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Commission backs zoning amendment for private school and gym/storm shelter at McEwen Road
Summary
The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of a zoning amendment to permit a private primary and secondary school on 2.79 acres at 4000 McEwen Road, including construction of a third building to serve as a storm shelter and gymnasium required by building code; the applicant plans to open in August.
The Farmers Branch Planning and Zoning Commission on Jan. 27 recommended approval of a zoning amendment to allow a private primary and secondary school on approximately 2.79 acres at 4000 McEwen Road in PD 90, including a new third building intended to serve as the site's storm shelter and a gymnasium.
Sarah Bergman, deputy director of planning, said the site previously received a zoning amendment but the applicant is now proposing a third structure to satisfy building-code storm shelter requirements and serve as a gym. "They are proposing to construct a third building on the site, which would serve as the required storm shelter, as well as function as a gymnasium for the school," Bergman said.
Why it matters: State and local building code require storm shelter protections for certain school designs; the applicant's third building is being proposed to meet those requirements so the school can occupy the remodeled office buildings. The project will include site changes to pickup/drop-off alignment and landscaping adjustments previously discussed in the earlier review.
Applicant John Arnold, representing the school operator, told the commission the loan closing is scheduled for the following week and that the applicant aims to begin construction promptly and open in August. "We plan to open in August," Arnold said. The proposed gym will be a regulation-width facility (not a full NBA court), include restrooms/locker-room space and a small coach office, and the new building will be CMU construction with an EIFS exterior to meet storm-shelter resilience requirements. The gym building is shown at approximately 26 feet tall in the materials presented.
The commission voted to recommend approval of ordinance number 3912 as presented. Staff noted the site is somewhat shielded from the street by existing buildings and landscaping; staff also encouraged murals or other façade treatments where allowed by city policy. The item will go before City Council on Feb. 18 for final action.
