Religious group seeks special permit for Forest of Wisdom at 51 Palmer Road

The Scotland Planning & Zoning Commission on July 28 heard a proposal from Malinda Wright, who read an application on behalf of her son, Jonathan Owen, owner of Forest of Wisdom, seeking a special permit to operate a religious organization at 51 Palmer Road. The organization is described in the application as a nonprofit religious group of about 50 members with one clergy and 501(c)(3) status that holds three meetings per week and occasional larger events.

Forest of Wisdom’s proposal calls for regular meetings with a maximum of about 30 attendees, meditation classes and occasional outdoor or holy-day gatherings that could draw as many as 100 people three to five times a year. Malinda Wright said meetings typically last about 1.5–2 hours and that meditation classes are held Wednesdays from 6:00–6:45 p.m.; she said outdoor events would occur in the afternoons.

The commission asked for specific operational details. J. Jakubowski requested a site plan and asked whether large equipment would be stored on the property; commissioners also sought clarification about parking surface and delineated parking spaces, noting that only handicapped spaces are explicitly required under current town rules. Commissioners discussed whether term limits could be attached to a permit and were told such limits have been used before; R. Manning said time limits could be set as the committee and public see fit.

Neighbor R. Dziekan raised concerns that larger or louder events could disturb her children at bedtime. B. Syme and other commissioners responded that events under town rules could only be held between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. and that fencing or other demarcation to prevent visitors from straying onto adjacent property would be investigated.

I. Kisluk opened the public hearing and read the legal notice published in the Chronicle; the commission agreed to keep the hearing open to the next meeting so the applicant can appear and the commission can draft motions. J. Jakubowski moved to leave the hearing open; the second was inaudible on the record; the motion carried.

Next steps: the commission asked the applicant to provide a site plan and parking details and said the public hearing will remain open at the next meeting when Jonathan Owen is expected to be available to respond to questions.