Planning Commission Gives OK to New Campus for Grace Classical Academy

Grace Classical Academy will finally have more space thanks to the Laguna Niguel Planning Commission's Tuesday night approval for a site development permit.

The permit allows for a new 2,800-square-foot main campus with five classrooms. Currently, classes are being held inside the adjacent church facility at 24600 La Plata. The school had about 60 students this school year, but will now have room for 100.

The school boasts the lowest tuition of any Laguna Niguel private school at $5,400 for half-day kindergarten students and $7,150 for full time kindergarten through eighth grade students. Due to the fact that the school receives no denominational funding, its budget for the renovations and new building is around $120,000.

Faculty, staff, parents and students alike, were present at the meeting to voice their opinions and to try to convince the commission to approve the permit albeit minus a number of proposed conditions. 

Among the proposed conditions put forth by the commission: 

• The school is to update the signage at the front of the facility, clearly Stating that the school and church are located on La Plata Drive. This sign alone, when constructed along city guidelines will run around $15,000.
• A pitched roof must be placed on both buildings to comply with city architectural ordinances. Approximate cost is $20,000.
• The main entry feature must be constructed along city ordinances and specifications. Approximate cost is $8,000.
• The front of the school building must have divided light windows as shown in the architectural mock ups and planes. Approximate cost is anywhere from $6,000 to $8,000.

The commission also prohibits any field lights on the playing fields connected to the new building. No outside organizations are to use the fields unless proper permission is granted, and the parking lot must be designated as a no play area. (In the past, the church parking lot has been used as such which they no longer plan to use)

Gina Bonecutter, the head off the school was on hand to express her feelings. She stressed that the school "simply didn’t have enough money in the budget to make this project happen if all of the conditions were approved."

 “Educational tools are being sacrificed for unnecessary conditions of approval, and subsequently our children are missing out,” she said.

Some residents who reside on the 20000 block of Rue De Gaugin near the school, also voiced their opinions. They said they felt that if the new school was erected, it would decrease the value of their homes. However, they said were not actually aware of what the new school would look like. 

Residents pleaded with the commission to uphold all conditions of approval, some even asked for the project not to be approved. 

After two hours, many debates, questions and stipulations over conditions of approval the development permit was granted.

All conditions of approval in question were dismissed except for calling for proper signage at the front of the school. Commission members thought this was necessary in case of emergencies. Anyone trying to get to the school would know exactly where it is located.

No date has been set for when the construction of the building will begin.