A potential expansion of Mountain Middle School is drawing the ire of some neighbors who have concerns about its impacts.
But the city, normally the final say in questions of parking and building size, has limited ability to regulate the school’s plans.
The Durango Planning Commission on Monday heard concerns about the larger building, traffic, parking and lack of playground for the site at West 31st Street. But commissioners did not take action.
If planning commissioners vote to oppose the proposed expansion at a later date, it could trigger a hearing before the Colorado Board of Education or Durango School District 9-R Board, said Greg Hoch, director of Durango’s Community Development Department.
Shane Voss, Mountain Middle’s head of school, discussed plans for a new two-story addition that beginning in 2016 would house grades three through five.
The new 10,000- to -12,000-square-foot addition would be to the southeast of the existing building.
“The site is too small and the off-site pressure is too great to receive this impact,” said Steve Bach who spoke for about 16 concerned households.
The building, estimated to cost between $2 million and $2.5 million, would be paid for through grants, cash and debt. But it would not require a bond, according to documents submitted to the city.
Half of the property has been donated and the other half is being purchased for the school use, said Erin Patla, president of Mountain Middle’s board of directors.
The board approved the expansion June 3, she said.
The addition would house 90 new students on a campus that is currently home to 180, Voss said.
It would meet the need for more in-town elementary classes because the other schools in town are full, he said. It also would house an art room, crafts space and cafeteria, he said.
The plans for renovation do not include a playground, but students use Durango Community Recreation Center, Chapman Hill and the Animas River Trail.
“You use the community as your playground,” Voss said.
But Bach argued students use the yards near the school as playground space and create a nuisance.
“The trash is horrendous,” he said.
Traffic and safety also were raised as concerns.
“There are no crosswalks. There are no crossing guards. There is no striping. There is no bus turnout,” Bach said.
Neighbors were concerned by the lack of public engagement and the city’s unclear jurisdiction.
A neighborhood meeting was held June 12, and neighbors said it was heated.
“They don’t need our acceptance. They don’t need our agreement. Frankly, our feeling was they didn’t care one way or the other,” Bach said.
Patla said that interpretation was not correct, and the school already had adjusted site plans to address some concerns.
“We would like to partner with our community. ... We definitely want to make sure we continue that dialogue,” she said.
The commissioners asked questions, but they didn’t express any definite views about the project besides the need for the school to do more community outreach.
“We can’t even comment on this because it’s so unclear,” Planning Commission Chairwoman Jan Derk said.
There is tentative public hearing about the school scheduled for July 16.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
