After heated neighborhood debate, planning commission approves LGD Academy K–8 CUP at 2449 Buena Vista

The Walnut Creek Planning Commission voted Dec. 11 to approve a conditional use permit for LGD Academy (also referred to as Al Joudi/El Joudi Academy), a privately operated K–8 school proposed at 2449 Buena Vista Avenue. Staff and the applicant told the commission the site is eligible for a parking exemption under Assembly Bill 2097 because it is within a half mile of the Walnut Creek BART station and that the applicant's Transportation Demand Management (TDM) plan has been approved by the city's transportation administrator.

Assistant planner Steven Cook described the site and proposal to commissioners: the parcel is about 36,000 square feet with roughly 7,100 square feet of existing single‑story buildings, previously used for religious assembly and historically hosting the school during fall 2023–spring 2025. The applicant's business plan seeks a maximum enrollment of 90 students (the school previously enrolled 46) and staffing that includes two fully credentialed teachers, four administrative staff and ten part‑time teachers in training. Cook said the draft resolution recommends finding the project exempt from CEQA under section 15301 (existing facilities) because the proposal converts existing building area without expanding the footprint.

Founder and parent Yasser Nasiri, representing the school, emphasized small class sizes and programmatic elements: "Our class sizes are — our largest class is eight students," he said, and described Leader in Me as a core curriculum element. Nasiri and other school supporters told the commission the school had undertaken neighborhood outreach, installed a bike rack, and developed a carpool and pickup plan; the applicant said it would use an off‑site shared parking agreement and other TDM measures to address spillover.

Neighbors and residents provided extensive comment. Opponents said the proposed build‑out to 90 students could worsen existing parking problems on Buena Vista and nearby streets — especially because congregational Friday prayers at the adjacent Islamic Center already create high parking demand — and requested acoustic and traffic studies. One long‑time resident asked the commission to pause approval and require a comprehensive truck‑turning analysis, acoustics evaluation and a traffic impact analysis during peak conditions. Supporters — including current parents, teachers and community organizations such as CARE — said the school provides a valuable education option, had worked with fire/building authorities, and offered operational plans and contingency measures to avoid spillover parking.

Commission discussion centered on whether additional noise or traffic studies were necessary before action. Staff clarified that AB 2097 limits the city's ability to impose minimum parking on projects within a half mile of a major transit stop, but that the city's code still requires a TDM plan; the applicant's TDM had been accepted. Some commissioners said they would prefer additional data; others said the CUP findings could be made on the existing record and that the resolution includes conditions requiring compliance with city ordinances and the TDM measures.

The commission approved the conditional use permit. The decision includes the amended conditions presented by staff and relies on the TDM plan and the CEQA section 15301 finding. The commission noted the opportunity for future review and enforcement if conditions are violated; appeal rights to the city clerk are available per municipal code.