{"id":1920,"date":"2026-05-29T05:04:51","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T05:04:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tampamovingjournal.com\/?p=1920"},"modified":"2026-05-29T05:04:51","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T05:04:51","slug":"palm-harbor-k-8-charter-school-proposal-raises-traffic-environmental-concerns-among-nearby-residents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tampamovingjournal.com\/?p=1920","title":{"rendered":"Palm Harbor K-8 charter school proposal raises traffic, environmental concerns among nearby residents"},"content":{"rendered":"

PALM HARBOR, Fla.<\/strong> – <\/span>You may have seen a “pending” sign on the corner of Alderman and Belcher roads in Palm Harbor. The property may soon be home to a new K-8 public charter school.<\/p>

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Every morning, Mike Malley and his wife, Tina, enjoy a cup of coffee on their front porch at their home.<\/p>

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“We do farming out here. We’ve raised our kids out here. We’ve let our dogs enjoy the environment, as you can see behind us; the environment is what’s beautiful out here,” said Malley.<\/p>

But Malley says his front yard view may disappear if the proposed school is built. It would be located right next to Sutherland Elementary.<\/p>

Discovery Academy of Science \u2014 recognized as a school of excellence by the state \u2014 is currently under contract for the property.<\/p>

Demand growing for more charter school options<\/h2>

The backstory:<\/p>

According to the academy, there continues to be a strong demand for additional high-quality public school options in Pinellas County.<\/p>

Discovery Academy of Science previously operated in Dunedin for many years before relocating its primary campus to Clearwater. The school continues to maintain significant waitlists, with 1,054 applicants for the upcoming school year as of May 28, 2026.<\/p>

In a statement, a spokesperson for the academy told FOX 13 in part: “The goal of the proposed campus is to expand access to the school\u2019s STEM-focused K\u20138 program to more families. And the property is being evaluated because of its location relative to families currently served by the school.”<\/p>

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Traffic and development concerns<\/h2>

“Traffic has already been crazy with backups in and out on Belcher Road,” said Malley. “With a proposed charter school, it’s going to double or triple with what we’re hearing.”<\/p>

In response, a spokesperson for the academy says they understand traffic is likely a primary concern for residents, so a professional traffic study is currently underway and will be reviewed through the county process.<\/p>

Proposed site and building plans<\/strong><\/h2>

The current concept under evaluation includes:<\/p>