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Saint Benedict’s Abbey outlines 50‑lot housing proposal, seeks county support for RHID and sewer solutions
Summary
Representatives from Saint Benedict’s Abbey presented a potential Residential Housing Incentive District (RHID) of roughly 50 lots to add higher‑end single‑family housing tied to a proposed medical school; speakers requested county help with RHID steps, reviewed sewer/annexation constraints and said Department of Commerce staff signaled support for a timely application.
Representatives of Saint Benedict’s Abbey visited the Atchison County Commission on May 5 to describe a renewed plan to develop roughly 50 residential lots on Abbey land, and to seek county cooperation for a Residential Housing Incentive District (RHID) to support infrastructure financing.
The presenters said the proposed neighborhood would supply larger single‑family homes aimed at faculty and staff the Abbey and developers expect the planned medical school to attract. One Abbey representative told commissioners the developer is preparing a proposal and that an RHID would ease infrastructure costs: “If the monks know that the county is open to an RHID, ... maybe we don't have to front the infrastructure,” the presenter said, asking the county to signal willingness to move the RHID process forward.
Speakers outlined practical constraints. City sewer does not extend outside municipal limits; the Abbey’s preferred option would be annexation or a ‘consent island’ annexation that could allow the city to run sewer to the tract after legal steps. County counsel and commissioners cited the applicable provision (noted in the meeting as K.S.A. 12-5-20) and explained that island annexation requires public notice and hearings and would involve both city and county actions.
Abbey representatives also described timing tied to a medical‑school candidacy: the college reported $40,000,000 of the $50,000,000 escrow target secured and had a May 20 application deadline to reach candidacy; presenters said candidacy would likely accelerate developer interest and housing demand. “They are down to the last $10,000,000, and they feel pretty good about that,” a presenter said.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about road standards, septic versus city sewer, minimum lot sizes and tax impacts. Presenters said the Abbey’s South property could be developed in phases, would likely be taxable residential lots (residential assessment noted in the meeting as roughly 11.5% of assessed value), and that the Abbey and developer would aim for phased construction to match demand.
The Abbey asked the county to provide a schedule of RHID steps and statutory references and to consider an in‑person briefing for Abbey leadership. County staff agreed to send road standards, a timeline and statutory guidance and to put RHID steps on a future agenda if requested.
The discussion was informational; no formal county commitment or vote on RHID designation occurred at the meeting.
