Episcopal High School seeks Bellaire City Council approval for campus expansion

Officials with Episcopal High School in Bellaire want to expand the campus footprint by adding two new buildings and a new chapel.

What we know

The Bellaire City Council hosted a public hearing Oct. 21 regarding the high school's proposed changes. According to the agenda packet, those changes include:

• Demolishing the existing 13,063-square-foot chapel and replacing it with a new two-story, 25,200-square-foot chapel with a steel structure, brick facade and metal sloped roof
• Adding two buildings adjacent to the athletic fields on Bissonnet Street for restrooms, concessions, batting cages and a security guard shack
• Installing new lighting in the athletic fields and artificial turf
• Connecting an existing private driveway to the Loop 610 access road as a new entrance and exit to the campus

Episcopal High School currently serves 810 students. According to the agenda, the modifications and expansion will not increase the number of students attending the high school or alter traffic patterns.

Quote of note

Ned Smith, the head of school at Episcopal High School, said the new chapel will allow the campus to encompass all students and staff within one building, which currently sees close to 1,000 people a day and some overflow.

"Our goal with the new building is to accommodate not only our regular school day population, but special guests, particularly parents and alums," he said. "It is our great hope to improve the quality of that worship experience every day to better engage the 14-18 year olds in our charge."

Stay tuned

The Planning and Zoning Commission hosted a public hearing on the same item Aug. 8 and Sept. 12. Commissioners recommend the council approves the high school's request to amend the Specific Use Permit and allow the expansion.

City Council will vote on the amendment Nov. 4. Residents have until noon on Oct. 31 to submit written comments on the item.