for a responsible and inclusive community. Among the biggest differences between Castilleja's prior plan and its current one is the size of the proposed underground garage. Sports "Castilleja operates under a CUP (conditional use permit) which is a privilege and not an entitlement," Sylvester said. Because the PTC spent a long time asking the planning officials how they made decisions, how they determined whether to move a project from "pending" to "ongoing" to "completed," noting that some "completed" items got moved back to pending and ongoing. This makes no sense in my opinion. 5. Home & Real Estate This option would be a gift to the greater neighborhood surrounding the school and to the health and safety of their students. The fact remains that the footprint will be smaller than what it is now. Neighbors and some council members have been distrustful of the school since learning in 2013 that it had been violating its 415-student enrollment cap for decades. Advertising Info Dear Abby: Why do they imply my husband is a freak? Stanford also used the same old "no new car trips, trust us" claim while dramatically growing its enrollment, the number of campuses, number of housing units, the whole Hospital / health care complex etc. "So this plan is quite appropriate for the sustainability and mobility not just for the school but for the city. It's a game of pay-to-play musical chairs, with more people constantly being added, but basically the same number of chairs then only the wealthiest players can afford a seat and everyone acts surprised that prices keep skyrocketing. It was then that I recognized the unique potential of an all-girls learning environment to empower young womento find their voices. If they reduced the footprint of the new building, there would be no need for an underground garage or other adjustments. Education | It's inevitable. "The project encountered a similar division at the Architectural Review Board hearing on Dec. 2, which focused less on transportation and more on the design of the building. That is just absurd since they will not make it to their club sport practice and games. Castilleja also has a lot of programs, or C, which are study blocks, or your elective, or grade meetings. placed on academic development, Castilleja is just as committed to 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. "I feel strongly that no modifications or adjustments are needed," Lee said. The City Council, ARB & PTC members have had YEARS to consider the schools many proposals, each of which has sought to compromise in ways that responded to neighbors concerns. The Almanac 202122 Tuition In previous meetings, PNQL members have stated that they're fine with the enrollment increase as long as the garage isn't built. As uncomfortable as it might be to tell Castilleja NO to the garage, that is the only way to move forward in a way that aligns with the Citys S-CAP goals. Our teachers prioritize experiential and project-based learning that is engaging and relevant to girls. We are proud and humbled to bring together highly-motivated, intellectually curious young women from diverse backgrounds to collaborate within our community. He was one of many residents and Castilleja supporters who told the commission on Wednesday that the review process has gone on for long enough and that it's time to approve the project, which includes reconstruction of three academic buildings, relocation of the school's swimming pool and construction of a garage. Help sustain the local news you depend on. The naysayers are hopelessly dug into their negative position, but in my opinion really don't have a leg to stand on. $3.3 million in Tuition Assistance per year to 22% of student body. 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. 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. Education | Alcheck asked his colleagues. 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. "With public testimony stretching until nearly midnight, the planning commission deferred its own discussion of Castilleja's plans until Dec. 15. Get daily headlines sent straight to your inbox in our Express newsletter. This has taken way too long to resolve, and has cost the school way too much money. But, Castilleja has so many fun events and traditions. What sports does Castilleja School offer? Place a Legal Notice Us 6th graders won the tug of war for Spirit Week, and I'm so excited for the Haunted House on Monday! I think you misunderstand my above post. Niche users from this school are most interested in the following colleges. Likely that is why Planning chose not to include the actual report only a link ARB's or PTC's packet. Castilleja School is ranked as one of the top 20% of private schools in California for most sports offered. On page 1 this report indicated 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. On Wednesday night, as Castilleja held its first hearing in front of the Planning and Transportation Commission on its new plan, the panel heard from more than 50 residents, who in some cases pooled their allotted time to make longer presentation. In response to the writer above who asks "how can there be 'no new traffic'?" A minus. Head of School. Gennady Sheyner covers the City Hall beat in Palo Alto as well as regional politics, with a special focus on housing and transportation. Because of its aggressive transportation-demand-management program, which includes shuttles, carpool programs and a requirement that staff drive no more than twice per week, Castilleja would also receive a 14% reduction in parking requirement from the cityThe 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. Let's reduce the pain to all parties, to more quickly get their renovations completed! Endorsements should be a few sentences in length. "We're committed to. Recently, 2 extremely important reports were released to the public: Fehr & Peers 7/23/21 Castilleja Parking Study commissioned by Castilleja School Will his actions on this reflect that? 