From:
Scott Wagner
To:
Clerk
;
Scott Sedgley
;
Beth Painter
Subject:
Le Petit Elephant Pre School
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 9:30:44 AM
[EXTERNAL]
Dear City of Napa City Council,
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to you today to emphasize the vital importance of Le Petit Elephant preschool's relocation to Alta Heights. As a member of this community, I believe this move holds significant benefits for our families, particularly in terms of accessible, affordable and reliable childcare services.
First and foremost, the availability of affordable childcare is a pressing need for both Napa's families and workforce. As the cost of living continues to rise, parents are increasingly faced with the challenge of finding quality care for their children without breaking the bank. By relocating Le Petit Elephant to Alta Heights, we have an opportunity to address this need directly. Affordable childcare options not only alleviate financial strain on families but also contribute to the overall well-being and stability of our community.
I oversee about 40 staff members in Napa and when my organization opened a new site in Solano County, a significant number of my staff asked to be transferred to that location because of the high cost of living in Napa. Affordable childcare is essential to maintaining a robust and vibrant workforce. It is unsustainable for Napa to rely on people commuting in from other communities to fuel our economy. We need to invest in things like affordable, quality childcare to ensure that people both want to stay in this community and can afford to do so.
Importantly, Le Petit Elephant has built a reputation for excellence in childcare, providing parents with the peace of mind they need to focus on their work knowing that their children are in capable hands. By relocating to Alta Heights and through its expansion, Le Petit Elephant can continue to serve as a reliable partner to Napa's working families, supporting their professional endeavors while nurturing the development of their children.
The relocation of Le Petit Elephant preschool to Alta Heights is not only beneficial for the families directly served by the center but also for the broader community of Napa. By providing affordable, dependable childcare services, Le Petit Elephant plays a vital role in supporting working parents and promoting the well-being of our children. I urge you to support this move, knowing that it will have a positive impact on the lives of countless families in our community.
Finally, as a parent of two young kids who attend Le Petit Elephant, I cherish the opportunity to participate on date nights once a month when the school stays open late so that parents can invest in their relationships or in self care. In addition, I would greatly appreciate it if my wife and I did not need to commute to Yountville on Saturdays so that my kids can learn tee-ball, basketball, and/or soccer at the Yountville Library. Our parents and kids who live in South
Napa deserve to have easy access to afterschool and weekend enrichment activities.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Scott Wagner
From:
Joana Beas
To:
Clerk
Subject:
LPE support letter permit application
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 2:13:47 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Hi my name is Joana Beas. I am a parent who has two children that attend LPE an infant and a toddler. The programs at LPE have been such a great help. Our kids, my partner & I have learned a lot being apart of the LPE community. The kids have wonderful teachers that are very loving and caring for the children at LPE. LPE has helped my daughter learn so much such as ASL, counting her numbers, Spanish, and saying full sentences. The teachers are great and there is great communication as well as Milli. Milli is very caring and knowledgeable about the children at LPE. The LPE community has helped us through so many things such as teething, eating solids, and communication. We have also been lucky to get financial aid to be able to afford childcare. There has never been traffic getting into LPE or out of LPE. A lot of people will benefit off of this, not just childcare but the whole community.
From:
Marisol Ruiz
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Le Petit Elephant Nursery and Preschool
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 2:20:14 PM
[EXTERNAL]
To Whom It May Concern,
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to draw your attention to the importance of reliable childcare for working parents. As a single parent, I have been actively seeking high-quality childcare options to ensure the safety and well-being of my daughter. I feel fortunate to have found Le Petit Elephant Nursery and Preschool, which has provided excellent care for my daughter.
The operating hours of LPE are ideal for my current job schedule, and losing this care for my daughter would have a significant impact on my family both financially and emotionally. I received LPE Financial Aid assistance. When LPE offered me the financial aid it was such a reliable because I knew that my daughter was going to be able to attend a high quality care. I am grateful for all the support not only financially but also emotionally that they have provided our family. I am grateful too for the exceptional staff at LPE who have created a loving environment that has allowed my daughter to excel in her development. Their friendly and attentive care has led to a remarkable improvement in her performance and overall development since enrolling her at LPE.
Another thing I would like to mention is that my kids and are excited to know that with this new facility they will have a safe place to play or have a birthday party indoors. Both of my kids birthdays are in November (cold weather) and the lack of affordable places to hold an indoor birthday party for a young child under 5 years old in Napa.
