HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP198600060 Action Letter
.
.
COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
Dept. of Planning & Community Development
401 McIntire Road
Charlottesville, Virginia 22901-4596
(804) 296-5823
December 11, 1986
Cistercians of the Strict Observance in Massachusetts, Inc
c/o John J. Meehan, Esquire
43 West 42nd Street, Suite 572
New York, NY 10036
RE: SP-86-60 Cistercians of the Strict Observance in
Massachusetts, Inc
Dear Sir:
The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, at its meeting on
December 3, 1986, unanimously approved the above-noted
request to allow for a convent. The property is located on
the north side of Rt. 674, two miles east of White Hall.
Tax Map 27, Parcels 40A and 40. White Hall Magisterial
District. 'rhis approval is subject to the following
conditions:
1. Staff approval of site plan including Virginia
Department of Highways and Transportation approval of
entrance location/improvements;
2. Future development limited to descriptions contained in
the staff report (attached);
3. Compliance with 5.1.29 CONVENT, MONASTERY of the Zoning
Ordinance.
e
.
If you should have any questions or comments regarding the
above noted action, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Y,?[:~ TPi1a~_
yohn T. P. Horne
birector of Planning & Community Development
JTPH/jcw
cc: Mr. Matthew Murray
Mr. Richard Shank
e
e
COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
~lp~ r
kOV 19 1986
18
3 , G: lS U U-
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
STAFF REPORT
HEARINGS
PLANNING COMMISSION: NOVEMBER
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS: DECEMBER
SP-86-60 CISTERCIANS OF THE STRICT OBSERVANCE IN
MASSACHUSETTS, INC.
Petition: The Cistercians of the Strict observance
in Massachussetts, Inc. petitions the Board of Supervisors
to issue a special use permit for a CONVENT (10.2.2.41)
on 494.44 acres zoned RA, Rural Areas. Property, described
as Tax Map 27, parcels 40 and 40A, 1s located along Rte. 674
at Millington in the White Hall Magisterial District.
Character of the Area: Properties in this area are
generally large tracts (50 acres or more). This site is in
pasture and woodland and was formerly Landsdale Farm, Inc.,
a local cheesemaker. The Moormans River borders the
property on the south and is a designated County scenic
stream which carries special zoning restrictions. Rte. 674
is a one-lane gravel road. Access to the property is
currently inadequate. (See Attachment B).
Staff Comment:
This proposal is to establish a monastery for cloistered
nuns (See Attachment A). Initial occupancy would be six (6)
persons with a ten year projected expansion to a total of
twenty-five (25) persons. New construction at this time
would involve a 6,000 square foot residential structure.
Future expansion may include a small chapel for public
worship (i.e. - about twenty people). Staff opinion is that
the proposed use in consistent with the intent of the Rural
Areas and would be compatible to the immediate area. Staff
recommends approval subject to ,the following conditions:
1. Staff approval of site plan including Virginia
Department of Highways and Transportation approval of
entrance location/improvements;
2. Future development limited to descriptions contained in
this report;
3. Compliance with 5.1.29 CONVENT, MONASTERY of the Zoning
Ordinance.
e
.~e\--.tT b..
S TAT E ).{ E N T OF I N TEN T :
By way of introduction. we are Cistercian Nuns. commonly known as Trapplstlnes.
It is our intention to send a group of six Sisters to take up residence at the former
Landsdale Farm located in Whitehall (P .0. Box Crqzet) In order to pursue in the beautiful
Virginia countryside the life of prayer and praise that is our ralEon d'etre.
Our monasteries are traditionally located in out-of-the-way places, and are main-
tained as farm and woodland. We are self-supporting. In t'he case of the projected
monastery In Albemarle County, we Intend to do this by making the flne local cheese
developed by the former owner of Landsdale Farm. Marketing our products by mail
order has proven a most suitable method for the candy produced by our home monastery
tn Wrentharv; Massachusetts, as it has for other monasteries of our Order. Since we
are stay-at"homes (cloistered), lovers of the silence. seclusion and beauty of the country,
we propose to use the same method here.
