Richmond Waldorf School Slip Lane - Document 1

Richmond Waldorf School wants to purchase the area of the slip lane and the small triangle of land in front of the school located at 1301 Robin Hood Road.  This section has been closed for the past 4 years to vehicular traffic. If this closure is permanent Richmond Waldorf School is proposing to construct a parking lot to serve the school with onsite parking, landscaping , and sidewalks. In addition to providing additional school parking, the proposal would improve traffic circulation and safety during mornings and afternoons when students are being dropped off and picked up. The school shall also provide new public sidewalks along Robin Hood Rd., and Brookland Parkway. 

Information about the school's plans was presented at the General SPCA Meeting in April 2025 and the SPCA held a straw vote to support the project at that meeting.  Subsequently, in May 2025  a letter of support was written to the school which reads, in part, “Thank you for presenting the proposal to our general neighborhood meeting of April 29. You gave a thorough presentation of the school’s mission and future, highlighting how the capture of the triangle would enhance the school campus and create a safer environment for the school and traffic on the surrounding streets.The Q&A portion further discussed these issues and concluded with a near-unanimous show-of hands vote, by the neighbors,  for the  The Waldorf  School proposal team, an indication that, for those neighbors attending, there was clear approval of the notice as presented.” 

When we held our April 2026  General SPCA meeting at the school, the Executive Director  thanked us for our support for their plans. It was only then that many members of the Government Affairs and Safety Committee first heard anything of their plans.  The SPCA had not shared the presentation, the letter of support, or mentioned the plans in the year intervening the two meetings.

In May 2026, when residents learned the details of the plan through the public notice sent to adjoining landowners, concerns were raised about the process of selling the land at the same time as reviewing the parking lot proposal, pedestrian and bike safety, conflict with Richmond 300, green space, and the Olmsted design.

Ordinance NO-2026-109 will be on the City Council Consent agenda on June 22nd. This meeting will provide the community an opportunity to see the conceptual plan for this location should this ordinance pass.  It is important to know how this can impact this area of Sherwood Park. 

Now it is time to take a closer look and ensure our community understands the potential impact. If the ordinance is supported, The Waldorf School will continue to collaborate with Sherwood Park on the details of the final design, to make it complimentary to our community while still meeting their goals.   If it is not supported, The Waldorf School may abandon the significant investment of time and resources and decide what the future course should be.

Ord. No. 2026-109.pdf

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