Council approves Fort Bend Christian Academy expansion, limits lower/middle enrollment to 570 and requires updated traffic controls

The Sugar Land City Council approved a conditional‑use permit allowing Fort Bend Christian Academy to add a one‑story, approximately 11,000‑square‑foot classroom addition to its lower middle school campus and set a maximum enrollment for that campus at 570 students.

Senior Planner Jessica Eskel summarized staff review and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommendation. Eskel said the expansion is limited to the South Campus (the lower middle school) on the site north of Lakeview Drive and that the site is zoned Business Office, which requires a CUP for private schools. The addition would expand classroom space and relocate a fire lane and expand a detention pond to account for increased impervious cover. Eskel said the land use plan supports low‑ to mid‑rise buildings on collectors and noted that Gillingham Lane is identified as a collector roadway.

Traffic mitigation and enrollment: Eskel said the applicant submitted a traffic impact analysis and updated the circulation plan to reduce queuing on public right‑of‑way. Changes include adding on‑site queuing capacity (three morning drop‑off lanes) and converting 39 parking spaces adjacent to Lakeview Drive to a fourth queuing lane after 2 p.m. to reduce afternoon spillover. The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval with conditions including adherence to the attached site plan and circulation plan, maintenance of the specified drop‑off and pick‑up times, contracted police enforcement of turn restrictions, and a maximum lower middle school enrollment of 570.

Applicant comments and public testimony: An applicant representative told council the eight‑classroom addition is intended to separate younger and older middle‑school grades, reduce hallway congestion, and reduce roving teachers. Members of the public — including students and teachers — spoke in support during the public hearing, describing crowding, lack of permanent teacher space and improved safety and student life with the addition.

Council action: Councilmember Whatley moved to approve the first reading of Ordinance 23‑85 granting the conditional use permit with staff conditions; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Vonderhaar and carried 7–0.

Implementation: The city's approval is a zoning action; the site plan, shared conditions and subsequent building permits will govern construction timing and on‑site circulation enforcement.