Kiva Montessori School’s conditional-use permit for two buildings at 18 and 25 Beech Street is heading to Cortez City Council Tuesday night, but it could have tough row to hoe after being recommended for denial by the Planning and Zoning Commission at a June 16 special meeting.
The growing K-8 charter school is seeking the permit for two buildings on Beech in the Central Business zoning district, located across the street for one another halfway between North and Main Streets.
The two buildings would be used for administrative and classroom space and for a cafeteria/gym.
Kiva also operates a Montessori preschool on E. Empire Street, which officials told planning and zoning commissioners they’d like to expand to accommodate all grade levels.
The locations at 18 and 25 Beech would be temporary until the future expansion work at the Empire Street location are complete.
Tim Kline, planning and zoning commission chairman, said the lack of parking at the two sites, the overall impact of school traffic on the surrounding residential and commercial neighborhood, and opposition from a few neighbors that attended last week’s meeting were two points that really stuck with him when making the recommendation for denial.
Kiva leadership requested a waiver to the parking requirement, which was ultimately denied by the commissioners. The parking requirement mandates that 16 spaces be available at the site, and currently there are only six.
Other members of the commission stated they supported the school and its mission to provide more educational choice to parents but felt the location was not right for the operation.
“It was a very tough decision to make. It’s a difficult decision, but I personally was weighing the issues with some of the existing businesses down there and how it would impact it,” said Kline. “I felt it would really take away from a couple or a number of established businesses. Parking is a really tough issue in the business district.”
Calls to Julie Suckla, Kiva board president, were not returned.
City council takes up the issue at its June 23 meeting, which begins at City Hall at 7:30 p.m.