Buddhist nuns' request to build dorm buildings moves on to Three Rivers council for approval
Some in eastern P.E.I. critical of project, with group's land holdings under investigation
A request by a Buddhist organization to build two new dormitory buildings for nuns on their compound in eastern P.E.I. will move on to Three Rivers council for approval, despite continued opposition to the development from some area residents.
A group of five nuns from GWBI, the Great Wisdom Buddhist Institute, attended the town planning board's meeting Thursday night to explain the project.
The application comes at a time when the province has ordered the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission to investigate the land holdings of both GWBI and the Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society (GEBIS), an organization of Buddhist monks living on the Island.
Residents who spoke against the nuns' dormitory development at the meeting expressed concern over the fact that council could approve the expansion at a time when the IRAC investigation has not finished.
"I would have thought that the municipality would have suggested to the applicant that perhaps now is not an appropriate time to hear the application for expansion," said Victoria Cross resident Janice MacBeath.
"The timing and size of this application is, in my opinion, a bold move."
MacBeath asked the planning board to either defer its vote until after the IRAC investigation is complete, or hold a public meeting at which residents could get an idea of the full scope of the Buddhist organizations' future plans.
The significant land holdings of the two groups have been the topic of speculation and controversy for years.
In recent months, it's led to accusations against members of Three Rivers council and even safety concerns for council members, who have maintained all along that issues of land ownership fall within provincial jurisdiction.
We have not bought land in almost six years.— Venerable Heather Chang, GWBI
The two dormitories that were the subject of the planning board application Thursday would be built on the nuns' 319-acre compound on Brudenell Point Road. The new buildings would provide about 88,000 square feet of living and instructional space, and accommodate about 280 people.
Venerable Heather Chang, who spoke on behalf of GWBI at the meeting, said the dorm buildings are part of the master plan for the compound that was approved in 2018.
Chang said the group welcomes both constructive criticism about its projects and the IRAC investigation into the land holdings.
"Just for records, we have not bought land in almost six years. To date, GWBI owns roughly 670 acres of land," Chang said.
P.E.I.'s Lands Protection Act limits land ownership in the province to 1,000 acres for individuals and 3,000 acres for corporations, with exceptions for additional non-arable land or land that is leased out to other people and companies.
The law makes the provincial cabinet responsible for approving applications from corporations to buy land.
Non-residents also require cabinet approval to buy more than five acres of land or property that includes more than 165 feet of shoreline.
On paper, GEBIS (at 578 acres) and GWBI (at 663 acres) are each well below their land limits.
Three Rivers Coun. Anne Van Donkersgoed, the planning board's chair, said she had no problem recommending that the dormitories be approved.
"Let's suppose that investigation finds that they have too much land. This parcel is 319 acres. If they had to divest something, it wouldn't be this land," she said.
"I'm comfortable with going ahead and building and continuing on their expansion on that plan that they've been open and public about for the last eight years."
With files from Kerry Campbell