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07.17.2023 Item 1 - Public CommentJuly 12,2023 Anaheim Planning Commission City of Anaheim ℅Thomas Gorham 200 South Anaheim Blvd,7th Floor Anaheim,CA 92805 Re:Development Application No.2021-00218 Dear Chair Kring and Planning Commissioners, We appreciate the opportunity to present Scholarship Prep to the community –a new public charter school that will provide an additional education option for families in Anaheim.We reviewed the recent correspondence submitted to the City on behalf of the Anaheim Elementary School District (AESD)by Superintendent Christopher Downing.We understand that the city’s entitlement process and the public hearing should be based on planning and land use issues,however,we feel the need to address many of the content points raised by the Superintendent about our school that are misleading and factually inaccurate. Charter School Authorization Under California State law,as a countywide charter school approved by the Orange County Board of Education (OCBE),Scholarship Prep is authorized and receives oversight from the OCBE.Our legal obligation to the local school district is to notify them of our intention to locate a school within their jurisdiction, pursuant to Education Code Section 47605.6(a)(1)(A)-(B)and provide them at least 30 days’notification of where we plan to operate a facility.To this point,Scholarship Prep sent a written notice to Superintendent Downing on May 25,2021 and again on February 15,2023.Additionally,we requested an in-person meeting with the Superintendent,which was held at his office on March 9,2023.At this meeting we expressed our desire to work with the District in a spirit of collaboration and camaraderie. Community The Superintendent’s letter claims we have no local support.However,in the three community meetings hosted by the school,and as further proven by the numerous support letters from local residents and community organizations within Anaheim,we received positive feedback from affected stakeholders and families who want the school to be successful.It is our goal to be a resource to the students and families of Anaheim,and we take this responsibility very seriously.Despite AESD’s current stance,we stand ready to be partners in the city and create the best and most sought after school system in Orange County. We would also like to clarify and address the fiscal concern raised in the Superintendent’s letter.It is important to note,the public funds from the state to pay for a student’s education follows the student and does not belong to any one specific school district.Any reduction in funds that a district experiences from a student not attending their school is directly in alignment with the associated reduction in costs to educate that student. Local Scholarship Board Member Criticism Reach higher.Dream bigger. 770 The City Drive South,Orange,CA 92706 The Superintendent’s letter falsely stated that Scholarship Prep does not have a vested interest in Anaheim. As the Founder and Executive Director,I was a long term resident of the city and lived just 1 mile from the proposed school site.Our school has a countywide charter,and as such,our board is from cities across the county.Each of them are committed to the communities where we serve.In fact,one of our board members, who works for a large non-profit organization,currently has several projects within the city of Anaheim. Though we have no legal obligation to have board member representation from a specific city,we are always eager to expand our leadership team and are open to having another Anaheim representative join our Board. The Site’s Historical Context In Relation to the Current Project The site is in the City’s Transitional (T)zone,a special purpose zone that allows assembly and educational uses.The site has actively been used for over 50 years under two CUPs –a 1967 CUP that authorizes a 215-person assembly use and a 33-student educational use;and a 1970 CUP that authorizes a 420-person assembly use.Combined,the site currently has City authorizations for assembly uses for 615-persons and educational uses for 33 students.Currently the site has (2)one-story buildings,(1)one-story building with a basement and (1)two-story building,and operates on weekends and weekdays with various assembly and educational activities. While the requested CUP is for a public charter TK-8 school,it would be limited to 480 students at maximum enrollment,40 full/part-time staff and would operate on weekdays only during typical school hours,with exception for six special events annually.Nearby residents will no longer experience intense