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City takes issue with temporary Crater HS classrooms By Kevin Opsahl Jul 25, 2022 12:00 AM A A The city of Central Point and the school district are tussling over the placement of temporary classroom units at Crater High School. The city of Central Point and the school district are at an impasse over where to put temporary classroom units at Crater High School while a multimillion dollar renovation of the school is underway. City planner Stephanie Holtey explained to Central Point City Council recently that the district applied for a building permit to place four modular units on a vacant lawn between Third Street and the school’s performing arts center and two units in a lot off Hazel Street. Those plans exceed the threshold for site plan and architectural review, which triggers a different city approval process that includes public comment. “It is our intent to be flexible to the maximum extent possible to accommodate what they’re trying to do, because we do see it as important,” Holtey told councilors July 14. “But we also have to make sure we establish a process ... that really considers the needs, long term, of the city of Central Point.” Holtey said each modular unit is 1,800 square feet. With six units, the district is asking to use about 11,000 square feet of space — well above the 5,000-square-foot threshold. And that doesn’t count three more modular units the district might want, depending on how the renovation goes, she added. But square footage isn’t the only issue with the district’s plan for the modulars, Holtey told councilors. Placing many of the units on a lawn would require infrastructure work. After the meeting, Hotley said a letter would be sent to the district outlining the standards that must be met to place the units on school property. “What we want to do is ... make it as easy for them as possible,” she said. “I would expect to hear from them fairly quickly because I know this is an important project for them.” “We will work with the city, just like we have in the past, as far as doing whatever they require us to do as we’re placing those modular classrooms,” said Central Point School District Superintendent Walt Davenport. He noted the district is keen on using the lawn because it would not take away spaces from a new parking lot, which is one spot Holtey suggested as an alternative site. “We use that parking lot on a day-to-day basis, so diminishing parking on our campus would have an impact, also,” Davenport said. “We don’t want to do that if we don’t have to.” The city has also brought up other concerns. One is that the city was caught by surprise when it found out the district was already doing work on the lawn. “It’s unfortunate that this happened already before we had the opportunity to come to a conclusion as to what the best path forward would be,” Holtey told councilors. Davenport said much of that work was done because the district is working on “a very, very tight timeline” to beat the start of the school year. “Getting ahead of that construction piece is important for us to do,” he said. “We most certainly would never proceed any further without proper permitting and making sure all the requirements are being met.” Reach reporter Kevin Opsahl at 541-776-4476 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @KevJourno.