Planning commission approves proposed Great Commission K–12 campus, recommends sidewalks and buffers

The Altoona City Planning Commission approved the Great Commission School Education Center proposal to build a K–12 campus on the former Stoll Farm property in Holidaysburg, Speaker 5 told the commission during the review. The proposal includes a K–12 building with auditorium, gymnasium and cafeteria, outdoor sports facilities, and two paved parking areas.

"If you look at this image here and it looks familiar to you that's because it is the former, Stoll Farm property in Holidaysburg," Speaker 5 said, describing the site's location along Bedford Street adjacent to NatureWorks Park. Speaker 5 added the site is currently zoned Conservation and Recreation, where a school is a permitted use. The planner noted parts of the parcel are in floodplain but said the proposed development appears to be above base flood elevation.

Commissioners discussed pedestrian connectivity and unanimously favored including a recommendation for sidewalks along the site's driveway and for landscape buffers around parking to reduce glare and preserve residential character. "I think it would be great for the school to include sidewalks here," Speaker 5 said. Speaker 1 said the recommendation could strengthen future grant applications and asked staff to specify sidewalks on both sides of the driveway.

The planner also said detailed square footage information was not included in the application materials and could not be confirmed at the meeting. The commission approved the application with the planner's recommendations; Speaker 1 called for the motion and after a second the vote passed with no nays reported.

The commission recorded concerns about preserving agricultural land and noted the parcel's prior rezoning history, but concluded the proposed school is consistent with the current zoning and the county comprehensive plan as interpreted by staff. Staff will provide formal conditions and a recommendation letter to the municipality.