weekend activity on the site.Scholarship Prep will utilize all existing buildings with the exception of replacing a small one-story building with a two-story building on the eastern portion of the site.This allows the bulk of our classrooms (16 of 19 classrooms)to be oriented as far away from the westerly residences as possible.All existing buildings near the westerly residences would be remodeled only. Superintendent Downing’s letter describes two CUP applications that were denied by the Planning Commission in 1976 and 1982.While it is true that the Planning Commission denied these requests over 40 years ago,it is important to note the following for context: ●The 1976 CUP request was in addition to the already authorized assembly and educational uses.The request would have added +140 students to the site without removing any uses.The site would have continued to operate assembly and education uses on weekends and weekdays. ●The 1982 CUP request was also in addition to the already authorized assembly and educational uses. The request would have added a high school (grades 1-12)and increased the number of students to 300 without removing any uses.The site would have continued to operate assembly and education uses on weekends and weekdays.In addition,the 1982 request petitioned the City waive its minimum parking requirements as part of the CUP approval. By comparison to the requested Scholarship Prep CUP,we would not maintain a 615-person assembly use in addition to an educational use.We would be a public charter school exclusively for grades TK-8 and would not include a high school component.We would have a maximum enrollment of 480 students ramped up over a five-year period with up to 40 full/part-time staff.We would operate on weekdays only during typical school Reach higher.Dream bigger. 770 The City Drive South,Orange,CA 92706 hours and would not operate on weekends.We meet all City zoning requirements,provide the required 15-foot buffer from the westerly residential properties,do not exceed the City’s 60 decibel limit in residential areas and are able to provide more onsite parking than required by the current Anaheim Municipal Code (41 required,59 provided). Due to the site’s orientation,we are able to safely queue at least 31 vehicles at a time onsite during drop-off and pick-up.By staggering outdoor activities and lunch,we would be able to limit the number of students outdoors at one time to an average of 114 at maximum capacity.We’ve conducted extensive traffic and noise studies and were proactive in engaging the community for over a year while City staff processed the application.This included three onsite town hall meetings hosted by Scholarship Prep with two on weekday evenings and one on a weekend afternoon.We also mailed flyers to residents within a 500 ft radius (same as is required for the City’s CUP noticing),walked the neighborhood multiple times delivering flyers,and had direct one-on-one communication with neighbors in opposition and neighbors in support.As much as possible, Scholarship Prep has established a presence in the community and will continue to work hard to ensure that Anaheim families have choices for their children’s education. As it’s been over 40 years since the last CUP denial,circumstances have changed that warrant additional consideration by the Planning Commission.Of note,the site’s zoning has changed from RS-A-43,000 (Residential-Agriculture)to the City’s special purpose Transition (T)zone and the City is currently in its 6th Housing Cycle with additional units and educational needs on the horizon.Scholarship Prep’s requested CUP is consistent with General Plan Land Use Policy LU-31 that facilitates the future development of schools in all land use designations through established procedures in the Zone code. I hope this helps to clarify the facts associated with our school,and with this site.We look forward to being a part of the Anaheim community and a good neighbor to those around us. Respectfully, Jason Watts Executive Director jwatts@scholarshipschools.org (951)703-5032 CC:Mayor and City Council Reach higher.Dream bigger. 