Council approves special‑use permit for small private elementary school at Memorial Baptist Church

Staunton City Council on May 8 approved a special use permit for a private elementary school to operate at 224 Taylor Street (Memorial Baptist Church), following a Planning Commission recommendation and staff analysis.

Planning Manager Tim Hartless summarized the request as seeking use of approximately 3,250 square feet of the church’s Sunday‑school space and described the initial proposal as two staff and 12 students. Hartless said the church has about 98 parking spaces and staff’s parking analysis showed the proposed enrollment would not create a parking shortfall.

Hartless said the applicant proposed a cap of 100 students and staff, but city staff recommended a lower cap and proposed a condition requiring a new special use permit if the school expands beyond 50 people. Planning Commission reviewed the matter April 17, held a public hearing with no opposition, and unanimously recommended approval with two conditions: cap total students and staff at 50 and require student drop‑offs and pick‑ups use the east parking lot on the church property (the lot further from North Colter Street and away from McSwain Elementary School).

The applicant, identifying herself at the podium as Terry Geary, said the school will operate as Acton Academy Blue Ridge with a “single room schoolhouse model,” initially for elementary grades with plans to add grades as students age into the program. Geary said she and her husband are funding the start‑up and credited the church for generous rent arrangements that make the program feasible.

Councilor moved and council approved the resolution to adopt the special use permit with the planning commission’s recommended conditions by roll‑call vote. (Roll call: Campbell Aye; Woods Aye; Park Aye; Overholtzer Aye; Vice Mayor Arrowood Aye; Mayor Edwards Aye.)