Neighbors in Scripps Ranch, mad over a controversial development plan, voiced opposition at the San Diego Unified School Board meeting Tuesday.
SDUSD owns property at Scripps Poway Parkway and Spring Canyon Road. Emily Dressler is worried it will turn into a 300,000 square foot apartment complex.
"I think this is a bad plan for the residents of Scripps Ranch and the taxpayers in San Diego," said Dressler.
Dressler is a mom and values her children's education.
"Soon, I mean within the next few years, we are going to need this building to educate our children," she said.
The SDUSD School Board will vote on leasing the property to the Monarch Development Group. The group plans to build 264 units, parking stalls and a retail center.
But, Dressler says that's not what this area needs. She says schools nearby have reached capacity, it'll change the quiet way of life, and add too much traffic.
"It's a really poor deal that the school district has negotiated," she said.
Currently, Innovations Academy Charter School and a farmers market occupy the land. The charter school's director, Christine Kuglen says the district told her, she needed to be out by June 2017.
"I think it's a terrible idea for a school district to go into business for residential development," Kuglen said.
According to the district, the project would bring in 37 million dollars during its 66 year lease.
SDUSD sent 10News the following statement:
The Scripps Ranch project provides benefits for San Diego Unified students as well as the community including:
· A new Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math lab educational space for students
· A community garden
· High quality rental apartments supporting the regional need for housing including affordable housing units that will be affirmatively marketed to district employees.
· The project also creates long-term, guaranteed revenue for the district which supports the district’s mission to provide quality education for all students.
Traffic studies indicate that the proposed project is projected to generate fewer trips than the existing use, and significantly fewer trips than allowed for in the Community Plan.
Preliminary demographic analysis indicates that future potential new-student enrollment can be accommodated in existing Scripps Ranch school facilities without impacting any currently enrolled students.
At this time, the proposed Scripps Mesa Joint Occupancy Project is in the preliminary design phase. District staff has met with all of the planning groups in the Scripps Ranch area and plan to continue working with residents.