770 The City Drive South,Orange,CA 92706 From:Joseph Smith To:Scott Koehm; Thomas Gorham Cc:Heather Flores Subject:[EXTERNAL] Support Letters for Item 1 - July 17 PC Hearing Date:Thursday, July 13, 2023 4:55:29 PM Attachments:Support Letter from Anaheim Saddleback Church (DEV 2021-00218) Scholarship Prep.pdf Support Letter from PHA (DEV 2021-00218) Scholarship Prep.pdf Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message. Scott & Thomas, Would you please circulate the attached support letters to the Planning Commission for Item 1 - Scholarship Prep? Please confirm, thanks! Joseph Joseph D. Smith, AICP | Principal California Coastal Works (619) 943-1337 | jsmith@californiacw.com www.californiacoastalworks.com June 1, 2023 Anaheim City Council RE: Scholarship Prep Dear Mayor Aitken and Council Members, I am honored to provide this letter of support for Scholarship Prep and I strongly recommend they be approved to operate their award-winning public charter school in the city of Anaheim. Scholarship Prep has a reputation for serving students and their families in a way that promotes community resilience through a trauma-informed lens. This educational institution never fails to go above and beyond in upholding the highest of standards in the way they serve these families and their local community. The mission and vision (see below) of Scholarship Prep align seamlessly with Anaheim’s motto of being a “City of Kindness” and “promoting community resiliency”: “[Scholarship Prep] is committed to creating community change by operating university-inspired, trauma-informed public schools for all students, especially those experiencing homelessness or those in the foster care system. …. We will create school communities where scholarship is standard, equity is essential, and partnerships are power.” Scholarship Prep focuses on providing an environment that is university inspired in a way that helps lead students through a collegiate pathway aimed towards success. This institution also places a high commitment to closing the achievement gap for their students by utilizing a project-based instructional program. Scholarship Prep increases their drive for success by the emphasis they place on academics, arts and athletics, creating a well-rounded and rigorous educational environment. Scholarship Prep has proven that the educational standards they implement have increased student achievement since their founding in 2016. They have expanded this level of education throughout Orange County and the students of Anaheim deserve the same opportunity at success. Under their “no excuses” leadership philosophy, Scholarship Prep’s Santa Ana location soared to become the #1 ranked public school in California on student academic growth in Mathematics as measured by 2018 results of the California Assessment of Student Performance & Progress (CAASPP), outpacing all 10,634 California K-12 public schools in the Golden State in Mathematics growth. Additionally, Scholarship Prep ranked in the top 1% of top performers in student academic growth in English Language Arts/Literacy- -ranking #45 out of the 10,634 schools monitored. What is particularly remarkable is that Scholarship Prep accomplished this in only its second year of operation as a new, independent public charter school. This is the same award-winning program that Scholarship Prep’s leadership team seeks to create in the great city of Anaheim. I strongly support Scholarship Prep’s desire to open a high-quality public charter school in the city of Anaheim for its deserving students and families. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about my support for their application. Sincerely, Pastor Max McGhee Initiative for Vulnerable Children Saddleback Church Anaheim City Council RE: Scholarship Prep Serve the People Comm1.mivtH~altf1.Cei1tei' 1206 E.17th St. Suite 101 Santa Ana, CA 92701 I I Office: (714)352-2911 Phone·: (714)352-2903 I 05./1_0/2023 Dear Mayor Alfk~n and Council Members,. Serve the People Community Health center is pleased to provide this letter of support for Scbolarship Prep and recommends they be approved to operate tbe.ir award-winning public chart~r school in the city of Anaheim. · Scholarship Prep has a passion for going 1:1bqve and beyond to' ,serve students and families throughoutOrange County, ini::luding those residing in Anah·eim. lnfact;,their mission and vision (see below) ,align perfectly with Anaheim's motto of being a "City of Kindness~ and "promoting community resiliency'': · u[Seholars,hip· Prflp] is committed to cr~ating co_mmunity change by op~ratirig uniVetsity- /nspit:Eld, trauina-informedpublic schools for-all students, especially those experiencing homelessness or those in the foster care system. · .. ,; We will preate $Choo( communities where scholarship is stanr:Jar(}; equity is essential, and partnerships are power." · · Scholarship Prep· offers a university-inspir~d $nvironment, emphasizing collegiate pathways of success with a commitment to closing the achievement gap for all sh,1dents. Its; instructional program utilizes project-based learning and an emphasis .on academics., c3rts,. and athletics, .enabling