A private school for gifted children, located in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) is asking to expand its facilities.
The school on Westminster Highway just east of No. 9 Road was originally built as a church, something that was allowed in the ALR, but it was later converted into the Choice School for Gifted Children.
The school is currently about 15,000 square feet and the application is to add on about 2,800 square feet, which would allow for two new classrooms, increasing the school’s capacity from 80 student to 110 students.
The adjacent property, at 20411 Westminster Hwy., is also owned by the school, and staff note that the uses on the property, including playing fields, playgrounds and parking, are not consistent with its zoning, that is, as agricultural.
An application in 1997 to rezone the property from agricultural to assembly was denied.
If this application moves forward, staff recommend rezoning the property to “legitimize the existing uses.”
City staff have recommended council forward the application for the school addition to the Agricultural Land Commission
The school has included a farm plan with its application and states it plans to dedicate 50 per cent of the property to farm uses, including a soil-based greenhouse, vegetables boxes and fruit trees and shrubs.
The Food Security and Agricultural Advisory Committee looked at the application and supported it.
The application is on the agenda for council’s committee meeting on Tuesday.