Every day, my daughter wakes up excited to attend "school," as she calls it, and returns home happy and content. It brings me immense relief to leave my daughter in a place where she feels happy and loved.
Le Petit Elephant deserve a forever home.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
From:
Lucie Brunetiere
To:
Clerk
Cc:
[email protected]
;
Mary Luros
;
Jean-Baptiste Laumond
Subject:
In support of LPE"s expansion project
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 2:20:48 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Dear Madam, dear Sir,
This email is to support
the LPE's new Child Development Center.
We arrived from Paris, France to Napa in October 2022 so that I could seize a formidable opportunity to work in one of
the top Napa Valley Wineries.
When I was presented with this career opportunity, one of the only negative factor was the lack of daycare
options in Napa - notorious even in Paris...- which is of great significance when you come from a country where finding affordable and qualitative daycare is not an issue.
When Milli texted me that we could have a spot at LPE a few months after our arrival, we were relieved. Since then, our son has been thriving. This also allows my husband to work as a substitute
teacher for the NVUSD.
We can only support LPE's project to provide daycare opportunities to more kids and to offer
more activities during the weekend. We are members of all the Children's Museums of the region which means that we have to drive at least an hour each way to be able to provide some fun activities to our child.
We are not US citizens and therefore cannot vote. But I can assure you that providing qualitative daycare and infrastructure for kids is a key factor for the economic attraction of your region and for the wine industry to be able to attract talent from around the world.
Many thanks for your attention,
Best regards,
Lucie Brunetiere
From:
Allie Emerson
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Le Petit Elephant Nursery & Preschool Permit- Letter
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 2:29:40 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Good afternoon,
I am writing this email in support of the permit for LPE to expand its program and relocate to Alta Heights. My daughter Liliana Redford attends LPE and started there when she was 8 months old. Leaving your child with anyone is extremely difficult, but the love and attention given to my daughter eased my anxious heart. My husband and I are so grateful for LPE and the staff that care for our little girl. She is thriving and we know it is largely due to their commitment to solid childhood development and creating an environment safe for these little ones to discover who they are.
Finding reliable child care is SO incredibly difficult in Napa. I was stressed the moment I found out I was pregnant.
After researching and touring LPE, we knew it was the perfect balance of fun and education for Liliana. LPE is truly a community and my daughter has bonded with the teachers and the kiddos she has grown up with- it is not uncommon that she doesn’t want to leave at the end of the day. I can’t express the relief it is to have a kiddo so happy at their school and you don’t fear dropping them off when it is time for work. It is not often you walk the halls of a school and all the teachers/ Director know each and every child.
Personally I have witnessed many close friends struggle to find childcare and some had to take a break from their career with no other options.
Without LPE, I would not be able to contribute to the workforce here in Napa Valley as I would need to stay home with Liliana. It is because of LPE, I am able to keep my job and therefore my daughter will grow up and know that she can be both a mother and a working professional should she choose. I only hope she has a community that understands and empathizes with working parents, and they come together to try and find solutions, just as Milli has, for our future generations.
Without a doubt, Napa needs more childcare- especially a program like LPE which puts the needs, safety, and development of these kids above all else.
I hope the committee can see the serious need here and how much this school means to so many of us.
With gratitude,
Allie & Matt Redford
Sent from my iPhone
From:
Lauren Skuchas
To:
Clerk
Cc:
S Heffran
;
Subject:
LPE SUPPORTER
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 2:42:40 PM
[EXTERNAL]
This is a note begging for the approval of the new LPE site.
My husband and I moved to Napa 2 years ago when expecting our daughter. We have been FLOORED by this community's lack of resources and attention to families with children.
Finding childcare for two working parents was a grueling process with very few options, we were lucky enough to be accepted to LPE and took a spot before I was even back to work with an income in fear that there wouldn't be availability once I accepted a job.
LPE has been a wonderful place to help raise our young daughter... that's right - RAISE.
Children
spend more awake hours with their teachers than their parents and LPE takes that responsibility seriously. They are one of the few (seems like the only) preschool options with curriculum and continuous teacher education to provide a solid educational and emotional foundation for their students.