the school 'to educate ~the whole child" in a rigorous ac_ademic environment. · ---. -. I . . . . $inc~ .t.h.eir' inception in 201_ 6., Scholarship ~rep has· a pr9ven track record of_ increasing stu<;1e_nt achievement by .strengthening and expanping access to .high .quality, pub.lie charter school education for $tudents throughout Orange i County and can do the same for .students in the Anaheim. i Undertheir •ino excuses'' :leadership philosophy; "8cholarship Pr~p•~ $@.ntaAria localion sQ?fe_d ~a becomEflh~ #1 raqked pubiic_school _in California OO'Stude.ht academic growth In Mathematics as meas_ured by 201 a results of the California Assessment of Student Performance & Progress (CAASPP), outpacir,g all 10,634 California 1(.:12 public schools iii the Golden State in Mathematics growth. Additionally, Scholarship Prep rankecJ ih tl'le top 1 % oftop performers in ,student academic' -growth in English Langqage Atts/Litetacy-ranking : #-4,5 Qu~ pf the 10,634 scnpols_ monitored. What is particolarly remarkable is thc:1t Scholarsh1p Prep. accompllshed this in only its secon_d year of operation as a. n~w, .independent puolic c_hart~r ~chool. This is-tt,e-same award,..winning program that Scholarship Prep's-leadership te_am seeks to create in the great city of Anaheim,. . . . Serve the People ~ttongly suppoitSctio.larship. Prep's desire to. ppen a high;.quality' public charter school in the city of Anaheim for its deseiving students and families: Please do not hesitate to contact $am Hahn at 949.~38.9340 or sam@seivethepeoplechc.org if you have any questions about SERVE THE PEOPLE COMMUNITY HEAL TH CENTER'S support. \' /.". Emmanuel P.arakati, MBA Chief Executive Officer Serve the People Community Health Center Sam Hahn Vision Services Manager · Seive the People Community Health Center From:manik Wavita To:Planning Commission Cc:stephenjfaessel@gmail. Subject:[EXTERNAL] CUP for 2021-00218 for the CharterSchool Porject at 2780 E Wagner Date:Wednesday, July 12, 2023 9:39:47 AM Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message. To Planning Commissioners I am writing to let you know that my Family is against establishing a charter school right next to my house. We have been living in this peaceful neighborhood for the last 13 years. There are plenty of elementary as well as the Katella high School in our neighborhood. The traffic on school days at Wagner and Sunkist unbearable to say the least and has forced us to navigate using alternative routes. The Charter school plan tells us there will be additional 600 vehicles roaming around in our neighborhood if this selfish plan is given the go ahead. So NO. To Mr. Faessel, we admire the work that you have done to uplift our neighborhood, if this plan goes through, all that work will be of no use. We also have to reconsider our support to you. Regards Manik From:David Khant To:Planning Commission Subject:[EXTERNAL] NO SCOOL AT 2780 E WAGNER ANAHEIM PLEASE Date:Wednesday, July 12, 2023 10:42:44 AM Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message. Planning Commission Please no permission for school at this time 2780 E Wagner ave Anaheim CA, 92806 Church is ok No business in name of JESUS -- Thank you, David Sr. Khant S & J Tax Corp. 1122 E Lincoln Ave. Suite#118 Orange, CA 92865 Direct: (714) 602-6565 Fax: (714) 602-6185 SJTAX123@GMAIL.COM <mailto:SJTAX123@GMAIL.COM> From:carol walker To:Planning Commission Subject:[EXTERNAL] Vote NO on the CUP for 2021-00218 for Charter School Project! Date:Friday, July 14, 2023 12:26:57 PM Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message. To the planning Commissioners: I am writing to respectfully request a NO vote on the above. This has been attempted twice before and common sense prevailed with NO votes. The reasons then and now are more than valid: Heavy traffic which will create unsafe conditions for vehicles and pedestrians, loud and disruptive noise. and 500 proposed students will be chaotic.. These reasons and more will impact our quiet neighborhood where we pay our property taxes and we VOTE! My next vote for city government will go to those running for office who show their respect and compassion for the residents here. Please vote NO! Carol Walker, resident homeowner since April, 1978 Anaheim 92806 From:JOE walker To:Planning Commission Subject:[EXTERNAL] Vote NO on the CUP fro 2021-00218 for Charter School Project! Date:Friday, July 14, 2023 1:59:56 PM Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message. To the planning commissioners: I am writing to request a NO vote on the above. This has been proposed twice before with lesser impact than the current proposal. Both