Our Culver
City Council demonstrated that kind of success on Monday,
September 10, when they approved two measures before them that granted two
non-profit private schools the opportunity to serve the needs of more students
and thereby contribute to enhancing not only Culver City but our human
community.
For the past
three months, these proposals had fallen victim to the presence of a strong
anti-nonprofit motive on the Planning Commission. In contrast, all five Council members voted yes on both a Zoning Code amendment that enables The Willows Community School to implement their 20-year Master Plan for increasing their student enrollment by 150 and to overturn the Planning Commission’s denial for The Help Group to increase their student enrollment by 200.
Council
members seemed eager to get their names in the public record as supporting
these non-profit educational endeavors. Meghan Sahli-Wells moved to support the
Willows proposal, with a second from Jeff Cooper. Michea`l O’Leary moved to
uphold The Help Group appeal, with a second from Jim Clark.
“I am happy
to support The Willows project,” said Sahli-Wells. “I had the great pleasure of
touring the facility and appreciate Willows opportunity cost contribution,
their lending their gym to our police and fire department, and their help with
La Ballona Creek cleanup.”
Councilman
Jim Clark also mentioned that he had twice toured the Willows School and met
with officials. “I want the public to know the thoroughness involved in this,”
said Clark. “I appreciate and support the project.”
The word
“appreciate” was sprinkled throughout Council member’s comments—appreciation
for both Willows and The Help Group’s substantial voluntary financial
contributions to offset opportunity costs for the City, appreciation for the
thoroughness of each school’s project proposal, appreciation for the work of
the Planning Commission and the process that has resulted in a good tool.
In contrast
to the pettiness and obstructionist tactics employed by certain Planning
Commission members ( and by certain members of our US Congress), all five of our
Culver City Council members displayed civility and cooperation. Referring to
The Willows School as “a good corporate neighbor,” Mayor Andrew Weissman added
that adoption of their Master Plan proposal is “a tremendous result, not just
for Willows School, but for Culver City.”
Both Lisa
Rosenstein, Head of Willows School, and Dr. Barbara Firestone, CEO of The Help
Group, began their remarks with “Thank you” (as they had done standing before
the Planning Commission, but with a different result). “The best outcomes are
from a spirit of cooperation,” said Dr. Firestone. Our City Council members
demonstrated that they agree.
The Help
Group’s appeal to the City Council followed three public hearings in which the
Planning Commission denied their Conditional Use Permit Modification request.
“I regret that it took so long with all the back and forth negotiations,” said
Councilman Clark.
Having
toured The Help Group campus, Councilwoman Sahli-Wells said, “The Help Group
has actually improved the area. I am proud to have this school in Culver City.
They need to expand because of the epidemic of Autism, and I am proud Culver
City can help in this process.”
The Help Group’s appeal cited three
Planning Commission findings that are unsubstantiated, as evidenced in the
record including project noise analysis and traffic study and Traffic
Management Plan:
·
That the project
will result in negative impacts related to noise and traffic
·
That the
substantial increase in student enrollment is not compatible with the existing
site configuration and means of access
·
That the project
will result in noise and traffic impacts that are detrimental to the public
interest, health, safety or general welfare.
Several area
residents spoke, urging the Council to uphold the Planning Commission’s denial
of The Help Group application. Council members such as Michea`l O’Leary were
sympathetic to those frustrations, but also offered simple suggestions as to
how the Help Group could cooperate to mitigate those concerns.
Suggestions from
O’Leary and other Council members ranged from requiring signs and distribution
of literature discouraging parent parking on residential streets to
communicating to contracted taxi drivers that they are not to idle their cars
or have loud radios in those areas.
Councilman
O’Leary pointed out that according to Civic Code, school playgrounds are
exempted from noise restrictions. “I am disgusted by the idea of hiring
acoustical engineers to determine if children are playing too loud,” he said.
“The Help Group agreed to put up a wall that is not even necessary.
Councilman
Cooper directed attention to the fact that this Special Needs school is not a
typical school with student drivers, that six students per taxi cab
considerably reduces traffic generated, and there is no history of accidents.
Hugs and
high-fives abounded at City Hall on September 10th following
unanimous yes votes supporting expansion of each of these non-profit private
schools, who meet needs and call forth gifts in their unique and beautiful
students. This was a successful City Council meeting indeed.
“Success is the gathering together of all that is
beautiful.”
RALPH WALDO EMERSONCarlene Brown is an educator and a resident of Culver City.
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