When my daughter was confirmed to have significant
gross motor delays, it was Millie who
called us with her findings and personally made introductions to professionals who could help us, scared first-time parents. That experience would not have happened without her education, decades of experience, local network, and dedication to all the families at LPE.
This new site will be able to increase the number of families that LPE supports and expand their offerings to include other challenges like summer camp and after-school care, all concerns and why my husband (a local hotel owner) and I find it difficult to see a future for our family in Napa Valley.
This should be a simple decision.
LH
--
Lauren A. Skuchas
From:
Brooke Winther
To:
Clerk
Subject:
LPE support
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 2:44:34 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Good afternoon,
I wanted to send a note in support the new LPE location.
LPE has been a safe haven for my son for 2 years and we would love for them to have this new facility.
There has never been any traffic getting in and out of Lpe at literally any time of day. It’s always so easy to get in and out.
We would also love a new facility to give Napa families a place for education and outdoor activities on the weekends. Napa is very much lacking ruses type of places.
We hope to see it happen!
Cheers,
Fenwick Family
Sent from my iPhone
From:
Tyler S.
To:
Clerk
Subject:
LPE
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 2:47:14 PM
[EXTERNAL]
To Whom it may concern,
My wife and I looked for some time before finding LPE for our daughter's child care, where she currently attends.
She actually was somewhere else prior, so we could
recognize the superior organization, care and attention given to the little ones at LPE.
She always feels safe and stimulated.
As physicians, we need reliable child care to
do our jobs here in the community of
Napa
.
We hope you can support high-quality
child care here in
Napa
by helping them find the right long-term home.
We wouldn't
be able to take care of our community without it, and our daughter will be a better growing member of our town because
of it.
We have
heard of arguments against
including flimsy retorts of theoretical traffic jams or parking issues, which we have never witnessed in 3 years around LPE. Lastly, we know that LPE pays their teachers a real living wage which allows much needed teachers to live and work here, truly changing our future generation of Napans.
Thanks,
Tyler Street and Kate Kent
From:
Meg Robinson Kloberdanz
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Support for LPE"s Proposed New Location
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 2:51:10 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Hello!
My name is Megan Robinson and my husband and I have a two year old son, Jack who is currently enrolled at LPE in their
daycare program with plans to continue
through Pre-K. We also own two homes in Alta Heights (on E. 1st Street that my parents reside in, and Clark Street where we raise our son). We've been really tuned into this project as it impacts our family in multiple ways and have been discouraged by the negativity surrounding this potential move for LPE into the space approved with resounding, unanimous support of the Planning Commission.
LPE has been an absolute godsend for our family. As a first-time mother, the thought of leaving our son in the
care of someone outside of our family was terrifying and I know this is common for parents everywhere. The only thing that put my mind at ease was the curriculum, compassion, expertise, and support of Milli and the staff at LPE. The team there is extraordinary - the love and dedication they have for the children is palpable, and seeing our son develop and flourish as a result of their care is the greatest gift a mother could imagine. I was thrilled to learn that he would potentially soon be a little closer to us throughout the day and this move seemed to reflect the values of this neighborhood we've called home since moving to Napa in 2016 - compassionate and child-friendly with the school and multiple parks for children to play.
Therefore, the vitriol in opposition to this seemingly perfect move was nothing short of shocking and there were a few points that kept coming up over and over again in public forums that I'd like to address:
1) Traffic concerns: While the attendance is (slightly) lower at LPE in the current location, I have NEVER experienced a surge of traffic consisting of more than 5 or 6 cars in the parking lot at once. Due to staggered drop-offs and no concrete start and end time like in elementary-high school, there simply is not a huge surge of traffic all at once. After discussions with many neighbors, I think *some* of them might finally understand this. The jarring vision of 250 drop-offs all at once is simply not a reality
.
2) Noise: We lived in our home on E. 1st Street directly across from the elementary school for seven years before we outgrew our home and needed some more space for our growing family. Even before having children of my own, hearing the kids on recess (louder than the noise level at LPE) was never a disturbance. If anything, it was such a joy to hear sweet voices periodically throughout the day. We aren't talking about adding a bar or restaurant to the neighborhood. Are we really concerned with the sounds of children learning and exploring their surroundings?
3) Safety: This concern has been addressed by experts at the Fire Department in terms of evacuations and life safety so I will defer to their findings, but Alta Heights is such a safe neighborhood in terms of crime that I was over the moon to hear of this potential move to a super safe part of town for Napa's children.
