Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Sites topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee reviews school-site study that would let staff request traffic reports and design tweaks; item kept in committee
Summary
The committee discussed a study and small text amendments related to schools that would allow the planning director to request traffic studies and site-design modifications for new or redeveloped schools; members asked for more time and kept the item in committee.
The committee reviewed a study and proposed text changes tied to Resolution 595-23 (case MD-12-23) that would formalize when the planning director may request traffic studies and site-design modifications for new or redeveloped schools.
Director Gibbons described prior school-related zoning work and said the proposed amendment is intended to give staff discretion—"may request"—to seek a traffic study to meet code requirements for safety and circulation and to ask for site-design modifications such as crosswalks, signage, lighting, fencing, landscape buffers and increased setbacks when warranted.
Council members discussed the balance between protecting children and allowing adaptive reuse of existing buildings, such as schools locating in former commercial or industrial buildings. Several members expressed a desire to study the proposal further before a vote; Councilman Komives asked not to vote immediately and asked that the amendment remain in committee for additional review.
Director Gibbons said staff would collaborate with the Division of Transportation on traffic and circulation measures and noted that the city has historically required careful review of school sites. The committee did not vote to adopt the text changes and agreed to keep the item in committee for further review.
