The La Jolla Board of Traffic and Transportation has approved modifications to the conditional use permit that would allow the portion of the alley running parallel to Draper Avenue to make way for the addition of the Bishop School.
The addition will occur in phases and include construction of batting cages, indoor soccer and hockey areas, a sports center and creative sciences, visual arts, and social innovation building.
Acquired Bishop’s School of La Jolla, a private school located at 7607 La Jolla Blvd. , at 7552, 7554 and 7556 Draper Ave. And it wants to incorporate this property into its campus, said Domus Studio Architecture’s lead architect David Pfeifer.
He said the merger would add about 1,000 square feet, which would require updates to Bishop’s existing permits. However, the permit amendment does not include a change in student registration numbers or parking spaces.
“The buildings that have been added will allow the school to offer more diverse curricular offerings and give some space to truly impacted programs,” he told the Board of Directors at its virtual meeting on October 19, with the scope of the project “clustered on the frontage of Draper Street.”
The project includes a vacation part of an adjacent alley that runs parallel to the Draper from Pearl Street, and currently terminates at the Bishop Campus.
Anna Nagasuji, Domus Studio project architect, said Bishop’s already owns the land adjacent to both sides of the requested alley recess.
On vacation, the City of San Diego relinquishes a right of way or public service easement and transfers it to an adjacent property.
If the project goes ahead, Pfeiffer said, the alley will be “the shortest dead end by 50 feet.”
This Holiday Alley is a project entirely separate from a proposal to clear part of Cuvier Street to help make room as part of the renovation of the La Jolla Entertainment Center. That leave was approved by the La Jolla Community Planning Association in 2021.
Draper Avenue will receive improvements to the curbs, sidewalks and landscaping located along the entire frontage of the Bishop property.
(screenshot by Elizabeth Frausto)
The recess of the alley and the proposed buildings will bring the architectural harmony to the campus and create a wonderful view of the streets on the Draper and clean the facade of the Draper [with] Street improvements and garden decorations, Pfeiffer said. Pfeiffer said street improvements along the Draper will include those made to the existing curb, gutter and curb, with half of the street being paved. There will be no new driveway cuts and landscaping will be replaced once construction is completed.
The discussion did not focus much on the buildings themselves, as T&T Board is primarily concerned with the impacts on traffic, Acting President Dave Abrams reminded attendees.
T&T member Donna Abrea expressed concern that architects were unable to answer the effects of traffic during construction on nearby residents and library goers.
“We can’t give you an absolute definitive answer until we have a partner on board,” Pfeiffer said.
A motion to approve permit amendments passed 6-0-2, with Aprea and T&T member Ross Rudolph abstaining.
“I don’t trust the project,” Abria said, noting that it has not yet been reviewed by the Development Permit Review Commission or the La Jolla Community Planning Association.
“I don’t think we have enough information,” Rudolph added.
Coast Walk Trail
The La Jolla Board of Traffic and Transportation hears about the progress of the Coast Walk Trail Oct 19.
(Elizabeth Frausto)
The council has learned that a project to clean up and restore parts of the historic Coast Walk Trail in La Jolla is underway.
The Coast Walk Trail runs between the Coast Walk (a short street west of Torrey Pines Road between Prospect Place and Amalfi Street) and Goldfish Point and is considered a “paper street”, meaning it is under the City Department of Transportation’s oversight (originally intended as a vehicle route) but Now it is for foot traffic only.
Friends of the Coast Walk Trail president, Brenda Vaak, said cleanup at the head of the Prospect Place Trail is underway.
“We clean vegetation in preparation for planting new plants,” she said, and that cleaning will also reduce fire risks, mitigate soil erosion and improve visibility. Efforts include replacing the damaged fence with an updated one and chain. Faak said he does not expect there will be new signs, but the existing ones will be replaced if necessary due to graffiti or other damage.
Learn more through friendsofcoastwalk.org.
The La Jolla Traffic and Transportation Board meets at 4 p.m. Wednesday, November 16, likely online. E-mail [email protected]. ◆