Revisiting St. Catherine

The planning commission will hold a new hearing on the proposed construction of a new facility on the St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School site at 3090 So. Coast Highway.

The project was approved by the planning commission July 12 but appealed by members of the City Council who believed the public notification on the project was inadequate.

Due to irregularities in the required notification of residents within 100 feet of the project, the council voted unanimously on Tuesday to send the project back to the commission for a de novo hearing — meaning the project will considered as a new submission.

A council subcommittee of Mayor Pro Tem Toni Iseman and Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman concluded that the violation of the noticing requirement effectively precluded public testimony, and they filed an appeal of the commission's approval of a conditional-use permit, coastal development permit, design review and a variance.

The school is proposing to demolish the existing 25,421-square-foot private school and construct a 42,420-square-foot facility in its place. Enrollment is expected to increase but not beyond the number already approved, Community Development Department Director John Montgomery said.

About 19,000 cubic yards of dirt will be removed for the project. No environmental impact report was required.

The project also proposes the installation of a new stop light near Black Iris, at Cardinal and Coast Highway, which is under the jurisdiction of Caltrans. The addition of a stoplight at that location would result in a total of three stoplights from Montage Drive to Nyes Place.

The Planning Commission hearing is set for Aug. 16.

— Barbara Diamond