Support FFLA's Expanision
October 1, 2014
City Council
City of Airdrie
400 Main Street South
Airdrie, Alberta, T4B 3C3
Dear Members of Council,
Re: Kings Heights, IB-1 (Industrial Business Park One District)
Footprints for Learning Society operating as “Footprints for Learning Academy” (“FFLA”) operates a not-for-profit, private school (ancillary to a daycare) at 2926 Kingsview Blvd., Airdrie (the “Premises”). The Premises are owned by 1655498 Alberta Ltd. (“165”). Our current enrolment at the school is 250 students, ages 5 to 13. FFLA and 165 intend to apply to the City for a permit to develop the balance of the second storey of the Premises to accommodate expansion of enrolment to 325 (an increase of 75 students). That will enable us to accommodate all grades up to and including grade 12.
As you know there continues to be a huge need for more schools in Airdrie and increasingly parents want options (in addition to public school) for the education of their children. We have a growing waiting list currently over 100 students whose parents are anxious to have their children attend our school.
The Premises are located in the above district which backs onto adjacent residential development. Although the district is named ‘light industrial’, there are a multitude of commercial developments including a local newspaper, several restaurants, daycare , preschools, fitness centres, bus depot, religious assembly, post office, fire hall, commercial RVs, administrative and head offices, and numerous commercial and retail businesses. Indeed there are many more commercial businesses than industrial ones in this district. The portion of this district in the area of the Premises is very comparable to Direct Control 27 in which the City approved development of the Airdrie Koinonia Christian private school. Direct Control 27 is stated to be subject to IB-1 and IB-2 guidelines. Other portions of this district are also like C-C (Convenience Commercial District) in which private schools are a discretionary use.
We also note that IB-1 does not include post offices as discretionary use but one has been approved by the City in this district.
165 has been advised by City administration that under the applicable land use bylaw private schools are not a discretionary use in the above district. Accordingly, a delegation including 165, FFLA and parents and relations of students attending FFLA request a motion by member(s) of Council be made to amend the land use bylaw for the above IB-1 district to include Schools, Private as a discretionary use.
We humbly request Council’s prompt consideration of our delegation’s request.
Yours truly,
Laura Bancroft
Vice President, Footprints for Learning Academy
[and all those whose signatures appear below]
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