Dancing Moose Montessori School at Thanksgiving Point
A Montessori school for PreK to 2nd grade on about 1.5 acres of Thanksgiving Point land, allowed by development agreement ahead of an amended Thanksgiving Point area plan. Approved 3-2 on March 31, 2020 over traffic and precedent concerns.
- Where it stands
- Approved
- Type
- Development agreement
- Location
- Thanksgiving Point office park area
- Size
- 1.5 acres
- Applicant
- Dancing Moose / Thanksgiving Point Development
Every hearing and vote
March 31, 2020 · City Council
Dancing Moose Montessori School development agreement at Thanksgiving Point (Resolution #2020-20)
Approved · 3-2
Mike Washburn of Thanksgiving Point said a Montessori school complements the campus and the agreement addresses traffic and the incomplete amended Thanksgiving Point area plan; many drop-offs would be by people already working there. Mayor Johnson said the area plan has no moratorium but must be amended, and he allowed the proposal because of its uniqueness. Council Member Katie Koivisto said the area plan should come first, worried about liability if the city later denied another request, wanted a stipulation barring further building, worried the site could be reused for something other than a school, and cited sewer impacts. City Attorney Ryan Wood said the agreement is tied to this project, an educational use only, and sets no legal precedent; City Engineer Lorin Powell said sewer has capacity and engineering supports it only because of the developer's traffic mitigation. Council Members Chris Condie, Paul Hancock and Albrecht cited the unique, limited-impact use and expected traffic relief from I-15 work; Albrecht said traffic was her main concern. Koivisto's motion to require an approved area plan amendment first failed 2-3 (Southwick and Koivisto yes). Condie's motion, with a finding that the approval rests on this school-specific agreement and its limited impact, passed 3-2.
- Earlier motion to require an approved Thanksgiving Point area plan amendment first failed 2-3
- Agreement limits site to an educational facility