Point Reyes Light - November 11, 1999
Monks want to build Dillon Beach monastery
The Christopher Ranch, a 464-acre property north of the Oceana Marin subdivision in Dillon Beach, has sold to a Southern California monastery which intends to build residences and a retreat for its bishop and monks.
Acting as an attorney and agent for the St. Antony Monastery, former county supervisor Gary Giacomini in September filed a pre-application with the Community Development Agency outlining the proposed development.
CDA principal planner Thomas Lai has given a preliminary stamp of approval to the project, and the property sale is expected to clear escrow soon.
The proposal submitted by Giacomini describes the monastery's intent to develop "a contemplative religious cloister, residence, and retreat for its bishop and a maximum of 10 monks." It would include a:
4,000 square-foot residence containing ten separate quarters for the individual monks.
Cloistered worship space measuring approximately 3,500 square feet.
4,000 square-foot kitchen and dining facility.
Separate 4,000 square-foot residence, similar to that for the monks, for the monastery's bishop.
Separate storage building, also estimated at 4000 square feet.
The proposed design clusters the five buildings so they would occupy less than one-half acre of the ranch, and couldn't be seen from public vantage points, including Oceana Marin and the Point Reyes National Seashore.
The remaining land, Giacomini confirmed, will be set aside for agricultural purposes and perhaps protected with conservation easements through Marin Agricultural Land Trust.
According to the proposal, the monks would grow their own food and fiber on the property, and would continue to lease out a portion of the land for cattle grazing. As required by the county's Local Coastal Plan, a pedestrian easement allowing public access to the Estero de San Antonio by dirt road would also be maintained.
"They're a very reclusive outfit that intends only mild use of the land," Giacomini explained. "They want to do things right and don't want any difficulties."
Giacomini said he believes that St. Antony's will not file a formal application with the county for developing the property until the spring or summer of 2000, and in the meantime intends to hold a series of meetings to discuss the matter with local residents.