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Orozco, Norma <br /> From: Renee Lancaster <Renee-Lancaster@nova-academy.org> <br /> Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2022 3:27 PM <br /> To: eComment <br /> Cc: Renee Lancaster <br /> Subject: 4/19/2022 City Council Meeting - Public Comment - #30 Public Hearing - Final <br /> Recirculated Program Environmental Impact Report No. 2020-03 and General Plan <br /> Amendment No. 2020-06 for Santa Ana General Plan Update <br /> Importance: High <br /> Dear City Clerk of Santa Ana, <br /> I am Renee Lancaster, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of NOVA Academy Early College High School, <br /> located at 500 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, CA, 92701. 1 have been provided a copy of the Agenda for the <br /> Public Hearing - Final Recirculated Program Environmental Impact Report No. 2020-03 and General Plan <br /> Amendment No. 2020-06 for Santa Ana General Plan Update. Of significant concern is item #30 regarding a <br /> potential change of the zone for NOVA's property and the contiguous property from the current zone to mixed <br /> use urban neighborhood. Of concern also is whether this proposed use change would violate any State <br /> mandates or regulations relative to schools operating within a residential development in immediate <br /> proximity to the school. <br /> In 2016, the City of Santa Ana Council Members approved NOVA Academy Early College High School to <br /> operate a public school at 500 West Santa Ana Boulevard in the city's municipal boundaries. NOVA Academy <br /> went through a rigorous permitting process and followed all environmental quality standards. The City of <br /> Santa Ana required a conditional use permit to establish a new school facility and NOVA complied in all <br /> respects and based on that compliance was granted the right to acquire and develop the NOVA Academy at a <br /> cost of acquisition in excess of$18,000,000. Additional costs and expenses were incurred and are ongoing <br /> relative to conforming the original operation of Everest College, the abandoned school, to a thriving and <br /> award receiving educational facility. NOVA currently has 400 students and staff members who attend school <br /> daily. The school has received the 2019 California Distinguished Schools Award (issued every 4 years) and has <br /> received the annual "Best Schools" by U.S. News & World Report since 2015. The quality of the education <br /> provides an avenue for inner city students to attend college, including UCI, UCLA, Stanford, UC Berkeley and <br /> others of note. <br /> Thank you, <br /> Renee Lancaster, CEO <br /> NOVA Academy Early College High School <br /> i <br />