First in a series
[Editor’s Note: Following previous rejections by the Planning Commission, a hearing will be convened in Council Chambers on Wednesday, June 13, at 7 o’clock, to consider a plea by the Help Group to increase the size of its 400-student campus, 12095 Washington Blvd., to 650.]
Second-term Planning Commissioner John Kuechle, an attorney by day, is known for his deliberate, low-key, common sense approach on the dais.
He says there are two hurdles for the advisory Commission to ponder before rendering still another ruling in the Help Group case.
“One overriding concern I have, and that I have shared with Council members, is that Culver City has almost twice as many students going to school in Culver City as it has school-age children living in Culver City,” Mr. Kuechle said.
“Since non-profit schools don’t pay taxes, it means we, in Culver City, are, in effect, subsidizing parents who live in Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Brentwood and other places to send their kids here. That way, Santa Monica and Beverly Hills can use their property to have Costco’s, Santa Monica Place and other places that pay taxes and support the city.
Is This Equitable?
“But in Culver City, we have lots of students paying no taxes and occupying large chunks of land.”
Mr. Kuechle wanted to be clear that schools are one of the pet causes of his life. “Schools are where I make 90 percent of my charitable contributions, “ he said, “both in terms of writing checks and my time.
“I love schools,” he said with vigor.
“But it is not fair for one community to be expected to shoulder the entire burden of having schools operate here.
“It seems to me, from a global perspective, if we are going to become a mecca for schools, we should find a way for schools to pay their way so it isn’t costing the city money every time one of them moves here.”
Upon Further Inspection
Mr. Kuechle said that the City Council has directed staff to investigate the matter and to return with a proposal. “I am hopeful they will come up with a good idea,” he said.
“With respect to the Help Group, we have been told that that sort of issue is above our pay grade. We are not supposed to base our decision on that.
“Regarding issues that are within our purview, there are a number of problems that I, and at least one other, sometimes two, members of the Planning Commission have with the Help Group’s application.
“Essentially,” Mr. Kuechle said, “they are taking the position they only have to study the impact of the incremental increase in students.
“Noise, for example. They currently have 400 students. They say, ‘We studied that a long time ago. It is water under the bridge. Adding 200 students now, we only have to look at whether those 200 students will make too much noise.’
“Same thing with regard to traffic.
“My reading of the code is that when they come back to us for a revised project, we have to look at the entire project, not just the incremental increase.”
(To be continued)