Lastly, as business owners, we understand the reality of the lack of quality childcare in Napa County and the soaring costs for our employees. It's been such a struggle for us that we've considered offering nanny services for our teammates who simply can not find childcare here. It's becoming harder and harder for hospitality and service staff to live in or near Napa and commute to work. This is a crisis for our community and expanding enrollment at a quality childcare provider is so needed. I was thrilled to learn LPE was going to grow a bit to help more children and families in Napa.
I could go on and on about my love for LPE and this addition to Alta Heights, but know there are countless other parents who are sending in similar letters of support.
If you have any questions or concerns or would like to discuss anything at all pertaining to our experience with LPE or Alta Heights, please do not hesitate to reach out. Otherwise, our family plans to be there in support at the meeting on 5/21.
With gratitude,
Megan
Megan Robinson Kloberdanz
Interior & Experience Design | Art Director
310.625.5742
onehopewine.com
20/20 COLLECTIVE WAITLIST
From:
Angela Alvarez-Cendejas
To:
Clerk
Subject:
FW: LPE School
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 2:51:47 PM
Hello,
Please see the letter of support for the PL23-0159 Le Petit (UP) (Appeal).
Please let me know if you have any questions!
Best,
Angela Alvarez-Cendejas
Assistant Planner
Planning Division
Community Development Department, City of Napa
1600 First Street, Napa, CA 94559
Direct: 707-257-9639 | Main: 707-257-9530
E: [email protected]
-----Original Message-----
From: Stacy Wells
Sent: Friday, May 17, 2024 2:25 PM
To: Angela Alvarez-Cendejas <[email protected]>
Subject: LPE School
[EXTERNAL]
>
>
Good afternoon,
>
> I am writing on behalf of our family here in Napa. Our little grandson is now a fifth generation Napa born child. >
> We have been in this valley for many generations and have been business owners. This is our home and will continue to be for his family as well.
>
> After having raised our families here, and now, our grandson, I cannot tell you how important it is, that families in this community have a safe preschool to send their children. There is a serious lack of childcare in this city. >
> La petite elephant provides a very vital and quality education
and care facility for the most important of our
citizens, our infant and young children.
>
> I urge this office and the committees involved to please approve what is a vital and necessary part of this community.
>
> Please feel free to reach out to us for any questions
And please know that we will continue to be very vocal about getting the school approved.
>
> Regards,
>
> The Woodrow Duckhorn Weinert Family
>
From:
Michelle Gracheff
To:
Clerk
Subject:
LPE Permit Approval | Letter of Support
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 2:59:49 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Dear Members of the Napa City Council,
I am writing to express my strong support for the Use Permit for LPE’s new Child Development Center, which has recently come under appeal by a small group of neighbors in Alta Heights calling themselves the "Alta Heights Neighborhood Coalition." As you are aware, our community unanimously approved this permit, recognizing the critical need for family and child-oriented activities in Napa. It is deeply concerning that a vocal minority is attempting to derail a project that holds such immense value for our families and children.
The Alta Heights Neighborhood Coalition's relentless opposition to this project overlooks the profound need for more family-friendly activities and affordable recreational options in Napa. The proposed Child Development Center is designed to be a vital resource for families, offering safe and engaging environments where children can learn, play, and grow, and where parents can connect and socialize. These are exactly the kinds of services and activities that our community desperately needs and that have been in short supply.
Denying this project on the grounds posed by this small group not only disregards the findings of professional studies and expert opinions but also ignores the broader community’s support and the benefits this center will bring to Napa families. The actions of this coalition represent a classic "Not In My Backyard" (NIMBY) mentality that hinders progress and the well-being of our community as a whole.
I urge the City Council to stand firm in support of the unanimously approved Use Permit for the LPE Child Development Center. Let us move forward with this essential project that promises to enrich the lives of countless families and children in Napa. The benefits far outweigh the baseless objections raised, and it is imperative that we prioritize the needs of our community over the unfounded concerns of a few.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I trust that you will make the right decision for the future of our families and children in Napa.
Sincerely,
Michelle & Christopher Gracheff
Parents of Isabella, enrolled at LPE.
