
Sentinel staff report–
Draft plans for a new charter school in Citrus Heights were formally submitted to the city last month, showing a two-story, 25,000-square-foot classroom building, along with a multi-purpose building, sports field, on-site parking and a wrap-around drop-off lane adjacent to Antelope Road.
The 3.3-acre parcel, located next to Antelope Road Christian Fellowship at the corner of Antelope Road and Old Auburn Road, is currently vacant. At least a dozen protected trees would need to be removed in order to make way for the campus, according to an arborists report.
According to a project description, enrollment at the proposed American River Collegiate Academy campus is anticipated to increase gradually and will eventually hold a total of approximately 558 students and 36 teachers and staff.
Concerns about parking and traffic have already been raised on social media. Drop-off and pick-up procedures are proposed to be used, including “traffic monitoring, direction, and teacher supervision of students after school during pickup.”
The plans, which could be revised during the city’s planning review process and a required public hearing before the Planning Commission, show only a limited number of on-site parking spots — but those 59 spots would be bolstered through an agreement with the adjacent church. The agreement, included in documents submitted to the city, shows the church would allow use of 45 off-site parking spaces for a total of 109 spaces.
Casey Kempenaar, the city’s planning manager, told The Sentinel in an email last week that the city had reviewed and returned plans to the applicant with comments needing to be addressed, which is typical for projects going through the city’s planning process. He did not specify what comments were made, but said the applicant “is in the process of preparing the materials required for resubmittal.”
Kempenaar said once the school submits revised plans, the city has 30-days “to review plans and verify comments have been addressed.” Once the city ensures all issues have been addressed and is in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act, the project will be brought before the Planning Commission for a public hearing and vote.
For more on plans for the charter school, see prior story: New charter school plans to build Citrus Heights campus on vacant 3-acre lot