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Lucas City Council denies Lucas Christian Academy SUP amendment after hours of testimony
Summary
After a three-hour public hearing with hundreds of written comments and dozens of speakers, the Lucas City Council voted to deny Lucas Christian Academy's request to amend its special use permit to add about 22 acres and a new master plan, citing neighborhood impacts on traffic, drainage, noise and lighting.
The Lucas City Council voted to deny a proposed amendment to Lucas Christian Academy's special use permit that would have added roughly 22 acres and a new master plan for expanded classrooms, a 1,600-seat lighted football stadium and multiple athletic fields.
Mayor (speaker 1) opened a public hearing that drew more than 40 in-person speakers and a stack of written submissions entered into the record. Joseph Walker, LCA's head of school, presented the applicant's case, saying the campus is running at capacity and the expansion would let the school host athletics and arts events on-site. "We're not able to host most of our athletic home competitions and our largest fine arts productions on campus," Walker said during his presentation (Joseph Walker, speaker 18).
Council and staff questioned site-plan, traffic, and drainage details. Development Services Director Joe Hilburn (speaker 5) told the council the proposal included parking, detention areas and a required photometric lighting plan; he said the city would require full drainage and traffic studies as part of any future permitting. The staff summary noted the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval 4-1, with conditions to carry forward prior SUP terms.
Residents who oppose the amendment described impacts they said would follow. "This is catastrophic for my family," said Judith Anderson (speaker 30), whose home lies between two proposed fields and who said stadium nights and band practices already interfere with her sleep and professional obligations. Others raised concerns about increased runoff into creek beds, longer emergency response times during events, light trespass and the loss of residential land that could otherwise generate property tax revenue.
Supporters told the council the school provides value and local activity. "We are here to be good neighbors," said Michael Walenichuk (speaker 11), an LCA parent who asked the council to back the school's plan; other supporters described volunteering and local economic activity tied to families who use city businesses.
After citizen comments and council deliberation, Councilmember (speaker 7) moved to deny the SUP amendment; the motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote. The mayor announced the motion was denied with no recorded opposing votes. The council did not vote on any revised or alternate conditions at the meeting, and staff said required technical studies and any future applications would have to return to the council for consideration.
What comes next: the denial leaves the property's current SUP in place and preserves the R2 residential expectations for the tract. Any future applications or changes to the plan would require new entitlements and formal resubmittals to the city.
