Planning commission approves church and preschool permits and recommends two rezones to city council

The Washington City Planning Commission on May 6 approved a set of land‑use actions that included conditional use permits for a new church and an in‑home preschool, and recommended two rezones and two preliminary plats to the city council for final action.

Staff presented C‑26‑01, a conditional use permit for a proposed church approximately 4.16 acres in size at Waters Edge Way and Grove Parkway with an 18,300‑square‑foot building, 253 parking stalls and a recently granted 69‑foot steeple height waiver. Sebastian, the staff presenter, said staff found the proposal “in harmony with the surrounding development” and recommended approval. Commissioner Mitchell moved to approve C‑26‑01 with staff findings and conditions; Commissioners Anderson, Davis, Mitchell, Tupo and Bulock voted yes.

The commission also approved C‑26‑02, a conditional use permit to operate an in‑home preschool at 265 East Kimble Court. Applicant Sydney Bell told commissioners she plans to serve up to eight children ages 3–5 and to teach the classes herself; she said she intends to use an 8:1 ratio though state rules allow up to 12:1. Staff said the home will require building and fire inspections and a Washington City business license; staff also described a staggered five‑minute drop‑off and pickup plan to reduce traffic. The motion to approve carried on the same recorded affirmative votes.

Two rezones were recommended to the city council. Z‑26‑09 would rezone about 8.26 acres near 2350 South Washington Fields Road from RA‑5 and A‑20 to RA‑1/2 to align lot sizes with the general plan and allow one additional single‑family lot; staff recommended the Planning Commission forward a recommendation for approval. Z‑26‑10 would rezone 1.92 acres at 1290 East Washington Dam Road from RA‑2 to I‑1 (light industrial) for flex‑space development intended for trade contractors and small businesses; staff likewise recommended forwarding this rezoning to council. Both recommendations passed on recorded votes and will appear on the council agenda.

Two preliminary plats were handled by the Land Use Authority portion of the meeting. The commission recommended approval of an amended preliminary plat for Desert Ridge Estates phases 2–4 — a change that reduces phase 2 by ten lots, re‑phases construction, renumbers conditions and updates height and backyard structure limits on specified lots — with staff and Hillside Review Board support. The commission also recommended approval of the five‑lot Oak Meadows preliminary plat at ~2670 South 240 West. Both items will go to city council for final action.

Public comment focused on access and traffic. Several residents and prospective buyers addressed the Desert Ridge amendment to confirm access easements and discuss driveway and road options; a long‑time resident near Washington Fields Road raised vehicle speed concerns and was directed to public works and city council for speed‑limit requests.

Next steps: items that were recommended will be considered by the Washington City Council at a subsequent meeting; the conditional use permits approved by the commission are subject to the conditions set out in staff reports, including inspections, licenses and compliance with state fencing requirements in the preschool case.

Votes at a glance: C‑26‑01 (church) — approved (Anderson, Davis, Mitchell, Tupo, Bulock: yes). C‑26‑02 (in‑home preschool) — approved (Anderson, Davis, Mitchell, Tupo, Bulock: yes). Z‑26‑09 (rezoning, 2350 S Washington Fields) — recommended to city council (Anderson, Davis, Mitchell, Tupo, Bulock: yes). Z‑26‑10 (rezoning, 1290 E Washington Dam Rd) — recommended to city council (Anderson, Davis, Mitchell, Tupo, Bulock: yes). Desert Ridge amendment (prelim plat) — recommended to city council (Anderson, Davis, Mitchell, Tupo, Bulock: yes). Oak Meadows preliminary plat — recommended to city council (Anderson, Davis, Mitchell, Tupo, Bulock: yes).