Costa Parking Proposal Pushes Forward

The Manhattan Beach Unified School District’s board agreed Wednesday night to move forward with on Peck Avenue at Mira Costa High School as long as it fits within budget.

The recommendation was made as the school finalizes plans to build a new state-of-the-art science building on campus.

With the plan eliminating some parking spaces, another proposal suggested relocating those spaces to where the school’s tennis courts sit. But the committee’s recommendation essentially saves the tennis courts.

"We have taken a much more in-depth look at the situation and I feel very positive about the direction we’re headed,” said Paula Spence, Mira Costa athletic director.  

That in-depth look included a recent parking analysis that led to the conclusion that parking lot space lost to the science building didn't need to be recovered elsewhere on campus.

The parking lot remodeling will most likely begin in July with an aggressive timeline preferred so as not to interrupt students’ day-to-day experience on campus.

“First, just making sure the construction develops smoothly and without a hitch will be key," said Manhattan Beach Unified School District Superintendent Michael Matthews at a committee meeting Tuesday night. "Then, this committee needs to determine how do we best maximize our fields within our given space."

That job will continue for the 16 voting members of the Athletic Facilities Committee, which was formed this past winter to make comprehensive recommendations for athletic field and facility renovations to the School Board. 

The committee is made up of Mira Costa faculty, administrators and local residents.

“I’m very proud of the work this committee has done," Matthews said. "We have thought of ideas no one had before and we’ve come a long way and will continue on next fall."

The triggering event for what has sometimes been contentious debate about the shape the high school campus will take began in November of 2008 when Proposition BB passed.

Now the next step for the Athletic Facilities Master Plan Committee is to further explore the possibilities for best equipping Mira Costa with top-notch fields and facilities for all athletic programs.

“Through this whole process lots of people have been very accommodating and understanding of each other and come to reach a consensus on making the best choices for the students,” Spence said. “It’s a carefully orchestrated dance that hundreds of people are going to be participating in to meet the timeline we want so that the kids can still have a good experience during their school year.”