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. Thompson also suggested that the building, in its current iteration, "has a design intent. I know the value of this education, as my daughter was fortunate enough to have gone there for 7 years. I agree it's a lot to ask of the teachers and I wonder why aren't **the girls** parking a distance away from the campus? "I feel this plan is better than ever because of all the feedback and iteration and response. Castilleja was named one of the Bay Area's Best Private Schools by San Jose Magazine. This process has dragged on for ten years. Sponsored content with Embarcadero and a part of Melville shutdown for months; [5], In 1910, the school moved to its present location at 1310 Bryant Street, and the first structure was the administration building, designed by architect Roy C. Heald in American Craftman style. Blah. Castilleja's pedagogical approach is shaped both by tradition Speakers forget that for most of its existence Casti was a boarding school with some local day girls, and very low impact on the neighborhood. 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. I invite you to subdivide your lot and build a low income unit. That speaks to negligence; WHY they weren't given the complete set raises ethical questions and as well as the long-standing question about staff's seemingly consistent bias in favor of the big-money projects. Please include any comments on: The Harker School vs. Castilleja School Varsity Womens' Basketball. The school has come up with options to address both. And one member of the PTC is going out of his way to help this along. Castilleja proposed a garage. 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. And what's the obligation of the parents and their hometowns? 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. He said the planners were putting their thumb on the scale in presenting the parking structure as a basement, a move he described as an insidious attempt to ram the project through. It's short-sighted, selfish, and embarrassing. Castilleja School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in California for: Highest average SAT score, Highest average ACT score, Largest student body, Most sports offered, Oldest founding date and Largest endowments. And for good reasons. 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. If Casti were to apply today to locate in a residential neighborhood it wouldnt be permitted. Surely the large contingent of supporters of Castilleja could pitch in to help them find an alternate location for a temporary campus in existing buildings or in temporary mobile classrooms (ie as now planned on their athletic field) . 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. Pac-12 media rights: Our (final) predictions for the revenue, media partners, expansion decisions and more, Denver gang member gave 14-year-old permission to open fire on woman with AR-15 after fender-bender, DA alleges, In 4 years, Lori Lightfoot went from breakout political star to divisive mayor of a Chicago beset by pandemic and crime, Florida lawmakers to consider expansion of so-called dont say gay law, Drone crashes at Disneyland after hovering over visitors heads See video, Rapper Travis Scott wanted for assaulting Manhattan club sound engineer, destroying $12K in equipment, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Lee and Thompson, however, felt that the building is fine the way it is, having already gone through years of refinements and public hearings. Don't miss out on the discussion! Redwood City Pulse, 2023 Palo Alto Online Here, however, the split occurred between the five board members, who were charged with further refining the building's faade. It has 416 students in grades 6-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 7 to 1. With public testimony stretching until nearly midnight, the planning commission deferred its own discussion of Castilleja's plans until Dec. 15. Tuition is for the highest grade offered and may have changed for the current school year. An unfortunate case of "Who's on First." Whats interesting is that when this goes to CC it will be reviewed by 5 council members who, in 2019, were part of a unanimous 7-0 vote to NOT build the promised downtown garage. Average ACT composite score out of 36, as reported by Niche users from this school. These activities, which would be relegated to the underground garage in the original proposal, would now take place in designated loading areas in the Emerson parking lot. The project encountered a similar division at the Architectural Review Board hearing on Dec. 2, which focused less on transportation and more on the design of the building. Three of Castilleja's proposed designs include 52 underground parking spaces, while two other options have 57 and 69 underground spaces, respectively.So far, planning staff is leaning toward what's known as "Scheme E," which combines a 52-space underground garage with 11 new at-grade parking spaces. Become a member today. On page 5, the report details the location of all 330 on -street parking spaces comprised of 54 school- frontage parking spaces and 276 non -frontage parking spaces. All rights reserved. Castelleja has not keep faith with this community by expanding their student body over many years in violation of the rules. I firmly support Castillejas right to update its campus. Before joining the Palo Alto Weekly/PaloAltoOnline.com in 2008, he covered breaking news and local politics for the Waterbury Republican-American, a daily newspaper in Connecticut. I suggest that anyone wishing to comment start off by remembering the feedback from the council earlier this year Web Link as noted at the time on PA Online. MOBILE, Ala. - Well it looks like Theodore football has found their guy.Steve Mask has accepted the head coaching position with the Bobcats. Castilleja School Photo #9 - The Class of 2013 is all smiles at the splish-splash party! It would occupy about 24,294 square feet, which is 8,186 square feet less than in the original proposal. Embarcadero Media file photo by Sinead Chang. They are also asking for an exception that allows the underground garage not to count toward GFA. Palo Alto backs e-bike ban on Baylands trails, Stanford sues Santa Clara County over tax exemptions for faculty residences, Hit-and-run driver kills man, crashes into five cars Sunday morning, Santa Clara County wants to put millions into child care, California homelessness: Where are the state's billions going? 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