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Council declines to schedule hearings to allow schools in Urban Village zoning district
Summary
After staff proposed allowing schools in the Urban Village zoning district subject to conditional use permits, council members expressed safety and traffic concerns on US 1/Hopkins and voted unanimously not to schedule public hearings to adopt the ordinance.
City staff proposed on Jan. 13 to amend the Urban Village zoning district so schools could be permitted with a conditional use permit; the change was intended to allow a private applicant to pursue a school at a property (Sears Town Mall area).
Community Development staff said the draft would carry over the existing code conditions for schools and require a conditional use permit so the council could add site-specific conditions. Council members raised concerns about traffic, pedestrian safety and whether an Urban Village district is an appropriate location for a school on busy corridors such as US 1 and Hopkins.
"When I think urban village, I don't think schools," a council member said, citing commercial character and safety concerns for children walking in that area. Vice Mayor Cole and other members expressed similar reservations. Member Stockel moved that the council not schedule public hearings to adopt the proposed ordinance; the motion was seconded and passed by roll call vote.
Outcome: the council voted to stop the zoning change process for schools in Urban Village; staff will not publish an ordinance for hearings at this time.
