Some Scripps Ranch residents are outraged about a potential San Diego Unified School District deal that would put a high-density apartment complex where a charter school currently operates.
The proposed development would be at the corner of Spring Canyon Road and Scripps Poway Parkway, where the Innovations Academy Charter School now operates. Approximately 365 students attend the school now, only 75 of whom could attend neighborhood schools if the charter school has to relocate.
At a community meeting at Thurgood Marshall Middle School, more than 100 came out to voice a mixture of support and concern for the proposed development. The San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) school board will vote on the 66 year lease with Monarch Development, out of Laguna Niguel, to build a four story, 264 unit apartment complex on the property.
“The schools here are already at capacity, that means they would already have to build another school,” said Tim Smith, a resident. “What kind of financial nonsense is that all about?”
Residents say they need more schools in the area to accommodate the growing population, and building a high density apartment complex will only add to the congestion in the budding area.
“We worry because our schools are already at max, and the responses were getting from the school board is well, just redistrict, well just move the kids around, -- well, that’s not the vision for neighborhood schools. We want to keep our children in our neighborhood schools and be a part of the community,” said parent Emily Dresslar.
NBC 7’s Rory Devine spoke with only one resident who supported high density housing, but she did not want to comment beyond that.
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Kevin Beiser, who represents the community on the school board, said he was at the meeting to listen to what everyone has to say.
