Planning commissioners approve 12,111-square-foot addition to Dayton Regional STEM School

Kettering — The Kettering Planning Commission on June 15 approved a minor modification allowing a 12,111‑square‑foot expansion of the Dayton Regional STEM School, a move staff said does not require a public hearing because the addition is under 10% of the existing 129,300‑square‑foot school building.

Staff presented the conditional‑use modification and recommended approval, noting that the proposed addition meets the zoning code’s approval criteria, will not produce noxious impacts, and provides adequate ingress and egress. The application lists Jared Barnett of Synergy Building Systems as the applicant’s agent.

Under the zoning code, additions that increase a building’s square footage by less than 10% qualify as a minor modification and can be approved by the commission without a public hearing. Commissioners noted that, because only three members were present, any action required a unanimous vote. The commission carried the motion on a 3‑0 roll call, with the record showing yes votes by Mr. Urbis, Ken Lackey and Vice Chair Don Rothman.

There were no members of the public who came forward to comment on the proposal. Staff said the original building was completed in 2011; the proposed expansion will increase the school’s footprint by 12,111 square feet. The commission approved the minor modification with no conditions and will forward the record to City Council as part of the administrative process for the conditional‑use permit.

The commission’s action was procedural in nature: because the request met the code threshold for a minor modification and staff recommended approval, no additional hearings were required. The next step for the project is permitting and building plan review with city staff.