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Howard School gets city blessing to grow
SHIRLEY KIMBERLIN Everything I list turns to SOLD! 805-886-0228 skimberlin@aol.com
This week’s listings on the back page
Just skating by
By ErIn LEnnOn
Howard School’s record of fulfilling all requirements of its operating permit with no complaints from neighboring residents led to quick approval, with more praise coming from commissioners than questions.
With little discussion, the Carpinteria Planning Commission gave Howard school the green light on Jan. 6 to open its doors on Foothill road to an additional 20 students. Howard school’s population is currently capped at 80 pupils taught by seven fulltime teachers, nine part-time teachers and one staff person. However, many of the school’s 80 students have younger brothers and sisters who would like to join the full roster. the private elementary and middle school has been unable to admit any new students under its current terms of operation. that student-toteacher ratio is set to increase after the planning commission voted 3-0 to raise the school’s cap on enrollment to 100 students. Commissioners Jane Benefield and David allen were absent. the new cap could only be obtained after the board revised the terms of the school’s Conditional Use Permit, which allows special uses on Carpinteria sites, and issued the school a Coastal Development Permit, which is a necessary document to alter operations so close to the ocean. Howard School’s record of fulfilling all requirements of its operating permit with no complaints from neighboring residents led to quick approval, with more praise coming from present commissioners than questions. “anytime we’ve had any interactions with the school, they’ve always been very open with us in providing their annual reporting,” said planner shanna Farley-Judkins. “We’ve found that they’ve continued to meet the requirements of their existing permit, and we feel that we can support the project under (the city’s) general plan.” Howard school opened in Montecito in 1912. In 2000, the private elementary school became the tenant of Girls Inc. of Carpinteria under a temporary use permit, which allows for short-term use of a site. Carpinteria required the school to obtain a permanent permit for its operations in 2006 and issued the school its current conditional use permit. the permit requires Howard school to issue an annual report outlining the number of students, staffing levels, hours of operation and information about any special activities that take place on the site during the year. the conditional use permit adopted by the commissioners on Monday evening replaces the 2006 permit and now requires the school to provide additional services such as onsite bicycle parking and carpooling information for students, families and staff. Howard
HOWARD SCHOOL continued on page 16
EvElyn CErvantEs
In Carpinteria’s version of Olympic speed skating, Joslyn Butcher pulls ahead of best friend Melody Grummitt on the temporary Linden Avenue skating rink built for Snow Much to Do on Jan. 4. Skating was one of many activities available to old and young during the annual winter festivities orchestrated by Carpinteria First. For more photos of the event, turn to pages 12 and 13.
Brewery looks to double tasting room size By PEtEr DuGré
Island Brewing Company hopes to make 2014 a year of expansion. Carpinteria’s railroad-side microbrewery recently submitted to city planners an application to swell its tasting room and add offices, a conference room and a walk-in cooler. IBC looks to gain permitting for the 3,680-square foot addition adjacent to the current tasting room at 5049 6th street, on the ventura side, as part of an aggressive growth plan for the new year. Owner Paul Wright said the proposal includes nearly doubling the tasting room area and opening up the outdoor patio area fronting the new customer space, which was formerly occupied by tyco Electronics. Wright joked that the biggest news is that the brewery would increase from a one-toilet operation to four toilets in two separate bathrooms. the additional bathroom would go in the old tasting room. the new side would include a Boyd • CVN conference room for potential non- Island Brewing Company owner Paul Wright points to where the profit, staff and special event use. brewery proposes adding a 700-square-foot walk-in cooler within
BREWERY continued on a 3,680-square-foot addition that the company plans to expand page 16 into.