Nuns as Neighbors?

wolfgirl

Graduate Poster
wolfgirl
Joined
Apr 24, 2002
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Last year, my husband and I purchased 26 1/2 acres of land way outside of the city on which to build a house. This house is the one we plan on living in until we die. It's out in the country, with lots of trees and a creek and tons of wildlife. It's what we've saved for and dreamed of for 26 1/2 years. Finally, an escape from suburbia and the tribulations of subdivision life. We plan on starting to build in the next one or two years.

We just learned this morning that the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles have applied to the zoning commission to have 120 acres just down the road from this property (about a half a mile away) rezoned as Residential (currently Agricultural) so that they can build a monastery. I guess someone donated this land to them. I've googled them and found a drawing of the plans for the building site. They will mostly be doing farming, etc., but they're going to build several large buildings that we will probably be able to see from our house in the winter when the leaves are off the trees (we're building in a clearing amid a heavily wooded area on high ground).

I have very mixed feelings about this.

On the one hand, they are quiet (they are one of those orders that observes silence for most of the day, only eats one meal a day, wakes several times in the night to pray, spends most of their non-praying time in manual labor, etc.). I don't think there will be a "bad element" associated with them. Their plans for the land actually look quite pretty, with a vineyard, etc. It seems like we could have worse neighbors!

On the other hand...they're nuns, for cripe's sake! They've got a Lourdes monument and Stations of the Cross in the plans!

Okay, there's a little more to it than that. If the land is rezoned, how will that affect our property value? Will it be easier for others - builders, for example - to come in and rezone other adjacent areas and start putting in subdivisions? What if the nuns leave; would their now-Residential property be turned into a subdivision? Will they object to our target-shooting on our property as being too noisy?

Does anyone have any experience with living next to or near a religious order? There's a public hearing in two weeks that we plan to attend, but I'm not sure what all to ask and what all the possible objections might be that we haven't even considered.

My husband says maybe we should just tell them they're moving in next to the most rabid atheist in the midwest (referring to me) and see what they think of that!
 
I lived with nuns, does that count? I spent some time in a group home they ran when I was a teen getting emancipated.

Nuns are quiet and good neighbors, you've got that right.

I think this would be better for your property than say, a large housing tract coming up. Or an industrial park. Knowing all that land was being used for primarily agriculture and nuns were running the show would be something I'd find attractive if I were looking to purchase the property.

Having lived in rural areas, it's my guess that if they sold the property, it would be attractive to developers of subdivisions because the major connection to water and electrical will have been put in place already. I think a good question for the hearing is, under what circumstances would they sell the property?

I find Catholic statuary and art to be the most pleasing to the eye versus the more sterile trappings of protestant christians or other religions. I've lived next door to huge, beautifully maintained gardens full of stone saints, and it was pretty and tranquil.

Another thought: perhaps you can also revise your building plan and do a little evergreen landscaping to keep your view as green as possible? Maybe keep the house as hidden and quiet as possible?

Sorry I can't offer more than an opinion and tiny anecdotes. Good luck with this. We recently moved because the wooded lots next to use were ripped up for cookie cutter housing. In an instant our shade, quiet and tranquility were gone. I completely understand your concerns and empathize greatly!
 
I have never had to deal with a nun or nuns as my neighbors, but I wouldn't mind trying to get into the habit.
 
Lame puns aside...

At least that would be one tract of land that developers won't be dropping a few hundred houses onto. I don't know about your area, but here in phoenix there are areas that people 20 or 30 years ago thought were way too far out to be developed, but now they are surrounded.

I wouldn't think that developers would go out of their way to put subdivisions next to a convent, so I don't think it would make things worse.
 
I'd think it'd be neat! Way better than many other kinds of neighbors. There may be ways to block your view of their icons, like the landscaping Miss Anthrope suggested, which I thought was a boffo notion.

And with an agricultural chapter near you, you may end up on the receiving end of some nice cheeses, fresh produce, yummy brown eggs, pickles...who knows! They sometimes sell any extra they can't eat, and sometimes give it to their neighbors, as a gesture of charity.

I would much rather see a convent near my home than that ugly, hate-filled Big Box megachurch we have, instead. :mad:

Of course, YMMV. ;)
 
wolfgirl said:
...my husband and I purchased 26 1/2 acres of land...we've saved for and dreamed of for 26 1/2 years...
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There's a disturbing pattern here. You'd better find out how many nuns will be living there. If it's 26 1/2, I'd be afwaid, vewwy afwaid... :covereyes
 
wolfgirl said:
Okay, there's a little more to it than that. If the land is rezoned, how will that affect our property value? Will it be easier for others - builders, for example - to come in and rezone other adjacent areas and start putting in subdivisions? What if the nuns leave; would their now-Residential property be turned into a subdivision? Will they object to our target-shooting on our property as being too noisy?
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I think these are the real questions. Who cares about a few nuns? What happens if the nuns sell out? What restrictions are associated with Residential zoning. Isn't there some other zoning that could be used that would not open it up to full development. And the precedent is also a concern.

