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Anaheim panel approves American Career College expansion and larger on-site capacity
Summary
The Anaheim Planning Commission approved an amendment to American Career College’s conditional use permit to add first-floor instructional space and raise on-site student capacity to 440; staff said the project qualifies for a Class 1 CEQA exemption and no public opposition was received.
The Anaheim Planning Commission on Jan. 26 approved an amendment to American Career College’s conditional use permit that will add about 8,200 square feet of first-floor instructional space at the Anaheim Palms Corporate Center and increase the school’s on-site enrollment cap to 440 students.
Grace Cho, the city’s senior planner, told the commission the site — a 41-acre office complex at the northwest corner of West La Palma Avenue and Gilbert Street — currently houses the college on the second floor of 2461 West La Palma Avenue and that the proposal would convert a vacant first-floor unit into classrooms, two labs and support spaces. "Staff recommends approval as conditioned and that concludes my prepared remarks," Cho said.
Cho described the proposed layout as three new classrooms (two 75-seat classrooms and a 25-seat ultrasound classroom), two lab spaces with training stations and patient beds to support vocational nursing and ultrasound programs, plus new restrooms and storage. She said the college’s total instructional area would be a little over 18,000 square feet and that the campus’s parking analysis shows the complex has adequate parking supply.
According to Cho, the buildings along La Palma Avenue share a total parking supply of 1,767 spaces; the combined tenant requirement is 1,511 spaces, leaving a surplus of 256 spaces. American Career College’s additional instructional area would carry a parking requirement of 364 spaces, staff said.
Staff also concluded the project qualifies for a Class 1 existing facilities exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act because it does not expand the building footprint or increase intensity, and recommended approval subject to standard conditions. Cho said staff received no phone calls or written correspondence on the application.
Chair Christopher Walker opened the public hearing, asked whether the applicant had comments and noted there were no members of the public on the speaker list; the hearing was then closed. A motion to approve the item was moved and seconded; the commission recorded six affirmative votes and the motion carried.
The commission’s decision is final unless an appeal is filed with the city clerk; the appeal deadline is Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026 at 5 p.m.
