Richardson commission OKs Apollo Junior High middle school expansion

The proposed development includes a full renovation and expansion of the main classroom area on the north side, renovation and expansion of the southern portion of the building, addition of a storm shelter and construction of a new main entrance on the east side. Parking currently north of the building will be removed, and new parking will be added on the east side.

The new southern wing will include new and expanded gymnasiums, a media center, a cafetorium, and Career and Technical Education space. The total building area will increase from almost 127,000 square feet to 206,220 square feet.

Nelson also presented plans to add a new running track, track-and-field practice facilities, and a grass practice field.

Zooming in

Based on a traffic management plan prepared for Apollo, the current circulation during drop-off and pickup creates significant obstruction to traffic on nearby roads. The renovation includes a new traffic plan for drop-off and pickup around the relocated main entrance, with the goal of keeping cars on-site rather than extending queues into nearby public streets

“We’re trying to address that peak morning time and that peak afternoon time to try to minimize any impacts on the neighborhood,” said Tina Firgens, Richardson’s director of development services.

To manage traffic off of school property, RISD officials proposed extending a left-turn lane and closing a median opening on Apollo Road, restriping a lane on Amherst Avenue to accommodate left and right turns to Apollo Road, and installing signage to restrict parking on Amherst during morning drop-off.

What they’re saying

Several residents on Amherst expressed concern about the additional traffic caused by the relocated entrance and the new circulation plan.

Chris Blackburn, who lives on Amherst, also stated his opposition to the morning parking restrictions in front of his house.

“I didn’t buy a home there to jockey cars for the school,” Blackburn said.

Several commission members also expressed uncertainty about the new circulation plan and questioned whether it was the most effective option to manage school traffic.

“This was the best proposal to maximize on-site queuing, since that was one of the primary targets,” said James Watson, RISD’s senior executive director of operations.

Once the school reaches maximum enrollment, RISD plans to re-evaluate the Traffic Management Plan and explore additional traffic mitigation options if needed.

The commission voted to recommend approval of the rezoning with modifications to allow both left and right turns out of the school on Amherst Avenue and to eliminate the morning parking restriction on the street.

“Overall, what you’ve done with the design, I like a lot,” Chair Bryan Marsh said. “All of these are excellent upgrades for the school that I think will make a huge difference for the learning environment of the students.”

The details

The proposed renovations on Apollo don’t fully comply with its existing zoning standards, so the district requested this rezoning to allow for modified development standards. The modified standards include:

• Higher maximum building height
• No height restrictions on buildings that are allowed within 150 feet of residential areas
• Vinyl-coated chain-link fence allowed to secure track-and-field area
• Fencing for athletic facilities allowed to exceed 8 feet in height
• Chain-link fence and shrubbery allowed to screen mechanical equipment areas
• Up to 10 temporary buildings allowed on site for use during construction

After the commission’s unanimous recommendation of approval, the rezoning will be considered by City Council. Construction on Apollo Junior High is anticipated to begin in June 2026, with completion for all middle schools planned for fall 2028.