New Richmond council approves school expansions, awards $1.9 million street contract and signs off on rezones and event permits

The New Richmond Common Council on Tuesday approved conditional use permits for expansion projects at three School District of New Richmond properties, awarded a $1,898,872.08 contract for the city's 2025 street and utility package, and approved multiple rezoning and special-permit items, including the city's annual Fundfest applications.

City Planner Amber Taucier told the council the School District submitted a single conditional use permit application covering Star Elementary School, New Richmond Middle School and Paperjack Elementary School; the materials were presented as three separate staff memos. "The school has a maximum of 80 staff working at a time and so the increase in parking is appropriate," Taucier said while summarizing Star Elementary's plan.

Star Elementary: The proposal calls for three building additions (two on the west, one on the east), reconfigured pick-up/drop-off lanes and an increase in parking from 88 stalls to 147 (an increase of 59). The staff memo lists the school's impervious surface at 25 percent (below the Z4 district's 40 percent maximum). City staff and the planning commission recommended approval with 26 conditions; the council approved the permit by roll call.

New Richmond Middle School: The proposal includes four building additions and reconstruction and expansion of the northern parking lot. Taucier said the parcel's proposed impervious surface is 40.8 percent, which "slightly exceeds city requirements," though staff noted that when combined with the adjacent Paperjack parcel the combined impervious percentage is reported as just under 26 percent. The middle school's parking would decrease from 276 stalls to 213 (a reduction of 63) because the facility previously served as a high school. Staff and the planning commission recommended approval with 23 conditions;…