In an effort to keep members aware of external topics of potential interest, below is a short summary of a large project that is to be built on four parcels of land off of Quail Gardens Drive between Sunshine Gardens and the Jehovah’s Witnesses Church.

The Sanderling Waldorf School purchased this property and then applied for a Major Use permit to have the original Residential zoning (R3) changed into school use for a proposed private K8 school complex to be built for 270 students and 30 staff members.

On April 16th a proposal was approved by the City of Encinitas Planning Commission to allow this private school to build an eight building K-8 school campus encompassing 31,150 square feet of space on four lots east of Quail Gardens Drive along Mays Hollow Lane.

The project is proposed to be built in two phases: the first with eight modular buildings and the second phase, which is subject to the school’s fundraising efforts, the replacement of the modular buildings with permanent structures.

A group of neighbors and the nearby congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses opposed the project based on concerns about traffic and pedestrian safety. However, the Planning Commission said that the staff report and traffic study addressed their concerns.

The commission added several conditions, including one that would require the school district to return for approval if it takes longer than 10 years to commence the second phase, and for the city to study creating a 25 miles per hour speed zone along Quail Gardens to stretch from Encinitas Boulevard to the Encinitas Union School District farm lab property to the north.

The next step is for the project to go before the City Council On June 10th for a final vote.

If homeowners are interested in this matter they may wish to attend the June 10th council meeting to vote their opinions.