Despite strong opposition from the neighboring community, plans for a Delray Beach private Christian school will go forward.
The Palm Beach County zoning commission gave the go ahead for Divine Savior Academy to move forward with its plans to build a 41 thousand square-foot school off Lyons road in West Delray Beach.
“We’re excited about the project,” said Pastor Carlos Leyrer, president of Divine Savior Ministries. “We believe it has a great future and we look forward to moving it along as expeditiously as possible.”
While the plans made it over the first hump, the proposed elementary and preschool isn’t a done deal yet.
“We know this is going to be a long process and we’re totally involved in the process and positive toward it,” said Dr. Steven Michaels, the HOA president for the Mizner Country Club.
Mizner Country Club is locate directly across the street from the school's property.
Michaels is one of dozens of people who vow to fight the project, fearing the school and its construction will bring more traffic to an already congested Lyons road.
“The biggest problem is the proximity of our school to our entrance.”
He says, “even with a four lane expansion it's going to invite even more traffic.”
However, Leyrer says his team has been working hard to make sure traffic won’t be an issue
“We want the same thing as Mizner and the entire West Delray community, a functioning site with minimal impact, not just to Lyons road but to the community at large.”
The county commissioners will ultimately get the final say. They’ll debate the issue next week.
Divine Savior Academy says if every goes smoothly moving forward, it is looking to start construction as soon as possible.
It’s already advertising to be open next school year.