COLUMBUS, Ind. — A new private, “classical” school will have to continue its search for a location, as the academy’s proposed site has been rejected by zoning officials.
The Columbus Board of Zoning Appeals voted Tuesday to deny two variance requests from Liberty Academy of Columbus for property at 1460 Jackson St. School leaders sought variances to allow a school in the Industrial: General zoning district and to allow the school to be located in a “Special Flood Hazard Area.” Both votes were 4-1, with board member Charles Doup dissenting.
Doup initially made a motion to approve the first variance request, regarding the zoning district. It failed for lack of a second. Board member Michael Kinder, in his motions to deny each request, cited the planning department’s staff report, which recommended denial due to concerns about traffic and flooding safety.
Following the board’s decision, Victor “JR” Huff, head of Liberty Academy, told The Republic that school leaders will keep searching for a property that meets their needs.
“We’ve got a couple of other sites that we are working with,” he said.
For more on this story, see Friday’s Republic.
