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Planning commission continues review of Montreat Retreat AssociationPUD as neighbors press stormwater, trees and parking concerns
Summary
The Montreat Planning & Zoning Commission continued a public hearing on the Montreat Retreat Association(MRA) PUD for 309 Collegiate Circle; the applicant described updated plans and offered neighbor commitments on stormwater and vibration monitoring while residents urged stronger tree protections and clearer parking plans. No vote was taken.
The Montreat Planning & Zoning Commission on the morning of the continued hearing received an extended presentation from the Montreat Retreat Association(MRA) on its planned unit development application for 309 Collegiate Circle and then heard more than an hour of public comment.
Richard DuBose, speaking for the applicant, summarized updated submission materials and told the commission MRA will meet the town's stormwater ordinance as part of building-permit review and is prepared, in separate neighbor agreements, to commit to a more rigorous two-year storm standard. He also described a minimum of 21 parking spaces in an underground garage for the proposed lodge and said the applicantexpects to submit a tree protection plan with the building permit.
Neighbors and civic members raised multiple concerns during the public comment period. Powell Jones of the Montreat Stewards urged the commission not to approve a site plan that would use town rights-of-way or town-owned green space without clear survey evidence and stricter protections. Nancy Fox and other residents asked the commission to require a concrete oversight and monitoring protocol for tree protection and to confirm protections extend to town-owned 'Georgia Terrace' island trees and large specimens east of the site.
Commission members and staff clarified procedural questions: Alexis (planning staff) confirmed the PUD master plan under review is contained within the single property identification number submitted with the application; civil engineer Chuck said a topographic/tree survey has been completed and that the 'area of disturbance' on the plan will be delineated in civil and construction drawings.
No final recommendation or vote on the PUD was taken at the meeting; the commission paused for a brief recess and will deliberate further after reviewing the additional materials and the public record.
Why it matters: the PUD is the first of its kind proposed in Montreat and would establish a site-specific zoning district for the MRA's lodge and cottages, setting precedents on permitted uses, design review and administrative flexibility for future development on campus. The commission's decisions on stormwater standards, tree-protection monitoring and any delegations to the zoning administrator would shape what the public ultimately sees built and how neighbors are protected.
What comes next: the commission will consider the updated materials, the applicant's recorded commitments, and public input before making a recommendation to the board of commissioners; a separate consistency determination with the town comprehensive plan will also be required if the commission votes to recommend approval.
