Woodbury Planning Commission on June 2 recommended approval of a conditional use permit for Woodbury Leadership Academy to expand its campus at 8147 Globe Drive, potentially adding grades 9–12 and increasing campus enrollment by 300–400 students to about 1,300 total.

The commission’s recommendation included the standard conditions identified in the draft resolution and one additional condition: that staff work with the applicant to consider adding a sidewalk segment connecting the existing Globe Drive sidewalk to the proposed classroom expansion building. The commission voted by voice to forward the project to the City Council public hearing scheduled for June 11, 2025; no nays were recorded during the voice vote.

Why it matters: The expansion would centralize the charter school’s operations in a single former Globe College corporate campus building and change daily traffic, drop-off/pickup and busing patterns at a private drive serving multiple tenants. Commissioners focused questions on pedestrian safety, staggered pickups, parking sufficiency and secure building access for students while commercial tenants remain on site.

City planning staff presented background, noting the site was originally developed for the Minnesota School of Business/Globe University as a roughly 70,000-square-foot, three-story corporate and postsecondary facility. A 2021 addition included a multipurpose gym. The applicant seeks a conditional use permit under Woodbury City Code (cited in the presentation as section 24-43) to allow expanded K–12 use in the existing building at 8147 Globe Drive; staff said the building could ultimately accommodate about 20 classrooms (up to 400 students in that portion) and about 25 faculty/staff when fully occupied.

Enrollment, parking and busing: Staff and the applicant said Woodbury Leadership Academy is currently a tuition-free charter serving just under 900 students with about 85 employees and that the proposed expansion would add about 300–400 students campus-wide. The presentation said roughly 60% of families rely on a private bus contractor the school hires; the city presentation listed 286 existing parking stalls on site and summarized that required parking under city code is 277 stalls (the presentation referenced code section 24-242 for parking). Staff noted additional parking is available on the western portion of the site used for bus parking and overflow.

Traffic and mitigation: Commissioners repeatedly pressed the applicant and staff about pickup/drop-off logistics, stacking on Hudson Road, and phasing while commercial tenants remain. The applicant described plans for a staggered pickup window, two-wave bus releases, coordination with the private bus company (Monarch, identified by the applicant), and a traffic management plan that the commission’s recommended conditions require be reviewed and approved by the city prior to issuance of building permits. Staff said the traffic management plan would be a written, enforceable supplement to the CUP that lists mitigation steps if unanticipated issues arise.

Security and mixed use: Commissioners expressed concern about a high-school population sharing a campus with commercial tenants, including a daycare and a spine/wellness clinic. The applicant said the wing the school will occupy will have a receptionist and a buzz-in secure entry; students would be buzzed from a common entry to an internal, secured area during school hours. Applicant staff and a project consultant, Sean Smith, said they have met with tenants about operations and security and are discussing measures such as full-time staff at the lobby, separate doors with card readers where tenants accept that, and options for early lease terminations by tenants. Commissioners requested that emergency and lockdown communications between buildings be coordinated; the applicant said tied systems and planning with the fire chief and city code inspections will determine final shelter/egress arrangements.

Phasing and tenants: Staff and the applicant said the school intends to phase in usage as existing tenant leases expire; staff noted some leases run into 2026–2028 and that others extend to 2031. The applicant said it expects to occupy roughly one-quarter of the building in fall 2025 and to incrementally occupy more space as tenants leave. Commissioners asked about construction during the school year; staff and the applicant said typical construction fencing, contractor coordination, and designated contractor parking and hours would be required and coordinated with the city as part of permits.

Recreation and site layout: Commissioners and the applicant discussed outdoor space for recess, recreation and future athletic uses. The applicant said three separate play/recess areas are used now (behind Building B, a coned-off bus area after buses depart, and a planned fourth area across the street), and that the school has fundraised for playground equipment pending site-plan decisions. Staff also noted that future site elements such as a gym or performing arts facility would require separate site and building plan review.

Next steps: The planning commission’s favorable recommendation, with the added sidewalk consideration condition, moves the application to the City Council public hearing on June 11, 2025. Staff advised the applicant that prior to building permits the traffic management plan must be reviewed and approved by the city and that site and building plans will be required for future building additions or material changes.

Quotes (verbatim):
"Woodbury Leadership Academy has submitted an application for a conditional use permit to expand the existing school use..." — Eric, city planning staff, presenting the application.
"We're pleased that our school is growing and serving approximately 60% of the students are from the city of Woodbury." — Applicant representative, Woodbury Leadership Academy.
"We contract with the private bus company where math and science uses South Washington County to do their bussing...we don't technically lie in their boundaries." — Applicant representative, on busing and district boundaries.

Ending: The project will proceed to the Woodbury City Council public hearing on June 11, 2025; if the council approves the CUP and subsequent site and building plans, the school and city staff will finalize the traffic management and security measures before permits and phased occupancy proceed.