Planning commission approves special‑use permit for private K–12 school on 39th Avenue

On Dec. 18, the Local Planning Agency and Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of application Z2400009, a special‑use permit to allow a private K–12 educational facility associated with an on‑site church on 39th Avenue west of I‑75.

Jerry Brewington, senior planner for the Electra County Department of Growth Management, told commissioners: "This is a request for a special use permit for a private educational facility located on 39th Avenue." He said the 8.6‑acre church site includes an existing sanctuary and classroom space and a vacant pad in the parking area where the applicant proposes to build a new school building. "The applicant wishes to establish a school not to exceed 300 students on the property," Brewington said, and he noted staff has attached six conditions to its recommendation for approval.

The staff report, Brewington said, finds the proposed accessory school use consistent with the county comprehensive plan's institutional criteria (policy 5.2.0.1) and the county Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) standards for a special‑use permit. Staff displayed site photos and the plan, noting existing parking, a playground and a stormwater basin and concluding the proposed building footprint is largely confined to an already disturbed area.

Clay Swager of EDA Consultants, representing the applicant, reiterated the staff presentation and answered commissioners' questions. "They would like to keep it 1 story, but at maximum, it would be 2 stories," Swager said when asked about building height. He added that the project has identified an opportunity to connect to GRU central sewer to replace the site's current septic system: "...that's 1 of the conditions of approval is it will connect to sewer."

Commissioners asked about hours of operation, traffic and parking. Staff said the proposed hours (roughly 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.) are within code limits and that transportation staff had not submitted a contrary recommendation. On traffic, staff and the applicant said the site's on‑site stacking and circulation appear adequate for drop‑off and pick‑up; staff also confirmed a secondary emergency access intended for emergency vehicles only. One commissioner said the 39th Avenue corridor is unlikely to be widened in the near term; county staff said there are no current plans to widen that segment, though other future roadway connections are being planned elsewhere in the grid and county stormwater improvements are being pursued in the area.

After questions, a commissioner moved to approve the application with staff conditions; another commissioner seconded. The commission voted in favor and the chair announced that application Z2400009 passes and will be recommended to the board with the six conditions noted in the staff report. The transcript records the outcome but does not include a roll‑call tally of individual votes.

The commission also distributed a tenants' report and noted incoming new members in February before adjourning. Next procedural steps for Z2400009 are the board review, where the commission's recommendation and the conditions attached by staff will be considered.