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Saint Paul Catholic School wins Board of Adjustment approval for six‑classroom annex
Summary
The New Bern Board of Adjustment unanimously found the Saint Paul School Annex application complete, within permitted uses, and approved issuing the special‑use permit for six classrooms after staff presentation, applicant testimony, and supporting expert analysis.
The New Bern Board of Adjustment on July 23 voted to issue a special‑use permit allowing Saint Paul Catholic School to build a six‑classroom annex at 3005/3007 Country Club Road.
Staff told the board the application (special use permit 0035362026, parcel 8‑203‑017) had addressed Development Review Committee comments, corrected a clerical parcel ID, and is within the city's table of permissible uses for the C‑5 zoning district. "The application submitted was deemed to be complete," staff said during the presentation.
Catherine Stickney, principal of Saint Paul Catholic School and the applicant, said the school is "busting at the seams" and described the annex as intended to relieve crowded spaces so classes such as art, music and science can move out of temporary or inadequate spaces. "These are actually classrooms that will improve and allow us to enhance our programming," Stickney said.
A certified residential appraiser, Jane Dale, gave evidence the annex is unlikely to harm nearby home values and cited a comparison with another recently built neighborhood school where adjacent home values rose. "In my opinion . . . it would not have any negative effect on any of the residential properties adjacent to Saint Paul," she said.
Board members moved and seconded the required findings: that the use is within the table of permissible uses, that the application is complete, that the development would comply with ordinance requirements if built as proposed, would not materially endanger public health or safety, and would not substantially injure adjoining property values. Each finding was approved by voice vote and the board then voted to issue the permit with no additional conditions.
The board's decision was recorded as a voice vote; no detailed roll‑call tally of individual ayes and nays was read into the record. The applicant was thanked for providing a thorough packet; staff will handle final permit paperwork.
