This is Andie Reed. Time to read: about 5 minutes. Special Pubs did Castie ever comply with existing CUP and enrollment numbers? TheSixFifty.com "Time is passing. "It's often called an 'expansion,' but the footprint would be smaller.". It wasn't perfect, though. If the project is approved, DuBois said it would be one of the densest private school expansions in the Bay Area. One commissioner, Michael Alcheck, suggested at the onset of the meeting that the city's concerns about the proposed garage may be overblown. "That can be reduced so the building would be pushed back.". I'm pretty sure no neighbor that's not a parent has ever agreed with proposed enrollment increase. Bay Area. It still has bearing on the abilities and mindset of the "planners" who could appear to recommend proceeding on Casti without having a complete set of documents on which to base their decisions. From that moment on, I was determined to make excellence in single-sex education accessible to as many girls as possible. Even the Fehr & Peers report, which was commissioned by Castilleja concludes that the garage is not necessary, As in the past, the public was split between those who believe Castilleja is still asking for too much, particularly when it comes to its proposed underground garage, and those who argued that Castilleja's project is worthy of approval and that the city's process has already dragged on for too long.Bill Burch fell squarely in the latter camp. placed on academic development, Castilleja is just as committed to [11], In 2016, Castilleja announced its intentions to build an underground parking garage and upgrade and replace buildings to increase enrollment to 540 students. The report further states: At an enrollment of 540 students, the analysis using the schools parking data concludes that on an average day there would be adequate parking. National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), top 20% of private schools in California for most sports offered, private school tuition across the country, Editorial: Veenker, Lauing, Lythcott-Haims for Palo Alto City Council (2022), Castilleja School claims Palo Alto's move to reduce proposed garage is illegal (2022), On the eve of graduation, high school seniors celebrate with a car parade (2021). Redwood City Pulse, 2023 Palo Alto Online If I were a Republican I would not feel safe voicing that aspect of my identity. But just to be clear, the plans proposeto move a pool to make room for one large building that replaces 5 older buildings, which takes away 60 currently existing surface parking spaces. [17], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}372620N 1220906W / 37.4388N 122.1517W / 37.4388; -122.1517, Last edited on 30 December 2022, at 00:15, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, National Association of Independent Schools, "As Castilleja plans its expansion, city seeks firm assurances on traffic impacts", "City offers compromise in controversy over Castilleja expansion", "Exclusive Palo Alto school redevelopment plan would cause significant traffic issues, report says", "Council approves Castilleja's expansion plan after years of controversy", "Commerce Secretary Pritzker: On Diversity, Silicon Valley Can Learn From Washington", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Castilleja_School&oldid=1130397858, This page was last edited on 30 December 2022, at 00:15. "Castilleja operates under a CUP (conditional use permit) which is a privilege and not an entitlement," Sylvester said. Because Castilleja needs to provide at least 104 parking spaces to be zone complaint, this means no more than 52 can be below grade, according to staff. I am a former employee of Castilleja and an almost lifelong resident of Palo Alto, and continue to strongly support the school's plans to modernize the aging campus and offer enrollment to more high school students. It would occupy about 24,294 square feet, which is 8,186 square feet less than in the original proposal. Discover the schools, companies, and neighborhoods that are right for you. and variances that the general public wouldn't receive; Don't miss out on the discussion! Even in its revised form, an underground garage has no business being in a residential neighborhood, critics of the project maintained. [8] She was encouraged by Stanford's first president, David Starr Jordan, to start a school that would offer girls a comprehensive, college preparatory education. Get daily headlines sent straight to your inbox in our Express newsletter. Here's the new, best answer. Become a member today. Stop dragging this on, approve the project, and let the amazing accomplishments of these incredible young women continue to enhance the neighborhood and the surrounding area. After graduation, 100% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college. of students and parents agree that the teachers adequately lead and control the classroom. These including new shuttle and bus routes, a bike-share program, a "guaranteed ride home" program for employees who don't drive but who need may need to leave the school for an emergency (they would be reimbursed for the cost of transportation) and a new Castilleja Lyft program that will provide free midday rides for faculty and staff, according to the plan that the school released last month. "The other two members, Peter Baltay and Alex Lew, found themselves