Decision on increasing enrollment cap at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy delayed

A decision by the La Cañada Flintridge Planning Commission on whether to increase the student enrollment cap at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy was postponed Tuesday, despite a healthy turnout from representatives and neighbors of the all-girls private school.

FSHA requested an amendment be made to the conditional use permit it maintains with the city, which caps enrollment at 385 students. According to city documents, the school’s population, which includes students from Glendale, La Crescenta and Montrose, was 412 during the 2012-13 school year and 415 the year before that.

Although the higher figures were technically code violations, city documents state, it is clear the school’s existing facilities would be capable of accommodating more than 385 students without necessitating additional building space.

In July 2014, school officials submitted an environmental impact report highlighting Master Plan expansions that called for construction of a 99,000-square-foot parking structure and an arts and humanities building as well as the annexation of 24 acres of land, currently under Pasadena’s jurisdiction, into the borders of La Cañada.

City staff indicated Tuesday’s public hearing on the conditional use permit amendment was, in no way, dependent upon or tied to FSHA’s expansion plans, which are likely to come back for a second round of public review later this year.

Susan Koleda, deputy director of community development, confirmed representatives from the school requested the planning commission continue the item to a future meeting to allow them more time to present their case.

The Planning Commission is scheduled to hear the matter in a special meeting Feb. 8, to take place at La Cañada City Hall at 6 p.m.

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Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com

Twitter: @SaraCardine