Irvine Municipal Code Ch. 3-22 Private School Development Standards

These regulations shall apply to all private schools developed in the City of Irvine serving kindergarten and grades 1 through 12.

(Code 1976, § V.E-315.1; Ord. No. 94-7, § 3, 6-14-94)

Conformance with these requirements shall be determined during the conditional use permit review process, as described in Chapter 2-9 of the City of Irvine zoning ordinance.

(Code 1976, § V.E-315.2; Ord. No. 94-7, § 3, 6-14-94)

A. Minimum site size. Private schools will be assessed in compliance with the following standards:

1. Interior development standards.

a. Minimum interior space for a private school must be provided per student as follows:

(1) Elementary (K—6): 58 square feet.

(2) Junior high school (7, 8): 80 square feet.

(3) High school (9—12): 91 square feet.

b. Areas which may be included in this calculation include any area or classroom where education or related activities will be conducted, including, but not limited to, cafeterias and libraries. Rooms which may not be included in this calculation include administrative offices, restrooms, closets, halls, storage areas, and garage or parking areas.

2. Exterior development standards.

a. Minimum exterior space for a private school must be provided per student as follows:

(1) Elementary (K—6): 116 square feet.

(2) Junior high school (7, 8): 160 square feet.

(3) High school (9—12): 182 square feet.

b. Areas which may be included in this calculation include outdoor facilities and play areas, turf areas, open play fields, paved play areas, apparatus areas, areas utilized for physical education or active outdoor recreational use, and any other landscaped areas. Any outdoor space used in the exterior space calculation shall be appropriate in size for the activities of the children using the space. Areas which may not be included in this calculation include areas for parking, services areas, and any streetside, side or rear setback requirements.

B. Outdoor facilities/play areas. Outdoor play areas should be located in such a manner so that any impacts to adjacent land uses are minimized. When located adjacent to any residential uses, landscape treatments (trees, shrubs, and berms) and/or hardscape treatment shall be utilized as appropriate visual and noise screening and buffering mechanisms. Active play areas, such as ballfields, shall be sited away from residential land uses.

C. Location. All private schools shall be located in conformance with the public school site selection standards as set forth in the public facilities element of the General Plan.

D. Other. When locating a private school, each proposed site shall be evaluated with regard to surrounding land uses. Factors that are subject to evaluation include, but are not limited to, proximity of the private school to traffic volumes on roadways, automotive exhaust fumes (i.e., heavily used intersections, gas stations), hazardous materials, major utility or electrical lines, areas subject to the 100-year flood, major industrial pollutants, and other factors that might be detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare.

(Code 1976, § V.E-315.3; Ord. No. 94-7, § 3, 6-14-94; Ord. No. 00-02, § 4, 2-8-00)