Upland Planning Commission approves Scholarship Prep charter school with one-year operational review after opening

The Upland Planning Commission on Feb. 26 approved a conditional use permit for Scholarship Prep to operate a transitional kindergarten through eighth-grade charter school at 20 and 30 West Seventh Street, finding the project categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act and attaching a condition that the school return to the commission for review one year after classes begin.

Staff presented the application for CUP 24-0011, saying the proposal would reuse two existing school buildings and an outdoor play area with no tenant improvements. The applicant estimated opening enrollment at about 250–275 students, with a potential maximum enrollment of 550 over several years. Staff noted the site contains 177 parking spaces and that 97 spaces were required for the uses on the site; staff said the on-site circulation plan had been reviewed by the city’s land development and traffic division.

The commission’s motion, which included a CEQA exemption under Article 19, Section 15301 (existing facilities), and the approval of the CUP, also amended condition 50.2 so the required return to the Planning Commission for operational review will occur one year after the opening of classes rather than one year after the approval. The commission approved the resolution with seven affirmative votes.

Applicant Jason Watts, identifying himself as Executive Director of Scholarship Prep, told the commission the school plans to open in August and described a staffed valet-style pick-up and drop-off operation the operator uses at other campuses. “Once a car enters the property, then there's a staff member with a walkie talkie that will know to call out...they find those students, bring them to the loading zone,” Watts said, describing fencing, holding areas and staff positioned to expedite movement and monitor students. Watts said the applicant would distribute contact information to neighbors so residents could notify school staff if cars block driveways.

Staff emphasized the commission would also retain discretion to require an earlier review under condition 50.1 if operational issues arise; planning staff described condition 50.1 as allowing review at 90 days, 180 days or annually, or as needed at the development services director’s discretion. Property owner David Botfeld, identifying himself as manager of the Stewart Group, said the existing tenant has been notified and that the owner is coordinating tenant move-out so the new operator can occupy the facility once approvals and transitions are complete.

Commissioners asked about consistency of the site plans, traffic review and whether all classroom staffing and credentialing would meet state requirements. Watts said Scholarship Prep’s middle-school staffing follows state credential rules and that the operator has experience with on-site traffic operations at other Southern California campuses. Staff confirmed that the project was reviewed by traffic staff and that no formal off-site traffic study was required because trips were not expected to meet the city’s threshold for a study; however, the on-site circulation plan was reviewed and conditioned for a one-year operational check.

The commission’s action: adopt the resolution approving CUP 24-0011 for Scholarship Prep, finding the project exempt under CEQA (Article 19, Section 15301), and modify condition 50.2 to require a public hearing review one year after the opening of classes.

The commission noted the review timing was intended to yield a full year of operational data after the campus opens; staff retained authority to call earlier reviews if problems were reported.

Votes at a glance: approved 7–0.