Grace Christian Academy Debate Divides School, Neighbors

People on both sides of the issue pleaded their case to Maryland Heights City Council members this week.

A Thursday night of the Maryland Heights City Council proved tense as supporters and detractors of a proposal to move a private school into a neighborhood church voiced their thoughts. “I’m tired of being belittled,” Steven Lenz told the council on Aug. 2. The resident accused Dorsett Village Church and Grace Christian Academy of demeaning neighbors who worried about the consequences of the move. He wasn't alone. Maryland Heights residents who did not want a private school to move into the church came out in droves to voice their concerns and plead with the council to reject a request for an operating permit. Ultimately, the council voted 7-1 to reject the permit that would have allowed the school to move into Dorsett Village. Councilman …

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City Council Rejects Grace Academy Move

The council voted 7-1 against a conditional use permit that would have allowed the private school to move to Dorsett Village Church.

The Maryland Heights City Council rejected Dorsett Village Church’s request for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) which would allow Grace Christian Academy to relocate to its building. Seven council members voted against the CUP, with Councilman Michael Hachmeister the lone vote in support of the school's relocation. Before the vote, Councilman Ed Dirck explained to the audience that the decision would not come easy. He did not believe the Conditional Use Permit met the burden of proof city officials needed for it to pass, he said. “This is one of the more painful ones [decisions] that has come before us in a long long time,” he said.

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Planning Commission OKs Grace Christian Academy Move

A draft ordinance approving a conditional use permit to Dorsett Village Church will next go to the Maryland Heights City Council.

The Maryland Heights Planning and Zoning Commission approved a draft ordinance Tuesday night that would grant Dorsett Village Church a conditonal use permit to relocate to house Grace Christian Academy. The decision came after several residents expressed concerns over the private school relocating to their area. Residents were concerned with potential noise from the school, diminishing property values and other issues. Still others advocated for the school’s relocation. Grace Christian Academy Board President Neil Wishouse told the commission that the school would face a dire fate if it could not relocate to Dorsett Village Church. “We’re not going to survive if we don’t go here,” he said. The commission’s decision did not come easy. …

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Proposed School Location Ignites Controversey

Maryland Heights residents living near Dorsett Village Church come out against Grace Christian Academy moving into Dorsett Village Church.

Neighbors of Dorsett Village Church flooded the Maryland Heights Government Center’s council chamber on July 10 for the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. Crowd members were adamantly against church administrators bringing a school into Dorsett Village's halls. The church hopes to receive a Conditional Use Permit to let Grace Christian Academy to operate on its premises. The church’s neighbors, however, aren’t keen on the request. Grace Christian Academy currently sits on the Grace Church property. Seven locals spoke out against the school moving to Dorsett Village Church. Complaints ranged from diminishing property value to potential noise complaints. Many of those against the school’s new location assured the commission that they …

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Public Hearing on Grace Christian Academy Scheduled

Grace Christian Academy, which is proposed to move to the Dorsett Village Church, will have a public hearing on Tuesday.