Ripon Christian Schools received the go-ahead to accommodate future growth.

For starters, the Ripon Planning Commission recently approved the major site plan permit – the application is contingent on the City Council signing off on the General Plan Land Use amendment along with the rezone of the property – on the RC Greenhouse and Campus Maintenance Facility project.

“This is phase one of a multi-phase project that we are looking to implement over the next few years,” said RC Superintendent Eric Segaar at the May 15 meeting.

According to Planning Director Ken Zuidervaart, the project consists of the removal of the existing bus parking shed along with associated shop building adjacent to the industrial arts / agriculture building, and constructing a new 30-by-36-foot greenhouse for the ag department and a 40-by-100-foot metal shop building with a 12-by-12-foot office for a campus maintenance facility.

The one property on Maple Avenue is a recently demolished single-family home that would require rezoning.

“The land use designation is High-Low Density Residential, and the zoning designation is R1UC [Single Family Residential Urban Core],” Zuidervaart said.

The project requires a change of the General Plan Land Use designations to S-HS (High School) and PS (Public-Semipublic) zoning designations.

Approval on the Lot Merger application is also required.

The other RC property in the plan for future development is at 552 N. Wilma Ave. The land use designation is Low Density Residential and the zoning designation is Single Family Residential  

RC is a preschool through 12th grade school that provides a faith-based education. Academically, more than 95 percent of the graduates will go on to higher education.

The private school also provides busing throughout the area.

Not too long ago, RC received approval from the Planning Commission for an off-campus bus storage and maintenance facility on the other side of Highway 99 – specifically, 775 Frontage Rd.

“The maintenance staff is excited to consolidated all equipment to one location rather than all over campus,” said Segaar, pointing out that the bus barn moving to the Frontage Road will reduce traffic along Maple Avenue.

He added: “This project will clean up the area and provide the needed resources for students and the agricultural department.

The RC ag program began about six years ago and currently consists of 130 students.

“A lot of students are involved in plant science-based projects,” Segaar said. “A greenhouse would allow them to grow these projects year-round and also host plant science courses for students.”