Rezoning 7851 Sargent Road
In 2021, the Sargent Road Association (SRA), a public charity with membership restricted to residents of a defined area within the Mud Creek Valley, acquired the property at 7851 Sargent Road, aka the Sargent Road Nature House (SRNH). The SRA conducted a visioning session open to all community members in October of 2021 to identify uses for the property in keeping with its mission to support the Sargent Road community's health, safety, and welfare and preserve the Mud Creek Valley’s unique character and beauty. More than 25 people who live in the area attended. Two major goals for the property were identified:
Preserve the land and House, making improvements to the property consistent with SRA’s mission to protect the beauty and natural environment of the Mud Creek Valley.
Use the land and House in support of the SRA’s mission and in partnership with the adjacent Sargent Road Nature Park (SRNP) and its owner, the Mud Creek Conservancy (MCC). The primary uses the community identified were:
Using the House for office and meeting space for the SRA, MCC, and SRNP.
Hosting periodic community-building events and educational/training events of community interest. Examples of the latter included nature, environmental stewardship, preservation, gardening, native plant cultivation, reforesting, and sustainable land practice themes.
Potentially offering researchers and artists the opportunity to use the House and land in conjunction with the SRNP as a base for research and creating art.
The facility should be used to support the SRNP, including Park events and the extension of its walking trails, which would benefit area residents.
For the first goal, we have contracted with an engineering firm to survey the property and define the area to be preserved. As finances allow, we are completing a list of improvements (see site plan).
For the second goal, we are working through the rezoning process to enable the use of the property as envisioned. As part of our rezoning application, we are working with the Department of Metropolitan Development to create language intended to ensure the use of the property remains harmonious with the residential character of the Sargent Road area and protects against future misuse (see below).
Please contact us with any questions.
Language of the Sargent Road Nature House Zoning Commitments
updated Nov. 6, 2024
WE MAKE THE FOLLOWING COMMITMENTS:
· Only use the House and land in ways consistent with SRA’s mission. This explicitly allows only SRA-approved uses (including shared use by its sister organization, the Mud Creek Conservancy) and excludes rental to non-SRA entities.
· Restrict the size and type of gatherings on the property by allowing events at the House to be invitation-based only and limited by available parking.
· Complete the process of placing the land surrounding the house and its infrastructure in a permanent conservation easement.
· Codify a succession plan in the event of the dissolution of the SRA, which requires the identification of another charitable organization approved by the membership that will adopt the SRA mission or turn over the asset to the MCC.
