They got their permission!!!
If any of you flat landers are wondering where this is, it is c. 30 miles (or so) east of the SE corner of Yellowstone National Park and c. 20 miles south of Cody, Wyoming (news had me confused, saying it was NW). Basically, from the junction of Wyoming State Highways 120 & 30 (don’t blink while you’re looking for it), hang due west (on a hint of a county road) and follow it (c.10-15 miles, don’t take no turn offs) until you’re about 5- 6 miles east of the Shoshone National Forest. From that point, I ain’t too sure. Doubt that the Gothic monastery or 15 story spire will be visibile enough, in that terrain, to give one much help.
gillettenewsrecord.com/articles/2010/10/06/news/state_news/news75.txt
The Park County Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved two permits for a 144,000-square-foot French Gothic-style monastery and coffee roasting barn on a remote, 2,500-acre ranch near Meeteetse.
The Monks of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mt. Carmel are looking for more room to meet their expanding order and maintain their privacy. There are currently 18 monks in the order, which requires a secluded, Spartan life of prayer and mediation.
Some of the neighboring ranch owners object to the monastery plans, citing concerns about traffic, wildlife, water — and questioning whether the massive stone structure fits with the rural landscape.
But the monks and the neighbors reached a private agreement on the issues, and only one person stood up before the county commission in Cody to question the permits, county Planning Director Linda Gillett said.
Michael LaBazzo, an attorney representing the monks, said construction on the monastery is scheduled to start next April. Work to improve a private road to the site and drill a water well is to be done by the end of this year, he said.
The county commission gave the monks more time than usual under the permits to build the monastery, LaBazzo said.
“We have a total of four years from today to complete and occupy the premises,” he said Tuesday. “But the contractors … have told us somewhere between 30 months, give or take a little bit for the actual construction, so we’ll be well within that four year total period if we can get started in April.”