Sean C. Morgan
School District 55 is planning to appeal a conditional use permit to site permanently a modular building at Sweet Home High School.
The Sweet Home Planning Commission approved the permit last week on Monday. The district had approval to use the building temporarily during the high school construction project.
The district asked for permission to site two modular buildings permanently. It withdrew its request for a second building but wanted to leave the one already at the high school.
The Planning Commission added a condition that the district build a sidewalk and handrail from 18th Avenue along the new main driveway past the modular building.
The School District will use the modular building to house alternative education programs. The first is the junior high alternative education program, which requires a non-traditional school program. It was housed at the Boys and Girls Club last year, but there were conflicts between the program and club occasionally.
The second program is the high school alternative education class. The program was operated after school last year and used existing classroom space.
The class has grown large enough that the hours were changed to coincide with regular school hours, Supt. Larry Horton said.
The conditional use permit also included a variance from the total amount of parking required.
The modular building is located just to the east of the science and math building next to the driveway off 18th Avenue, raising Planning Commission concerns about safety.
The Planning Commission’s solution was to require a sidewalk and handrail, Community Development Director Carol Lewis said. The idea of the handrail came up after the public hearing, during the Planning Commission’s discussion following the hearing, although in response to questions from commission, Supt. Horton said a fence was one possible safety measure in a written statement to the Planning Commission.
The handrail would separate the sidewalk from the driveway. That’s where the district has a problem with the permit.
“We are going to appeal that part of it,” Supt. Horton said. “Putting up a handrail would be causing a more hazardous situation than simply putting in a sidewalk.”
The district agrees about installing the sidewalk, Supt. Horton said. “(It) definitely provides a safe zone for kids, adults and citizens to walk in.”
The problem with a rail is the parking on the other side of the driveway, next to the soccer field and tennis courts. People leaving the parking area will have to walk along the driveway until they can get to an opening and step up onto the sidewalk.
“I think the intent was to provide additional safety for the kids,” Supt. Horton said. “I appreciate that intent. I agree with that intent wholeheartedly. I think the handrails are going to create a problem and definitely a potential hazard for pedestrians.”
Supt. Horton said he did not have an estimate on the cost of handrails because they had not expected to be required to install them.
The District had drafted a letter to the city but had not submitted the letter as of Friday. The letter appeals the Planning Commission’s decision to the City Council.
“We’re also asking to waive the fees based on the fact we really didn’t get a chance to discuss it in the public hearing,” Supt. Horton said.
The fee to appeal is $310.
The City Council would hear the appeal following a notification process, probably Oct. 26.