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Foundation Christian Academy seeks to double enrollment and add 80,000 sq ft in Lithia‑Pinecrest expansion; traffic conditions and signal timing are focal
Summary
Foundation Christian Academy requested a special use to increase enrollment from 500 to 1,000 students and expand building area from ~55,433 sq ft to 135,433 sq ft. Applicant presented a circulation plan; staff and the transportation reviewer required incremental traffic‑signal warrant analyses and other queuing/turn‑lane conditions.
Todd Pressman, representing Foundation Christian Academy, requested a special‑use permit to increase permitted students from 500 to 1,000 and to raise the maximum allowed floor area from 55,433 square feet to 135,433 square feet. Pressman said growth would occur over many years and that the application includes additional multi‑use buildings and two small ball courts. He said existing vegetation and buffers would limit impacts on adjacent residences.
Michael Razer, the project’s traffic consultant, described the transportation analysis: current ingress/egress uses Lithia‑Pinecrest Road; law‑enforcement officers currently direct traffic during peak drop‑off/pick‑up and would continue to do so until a traffic signal is warranted. Razer said on‑site queuing and circulation would be improved, and that turn‑lane lengthening and ultimately a traffic signal (at developer cost) are expected as incremental development warrants them. Development services transportation staff (Jessica Kowal) described standard conditions: preservation/dedication of right‑of‑way for the planned four‑lane widening of Lithia‑Pinecrest, signal‑warrant analyses at each increment of additional students, a delineator between entrance aisles to prevent weaving, and gating the first entrance during peak operations to force site circulation for stacking.
Jonathan Smith, the school principal, described staggered queues for different age groups and daily operation; he said existing operations run effectively and that officers and site supervisors manage staggered drop‑off and pick‑up to prevent queue spillback onto Lithia‑Pinecrest. Planning commission staff and development services recommended conditions that address transportation and queuing. No members of the public formally opposed the special‑use request during the hearing. The hearing officer closed the public hearing; he will issue a written decision within the county’s 15‑working‑day timeline.
