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Planning commission approves John Adams Academy expansion into 5 Sierra Gate Plaza
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Summary
The commission approved a conditional use permit allowing John Adams Academy to occupy first-floor classroom space at 5 Sierra Gate Plaza for additional performing-arts and classroom activities, subject to nine conditions and an amended condition 4; the commission recorded unanimous approval and a 10-day appeal period.
The City of Roseville Planning Commission on June 26 approved a conditional use permit allowing John Adams Academy to expand classroom and performing-arts space into the first floor of 5 Sierra Gate Plaza.
Scarlett (staff presenter) told the commission the site lies within the Sierra Gate Plaza office complex, has a land-use designation of business professional, and that prior entitlements (design-review permit modifications and a tree permit approved in February 2011 and February 2017) had allowed previous campus improvements. Staff noted that a 2020 zoning ordinance amendment removed elementary and secondary schools from the business professional allowed-use table; as a result, the school's existing operation is a legal nonconforming use, which can be expanded through an approved conditional use permit.
"As proposed, no exterior changes or modification to the existing building or the on-site circulation are proposed," Scarlett said. Staff advised the commission that the proposed occupancy of first-floor space would not increase the school's analyzed student capacity and that the previously completed 2017 traffic study remained applicable.
Marcus LaDuca, representing John Adams Academy, told commissioners the additional space would provide classrooms for performing arts, music and other activities and said it would enable more students to participate in after-school programs. LaDuca described operational controls: no new student drop-off or pickup in the 5 Sierra Gate parking area, restricted bathroom access to academy staff and students, and faculty supervision of students using the leased space.
"The classroom space that is shown would allow approximately 150 students to engage in after-school programming and would enable more students to participate in band, theater and other activities without increasing daily drop-off or pick-up, which staff and the applicant say will not alter campus circulation," LaDuca said.
Staff recommended adoption of three findings of fact and approval of the conditional use permit subject to nine conditions, including a modification to condition 4 included in a memorandum issued the day of the hearing. Commissioner Jensen moved to approve; Commissioner Brashears seconded. The motion passed on a unanimous roll-call vote; staff noted a 10-day appeal period for the decision.
The commission's approval allows the academy to proceed with tenant improvements and programing within the first-floor space subject to the adopted conditions and the appeal period. The record includes the applicant's statement that the use of off-site classroom space may lengthen after-school programming hours and could stagger campus departures, which the applicant said would spread afternoon traffic over a longer period rather than concentrate it at dismissal time.
