Preschool "Start of Commercial Development in R1 Single Family Home Neighborhoods"

Correction, 12/4/17: Laila from Untitled Number One School, says that the number of children proposed for the preschool is 20, not 50. "Most importantly, our Planning Commission approval is based on that maximum number of 20. The Statement of Official Action is linked to the Agenda for this Tuesday's City Council mtg. here:"

http://santamonicacityca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1107

Sharing is caring, but not in my back yard when it comes to one neighborhood and a preschool.

2953 Delaware LLC has purchased it's namesake property in order to launch a 50 kid preschool, according to an application approved by the Santa Monica Planning Commission. The appeal to the Santa Monica City Council will be heard the evening of December 5th, 2017 at SM City Hall.

A group of neighbors has formed to oppose the application. On its website, http://www.preservegandara.org, the group notes that there are at least 46 preschools within a 2 mile radius of proposed project on 2953 Delaware in Santa Monica and at least 20 day care centers within 1 mile of the proposed project.

Typically, pre-schools charge $1500 to $2000 a month for students around 3 to 5 years old. The home's owner purchased it last year for $1.350 million. The pre-school project is expected to accommodate 50 students. Santa Monica's SMMUSD does not typically provide pre-school for local families.

"This is the start of commercial Daycare in R1 single neighborhoods" predicts a local real estate agent. "This is one of the next BIG fights for residents of single family neighborhoods."

"We're already surrounded by a barrage of traffic on all sides of our neighborhood," says the neighborhood group's website. 'This school will eliminate the one pocket that is free of traffic and cause safety concerns in the street and alleyway."

"Our neighborhood boasts an open feeling. A school requires a 6 foot fence for children's protection. However, this fence will disrupt the overall look and feel of our neighborhood."

"This is a project from a real estate developer who does not live in our neighborhood and will not ever live in the home. While their intentions may be good, they will negatively impact our small residential neighborhood by placing a commercial business into a single family home on an R1 zoned street. They chose this location because of the wonderful residential atmosphere, but their very presence will disrupt what makes our neighborhood so precious to us. In fact, their business, which will bring at least 50 extra daily car trips into the neighborhood, will destroy the peace and quiet that we all love and cherish," says the groups website.