6. "Baltay suggested that by failing to reach a consensus, the board is "doing the applicant a disservice by not providing the applicant with a solution. They knew they were moving into an area near a school when they moved in. Otherwise, they would have to build a smaller structure and pay hundreds of thousands to redesign it to comply with the codes. The school has made compromises many of them and it begins to feel like (it) will never be enough.". The primary duties include: Leads and strengthens a Middle School athletics program that advances the mission of the school. A minus. This is AMAZING. "With public testimony stretching until nearly midnight, the planning commission deferred its own discussion of Castilleja's plans until Dec. 15. "Castilleja, for its part, has consistently rejected the notion that it is looking to "expand." But as two recent public hearings on the Castilleja project showed, these moves have done little to make Castilleja's project less polarizing. Perhaps because the opposing group is such a small but very vocal minority? In previous meetings, PNQL members have stated that they're fine with the enrollment increase as long as the garage isn't built. With the support News I doubt these families are rushing to downsize into cheaper homes on much smaller lots and give up their staff, cars and other amenities so their daughters can bike to school. If the project is approved, DuBois said it would be one of the densest private school expansions in the Bay Area. Please, I implore readers to understand the facts, and give Castilleja the chance to educate more young women AND abide by the strict limits spelled out in the proposed new CUP. 5. 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. Why should Casti think it is entitled to continue to increase its impact in a residential neighborhood? Print Edition/Archives "I feel strongly that no modifications or adjustments are needed," Lee said.Thompson also suggested that the building, in its current iteration, "has a design intent. Castilleja School's polarizing bid to rebuild its Bryant Street campus and construct an underground garage will return to the spotlight this week, when Palo Alto's two main land-use bodies start reviewing the school's plans.The school's bid to expand its enrollment and reconstruct its facilities has been moving through the city's approval process since 2016, when Castilleja applied for a new conditional-use permit that would allow it to gradually grow its student population from its current level of 426 to 540. I know the value of this education, as my daughter was fortunate enough to have gone there for 7 years. TownSquare of students and parents agree that the teachers give engaging lessons. 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? Roy, I'm well aware that the earlier discussion about PTC decision-making wasn't specifically related to Casti but to the "Planning" department's overall performance. Just a thought! @midtownmadness: I call BS that this issue is due to Palo Alto housing problem. But, Castilleja has so many fun events and traditions. The school's "transportation management plan" includes, among other features, shuttles, carpool programs and a 2015 policy that requires staff to rely on alternative modes of transportation at least three times per week. And they sure haven't bothered to consider the impact of a possible Churchill Ave. closure will do to an already-jammed street, one of only 3 direct access roads to/from 101. "We have not compromised internally enough to give them a fair description of what they need to do," Baltay said. Spring 2020: Volume 79 Number 3. "They must take into account the impact they make in the health, welfare and quiet enjoyment of their neighbors.". Castilleja has presented many solutions, it's time to let them move forward with this project. Eloquently. Climate change. Castillejas supporters made sense, which is easy for them because the project makes sense. Alcheck asked his colleagues. 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. What most disturbs me about this process is the ever shifting goalposts. How can there be "no new traffic" when they're increasing enrollment and the number of parking spaces and building a garage?? Time to read: about 5 minutes. The school's new plans include five garage designs, though only three comply with the council's request that underground parking make up no more than 50% of the total spaces on campus. Provides auto-suggestions when entering text. Nanci Kauffman, head of Castilleja, said Monday that the school is prepared to reduce its proposed square footage in accordance with the council's direction, but said she hopes this "minor change . As has been pointed out, the plans have been reviewed by numerous City bodies (ARB, PTC, Planning Department, City Council). Castilleja was asked by City Council to suggest alternatives to the phasing of construction. I felt known and loved by the small community, pursued new interests, and was challenged and supported academically. 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. Education changes. Mobile site. Enough is enough. Exactly what I needed: Los Gatos teachers move into affordable units They do not want to grow enrollment for profit sake; they want to educate more young women leaders without negatively impacting the neighborhood. It was then that I recognized the unique potential of an all-girls learning environment to empower young womento find their voices. 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. Here's a roadmap to finding the school you want. Barring intergenerational wealth or a very high-earning spouse, I struggle to see how teachers (or most families in the bay area) could afford to live anywhere near Castilleja. He and others suggested that Castilleja's project is being unfairly held up by a small but vocal group of opponents who are continuously moving the goal posts. 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. Redwood City Pulse, 2023 Palo Alto Online And for good reasons. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! 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. It sounds like this time they have given city boards different choices, and I have to believe that this time there must be one that will finally suffice. Terms of Use "They just want to have less parking on-site so that they can have a bigger more massive building. The garage is the single biggest problem with the plan. The other two alternatives with 52 underground spaces have drawbacks that make them either less feasible or less desirable. 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. Niche users from this school are most interested in the following colleges. 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 city. Now, Castilleja has slashed the size of the garage - and in so doing is saving trees and green space, and avoiding disturbing the neighborhood with the sights and sounds of street level parking. Castilleja School is a top rated, private, all-girls school located in PALO ALTO, CA. Three of Castilleja's proposed designs include 52 underground parking spaces, while two other options have 57 and 69 underground spaces, respectively. Will his actions on this reflect that? led us to infuse our curriculum and progams with relevant, Castilleja has demonstrated that they are consistent and responsible with traffic management. The 7/23/21 Fehr & Peers Castilleja Parking Study commissioned by Castilleja School indicates a parking garage of any size is NOT NECESSARY. Sexism. Print Edition/Archives HEAD OF SCHOOL Dear Castilleja Community, This summer, I reignited my fascination with a remarkable womanEleanor Roosevelta true woman learning, woman leading. The naysayers are hopelessly dug into their negative position, but in my opinion really don't have a leg to stand on. With public testimony stretching until nearly midnight, the planning commission deferred its own discussion of Castilleja's plans until Dec. 15. Sports Why can't the students park in the Baylands and shuttle in just like their teachers rather than inflicting all the construction disruption and what will be ongoing traffic problems on Palo Alto? 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. [9] In its early years, some boys were allowed to take classes at Castilleja. He graduated from the University of North Texas with a degree in print/digital reporting and a minor in political science and German. 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. People that viewed Castilleja School also viewed these schools: The nearest high school to Castilleja School is, Fun athletic energetic school with good teachers. 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