WE, the undersigned concerned residents, urge our leaders to prevent the establishment of a school, including but not limited to the currently proposed BrightStar’s Valor Academy elementary school, at the location 15526/15544 Plummer Street or any location on Plummer Street between Sepulveda Blvd. and the #405 Freeway, for the following reasons: 

1)  Traffic concerns: The distance from 15544 Plummer Street to 15620 Plummer Street (home adjacent to the 405) is approximately 407 feet. Peak #405 freeway traffic coincides with school drop-off/pick-up traffic. Traffic is a big concern already on Plummer St. because of Sepulveda MS and Gifted/High Ability Magnet ½ block away. Charter schools typically do NOT offer bus service and do NOT exclusively attract local students which will increase the traffic issue.  

2)  Pollution concerns: the Los Angeles City Charter under Healthy Living states density within 500 feet of a freeway is to be discouraged. 

3)  Noise concerns: Valor Academy plans to have early childcare as well as late pick up, summer school, and fund-raising plans on the campus all year long, including evening events. This is incompatible with the single-family dwellings adjacent to the properties on three out of four property borders. 

4)  25 schools in North Hills: There is an abundance of school choices in our small town. There are already 12 elementary schools. 

5) Very High Need for Open Space: North Hills has only 1 Park. According to the 2016 LA County Park Needs Assessment, North Hills has an average of 0.5 park acres per 1,000 people in contrast to the rest of LA County which has an average of 3.3 park acres per 1,000 people. North Hills is assessed in the ‘very high’ park need category. Our park vision is the park to be fenced and locked with someone on site during hours of operation. 

The North Hills Preservation Consortium has a better plan #PlummerStreetProject to restore the historic house built in 1914 on the property, create a small museum depicting early California history, and create a new park for the community. 

We have the support of our CD7 Councilperson Monica Rodriguez as well as preservation organizations such as the San Fernando Valley Historical Society and the Leonis Adobe Museum.