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Item 7 and 8 - Exhibits January 24, 2025 Department of Planning and Development Services 1400 Main Street, Suite 310 Southlake, TX 76092 Re: What If We Could dba The Novus Academy Zoning and Specific Use Permit Applications 2250 E. Continental Blvd., Southlake TX 76092 To Whom It May Concern: Regarding the Zoning Change and Specific Use Permit applications submitted for 2250 E. Continental Blvd., The Novus Academy (“Novus”) is a small K-12 private school that has served students since 2014 with learning differences and other special learning challenges. For the 2025-2026 school year, we currently anticipate starting with approximately 50 enrolled students from 40 families, along with 17 staff members. The building in Grapevine that Novus has leased for several years is being purchased by a buyer who is interested in occupying the entire building once Novus’ lease expires on May 31, 2025. Since November 2022, Novus has been diligently searching for a new location within the surrounding area. To say that Novus was beyond thrilled to learn on January 7, 2025 that Gateway Church was willing to enter into a 10-year lease (with additional renewal options) with Novus is an understatement. It is essential for Novus to quickly relocate to this optimal location and continue to provide its specialized and important services to our existing families in Southlake and the surrounding communities. Most of our families reside in Southlake and the nearby cities of Grapevine, Trophy Club, and Colleyville, and there are no other specialized schools in the area that appropriately serve this particular population. Novus’ niche is unique, and Southlake residents would benefit greatly by having additional options for their struggling students. The services offered by Novus will not have a negative impact in terms of increasing police, developmental, transportation, education, water, sewer, or drainage demands. The use is not detrimental to the public health, safety, or general welfare. More specific considerations are detailed below: Business Hours: Novus provides academic and before and after-school services to its students, primarily during the current school day of 7:50 – 3:30. Many students stay until either 4:30 or 5:00 for after-school clubs and care, and the majority of the staff is generally on site from 7:45 – 3:45 on school days. A summer program is offered during the month of June, and July and August have minimal staffing needs. ___________________________________________________________ 817-488-4555 | 3400 William D. Tate Ave. #1000 | Grapevine, TX 76051 Learning Differently. Together. TheNovusAcademy.org Page 2 Traffic: The traffic impact would be minimal to the surrounding area. Please refer to the Traffic Impact Analysis documents accompanying our applications for further detail. For morning drop-off, families would enter either from S. Kimball Avenue or E. Continental Drive, circle behind the building, and form a single-file car line to drop students at the front of the building. The parking area surrounding the building is wide enough to allow for two lanes of traffic to be utilized or flow at all times. Cars would exit from either from S. Kimball Avenue or E. Continental Drive. We do not anticipate any backups onto E. Continental Dr., as there is sufficient room for the ~40 family vehicles to line up around the building without spilling over to the feeder road or towards the other five buildings comprising Champions Crossing. The traffic would be very self-contained to the area encircling the building and would not negatively affect the other businesses. Also, our morning drop-off and after school pick-up times are staggered, since before and after-school care is provided, along with Clubs. This further reduces the number of cars entering and leaving the property at peak times. Further, Novus would be amenable to modifying its hours if needed to accommodate any City needs or concerns. Commercial Use: The neighbors of 2250 E. Continental Blvd. are generally classified as Office/Low Rise or Warehouse-Flex/Multi-Use. They appear to be small businesses, as is Novus. Novus’ use is compatible with the existing zoning and would not negatively impact the development or neighboring properties. Last, this approval is very time-sensitive due to three important deadlines: 1) Novus’ requirement to vacate its current premises by May 31, 2025; 2) Novus’ annual on-campus Summer Learning Camp is scheduled to begin on June 2, 2025; and opening for the 2025-2026 school year in August, in alignment with Carroll ISD’s calendar. In summary, allowing Novus to conduct its special educational programming as a complement to the amazing Carroll ISD will provide significant benefits to the City of Southlake. Novus already works closely with several other families and businesses in Southlake, but this will allow us to grow in tandem with the City’s community. Families and our business partners residing in the surrounding geography will contribute to Southlake’s sales tax revenue and fill Gateway’s space with a known and stable tenant (versus another unknown commercial tenant that requires no input from the City Council). Novus is an established business that can be quickly operational and beneficial to the City of Southlake, and perhaps even to a member of your family, a neighbor, or other constituents whose students are struggling in their current learning environment. If there is any additional information I can provide in furtherance of this request, I would be happy to do so. Also, if it is possible for the City to grant us a staff-level approval in order to expedite this request, please let me know what else is needed in that regard. Thank you in advance for your consideration. Very truly yours, Nicolle Galipeau Chief Operations Officer 817-488-4555 x. 102 | 817-704-3081 (Direct Dial) ngalipeau@TheNovusAcademy.org “S-P-1” Regulations For 2250 E. Continental Blvd. (Lot 4R7R1, Green Meadow Subdivision) This site shall comply with all conditions of the City of Southlake Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance No. 480, as amended, as it pertains to the I-1 Light Industrial District’s uses and regulations with the following exceptions: Permitted Uses All uses permitted in the “I-1” Light Industrial District and to include Private School with a Specific Use Permit. Development Regulations: As-built documents on file with the City of Southlake will act as the approved site plan. No physical changes to the site are proposed with this re-zoning/Specific Use Permit request. Any physical changes in the future will require appropriate Site Plan approval per Ordinance No. 480, as amended, Sections 40 and 31.