Council tables downtown rezoning for Valley of the Sacred Heart Academy after heated public comment

The Dixon City Council on Sept. 1 heard extensive public testimony and staff presentations on a proposal by Valley of the Sacred Heart Academy to relocate and expand a private Catholic K–12 school on a downtown DMX parcel. Associate planner Austin Ford reviewed the four entitlements (zoning text amendment, design review, lot merger and conditional use permit) and staff’s CEQA finding (initial study and mitigated negative declaration). The project would merge three parcels at the northeast corner of East A and North 2nd Streets and build a new two‑story educational building to serve up to 120 students.

Proponents, including board member Kelly Evans, said proximity to St. Peter’s Parish is central to daily religious instruction and argued the school provides educational choice and community benefits. "We need to be near the Catholic church because part of our curriculum is for our students to attend mass each day," Evans said. Supporters highlighted community investment, construction jobs and partners willing to donate funds.

Opponents — including downtown business representatives and residents — urged caution, saying the Downtown Mixed Use (DMX) zoning was created to promote restaurants, entertainment and a destination commercial core, and that adding a sensitive use such as a school could complicate future ABC licensing and business investment. Tiffany Fabiani, who said she spent years trying to open a downtown live entertainment venue, warned that introducing a school could create new grounds for protest during liquor licensing processes and harm long‑term downtown vitality: "It is about whether a school is compatible with the future this city has already planned for downtown," she said.

Councilmembers debated the tradeoffs: several praised the school’s program and the project’s architecture but said the location raises long‑term planning concerns. Vice Mayor Ernest proposed that staff and the applicant explore alternative city‑owned sites or a land swap so the applicant could obtain a site that better meets operational needs while protecting the city’s downtown vision. Councilmember Johnson moved to table the item and direct staff to meet with the applicant to study alternatives. The motion to continue passed by unanimous roll call (5–0). The council’s action pauses entitlements pending staff discussions and any amended applications the applicant might submit.