times it was denied. The reasons now are even more valid: Heavy traffic creating unsafe conditions and congestion for vehicles and pedestrians, loud and disruptive noise, and 500 proposed students will in fact create chaos. For these reasons and other potential problems impacting our quiet neighborhood where we pay our property taxes and Vote! I respectfully request a NO VOTE on the proposal. My next vote for city government will go to those running for office who show their respect and compassion for the residents living in the area. Joe Walker, resident homeowner since 1978 , Anaheim 92806 From:Salam Nael To:Planning Commission Subject:[EXTERNAL] Charter school Date:Sunday, July 16, 2023 10:33:38 PM Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message. Dear Planning Commissioners: Please vote NO on the CUP for 2021-00218 for the charter School Project at 2780 E Wagner. Having this school in our quiet neighborhood will bring parking problems, heavy traffic and loud noise. Voting NO on this matter is very appreciated. Best regards, The Nael’s family Sent from Mail for Windows From:Maria Cecilia Kass To:Planning Commission Subject:[EXTERNAL] Vote No on the Cup 2021-00218 Date:Sunday, July 16, 2023 7:58:00 PM Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message. I am voting NO on the CUP for 2021-00218 for the Charter School Project at 2780 E. Wagner . I hope you consider this , that would bring a lot of problems in our quiet neighborhood; like excessive traffic, parking problems and loud noise. Thank you for your time to take my vote. Sincerely Maria Kass Sent from my iPhone From:Joann Calver To:Planning Commission Subject:[EXTERNAL] Please Vote No Date:Saturday, July 15, 2023 2:59:01 PM Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message. Planning Commissioners-Anaheim To Planning Commissioners: As a 50+year resident at , I urge you to vote NO on the CUP for 2021-00218 for the Charter School Project at 2780 E. Wagner! We are a quiet, mostly retired community and many of us have enjoyed our neighborhood for 40-50 years together! I am a former teacher aid at Anaheim School District and am always supportive of our students, teachers and schools. However, this neighborhood is not the appropriate place to open/operate this school. Please vote NO !! Thank you! JoAnn Calver Sent from my iPhone From:Barbara Hershey To:Planning Commission Subject:[EXTERNAL] DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION NO,2021-00218(SCHOLARSHIP PREP) Date:Saturday, July 15, 2023 11:22:37 AM Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message. Planning Commission, My family has lived and attended all of the nearby-public schools since the 1970’s. There are two public grade schools James Guinn (.9miles) and Benita Juarej (charter school 1.1 miles) away. Both elementary schools grades located on Sunkist St. We also have a Jr High and High school aprox. .9 miles from us also. Our neighborhood no longer has many school aged . kids. It was a great place to rase our kids years ago. James Quinn school has had to bus in children from all over the city to remain open for many years. Why would I want another school like Scholarship Press to draw the children away from supporting our local and loyal grade schools Guinn and Juarej? I do not support that un needed competition. Our 150+ homes in the connecting tract to Coves Church location, has always been a very quiet neighborhood. We are courteous to one another and help one another. But we only have one way in and out of our tract. The traffic to and from the current Cove Church location would be increased immensely. During a catastrophic situation we would be hampered from being able to leave our tract safely during earthquake, fire, etc. Even on a daily basis how could we ever again make a left hand turn out our tract onto Wagner Street. I attended the first public meeting in Spring held at the church . All speakers acted like it was already done deal, and we were only invited so we could be informed. The flier handed out about Scholarship Press states no more activities at the school after 6 PM. Who are they Trying to fool. Every school has parent /teacher confrences, open houses, faculty meetings, student performances and competitions. The traffic and noise produced will change our tract forever and decrease our home values. If you allow this school to be built and double students in 4 years as they plan our quiet housing tract will be forever bothered with traffic, noise, and outsiders in our area. If you okay this use of 1.9 acre parcel ,I think the school should have o purchase and pay for installation of a full