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Council approves rezoning and preliminary plan for New Life Christian Academy campus
Summary
The Gardner City Council approved rezoning and a preliminary development plan for New Life Christian Academy'a phased K'12 project projected to total about 142,000 sq ft; founder Michael Ward described rapid enrollment growth and donors' commitments, while staff described required turn-lane work and traffic analysis to begin in phase 1.
The Gardner City Council voted to approve a rezoning and preliminary development plan for New Life Christian Academy on the north side of 191st Street, clearing the way for a phased K'12 campus that staff said would total roughly 142,000 square feet when fully built.
Planning staff outlined the application and explained that the project would be built in phases, with phase 1 focusing on the elementary school (about 40,000 square feet), parking and necessary access improvements. Staff said the applicant requested some deferrals for transportation-related improvements but that staff did not recommend deferring those beyond the first phase; the planning commission recommended approval of the rezoning and the preliminary plan.
Michael Ward, founder and board president of New Life Christian Academy, described the school's growth (from 25 students at startup to 85 this year) and told the council he expects enrollment to continue rising, projecting about 120 students next year and a full K'12 build-out serving roughly 600 students at completion. Ward said donors are "in the process of selling securities or business" and that several had committed significant gifts; he also said the school maintains a scholarship fund and partnership opportunities to make tuition accessible. Ward said the school and the church are separate legal entities and that New Life is a tenant in the church's planned building for cohesion and operational efficiency.
Councilors and staff discussed traffic mitigation: staff noted a full traffic study and the plan to construct right- and left-turn lanes in the first phase and said future sidewalks would likely be installed as adjacent development occurs. Council approved the ordinance changing the zoning classification and accepted dedications and plats required for phase 1.
