Council approves conditional use permit for Camino K–8 at Saint Nicholas Church

The Laguna Woods City Council on Jan. 27 adopted a resolution approving Conditional Use Permit CUP‑2025‑0003 to allow the Camino School to operate a kindergarten‑through‑eighth‑grade program on the Saint Nicholas Catholic Church property at 24252 El Toro Road.

Staff said the permit would not require new construction but would permit use of existing buildings (principally the parish hall), the installation of a roughly 144‑square‑foot storage shed at the rear of the site, and limited weekday use of 83 of the property’s 260 parking spaces for drop‑off, staff parking and a 53‑space outdoor activity area on the parking surface.

Conditions of approval limit outdoor activities (recess, PE, staggered lunches) to two daily windows totaling about two hours, cap outdoor occupancy in the play area at 60 students at any one time, prohibit amplified sound, and require portable safety barriers around the outdoor area that are removed over weekends so church parking is unimpeded on Friday evening through Sunday.

Staff reported a noise study had been submitted and reviewed by city consultants who found no reasonable basis to expect a municipal code violation. Council asked the applicant to ensure traffic and emergency‑vehicle access remain safe and noted that the applicant is responsible for on‑site traffic management and compliance with fire and safety reviews.

After accepting public testimony (none was offered on the CUP), council voted to adopt the resolution approving the amendment to CUP‑291 and the new CUP conditions; the resolution carried on a voice vote.