From:
Dustin Boss
To:
Clerk
Cc:
Angela Alvarez-Cendejas
Subject:
Le Petit Elephant’s proposal for 15 Chapel Hill Drive
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 3:04:12 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Please see the letter below to be shared with the planning commission for the upcoming meeting regarding Le Petit Elephant’s proposal for 15 Chapel Hill Drive.
Thank you,
Dustin Boss
--
Dear Planning Commission,
We are writing in strong support of the proposal for Le Petit Elephant’s (LPE) child care facility to be located at 15 Chapel Hill Drive.
We have been sending our four-year-old daughter to LPE for the past year, and we have nothing but wonderful things to say about the organization and its staff. In our experience, it has been a very well-run and responsible preschool that our daughter loves.
We moved to Napa one year ago, and we’ve been thrilled to find such a vibrant community of parents and families. That community is bolstered by work that LPE does to create, sponsor, and promote family-friendly events in the area. LPE has been the center of our Napa social network.
LPE-sponsored events fill a necessary gap in the available family-friendly activities in the city of Napa. Napa has fantastic public facilities, like parks and playgrounds, but when it comes to kid-friendly businesses, we find ourselves leaving town. With a more robust facility, we would be excited to see how much more value LPE could add.
Over the years, LPE has established a strong reputation in the community as a top-performing preschool, and we believe that they have much more to offer. We enthusiastically support their opportunity to expand their services, both for the sake of their students, as well as all Napa parents who would be excited to have additional activity and childcare options.
We have seen first-hand the extraordinary amount of work the LPE staff puts into creating an excellent child care and educational opportunity, and we have no doubt they will put that same level of effort into being a responsible and considerate neighbor to all those in Alta Heights.
Sincerely,
Dustin and Jen Boss
COMMUNITY
RESOURCES
FOR
CHILDREN
May
1 7
,
2024
To
the
Coun
cil
of
the City of
Napa
:
I
am
writing
in
support
of
the
establishment
of
an
early
care
and
education
site,
Le
Petit
Elephant
Nursery
and
Pres
-
school, at 15 Chapel Hill Dr.
As Napa County’s only Resource and Referral agency, Community Resources for Children has been providing resources
for
the
early
care
and
education
of
children,
monitoring
the
supply
and
demand
of
childcare,
as
well
as
advocating
on
behalf
of
children
and
families
in
the
local
community
for
over
46 years.
We know
that
childcare
is
essential to our economy and to the wellbeing of our community.
Our clients are low
-
to
-
moderate income, working parents who are employed in Napa County’s essential industries: hospitality, wine agriculture, elderly care, and construction. Our clients support Napa’s thriving economy yet struggle to afford
childcare
in the area
,
especially
infant slots
.
Our
community
only
has
1 licensed
childcare
slot
for
every
10 infants
who
need
care.
Napa
desperately needs more infant slots. Le
Petit Elephant
Nursery and Pre
-
school is an existing and successful childcare business in the City of Napa, and their new site at 15 Chapel Hill Dr. will provide a solution to working parents who are currently unable to find childcare. Many of these parent
s cannot find infant care and often drop out of the workforce or the family moves away. In the new proposed site, Le Petit Elephant will increase their infant capacity by at least
25 slots and their preschool capaci
ty
by 40+ slots. This is an opportunity for the City of Napa to make a significant dent in the childcare supply of our community, allowing working families to continue to work.
Furthermore,
Napa
lacks space
s where families with
young children can g
ather and build
community
.
T
he
a
ncillary uses
that Le Petit
Elephant
propose
s
ar
e also needed
in our community as
families
often
must
drive
to other counties
to enjoy
these spaces
with their young children.
C
ommunity
Resources
for
Children
firmly
supports
Le Petit El
ephant
’
s proposal
. Doing so would allow parents to
work and children to thrive, protecting the social and economic wellbeing of our children and families while ensuring the health and sustainability of our
community
.
Sincerely,
Erika
Lubensky
Executive
Director
On
behalf
of
Community
Resources
for
Children
Community
Resources
for
Children
provides
adults
who
care
for
children
with
the
knowledge,
tools and resources so that children thrive and continue to learn.
