a public hearing Tuesday night.Dozens of Park County residents gathered at the courthouse hearing, overflowing into the hallway and voicing both opposition and support for the Carmelite monks' monastery plans.

After nearly four hours of dialogue on the issue and with about 20 residents still waiting to be heard Tuesday night, Park County Planning and Zoning Commission members voted to continue the public hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 7.

Under the nonprofit New Mount Carmel Foundation of America, the monks hope to construct a French Gothic monastery and coffee-roasting barn on a 2,500-acre ranch off Meeteetse Creek Road, where 40 monks would live, work and lead a life of faithful solitude.

The foundation is seeking to acquire the Elk Meadow Ranch from rancher Dave Grabbert. Building the monastery and roasting facility for the group's Mystic Monk Coffee business hinges on the county's approval of two special use permits. Following the public hearing and planning and zoning commission decision, the permits face ultimate approval by the Park County Commission.

The proposed sale of the ranch, which is located 7 miles from the nearest property owner and 14 from the nearest public road, has drawn the ire of some surrounding landowners and community members.

They argue that the monastery will draw an influx of traffic on the private Meeteetse Creek Road, could affect wildlife and livestock inhabiting the area, doesn't adequately handle wastewater management and will impact the Western tradition and landscape.

Opponents of the project also contend that they weren't given ample time to review the monastery plans and the application for special use permits.

“This structure is built for 1,000 years — we're only asking for 30 more days,” said Debra Wendtland, a Sheridan attorney representing MC Land and Cattle, LLC, landowners Matt and Jessie Wagner and Scott and Marjorie Justice.

Wendtland said landowners were given only a month to review special use permit applications after they were filed July 12. She said the group's applications and plans are lacking and leave important questions unanswered.

“All we can rely on is what has been stated in that application, and it's deficient,” Wendtland said.

However, attorneys representing the monks say landowners have known about the proposed project since January and are trying to hinder its timeline and progression.

“It's a delay tactic,” said Joey Darrah, a Powell attorney. “We're on a very tight schedule here, and we can't wait.”

Those who support the monks in their endeavor say the Carmelite Monks have every right to proceed with the monastery and coffee facility, and to deny it would be infringing on their rights.

Darrah called the complaints subjective and asked planning and zoning commissioners to give more weight to the comments from landowners on Meeteetse Creek Road, some of whom give the monastery full support.

He said some residents may not like the size or style of the monastery, but the monks have the right to religious expression through the structure's architecture.

Those issues and others will be further discussed during the postponed public hearing, scheduled to resume at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 7.

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