Gates High School - Organized Opposition

Those in opposition to the Gates High School are organizing.  They have created a flyer to hand out and a Facebook site that will go live on Sunday.  They are also printing up T-shirts to wear at the Monday meeting

The Flyer is as follows:

NO SCHOOL ON SUNSET LANE!!
DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE PLANS TO BUILD A 180,000 SQ/FT MIDDLE /HIGH SCHOOL COMPLEX FOR 1,000 STUDENTS OFF OF SUNSET LANE?
Though few Lutz residents are aware of it, this project is already well into the Hillsborough County approval process. A zoning hearing is scheduled for Monday, May 14, at 6:00 pm, at the 2nd Floor,  County Center: 601 E. Kennedy Blvd.
If approved, this school complex will significantly:
- increase traffic on Sunset Lane
- alter native wetlands
- negatively impact already stressed potable water
resources
For more information, check out our FaceBook page at “No School on Sunset Lane!!” or call Mike White at (813) 299-8835.

Other information that is being shared is: 

JUST THE FACTS - Gates Charter Middle and High School - Hillsborough County Public School
· 1000 student charter middle & high school – Located behind Nye Park
· 180,000 total sq ft complex
· 62 acre (approx) of non-continuous uplands and wet marsh lands.
· Private septic and water.
· No bus service. Individual vehicles.
· Approx 25-28 % of the students will be from Lutz. Charter schools use a lotto system.

SUNSET LANE AND NYE PARK – 2ND entrance
· Entrance for student parking, staff and service vehicles use road next to Nye Park.
· Approximately 250 parking spaces for students and 39 parking spaces for staff.
· NYE PARK - Patti, Gates School, is working with Mike Thornton, Hillsborough Parks Department, to lease Nye Park for use of parking, sports fields, and buildings during school hours.
· Right and left turn lanes will be added at Nye Park.
· Across from Nye Park are Lutz Learning Center and Tims Church Preschool.
· At this point on Sunset Lane, Gates’ Transportation Analysis, performed by Lincks & Associates dated February 24, 2012, project a 38.2% increase in traffic during peak hours at peak season (13 busiest consecutive weeks of the year) with Gates High School.

INTERSECTION OF SUNSET AND HWY 41
· Hillsborough County has determined that Sunset Lane cannot be widened. They can only add turn lanes.
· TECO’s power distribution station prevents widening the intersection of Sunset and HWY 41.
· Winn Dixie Plaza, US Post Office, Walgreens, All Creatures Animal Hospital, and future Korean Church exit onto Sunset at the intersection of US Hwy 41.

US HWY 41: - main entrance
· School’s entrance is approximately 250 feet north of Walgreens on US Hwy 41. .
· Approximately ¼ mile, two lane road with land bridge through pristine wet marsh lands to reach school.
PARKING AND CARPOOLING:
· Student parking (approx 250) located next to Nye Park. Additional 39-40 parking for staff.
· To reduce community impact, Patti will request students and parents to try carpooling.
· Student drivers will use permits to park on school property.
· Possible security gates on entry roads. Findings from the AAA study (12/2011) showed fatality increased with each additional passenger in the car:
· 44% when carrying one passenger younger than 21 (and no older passengers)
· Doubled when carrying two passengers younger than 21 (and no older passengers)
· Quadrupled when carrying three or more passengers young than 21 (and no older passengers)

SPECIAL LAND USE PERMIT HEARING
Public Hearing Date: Monday, May 14 at 6:00 P.M.
Hillsborough County Planning/Zoning Planning & Growth Management Department
App No. SU 12-0429 GEN
601 E. Kennedy Blvd., 20th Floor, County Center
Tampa, Fl. 33602
(813) 276 - 2006

All numbers were taken from the Learning Gate’s Transportation Analysis, performed by Lincks & Associates dated February 24, 2012, and submitted in their Application for a Special Land Use Permit.

This represents a 38.2% increase in traffic at an already congested and dangerous point on Sunset Lane.

Lutz Learning Center daycare recently increased their student capacity by 60% without adding any additional parking or access into or out of their facility.

Learning Gates' Sunset Lane access road is proposed to go directly north of the Lutz Learning Center's driveway