The question of whether an Epic School microsite will find a home in the downtown district will soon be posed to the planning commission.

A meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m., Thursday in the Ardmore Public Library. There is one item on the agenda, a request from Epic Charter Schools for a conditional use permit for a Micro Site educational facility at 127 W. Main Street. The building is owned by Jeff St. Clair and has been leased to Epic.

The item has generated an above average response from the community with 13 letters protesting Epic and one in support. The planning commission’s ruling is a recommendation. The city commission will ultimately make the decision whether to approve or deny the consideration.

“I feel like once a year we get one of those items that kind of creates a little bit of discussion in the city and I definitely feel like this is one of those items,” Community Development Director Jessica Scott said. “It generated a lot of response and typically, on my planning commission, I may get a response or two. I might get one phone call. This item has elicited a bunch of letters and a bunch of phone calls.”

Scott said the protest is due to concern that having an educational facility in the downtown district would hamper efforts to create an entertainment district. It is similar to a protest in 2018, when a conditional use permit was denied to First Christian Church, which was hoping to move to Main Street.

It is unlawful for a business that primarily serves alcohol or sells alcohol to be located within 300 feet of a church or school.

Scott said all of the buildings in the downtown district have been zoned as commercial downtown with the intent of having a thriving commercial area with possible living upstairs. There are many businesses that can fit within that zoning designation ranging from restaurants to boutiques. If it is a school, university or other type of educational facility, it requires a conditional use permit as an educational facility.

“We classified this as other (type) because it is Epic Charter School, and they are kind of a hybrid situation of a school. But they are still an educational facility, there will still be children there.”

At the time of the 2018 protest, St. Clair was among those filing a protest against locating a church in the downtown district. In the protest, he said his restaurant, The Sunset Grill, which was located at the planned Epic site, was the first phase in a plan to develop the area into a restaurant row.

“Most of which is planned to serve alcohol,” St. Clair wrote. “The First Christian Church located in the same block would have a negative impact on the future development plans for the buildings to the east of my property.”

The Sunset Grill has since closed and been renovated. Attempts to reach St. Clair by phone and email were unsuccessful.

Main Street Coffee owner David Plesher also filed a protest at that time, citing concerns ranging from losing potential retail space and the redevelopment of the Depot District to church use zoning. Plesher has since become a member of the city commission, and said he has not made up his mind on the current issue facing the planning commission. He did note the economy has changed since pre-Covid.

“I have heard a lot of pluses and a minus,” he said. “I have not made a decision. I will wait until Thursday when I have all the facts.”

Plesher’s wife Tammy Volino Plesher submitted the sole letter of support, as of Tuesday afternoon. She stated businesses would benefit from the foot traffic generated by Epic and that numerous business storefronts that are used solely for storage, leaving downtown looking like a ghost town.

“I have lived in Ardmore, my entire life and have watched the downtown area decline,” she wrote. “It is truly sad to say the least. I believe great things can come from the conditional use permit for the Epic Charter School.”

There was a universal theme to the letters of protest submitted. In addition to the restriction of events at which alcohol is served, there was concern about the impact a conditional use permit would have on the direction of the downtown district and the restrictions it would bring.

“By rezoning Main Street for a school, we run the risk of stifling the growth of this vital economic hub,” business owner Chris Peters wrote. “Potential investors and entrepreneurs may be deterred from opening new businesses in the area, as the presence of a school would limit the types of establishments that can operate on Main Street.”

Epic Charter Schools Spokesman said the proposed site would serve hundreds of families in the Ardmore area and the school is looking forward to meeting with the public.

“More than 600 Epic families live within 30 minutes of our proposed Micro Site in downtown Ardmore,” Epic Executive Director of Communications Rob Crissinger said. “We are excited to meet with city leaders and local residents to show our commitment to joining Ardmore’s growing downtown community as a supportive and enthusiastic partner in its long-term success.”