Conditional Use Permit for a MN State Licensed K-8 Charter School for Mercy Academy

Site Information:

Property Owner: River Valley Crossing, LLC

PID: 27-093002-0

Site Acreage: 5.9 acres

Zoning: B-1, Highway Business

Comp. Plan: Commercial

Tim McGlaughlin, property owner, representing Mercy Academy has applied for a conditional use permit for a state licensed charter school, Mercy Academy, that would initially serve 135 students from Kindergarten to 5th Grade and in the second year of operation move to serving students from Kindergarten to 8th Grade (see applicant narrative and summary for anticipated enrollment for future years). K-12 schools licensed by the State of MN are a conditional use in the B-1, Highway Business zone. The Shakopee School District and Intermediate District #288  both have classrooms and offices at the opposite end of the mall building.

The proposed school involves the construction of 14 classrooms, a community room, offices, library, and storage within the existing 22,710 square-foot tenant space. A fenced 4,135 square-foot area is noted for outside use adjacent to the space. A larger fenced outside space is noted to be used by the adjacent daycare. The maximum number of students is 342 at full capacity. There is adequate parking for staff and visitors on the site.

The proposed site plan illustrates bus drop-off and staging patterns. Access to the site will be changing with the improvements to Vierling Drive and construction of Lincoln Street that connects to the main drive aisle in front of the building (see attached plan). The area that is shown as bus staging is a two-way drive lane that is 29' in width. The minimum width for 2-way traffic is 24'. Buses parked on one side would reduce the space to approximately 20-21'. Staff recommends that southwesternmost row of parking be used as a bus staging area instead. Staff recommends that the applicant work with Engineering Staff for an appropriate bus pick up and drop off plan.