The Campbell Planning Commission voted unanimously on Nov. 22 to allow the construction of a new playground for the school on a vacant lot at the corner of Victor and W. Campbell avenues.

The Campbell Church of Christ owns the lot and its adjacent school. Campbell Christian School, 1075 W. Campbell Ave., enrolls children from preschool through fifth grade and has daycare facilities on site. Its enrollment is approximately 446 students.

The commissioners expressed concern that the playground might be too close to the busy traffic along W. Campbell Avenue. Commissioners, however, were assured that a 6-foot-high wrought iron fence would be constructed around the perimeter of the playground to keep the children safe. The enclosure will be 25 feet from the busy road. The proposed .22-acre design also includes a new 5-foot-high wrought iron fence between the playground structures to create three divided playground areas.

Though a conditional use permit is required for the school to build the playground on land designated as a residential zone, the planning staff told the commissioners that there is nothing unusual about the approval of a playground permit in an area zoned as a residential.

Commissioner Liz Gibbons also wanted clarification that the permit applied to the life of the property and not the owners. Staff concurred this was the case.

The commissioners also asked about the homes next to the project and were told that the church owns the two single-family homes that sit adjacent to the construction site.

No residents voiced any concerns at the hearing about the proposed play area expansion. Campbell Christian School Principal Shawn Stuart said he has also not received any complaints from neighbors.

The only minor complication in the project was choosing the colors for the playground--the top portions of the play structures were initially designed with a purple theme, but the city asked the school to change the color to green. The school agreed.

The students and parents have been fundraising for the past two years, Stuart said. The project is estimated to cost $100,000. To date the school has raised about $65,000.

"It's hard work to fundraise, and it's nice to see the project come to fruition," Stuart said.