3299 CLAREMONT WAY, SUITE 1
NAPA, CA 94558
-
3382
PHONE: 707
-
253
-
0376
1 -
800
-
696
-
4CRC
FAX: 707
-
253
-
2735
E
-
MAIL:
WWW.CRCNAPA.ORG
5 /1
7 /2024
Subject: Support for
Le Petit Elephant to operate
at 15 Chapel Hill Drive
, Napa
Dear Members of the
City Council
,
I am writing to express my strong support for the proposal to establish the
childcare
facility, Le Petit Elephant (LPE), at 15 Chapel Hill Drive. As a parent with two children attendee LPE
I have personally experienced the invaluable impact of having reliable childcare services in Napa on my family and career.
Having access to
the
high
-
quality childcare at LPE has been vital for me and my family.
It has provided both my husband and me with the peace of mind and assurance that our children are in a safe and
nurturing environment while we pursue our professional
careers and ability to afford to live in the beautiful Napa Valley. Without the presence of LPE, finding reliable childcare, in particular infant care for children under the age of two that meets the
standards set by LPE would have been an incredibly stressful and challenging task.
When we had our first son in 2021 my husband was in school to become a Physician
A
ssistant and I needed to go back to work to continue supporting our family.
With no
family living locally, we could not have made this possible had we not been able to find childcare for our son at 4 months of age. Now both of our children go to LPE and we are both working for Napa based companies contributing to our community.
My family resides in the Terrace neighborhood below Alta Heights and our children will attend the Alta Heights Elementary school. To have this childcare facility and the children’s community spaces would be life changing and would drastically improve our quality of life. The severe lack of spaces that are dedicated to children and families in Napa is a contributing factor to the diminishing number of families choosing to live here.
These spaces would provide locations for extracurricular activities that are desperately
needed to help keep our kids safe and
active.
Developers come before city planning and the council every week seeking to construct and develop new buildings and the vast majority are winery
or hospitality related. You
are also faced with residence resisting these projects who are upset that Napa is becoming overdeveloped. On top of being a sustainable project environmentally, this is the council’s chance to show the community of young famil ies and those hostile towards
new development that they are willing to approve projects that don’t require any demolition and new construction and positively impact the families who live here. I can’t think of an easier decision.
Investing in
families and children like the project
LPE
is submitting
is crucial for the well
-
being of families in Napa. It not only supports working parents like us but also contributes to the overall development and future success of our children. By providing a supportive and enriching environment for our little ones, we
are investing in the future
of our community.
I urge the Napa
City Council
to approve the establishment of the new childcare facility
and community spaces for
LPE
on Chapel Hill.
Your support will not only benefit families
like mine but also demonstrate Napa's commitment to prioritizing the needs of its residents.
Thank you for considering my input on this important matter. I look forward to seeing the positive impact that the
new
facility will have on our community.
Sincerely,
Allison Wilson
From:
Toni Rasavong
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Permit Approval: Le Petit Elephant Nursery and Preschool Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 3:24:46 PM
[
Hello,
I am writing to share my experience and advocate for Le Petit Elephant Nursery and Preschool (LPE) within our community. LPE enriches lives and enhances the fabric of our community in profound ways. It is more than just a childcare facility; it is a cornerstone for nurturing our youngest citizens and fostering a sense of community spirit.
Early Childhood Development:
LPE provides a nurturing environment where children can flourish emotionally, socially, and cognitively. Access to high-quality early childhood education is invaluable, laying the foundation for lifelong learning and development, setting our children on a trajectory for success.
Convenience and Accessibility:
LPE offers convenient childcare services for working parents like me, catering to children aged 0-5. The new facility would help scale resources/support with a venue that also
can also provide services for children up to 12 year olds. This helps bridge the gap in childcare for older children and allows parents to enjoy important aspects of life, such as date nights. The proximity of the facility reduces commute times, alleviating the stress associated with balancing work and childcare responsibilities. Additionally, the lack of traffic jams around pick-up times further enhances convenience. By serving families within our community, LPE contributes to a more inclusive and supportive environment for all residents.
Affordable Childcare:
The importance of affordable childcare cannot be overstated. It allows parents to pursue their careers and educational goals, knowing their children are in a safe and nurturing environment. Affordable childcare services like those provided by LPE make it possible for more families to thrive economically and socially, ensuring that all children, regardless of their background, have access to high-quality early education.
Affordable Indoor Birthday Venues:
Finding affordable indoor birthday venues is a
significant concern for many families, especially in areas with harsh weather or limited outdoor space. LPE addresses this issue by providing a safe and welcoming environment for children's celebrations, making it easier for families to create memorable experiences without the financial strain. This enhances the community by offering a venue where families can come together and celebrate important milestones.
