Residents tell Bassett Unified board to stop Florence Flannery lease, cite traffic, safety and property concerns

Several residents told the Bassett Unified Board of Education on May 13 that they oppose a proposed long‑term lease or development behind Florence Flannery Elementary School and asked the district to stop moving forward.

Speakers said the project would increase traffic on Millbury Avenue and nearby streets, limit emergency access and reduce nearby homeowners’ property values. “By continuing with the Florence Flannery lease proposal, you’re hurting our wallets,” one resident said during the public‑comment period. “It will take over 13 years to clear the $4,000,000 deficit that you put us in,” the speaker said, adding that higher‑density housing would “hurt our future” and deprive residents of open space.

Other commenters asked the board to convert the site to a park instead of allowing the proposed development and described past access problems for emergency vehicles. “Our neighborhood is not for this build,” another resident said, noting months of construction, high traffic and safety risks for children. A third resident warned the proposed lease is a “long‑term lease, a lifetime lease. It’s gonna outlive me,” and urged the board to consider the impacts on future generations.

District staff and the board did not take formal action on the comments. Board Clerk Norma Gonzalez responded to residents’ concerns by advising them that the Baldwin Park City Council and city planning process are the appropriate forums for land‑use questions and said the district is not seeing illegal dumping at the site. “The child development center is going to still be there,” Gonzalez said, addressing a specific community worry about program displacement.

Why it matters: neighbors’ objections highlight safety and quality‑of‑life concerns that can shape public engagement with city planning, school property uses and any lease or development agreements. Board members advised residents to raise their concerns with the City of Baldwin Park’s planning bodies because the city controls many land‑use approvals.

What the board said: Board President Aaron Simmental and other trustees encouraged residents to also file comments with Baldwin Park officials and attend city hearings. The board did not vote, refer, or direct staff to take further action on the item at this meeting.

Background/context: public comment on this topic occurred during the open‑session public‑comment period. Residents named in the record included speakers who identified themselves as local homeowners; city review and permitting processes remain the primary route for land‑use decisions affecting the site.