Glendora planning commission approves permanent classroom for Hope Lutheran school

The Glendora Planning Commission on a 5-0 vote approved a conditional use permit to allow construction of a new 2,800-square-foot permanent classroom building at Hope Lutheran School, 1041 East Foothill Boulevard.

City planning staff recommended adoption of a categorical exemption under CEQA and approval of the permit, saying the project would replace an existing modular classroom with a permanent building. Planning Technician Kristen Gates told the commission that notices were mailed to property owners within 300 feet and published in the San Gabriel Valley Examiner and that staff had received no inquiries to date.

The project, filed as PLN24-0034, would keep the school and church use on the E-4 single-family estate–zoned property. Eric Rodriguez, the architect for the applicant, said the congregation and school were "very much looking forward to be able to provide the students that go there a modern, more efficient classroom than they currently have as those existing modulars." Resident Sarah Carrillo, who said she shares a wall with Hope Lutheran, asked "where exactly the new building is proposed, when it's proposed to begin and finish, and what the hours of the construction will be."

Rodriguez said the new classroom would be placed where the existing modular sits, between two existing two‑story classroom buildings to the north and the fellowship/administration building to the south, and that the project team hoped to begin construction in July or August depending on contractor selection and wrap up by the end of the year. Commissioners confirmed with staff that typical city construction hours applied; staff noted the hours would be 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Gates said any required restroom upgrades would be determined through the city's building-plan check process.

Commissioners discussed operational impacts and confirmed the project does not change the school's enrollment capacity or parking demand; Gates said the new classroom would not alter student counts and would not require additional parking beyond the current configuration. Commissioner Kurt Norwood and other commissioners spoke in support of replacing a modular with a permanent classroom.

Commissioner Davis moved to adopt the CEQA categorical exemption and the planning commission resolution approving the CUP (PC 2025-10); Vice Chair Crimmins seconded. The motion carried 5 yeas, 0 nays.

The commission's approval allows the applicant to proceed with building-permit processing and any plan-check items identified by the building department; specific contractor selection and construction phasing were described as contingent steps the applicant would complete before work begins.