Commission recommends special use for Rays of Hidden Light Academy micro‑school at Presley Mill Road church

The Douglasville Planning Commission recommended approval of a special land use permit to allow Rays of Hidden Light Academy to operate a micro‑school in a classroom at 6167 Presley Mill Road, located on the Douglasville 1st United Methodist Church property.

Chelsea Tubbs, planning and zoning administrator, described the requested accessory use and told the commission the proposal would provide academic classrooms and related activities during normal school hours; she said enrollment was proposed up to five students as approved by the fire marshal and that staff anticipated minimal traffic or parking impacts.

Latoya Moore, founder of Rays of Hidden Light Academy, said the program is a small, personalized learning center serving sixth through 12th graders; she said three students were currently interested and that the program is designed to support neurodivergent students. "Our goal is to provide another option for families, particularly those, particularly those, who have neurodivergent children or other students that can thrive in a smaller, more individualized learning environment," she said.

Commissioners sought clarification about application wording (the packet listed "childcare learning" and "early childhood education," though the applicant described grades 6–12), classroom size (applicant said roughly 24 by 20 feet), and whether expanding beyond the one classroom or five students would require returning to the commission or only fire marshal occupancy review. Staff said higher enrollment would require notification of the fire marshal and possibly additional code updates depending on capacity changes.

A motion to recommend approval was seconded and passed by voice vote. The commission will forward its recommendation to the mayor and City Council for final action at the council's Aug. 13 legislative meeting; council will vote on Aug. 17.