A request by Epic Charter Schools for a conditional permit to place a Micro Site school at 127 West Main will go before the city commission with the recommendation of the planning commission.
The commission made the recommendation on a 3-2 vote during its meeting at the Ardmore Public Library Thursday. A conditional use permit is needed for Epic to host a Micro Site because downtown is not zoned for an educational facility.
Community Development staff recommended denial of the permit, stating the biggest concern for the city is the impact a school would have on the city’s commercial downtown zoning district. According to state statute and ABLE standards, if the educational facility is allowed, there would be restrictions for future adult alcohol businesses within the location of 127 West Main Street.
The Micro Site is a facility in which Epic teachers can meet with student tutoring in addition to faculty and club meetings. Rooms are reserved by teachers for up to three hours during which they meet with small groups of students.
Jeff St. Clair is the owner of the building, which is being leased to Epic. During the meeting, he pointed out part of the area that lies within 300 feet of his building is already within a restricted area due to a church. He added the only potential new businesses that would be impacted are liquor stores or bars.
A new business entity is needed because an entertainment district does not work in Ardmore St. Clair said, pointing out there are not enough people from the ages of 21 to 35 to make the economics work for a bar. St. Clair cited examples of Black Mesa, a former bar in downtown along with his restaurant, Sunset Grill, which closed its doors last year.
“It is hard to create an entertainment district in today’s world,” he said.
Prior to the meeting, St. Clair said he had met with most business owners and most support his thoughts.
“It is really about the economics of downtown,” he said. “It is not about Epic, whether you like or you don’t like them.”
There were those in attendance who had an opportunity to speak for or against the permit. Business owner Aylisa Marion said the addition of Epic to the downtown community would be good because it is a different kind of business.
“And also, I think because of the economy, because of the times, I think you should reevaluate, moving forward, what Main Street should look like,” she said.
Another business owner, Stephanie Baker felt Epic would bring people from different communities downtown.
“I really feel like downtown is dwindling and it is dwindling because the block where I am, the next block has kind of been forgotten,” she said. “Everything has gone down to the east and I feel like this will bring a lot of business to our downtown and make it more productive.”
Among those speaking in opposition to the conditional permit were business owners Casey Draper and Allision Meredith in addition to Philip Capshaw. Draper said the growth in downtown has been amazing but it does shut down early due to the nature of Ardmore being a small town.
“I would really hate to see the growth of Ardmore curtailed because a few people are unable to see progress past what they are looking at right now,” she said.
Meredith, who also serves as the general manager of the Ardmore Main Street Association, highlighted the growth in the downtown and the improvements.
“You can see people are reinvesting in downtown and are choosing downtown for their business locations,” she said.
Capshaw said real estate has increased in value in the downtown area, using the sale of family property as an example. He encouraged the commission to consider the planning that has gone into the development in the district.
“To reiterate, we have spent all this money on surveys and consultants and they have said entertainment is what we need,” he said. “Again, I think Epic is great as well but I don’t think anybody is going to come. That is not what is going to draw people downtown.”
St. Clair has put together a study on the issue and shared with most of the downtown business owners. He said there were other parties interested in leasing his building but he felt that Epic Charters School would have the biggest economic development.
The city commission will consider the permit during its meeting at 6 p.m., Sept. 3 at the Ardmore Public Library. There will also be a public hearing at that time.
