MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - At the June 10th Planning Commission meeting, the Commission voted to approve the Special Use Permit to establish a private school in an existing church at 3654 Okemos Road.

The applicant requested to amend an existing Special Use Permit to establish Cedar Classical Academy, a private kindergarten through eighth grade school in the Lansing Chinese Christian Church.

According to the Township's Code of Ordinances, schools are allowed in nonresidential districts subject to the special use permit approval.

The church will remain operating as normal.

"Generally the school will operate Monday through Friday, 8am to 3pm. Like I mentioned, they are desired not to conflict the current desire of the church, which operates primarily Sunday and some weekday evenings. Two full-time staff will be at the school and two part-time staff at 15-20 hours a week. They currently have 22 students enrolled in 2019-2020 school year, and expects to have no more than 25," said Meridian Township Principal Planner Peter Menser.

The original Special Use Permit approval in 1995 was granted for a daycare center, however Lansing Chinese Christian Church has agreed to remove the day care use from the Special Use Permit.