Commission approves Town School for Boys expansion at 2750 Jackson after neighbor mitigation talks

The Planning Commission approved the Town School for Boys modernization and expansion at 2750 Jackson Street. Department staff recommended approval with conditions and adoption of the final mitigated negative declaration and mitigation monitoring and reporting program.

The project adds about 19,000 gross square feet to the existing roughly 55,000-square-foot campus (about 15,000 square feet below grade and 4,000 above grade) and would be implemented in three phases to coordinate with the academic year. Staff noted the project would increase program space while remaining below floor-area limits and described proposed facade and acoustic improvements.

Neighbors raised concerns about construction start times, dust and sidewalk cleanup from summer work; residents said heavy dust and early start times created hardship during the most recent phase. The project sponsor said a superintendent will be on-site daily, that contractors will adhere to a 7 a.m. start time, and that the team will use water-spraying and one-way truck routing to limit dust. The school also applied to extend white loading zones to ease drop-offs and the sponsor presented letters of nearby support.

Commissioners praised the approach of adding space within the existing campus envelope and noted that outreach to neighbors had produced traffic and pickup mitigations. A motion to approve the project as proposed carried by unanimous vote.

Why it matters: The project modernizes an established private urban school without increasing enrollment, and the commission's conditions prioritize neighbor mitigation on construction impacts.

Next steps: Sponsor to implement construction mitigation measures and continue neighbor outreach; staff and the sponsor to monitor adherence to the mitigation monitoring program.