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Planning Commission approves charter middle school at Boulevard Mall with one-year traffic review
Summary
The Planning Commission approved a use permit to convert the third floor of the former Macy's at Boulevard Mall into a charter middle school (grades 6–8), with staff conditions and a mandatory one-year public review after occupancy to assess traffic and student flow.
The Planning Commission on Jan. 28 approved a use permit for QC Standby 24 LLC to repurpose the third floor of the former Macy's at Boulevard Mall as a charter middle school serving grades 6 through 8, subject to standard staff conditions and a required one-year public review after occupancy to evaluate traffic and student flow.
The proposal, presented by Kuzela, representative of QC Standby 24 LLC, would convert the third floor of the mall into classroom space with a connecting bridge from the parking garage. Kuzela said the site is "over parked" and described several safety and access measures: a supervised drop-off process, staffed traffic control during peak arrival and dismissal, a fenced play area approximately 9 feet tall, gated stairwells, elevator access for ADA users and three existing bus stops on the property that are expected to reduce vehicle trips. The applicant said the school targets a neighborhood population and aims to open for the 2025 school year.
Residents questioned whether the mall’s existing circulation and parking would handle the new school. One resident said parking and queuing concerns remain, noting that "500 students, you're assuming only 250 cars," and warned of blended-family and multi-car arrival patterns. Kuzela and other presenters said they would staff and manage drop-off and pick-up, stage cars within the garage, and coordinate with building tenants on timing to avoid conflict with office uses on the first and second floors.
After discussion between commissioners, a motion to approve the staff conditions plus the condition that the school return for a public review one year after occupancy to assess parking and student flow carried. The commission’s recorded vote was entered as in favor: 2; opposed: 0. The motion included no named mover or seconder in the transcript; it was recorded as made by a member of the commission.
The approval allows the applicant to proceed to the public hearing phase required for final permits and compliance with any remaining staff conditions.
A public hearing on related procedural items was scheduled by the commission; the item will also appear before the Planning Commission on subsequent dates for required hearings and final administrative steps.