between the two camps, with Baltay suggesting that Castilleja should modify the buildings' cornice line and the middle portion of the building, as well add more variability to its window locations.With its split verdict, the board gave Castilleja a somewhat confusing message, which was made more so when Lew declined to articulate what exactly he wants the school to change (the middle of the building, he said, is a "little bit muddled"). Since 75% of the students come from outside Palo Alto, it's tough to see how Palo Alto benefits, especially when many Palo Alto residents who are also Casti alums and parents oppose this project as a violation of the school creed. To assuage the community's fears about the traffic impacts of its expansion, a key area of concern for council members and project opponents alike, Castilleja is now proposing several new policies to discourage driving near the campus. of our extraordinary faculty and staff, we are dedicated to Uploaded: Wed, Dec 1, 2021, 3:03 pm Castilleja, for its part, has consistently rejected the notion that it is looking to "expand." world. My LGBTQ+ sexual orientation and more gender-nonconforming presentation also were received extremely positively. As such, it is "anticipated to have fewer impacts on protected trees and construction-related disturbances," according to a new report from the Department of Planning and Community Environment. Help sustain the local news you depend on. "So this plan is quite appropriate for the sustainability and mobility not just for the school but for the city. Sports And one member of the PTC is going out of his way to help this along. Another member of the public said a garage would invite more traffic. To allow a private, tax-exempt educational institution to dramatically expand its enrollment, which largely consists of young women who live elsewhere and will likely contribute absolutely nothing to the community once they graduate. Scott Adams faces 'consequence culture' as U.S. newspapers drop Dilbert, Tom Cruise's 'ditching' of Suri showcased by Judd Apatow's 'co-parenting' joke, ex-Scientology exec says. Follow Palo Alto Online and the Palo Alto Weekly on Twitter @paloaltoweekly, Facebook and on Instagram @paloaltoonline for breaking news, local events, photos, videos and more. Castilleja has been around before any of the neighbors. With sixty girls in one grade, it would seem that competition would be prevalent, especially during the college process. Mountain View Voice Here's the new, best answer. Likely that is why Planning chose not to include the actual report only a link ARB's or PTC's packet. St. Paul's seeks applications from candidates who will promote the School's commitment to attracting and retaining a highly talented and diverse faculty. "So this plan is quite appropriate for the sustainability and mobility not just for the school but for the city.". Castilleja School Photo #4 - Freshman are introduced to "blinkie bugs" and other hands-on physics expiraments. Another area Casti lacks in is advanced songwriting or music production offerings, though a student wanting to pursue these would surely be supported in trying to get that class made. More than 100 years since its founding, Castilleja Andie Reed, one of the group's co-founders, noted that even the revised project includes elements that residents have consistently deemed to be problematic namely, an underground garage that many believe is incompatible with the neighborhood. heart." You are complaining about construction for a year or two, but what about construction for affordable housing in your neighborhood with underground parking? Director of Operations Castilleja is a private, all-girls school located in Palo Alto whose mission is to educate motivated young women to become confident thinkers and compassionate leaders with a sense of purpose to effect change in the world. "We just want to be educating girls," Kauffman said. I bet you wouldn't be able to fight that project! "I feel this plan is better than ever because of all the feedback and iteration and response. "The planning commission, which had already reviewed and approved an earlier version of this plan, is expected to dive into the details of the current one at its upcoming meeting." [15] In June of 2022, the Palo Alto City Council approved the school's permit to expand the school's enrollment, renovate its campus, and build a parking garage. Threatening the well-being of protected oaks and redwoods; "Our plan now checks all the boxes," Kauffman told the planning commission Wednesday night. Two board members, Chair Osma Thompson and Grace Lee said that the previously approved project remains perfectly acceptable. The three other members requested changes but had no consensus about what needs to be changed. Palo Altos government officials should make a decision ASAP so that a storied Palo Alto educational institution can finally start the process of bringing its campus into the 21st century. Ten years. If traffic increases, they will not be allowed to increase enrollment. "The TDM plan has been further enhanced and is expected to result in reduced parking demand.". Let me repeat their findings: Alternative 4, the Disbursed Circulation/ No Garage Alternative-would meet the Citys Municipal Code requirements providing 104 parking spaces, which is based on the number of teaching stations. The naysayers are