By Deirdre Fernandes
The Virginian-Pilot
© March 17, 2009

VIRGINIA BEACH

The city and a group of Buddhist monks have reached a tentative settlement that would allow them to continue holding worship services in their Pungo home.

Under the settlement filed in federal court Monday, the City Council will consider giving the monks a permit to hold Sunday services, for no more than 20 people at a time, at their home off West Neck Road. In exchange, the monks will agree to find a new location for their three annual festivals and will not look to expand their educational center at the Pungo site.

"We've accomplished our objective," said John Stepanovich, the attorney for the Buddhist Education Center of America Inc. "It was always about the continued religious service."

The monks had alleged in a suit they filed in September that the City Council violated their religious freedoms when it denied them a permit to hold services in their home.

"We had a very good case, but litigation is not free," Stepanovich said. "These are Buddhist monks. They decided they'd rather get this resolved and move on."

City officials have insisted that this was a zoning issue, not a religious one, and that the local government, not the federal courts, should decide the outcome.

The city's primary concern was the festivals and any growth that would turn the center, which is in a rural residential neighborhood, into a large religious campus, Beach officials said.

"We couldn't live with the festivals," said City Attorney Mark Stiles. "Because that was a large part of the neighbors' concerns. With that came the tour buses, the portable toilets, the large traffic issues."

City officials will suggest possible off-site locations for the festivals, Stiles said.

The proposed permit includes the terms of the settlement and limits the number and size of statues on the property.

Councilwoman Barbara Henley, who represents the Pungo area, said she has spoken to some of the neighbors about the proposed settlement and they are satisfied with the terms.

"The settlement just seems to remove the issues that were a problem," Henley said.

The monks have been holding Sunday services at the home during the court process.

The City Council will likely vote on the permit in April, Stiles said.

Deirdre Fernandes, (757) 222-5121, deirdre.fernandes@pilotonline.com

Please read more comments at:

http://hamptonroads.com/2009/03/beach-buddhist-monks-agree-home-worship#primary_tabs