Council approves Mount Zion Lutheran's special land use to open private K–8 school at 510 West Gerard

The Madison Heights City Council voted to approve a special land use permit allowing Mount Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church to operate a private kindergarten-through-eighth-grade school at 510 West Gerard Avenue, the council announced Sept. 8.

The council’s approval covers special land use case PSP 25-04 and incorporates the Planning Commission’s recommended conditions: school operations must substantially comply with the submitted project narrative; a one-way “Do Not Enter” sign at the southern Barrington Street driveway to ensure circulation; review of any playground or sports-field improvements through the Technical Review Committee as a minor site-plan matter; and installation of transitional landscaping along the western and northern property lines.

Randy Witterf, identified in the record as president of Mount Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, told the council the congregation intends to “be as good a neighbor as we possibly can” and said the church plans landscaping improvements to increase the buffer between the school’s outdoor space and adjacent yards. Pastor Tom Nalman, the church pastor, said the church is “excited” to open the school and described the project as the next step for a growing congregation that will largely use existing building space.

Neighbor Alice McKay raised concerns during public comment about children reaching through or climbing the shared fence, the proximity of playground equipment to her bedroom windows, and groundwater and drainage questions. Council members pressed the applicants on plans to protect children and avoid adverse impacts to neighboring yards; the applicants said they plan native plantings and rain gardens to screen the property and address drainage where possible.

The applicants described initial enrollment and growth as modest: the council record includes an applicant statement that 25 students is an optimistic five‑to‑10‑year projection. The council emphasized the importance of ongoing neighbor communication and supervision when children use outdoor areas; no change to the church’s existing religious use was proposed or required by the approval.

The motion to approve the special land use was moved and seconded on the record; council members voted in favor and the motion carried. The approval is subject to the conditions recommended by the Planning Commission and to any further review required under the city’s minor site-plan or Technical Review Committee processes.