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Recirculated Notice of Preparation, Jan. 2012  - revised
Update December 14, 2012
Tom Cole, Chief Operations Officer stated that the District's consultant (The Planning Center) has proceeded with work related to the revised Notice of Preparation (NOP) after the Board's approval on Nov. 16, 2011. He said the revised NOP / Initial Study document will be circulated by the end of January 2012. Staff has commenced the process of a phase 1 approval with the Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC). Mr. Cole also stated that the District has received proposals and commenced work for the due diligence process including biological, cultural resources and other analyses on the proposed hybrid site. In March 2012, staff will report back to the Board relative to the completion and results of their due diligence. Upon Board approval, the projected next step will be to complete the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) sections and then circulate the revised EIR document in early summer 2012 with the expectation of having a certified EIR by the end of summer. Due to the additional analysis on the proposed hybrid site, the current projected opening date for the school is Fall 2015 to 9th graders only; and a year will be added each year to serve 9th-12th graders. The school will open with all academic, extracurricular and athletic programs that are available to 9th graders at other Hart District comprehensive high schools.
Update November 17, 2011
The Hart School Board authorized District staff to fully analyze a proposed "hybrid site" as an alternative site for Castaic Area High School, at the Nov. 16, 2011 regular board meeting. The "hybrid site" expands the current preferred Romero Canyon site with the additional acreage from of an adjacent property that is currently available for purchase. Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the District is required to consider alternatives to a proposed project.
The Wm. S. Hart Union High School District received a proposal on Oct. 19 from Romero Canyon LLC, that the property adjacent to the preferred Romero Canyon site was made available for purchase. This property, formerly owned by Eugene Lombardi, was acquired by the law firm of Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, LLP in mid-October, and the current Romero Canyon property owner is considering purchasing the property to offer the District the opportunity to enhance the project by utilizing the combined sites.
In the proposal presented by Romero Canyon LLC, the District was advised that a potential "hybrid site" comprised of a portion of the Romero Canyon site and a portion of the additional property could provide an alternative to the Romero Canyon site for the planned construction of the Castaic Area High School.
"At the board's direction, the proposed hybrid site will be analyzed," Gail Pinsker, District spokesperson said. "This combined site is potentially a great opportunity for the District to deliver an exceptional school campus to the families in Castaic, at reduced construction costs."
Following the selection of the Romero Canyon site as the "preferred site," in July 2010, the Board selected The Planning Center as the District's environmental consultant to undertake the environmental analysis of the Romero Canyon site. As part of the board approval, The Planning Center will produce additional environmental studies, as necessary to comply with CEQA and similar to the Romero Canyon property.
Update October 5, 2011
Tom Cole, Chief Operations Officer stated that comments received by the District during the March 2011 Notice of Preparation (NOP) public comment period for Castaic area high school included interest in a second public access route to and from the campus and as a result, the district is reviewing a secondary access route. The route is from Hillcrest Parkway to Sloan Canyon Road to Barringer Road to Romero Canyon Road to the school site. A revised NOP and Initial Study is available for review with a 30-day comment period from Oct. 6, 2011 to Nov. 10, 2011. Comments received will be considered in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that is anticipated to be ready for public review by the end of this calendar year.
Updates Archive
Progress Report
September 2011
Hart Governing Board selects Romero Canyon as the preferred site, July 2010.
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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (EIR)
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In Progress
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The Hart District’s EIR consultant is currently analyzing this preferred site under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
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In Progress
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Governing Board approves proposal to conduct supplemental traffic analyses for EIR, Jan. 2011.
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Scoping meeting for Notice of Preparation, March 8, 2011. The public and all responsible agencies had the opportunity to comment on the EIR.
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Governing Board approves proposal to analyze an alternative access plan within the EIR. May, 2011.
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GEOTECHNICAL
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Consultants completed geotechnical report, Nov. 2010, concluding that Romero Canyon site is suitable for a high school.
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In Progress
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Hart School District submitted geotechnical report to California Geological Survey (CGS), Dec. 2010.
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Governing Board approves proposal for additional geotechnical investigations. May, 2011. |
ARCHITECTURAL
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In Progress
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Governing Board approved Ruhnau, Ruhnau and Clark, LLC as the project architect, Oct. 2010. Preliminary design phase has begun.
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Initial Conceptual Site Plan, Feb. 2011.
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PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT
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Executed Purchase Agreement, May 2011
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Title Company selection, May 2011.
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Buyer deposits $170,000 into escrow account, May 2011.
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Buyer’s identification of title exceptions, June 2011.
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Seller’s agreement to cure title exceptions, June 2011.
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Projected opening for Castaic Area High School for 9th graders, Aug. 2015.
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