traffic light at the head of Wagner and Marjan streets , to facilitatevour capability to enter nd lerve our tract safely. Also the school needs to provide a full time crossing guard to help children cross from Lizabeth street and tract busy Rio Vista to get to and from the school. The city and therefore the inhabitants should not be taxed or be mde to pay for these school caused safety issues, No to Scholarship School! We donot want or need it! Mrs. Barbara Hershey(Neighborhood Watch Captain) Sent from Mail for Windows From:Randy Lives To:Planning Commission; aaiken@anaheim.net Subject:[EXTERNAL] Opposition to Project DEV 2021-00218 Date:Monday, July 17, 2023 11:41:20 AM Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message. Greetings, My property at Anaheim Ca. 92806, which borders the property at 2780 E Wagner, where a Charter School wants to open with 500 participants, is not a safe location for a school. As it is now, during the days and evenings, there is no buffer between the properties. I can hear the noise of the vehicles parking in the parking lot, the voices of the parents in the lot, children playing outside, noise during services in the church and I regularly see rocks and other miscellaneous items that have been thrown into my yard. The corner where Wagner turns into Rio Vista is already dangerous, and now with the addition of 500 students and their parents dropping them off and picking them up, it will create an unhealthy atmosphere for my family creating an unbearable living condition where we will not be able to enjoy our home. I am in opposition of Project DEV 2021-00218 to allow a Charter School at 2780 E. Wagner, and hope the Planning Commission understands our concerns and votes no on this project. Regards, Randy Lives From:mtnman12954@aol. To:Planning Commission Cc:MIKE BRADLEY Subject:[EXTERNAL] No- Charter School project on Wagner Date:Monday, July 17, 2023 4:46:59 PM Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message. Dear Planning Commission, I wish to address my concerns regarding the charter school project at 2780 E Wagner and I encourage you to vote NO on this application. I am a resident in the 2800 block of My concerns include- 1- increased traffic funneling into the corner of Wagner and Rio Vista, the projects location. This is a terrible corner already. Access to the current church site is already a traffic problem for church goers that use this site to either enter or exit. Traffic coming around the corner, illegal left turns and U turns complicate the traffic congestion. This area is also a popular drag strip. Increased traffic will increase the potential for erratic behavior behind the wheel. 2- increased traffic traveling to and from the site will add further problems to the 4 way stop at South and Rio Vista. This site has been the continual scene of accidents, failure to stop, drag racing and street “takeovers”. The corner of Wagner and Sunkist is currently the site of congestion from 3 schools (Guinn, Juarez and Katella). There has been at least one fatality at this corner in the past year. 3- traffic congestion caused by existing schools. There are currently 5 schools (Guinn, Juarez, South Jr Hi, Katella HS, and Rio Vista Elementary) within one mile of the proposed site. These schools already create considerable traffic issues for residents. 4- traffic problems caused by cars picking up and dropping off students. Parking in neighboring residential streets adds additional traffic for streets not designed for the traffic increase. Parking on Rio Vista interferes with the visitors to the Anaheim Coves Traihead on the east side of Rio Vista. Parking on the west side of Rio Vista means school participants would need to cross Rio Vista, not a good idea. Parking on Wagner is not available. These are a few of the obvious concerns for this project. I can share more if interested. I hope you will consider these major issues that will create considerable inconveniences and safety problems for the current residents. This area of Anaheim is already inundated with increased parking and traffic problems due to the increase of multi family households. By allowing this project to move forward you will be purposely escalating an existing problem with no foreseeable solution. Please VOTE NO. Sincerely, Mike Bradley Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS From:Keto Synthesis To:Planning Commission Subject:[EXTERNAL] I Vote No Date:Monday, July 17, 2023 6:30:12 PM Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message. I vote no on CUP for 2021-00218 for the charter School project At 2780 e Wagner. Let know if my vote still stands.