hopelessly dug into their negative position, but in my opinion really don't have a leg to stand on. Elizabeth Hughes, a consultant who developed the transportation-demand-management plan for Castilleja, assured the commission and the public that the programs in the plan will keep traffic levels steady. Staff's preferred design combines these underground spaces with 11 new at-grade spaces and 26 existing ones for a total of 89 spaces. Sports She noted the new buildings would be set farther back from the street than existing ones and roof lines would be lower. ""We have not compromised internally enough to give them a fair description of what they need to do," Baltay said.Both the architectural board and the planning commission plan to hold further meetings on the proposal before it goes back to the council next year for another hearing. When added to 26 surface spaces that currently exist and that would remain, Scheme E creates a total of 89 spaces. "We just want to be educating girls," Kauffman said. Blah. For more information, please contact the school. This school has been claimed by the school or a school representative. Their enrollment cap since 2000 is 415 students, but they've exceeded that number since 2002. While Castilleja has been here longer than the houses and I do not think they need to relocate, I like Leland's comment about selling the land to a developer! "If they were to request a 10% enrollment increase, we'd be looking at about 450 students and there's there's sufficient parking on-site for 450. Additional Expenses: Castilleja School is a top rated, private, all-girls school located in PALO ALTO, CA. Be careful what you wish for neighbors!! As in the past, the public was split between those who believe Castilleja is still asking for too much, particularly when it comes to its proposed underground garage, and those who argued that Castilleja's project is worthy of approval and that the city's process has already dragged on for too long. A North Texas high school is mourning the loss of a beloved wrestling coach. My question is: WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF PALO ALTO? Large parking structures are not environmentally friendly. All rights reserved. Building an unnecessary underground garage that isn't needed, is a threat to the environment and sets a dangerous precedent for other neighborhoods. While its plans call for increasing student enrollment, the project would actually constitute a reduction in total building area, according to planning staff. "We think a 30% increase in enrollment excessive," Reed said in an interview. Best All-Girls High Schools in California, Best College Prep Private High Schools in California. The application deadline for Castilleja School is Jan. 9. "Additionally, such reduction responds to concerns expressed by some community members about the size of the originally proposed structure.". "Castilleja operates under a CUP (conditional use permit) which is a privilege and not an entitlement," Sylvester said. The Almanac I invite you to explore these pages, to visit our campus, and to learn more about how we are preparing the next generation of women leaders. Alcheck asked his colleagues.The revised proposal includes five garage designs, though only three of them meet the council's March direction of the underground facility to include no more than 50% of the required on-site parking, which amounts to 52 spaces. Place a Legal Notice She was a bold and opinionated . 5,490 were here. This time its in the form of a planned underground parking structure that school and city planning officials describe as a basement but a majority of Palo Alto City Council members consider a garage. Adalberto "Aldo" Toledo is a Bay Area News Group reporter who covers government on the Peninsula for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. Based on recent reviews by an independent consultant, the city determined that Castilleja has an existing gross floor area of 138,345 square feet. He is a Venezuelan-American raised in Texas with bylines in the Champaign, Ill. News-Gazette, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and The Dallas Morning News. Both the architectural board and the planning commission plan to hold further meetings on the proposal before it goes back to the council next year for another hearing. Your support is vital to us continuing to bring you city government news. "Time is passing. Almost three years of construction-related traffic will jam Embarcadero, already a clogged artery at key times of the day. Maybe Casti should pay its staff more so they can live closer? Currently Castilleja pays no property taxes on its prime real estate holdings where the school is located nor do they pay a penny for the public services they receive to this school, The school has changed the building designs, changed the garage, increased TDM measures beyond what anyone else is doing anywhere in the bay area, moved the pool, moved deliveriesand is NOT expanding. Living on Embarcadero about 3 blocks from campus. While emphasis is But, Castilleja has so many fun events and traditions. I also want to point out that there are underground garages in residential neighborhoods in Palo Alto. Mountain View Voice The projects density isnt relevant, Kauffman said, adding that whats relevant is its impact. 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