Commission recommends approval for DeSmet Jesuit amendment to add middle school

Father Ronnie O'Dwyer, president of DeSmet Jesuit High School, told the Planning & Zoning Commission the school has undertaken strategic planning amid declining enrollment and is proposing to add a middle school (grades 6–8) by renovating existing first-floor space. "We began a process of strategic planning...to expand our services into grades 6, 7, and 8," O'Dwyer said.

City staff and architect Stephen Dehkke described the project as an interior renovation with no significant exterior changes. Dehkke outlined use of surplus interior space, a student services wing, a campus ministry area and support spaces for athletics, music and student services. Paul Anderson, identified as a member of the board of trustees, told commissioners the school's parking analysis shows current utilization between 70% and 80%, leaving an estimated 130–170 open spaces on a typical day.

Planner staff and a second presenter said the amendment would add up to 120 middle-school students at maximum capacity while the high school population would remain in the 600–700 range. Staff entered standard exhibits into the record, including the public notice, the applicant's PowerPoint and the staff report. A commissioner moved to recommend approval of conditional use permit amendment application 24-020 "according to the draft ordinance attached to the staff report," and the commission voted unanimously in favor.

The commission's recommendation forwards the amended conditional use permit to Creve Coeur City Council, which is scheduled to consider the matter at its next meeting. No final council action occurred at the hearing.