Traffic and Safety Concerns Center Stage as Town Council Weighs Private School Plan for Historic Building

At the Monday, June 2 work session of the Front Royal Town Council, members revisited several significant issues, including hiring decisions, budget considerations, and a special use permit (SUP) for a farmers market. But it was the third time discussion by Divinum Auxilium Academy for a proposed private boys’ school at 16 North Royal Avenue—formerly the Town Hall building—drew the most scrutiny, with traffic and parking concerns dominating the conversation.

The Town Council sits in readiness for their first work session of the month on the evening of Monday, June 2. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh.

The building’s location places it in the heart of downtown, near major community landmarks like St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church and Maddox Funeral Home. As Town Manager Joe Petty put it, this setting raises immediate red flags: “They did meet the code,” he said, referencing the school’s lease agreement for off-site parking with the church, but added that they were trying to determine what the preferred option is.

Town Manager Joe Petty explained that his team, in coordination with Public Works, had evaluated safety concerns along Union Street—the narrow roadway behind the building expected to serve as the primary drop-off and pick-up point for students. He noted the challenges of implementing features like a raised crosswalk, citing obstacles such as limited road width, nearby telephone poles, and multiple adjacent parking lots.

According to a traffic study conducted by the Front Royal Police Department, Union Street experiences peak activity from 7 to 9 a.m. and again from 4 to 6 p.m. Officers also noted that drivers frequently exceed the 15-mph speed limit. Petty reported that “some vehicles were going 5 miles over,” and this, combined with children potentially walking to school, made the area a concern for all parties.

Planning Director Lauren Kopishke outlines potential enrollment limits for the proposed private school at 16 North Royal Avenue during the June 2 Town Council work session.

Planning Director Lauren Kopishke assisted in presenting the application’s context and possible conditions. “Right now, they have twenty-five students,” she told the council. “If you are going to do a condition, maybe cap it at thirty-five, maybe forty. Give them room to grow. And then that would force them—if they want to go beyond that—to come back and amend it. So that would give us a chance to re-evaluate: is this working, is it not?”

The possibility of implementing a drive-through drop-off in the small lot behind the building was quickly dismissed due to logistical challenges.

Finance Director B.J. Wilson and Purchasing Manager Michelle Campbell (below) presented new business items to the Front Royal Town Council during the June 2 work session.

Earlier in the meeting, the council had discussed several unrelated but notable items that further highlighted infrastructure and policy concerns in town. The council addressed the ongoing need for in-house engineering staff, noting that the town continues to rely on contracted services. The council also discussed upcoming refinements to solid waste operations. One other SUP item—an application to allow a farmers market as an accessory use to an established antique store—was also introduced, along with a separate request that could set a precedent in how the town reimburses application fees.

Still, the focal point remained the lingering concerns over how a school could impact daily traffic and pedestrian safety.

Council members expressed interest in working with the applicant to find a solution, but no final decision was reached. With ongoing coordination between town departments, the applicant, and nearby stakeholders, further updates are expected as the proposal continues to evolve.

Click here to watch the May 2, 2025, Front Royal Town Council Work Session.