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Continued from page 1 ogist that found the retreat house would have “little or no discernible impact on the underground water supply of the area.”
In addition, Mr. Chapman reported that Bethany House, a Catholic retreat center in Huntly, has not affected nearby property values, according to its original operator, Jim Bayne. As to demand for a retreat center that would serve small groups of up to 20 overnight visitors on weekends only, Mr. Chapman reported that seven Episcopal churches the D.C. area have affirmed that they would regularly use the facility.
Georgetown University theologian Jim Thomasson, a resident of the Town of Washington where he and his wife operate a craft shop and bed and brfeakfast business, reported that his market survey had found “a far greater demand” for retreat centers serving small groups than there are places to accomodate those groups.
Attorney Frank Reynolds, representing A.Y. Stokes and other neighboring landowners, raised the question of whether the BZA could grant approval of the Chapmans’ request under the terms of the zoning ordinance.
“You can do nothing, give no permit, except for what is specifically listed as permissable in the ordinance,” he said. A 1978 amendment to the zoning ordinance permits in a conservation zone only those uses allowed in other districts, with the exception of the uses specified in business districts, Mr. Reynolds maintained.
A religious retreat house is not listed among the uses allowed in non-business districts and is listed as a permitted use in a business district, he said. Accordingly, “the zoning ordinance as written at this time prohibits the issuance of a permit for this use...The Chapmans have found the use they want (religious retreat) but the wrong piece of land,” the attorney said.
By consensus, the BZA members disagreed with Mr. Reynolds’ interpretation, finding instead that the ordinance conferred on the zoning board the authority to allow by special permit in a conservation district any use permitted in all other zoning districts, pursuant to certain findings.
Looking at the conservation district’s statement of intent, Mr. Reynolds argued that the thrust is to state that “conservation districts are not for commercial use. ”
BZA member Peter Kramer conceded that retreat houses are not specifically listed as permitted but maintained that thp use proposed by the Chapmans combines three uses that are allowed in a conservation district - school, tourist home and church.
Retreat houses can only be allowed in business districts, under the terms of the existing zoning ordinance, Mr. Reynolds countered.
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