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Council approves zoning change and permit for King’s Schools campus expansion in Cathedral City
Summary
The City Council approved a zoning amendment, conditional use permit revision and administrative variance to allow King’s School of the Desert to renovate and expand its campus to about 52,000 sq ft without increasing enrollment; council approved related land‑use conditions after staff said the gym would be restricted to school activities unless a special use permit is later obtained.
Dom of the city planning department presented the King’s Schools campus renovation and expansion, telling council: “My name is Dom, and I’ll be presenting this item for your consideration.” The proposal would amend the resort‑residential (RR) zoning to permit schools (subject to a conditional use permit), revise the school’s conditional use permit to allow an ultimate campus build‑out of about 52,000 square feet and authorize an administrative variance to increase the gym height by up to 10 percent.
The planner said the campus has operated for decades as a nonconforming use and that the amendment would align the RR district’s treatment of schools with other residential zones. Staff emphasized the project would not increase student capacity; enrollment would remain at about 300 students. The proposed two‑phase project would add roughly 36,000 square feet of new construction and 62 parking spaces, pave an existing access driveway for fire access, and include landscape and lighting plans reviewed for water‑efficiency and light spill compliance.
Staff cited prior reviews: an unanimous Architectural Review Committee recommendation, planning commission approval with an added condition to limit gym use, and Riverside County Airport Land Use Commission compatibility findings. The staff report and CEQA consistency memo concluded no subsequent environmental impact report was required, and staff recommended adding a condition that on‑campus events be organized by the school and typical of school activities; any third‑party rentals of gym or facilities would require a director‑approved special use permit.
Councilmembers asked clarifying questions about emergency vehicle access from Cary Road and the choice to change the RR district citywide rather than rezoning a single parcel. Staff replied that a CUP would preserve case‑by‑case review in other RR locations and that the secondary Cary Road access would remain available for emergency access but not for stopping or standing outside designated parking. After brief discussion the council moved to approve the zoning ordinance amendment (to add schools as conditionally permitted uses in the RR district), the conditional use permit revision, and the administrative variance. On roll call the motion carried with all present voting aye.
The ordinance title was read into the record. The approved conditions include limiting gym use to school activities without a separate special use permit and implementing on‑site drainage improvements described to address concerns raised by adjacent residents. The project applicant and staff will return with final plan details and any required ministerial approvals.