We hope to build a monastery that wlll fit Into the landscape and the area, and
which wlll enhance rather than spoil the beauty of the locality.
Silence and seclusion help us to build and maintain a deep life of prayer. For
this reason, we can be expected to keep our large tract of land Intact for protectic1n.
as we have at Wrentham. It would be directly contrary to our purposes to sell any land
to developers.
We believe that lives totally dedicated to prayer are a way of serving the local
community. We are very much concerned with the problems and sorrows of the world,
and we take our concern, wrap It in our lives, .and lift it to God in prayer. It Is in this
way, rather than by active involvement, that we support the wonderful Christians who
teash or preach, who feed the hungry and heal the sick.
/
'-'-r!
-,
, "
! I
t'.l :.. L
, . "'r\...-,.."-'
,~'--,
.~.-..I
,
-~,.,'
J~I . _____J 1 _'(''l ~jc~ L'
:::... .-l_~~-'.'-~ . ,'~, I
! '
'- t. /" /'
e'
e.
An~HMe....rT b
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION
Mr. Ronald S. Keeler
September 23, 1986
Page 2
4. SP-86-60 Cistercians of the Strict Observance Nassachusett, Inc., Route
674 - This section of Route 674 is currently 12' wide, has poor geonetrics with
sharp curves, and a non-hard surface road that is non-tolerable. A minimum of
200' of sight distance is required at the location of the existing entrance.
The existing entrance has 130' of sight distance to the west, 125' of sight
distance to the east and lOa' of sight distance for a vehicle tlin1ing left into
the entrance. The minimum sight distance can be obtained in each direction by
shifting the existing entrance 45' to the east of the current entrance. To
obtain adequate sight distance in both direction would require grading of the
slope and cutting of vegetation along with sight easeuents or right of way
dedication. The Department does not support a request that would generate more
traffic on a non-tolerable road.
If you should have any questions, please advise.
Yours truly,
D. S. Roosevel t
Resident Engineer
'i-- 0 - ~
By: J. A. Echols
Ass't. Resident ulgineer
JAE/dlc
It
.
~~tl
.~. ~\ 1
,),
.e)\.
(,.;-'
It;:=- p. 1 T"l'
"-" . i' .. ..... D t::- ."1
-.J ~r>,<;,
. '''i /) ,
\..F \11 . ,;.' h..
, " / I~ -", :", 'i~ \. "~ ~ <~""'1'
_~ ~~~J.,\a\,.\:;\'
1\:;t~ji}\'lt~;;~J
DEPA-;-l1~}\..~E;rT rof PL,-\r':.r.;;N(j and COfJf'~Un:TY DEV~LO'Pr.;:;:~~T
,,~;.~'~ r,i c fnlir~) H {JaG
Cha~ i:I~t:)\~'J~!:~)~ Vli: ~2. gO 1..,.4 596
;J. Gt : 93"" S; n :.-! 2.
NOVC1Dbcr 19: l')JG
cj ~.-)t(~rCi,;1Il::; <. r 1_.fl,',..":
c~ /0 ..JC)1111 ~~r. r\,:;~ tl.::~.rA,
i~ 3 \)c;;::t: 112 (1 ~\ J.:C .j-
;:J t ,J." L C" t () b ~3C' l.~\J ~lnc:c
1n
I.let E~;~ d.C; 11 tlS C -t ~,.'~ ~:~ /
L,e
L; i Ll1.1.'.~
,:,;tc r-,72
n c \,y Yo r k, N ,{
1 :)0\ (
Fz }~: : ~ F:-. - e () ~.. C ~ c.~' ~:: ~ ,~~ 1, '. i t 1 ~ () .J.: t 1'1 C2 ~:~I t. r i c t Cl L):2~ C~ r v 1" (~':_ r"'l C:, (; I ~ 1
I~las;:';,J.c:l-\u,'; ~".t Lt,(.,
['c.>ar Si. r :
II' h_(~ 1':.1 b(.~nl,3.~" J_ CC" (~:-j \ !!~':/ l' -, r.; ;"1 j_1.1 C! C t~')r::1!..n:.1.. ::) :3 ~l ::.J :,1, a t ~L ~=_;-~ 1"[:. C.: '-~' L ~~: ~ ;~:f ~': : 1
l-~ :j'iC':tT'il)o r .1 (), L 'J~:': c, I
~lb;~) ~/(~ -lrot ce': 1':"',: t -~. L.i
~=iJl~';:'r",.}i.sor~::.. ~rl,~ ::;
condition:,;:
li.t) .J, i flf") t 1 ~:.; 2_ ~ - r c' r; e\l IL; 1:.21'1\': c.d d [. ;~:: J' :~: '"/ ,::::,1 ,') f
:~)tl t <) ch(~ }\>LL)e!~ll.l)~ J.e CC)1Jilt'~,r' IJC);.~llr~i C~.:..
