Columbia's Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of development plans at Thursday's meeting.

Columbia volunteers like Project Director Ray Beck, said a Catholic high school is important for residents to have choices. "It's important for people to have a choice for education. We have an excellent public school system, but a lot of people have inquired about a private school," Beck said.

The high school will be on North Gans Road.

It will be 500,000 square feet, housing up to four hundred students from grades 9-12.

"They decided they wanted on the south side of the city where it was quite a bit of a growing community. It will be located on major thoroughfare that will ultimately connect from I-70 to Providence Road," Beck said.

The plan was first approved by the parishes of the Columbia Community Volunteers, and then by the diocese of Jefferson City.

And now it has gone through the Planning and Zoning Commission. The city council is next.

"And after council approves the plan we will be doing more fund raising," Beck said.

The building itself is estimated to cost $16 million.  According to Beck, $5.8 million has already been raised.