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Published on 07/06/1998 All articles from this issue

MROSD approves final settlement with Russian convent over land

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Town Crier Staff Report

The Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD), headquartered in Los Altos, approved a compromise settlement June 24 with the Russian Convent of Our Lady of Vladimir on the building of a convent in open space land.

The agreement was reached after lengthy negotiations with convent representatives. They arose from the district's desire to preserve the land as permanent public open space.

Last March 18, after months of unsuccessful negotiations to purchase the property, the district began eminent domain proceedings to acquire the land. The action touched off a flurry of opposition from those who felt the district was unfair to the convent's nuns. District officials feared negative impacts on the environment from convent development.

In late March, the district suspended that legal action and continued a good-faith negotiation in order to reach a settlement. In April after lengthy negotiations with the convent, the district agreed on a compromise settlement on the property.

Under terms of the settlement, the district will dismiss any condemnation proceedings it originally took to acquire the approximately 284-acre property, located off Skyline Boulevard near Woodside.

The owners of the property will sell the district about 165 acres or 60 percent of the total acreage. They will agree to restrict development to the current Convent proposal on 24 acres and grant the district a permanent open space easement on the remaining property, about 91 acres. The district also has the right of first refusal to acquire the property should it ever be offered for sale.

The agreement also allows for public access to the 165-acre area to be acquired by the district for docent-led hikes, or via a possible trail in a location to be determined.

The district has agreed to pay the convent a price of $300,000 for the property rights it acquires. This payment will be made at such time as the owners obtain approval to construct the allowed convent facilities and proceed with the project.

District officials said the compromise means that more than 90 percent of the property will be preserved as permanent open space.