The West Penn Township parking lot was full of vehicles, and about 30 residents took their seats inside the municipal building, ready to state their case for or against the Blue Mountain Zendo.

In September, township zoning officer Bill Anders had issued a cease-and-desist order to the Zendo, located at 44 Deere Lane, stating that the private residence was operating as a house of worship.The property is owned by Honey Badger Investors of Allentown, and the house is occupied by Joriki Baker, a Zen monk, and his family.The Zendo appealed the order, requesting an interpretation and review, and the appeal was scheduled to be heard by the township's zoning hearing board Thursday night.But the hearing was over before it began.Attorney Gretchen Stearns, solicitor for the township, and attorney Jean E. London, of Kosloff Stoudt, Wyomissing, representing the Zendo, said they had reached an agreement before the meeting. The meeting was convened, and the agreement read into the official record."The first we've heard of the agreement is tonight, just as you have," said Tony Prudenti, who chairs the zoning hearing board. "Our questions are removed; it's over."Holly Heintzelman, zoning hearing board solicitor, confirmed that."There is an agreement between the parties," she said. "The matter is resolved."Stearns said that an enforcement notice, issued by a township zoning officer, is a matter between the township and a property owner.Since the issue has been amicably resolved by those two parties, the enforcement notice is withdrawn and there is no issue for the zoning hearing board.Some Deere Lane neighbors were not pleased with the result."I had no say," said Mike Oswald. "You pulled a fast one."Other Deere Lane neighbors began to voice their displeasure, unhappy with the agreement, and unhappy that they had not had a part in the decision.Many asked how the Zendo property would be allowed to remain on Deere Lane, which is a private road.The residents of Deere Lane have deeds which describe their shared usage and responsibilities regarding Deere Lane.Heintzelman explained that the board was tasked with hearing issues regarding the usage of a property. The issue of how a private lane is governed is not a matter for the board, she said.London said that a private road is a right of way for residents and their guests."It is no different than when you have guests," she said, referring to the times when people come to the Blue Mountain Zendo to pray and meditate.According to the agreement between the township and the Blue Mountain Zendo:• The supervisors will withdraw the notice of violation, and the use of the property must follow the terms and conditions in the agreement.• The Blue Mountain Zendo will make changes to the website and any marketing materials to reflect that attendance there will be by invitation only, and not open to the general public.• No more than 20 people may be in attendance at any session or event.• Overnight retreats may not be held more than 25 nights per year, with no more than 20 people at the retreat.• The Blue Mountain Zendo may not have more than one event per day, and no more than 10 events, sessions or retreats per month.Lee Daniels of Bethlehem, who comes to the Zendo to pray and meditate on Sunday evenings, said that he hoped the other residents of Deere Lane would come to know them as good neighbors."Even with initial resistance, we always wind up with people realizing we are good neighbors," Daniels said."They are reacting to something they don't understand, that may seem alien to them."Zoning board member Ronald Calarco said he hoped the residents of Deere Lane could meet and try to find common ground."It's something you have to work out as neighbors, to get along rather than be adversarial," he said. "You wouldn't want anybody restricting whether or not your friends could come to your residence."Some Deere Lane residents said they don't consider the issue resolved."According to the agreement, they can have 200 people come to the house in a month, and that's just not acceptable not right for using a deeded private road," Oswald said. "This isn't over."