I'd go talk to the zoning Board or whoever has the final word. Also talk to the zoning staff about alternatives, precedents, etc. Find out if you could get some restrictions attached to the rezone to preserve your area as much as possible. IOW, get ahead of the game (or at least in the game), don't be a bystander.
 
wolfgirl said:
Does anyone have any experience with living next to or near a religious order?.
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Yep. I'm building my retirement home on a large mountaintop parcel. There is a 138 acre Tibetan Buddhist retreat on the adjoining property.
There's a public hearing in two weeks that we plan to attend, but I'm not sure what all to ask and what all the possible objections might be that we haven't even considered
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Get a copy of the local zoning ordinances and study it. Make your objections based on those ordinances and other envoronmental issues that may be covered by state or federal laws. Do your homework and be prepared to cite the law. Unless you can cite specific violations of existing law, your objections will be dismissed.

Investigate sewage, water supply, stormwater run-off issues, roadways to and from the property, land clearing erosion issues, pesticide use, impact on community character, building set-backs, etc.

The fact is, everyone has the right to develop and build whatever they want if it is within zoning regulations. Don't take the attitude that you should be the last person allowed to build. The attractiveness of the area will draw others as it did you.

Use existing laws to back your objections and avoid emotional appeals.

I've been going through this for several years now and would be happy to tell of my experiences.
 
I love it. A home is for living, not speculating on future property values!
That dumass thinking ruined us all.
Live, and appreciate the living!
 
trvlr2 said:
I love it. A home is for living, not speculating on future property values!
That dumass thinking ruined us all.
Live, and appreciate the living!
Click to expand...

Like it or not, a home is a major investment. It is also a safety net. I lived in a truly crappy home on a big chunk of property for 7 years. We made this decision because we knew property values were increasing in the area. When developers started putting in their subdivisions, it was time to get out and sell. When the deal was done I made over 140K over the balance of my home loan in the process. Now I live in a nicer home. It's nothing extravagant, but it's comfortable and nothing is falling apart. I was able to get this home and furnish it because of this type of thinking you say has "ruined us all". I was able to move my kids into a nice place where murders happen a scant once every 19 years. I was able to dump six figures of equity into a house so that our cost of living would be reduced. My house payment is cheaper than most rents in the area. Substantially. If there is an emergency of any kind, thanks to my property values being good, I can take out a good chunk of equity and take care of it.

My family now lives without worrying about how we're going to pay the utility bills or buy food. My kids have all their needs met. THAT IS LIVING. That is a direct result of caring about the property values increasing and making smart decisions.

Of course one can always rent, never have the safety net, and pay the bills for someone elses investment...and that person is likely looking out for their property values. My parents, now in their 60's, shared your sentiment. They are still renting. They have no retirement fund, no options other than social security. If they'd bought a home in their 30's, it would be paid off, and they'd be able to sell it in their area (Los Angeles) for more than four times what they'd paid.

A home is a lot more than simply a structure to put your stuff in.
 
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fishbait said:
The fact is, everyone has the right to develop and build whatever they want if it is within zoning regulations.
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And the city has the right to change zoning regulations.

I live a block from a golf course. There's lots of legal wrangling going on right now because some people think it would look better as condominiums.

I can tell you this much. If I had a choice between condos and convents, I would choose the convent.
 
Fishbait is right, check zoning laws. The nuns will probably be decent neighbors even if you find their practices wacky. And if they have taken vows of silence then you won't have to worry about them knocking on your door and attempting to preach to you ;) Now, if the JW or Moonies were moving in, I would say protest as loud as you can.

Find out the conditions to their purchase and building on the land. As long as it sets no precedence for additional residential property in the area, you should be ok. Since they are using 120 acres for a convent and such, it is unlikely that you will have to worry about a Wal-Mart or other big box stores will build in your area. Since it is nuns, you don't have to worry about more schools being built in the area. It is rare for the Catholic church to give up any land once they have it, so it is very unlikely they will leave and have the property taken over by some other residential use.

And the evergreen landscaping is a good idea. You won't have to see them and they won't have to see you ;)
 
Thanks to everyone for all the replies.

The more I've thought about it, the more I think the idea of simply having the convent or monastery or whatever they're calling it next to us doesn't bother me that much. I think they would be good neighbors, though I didn't want to have to look at a big cross on the skyline for the rest of my life!

We're mostly concerned about the precedent that may be set that will allow for subdivisions to spring up all around our idyllic little piece of Earth (or a Wal-Mart...thanks for that little nightmare, Kochanski!). Right now, we're a long way from the city (almost an hour's drive from downtown Kansas City), but as Tanstaafl pointed out, the city has a way of creeping its way out.

There's a public hearing at the zoning commission on July 11, which we plan to attend. I will ask lots of these questions.

Again, I appreciate the input from everyone!
 
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