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Liberty School receives go ahead

The Liberty School took a big step toward a new building on Western Avenue Tuesday.

The Durango City Council approved Liberty Schools’ application for annexation, a special-use permit and new zoning and heard from concerned neighbors about traffic.

Councilor Sweetie Marbury did sympathize with the neighbors, but ultimately, the councilors decided the impact would not be that great.

“I know that change can be difficult,” she said.

The school which serves dyslexic and gifted students, hopes to develop 3 acres of a 9-acre parcel because the school’s current home above Big Picture High School on 12th Street is getting a new tenant. Durango School District 9-R plans to move the new Juniper School into that space.

“We’re really excited about the potential here. We have been looking since the inception for a home,” said Christian Holmen, head of Liberty School.

City staff proposed 16 conditions to the schools’ special-use permit, including several to limit traffic, and the school agreed to all of them, said Nancy Lauro with Russell Planning and Engineering.

“The school is willing to do that to address the neighborhood concerns,” Lauro said.

Right now, the school serves about 23 dyslexic and gifted students in first through eighth grade. The special-use permit would only allow the school to serve a maximum of 49 students.

The pick-up times for parents will be staggered to help limit the number of drivers driving through the neighborhood at the same time.

Parents will also be assigned routes to spread out the traffic across Hocker, Pleasant and Sunnyside streets, which lead to the school.

The school also agreed to involve the neighborhood in the design of the school and limit it to a single story.

To evaluate how well the school is following the rules, the city will hold a neighborhood forum after the school has been open for a year.

“They are willing to do that because they know they are going to be a very good neighbor,” Lauro said.

But some members of the neighborhood still did not seem satisfied with the restrictions in place.

Neighbor Ann Wiley voiced concerns that the approval of the school had been rushed and felt offended by the argument that if the school isn’t built, new homes will be built.

“Think about what you’re asking of us in terms of changing the culture,” Wiley said.

mshinn@durangoherald.com

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