ttI".;'lJI:- ('i'f,] ij 1 i, oS S tt;.j j c;c~ t to t 112 [().~ lc>'~(/ L r :~]
1. Staff approv2] 0[ ~itc p10n including Virginia
DCI)a, r t rnc ~,') t (j f 1_~ j '..7'~1_'y''''~: D rrr 2_: \ ~-_~ r~c r t 0, t. i c: 11 a :Jr.:.: ,:_=-,-~.. .J~ 1 c.." E
en, 'lL:l 1'1 C~ C~ :1 C)C~ :'~l t-, 5. c.\ C ./ j .r~; J'e) \lC:!liC: l"1 t s ;
2 . Fu t u t:c ,if.:.: vc: 1 C F)ir!Cli'~ J im ~ tf;d t J de set ipt ion::; cc'- ;,:>'1~. i~(:'~ Hi
this r',:-p'Jr l ;
3 .
C ' .
,.amp 11 a::lCC
Or-dinie;w.-"', .
ltl i t II I,:" 1 .. 2 ~J
C~C,;l'J\/E~l--r~C' t I\~(J~'~,7-.E,:rrE.r f ()F
t 11'; ~~: ,-:; ~'l _~_ n J
P 1 (~a s c rn t c t h;~, t h (' r 1
",,rill r(~"(Jit.::,:...-J t;.li..:~..; b}(.~Lj tlf..1Li
t t:(~ i r rnc e t. :L r"l, {.J C\ n I) c-'!.C:' (:'j1t"(?1.
rJ CO}';iLy DO(!ld of S111W'C"i i, ('it:-:;
,:~^_l tJ:J 1 '2c~.c~i:~;(:. [)ubJ ic c~:]rrH:r::llt (~_~. ~:.
),1986.. lJ.rlY n~='--'J or a<1'jiLL-'~;(:l1
e
-
irlfo:t'IflatioT1 r;:~:sL 1:;('> u1"" ;itt:.c~,j to tl'"l(? Clerk of tl'lO r<),~l,~.tl ()f
Supervisors at: L:a,3t S'2\'c'rl days prier to the schc:du 1 "'d
n1C c t i rlg . YO tJrZ ()l~ '~()U t\ I~I::Pt~ES E1JT 7\ ~r I '\lE I'.lUS~r D E~ l?I<. ES I:~:Tr I'~(}1.-,~
Till S ['lEET IN G .
I f you should lid VC dllY 'T'cst 1.0ns or comments, please do fie) t
11 C' s.L t 2 t c toe'.) n l d:': t: Ii! (' .
Sinccrc1y,
'" ',7 ( (,' ,', ,1 !
" ,I,". 'f
/ (', I ' f \ \ : j I ;
/\ /',' '(/'( '.-,' it;
. !
i
. \
FOI,ald S. KC<':'C'l
Chief of Flanni ll'J
RS.f:/ j Cf~-J
cc: [ils. Lettir:, E. !!cl:f-:r
T>lr. [1a t. the;; lLi u, l
1':1 r. Pic h d r d :~ L !~ t t k