New Richmond council approves school expansion permits, rezones and $1.9M street/utility bid; sets alley assessments

The New Richmond City Council on Tuesday approved conditional use permits allowing expansions at Star Elementary, New Richmond Middle School and Paperjack Elementary, cleared multiple rezoning requests and awarded a $1,898,872 contract for the 2025 street and utility package.

City planner Amber Tautier outlined the three school proposals, saying Star Elementary would add three building additions, reconfigure pick-up and drop-off lanes and expand parking from 88 to 147 stalls. "The school currently has 88 stalls, and they're proposing a 147 stalls," Tautier said, and staff and the planning commission recommended approval of the Star conditional use permit with 26 conditions.

Tautier described the middle school plan as four additions, a reconstructed northern parking lot and a proposed impervious surface of 40.8 percent; she said that, when combined with the adjacent Paperjack parcel, the overall impervious percentage for the combined acreage is just under 26 percent. The council approved the middle-school conditional use permit with 23 conditions after brief discussion about the loss of 63 parking stalls tied to a new gym…