Community Engagement:
Le Petit Elephant serves as more than just a place for children; it is a hub for community engagement. Through events such as gardening, Halloween parades, and cultural celebrations like Lunar New Year and St. Patrick's Day, they foster connections among families and promote a sense of belonging. By actively involving parents in their children's education, LPE strengthens family bonds and creates a supportive network for caregivers.
Economic Growth:
Investing in early childhood education is beneficial not only for families
but also for the local economy. By enabling parents to participate in the workforce, Le Petit Elephant contributes to increased productivity and economic growth. Moreover, as a reputable institution, it attracts families to our community, boosting demand for local goods and services. Additionally, LPE provides teachers with a living wage, ensuring that educators are valued and supported, which in turn enhances the quality of education provided.
Educational Excellence:
LPE prioritizes educational excellence, employing qualified educators and implementing evidence-based teaching methods. By offering a curriculum that emphasizes holistic development, including academics, social skills, and creative expression, they prepare children for future academic success and equip them with the skills needed to thrive in an ever-changing world.
In conclusion, Le Petit Elephant Nursery and Preschool brings immense value to my life as a parent and to our community as a whole. I am deeply invested in my child's well-being and future success, and I have come to understand the profound impact that early education has on his development. LPE supports reading with an on-site borrowed book library, nurtures curiosity through outdoor play and educational toys, fosters resilience by teaching self-care skills, and empowers children to become compassionate and confident individuals. Witnessing the transformative growth my child has experienced from 6 months to nearly 2 1/2 years old reaffirms my belief that it takes a village to raise a child. LPE is part of my village and a village for many parents. LPE is doing an outstanding job with its current resources and location, consistently providing excellent support for the community. I have no doubt that with the planned expansion and extended hours, they will be able to enhance their services even further. This will allow them to reach more people in need and offer a greater variety of support, making an even more significant impact on our community.
Thank you,
Toni Rasavong
S
av
anna
Petri
3/15/2024
S
ubject:
S
upport
f
or
Le Petit
E
lephant
C
hildcare Facility's
Relocation
To whom this may concern
,
I am
wr
iting to express
m
y
s
trong support
for
Le Petit
E
lephant
Childcare Facility
a
nd their
u
pc
oming move to a
new
location.
A
s
a concerned
c
itizen and a parent,
I bel
ieve that
qua
lity
c
hildcar
e
services
ar
e essential
f
or
t
he
well
-b
eing and
d
evelopment
of our
c
hildren,
and I
a
m
c
onfident
t
hat
t
he relocation of
Le Petit
E
lephant
w
ill
gr
eatly
benefit
our
community.
Le P
etit
E
lephant
has
been
a
tr
usted
and
reputable
childcare
facility
in
our
ar
ea
for
m
any
years.
Their
c
ommitment
t
o providing a safe,
nur
turing,
and
educ
ational
en
vironm
ent
f
or
c
hildren has
earned them
t
he respect
and admiration of
par
ents
a
nd caregivers
al
ike.
T
he facility
's
ded
icated staff
members
g
o above and beyond to
ensure that
ea
ch
c
hild receives
t
he attention and care they
des
er
ve,
f
ostering their
gr
owth and preparing them
f
or
f
uture success.
O
ur
t
hree year
o
ld has
bee
n
t
here
from
11 months.
In
addition,
we
have
one
on
the
way
that
will
start in
August.
We
have
full
trust
that
M
illi Pintacsi and
her
dedicated
staff
care for
our
children
just
like
their
own.
The decision to relocate Le Petit
E
lephant
t
o a new,
m
ore spacious
l
ocation is
a testament
t
o their
c
om
m
itm
ent
t
o
c
ontinuous
i
mprovement.
T
his
move will
allow
t
hem
t
o expand their
c
apacity
and
s
erve a larger
nu
mber
of
f
am
ilies
i
n our
c
ommunity.
By
pr
oviding additional
s
pots
f
or
c
hildren in need
o
f
qual
ity
c
hildc
ar
e,
Le
Petit
E
lephant
will
h
elp alleviate the growing demand for
s
uch services,
ensur
ing
that
work
ing
par
ents
have
access
to
reliable
and
trustworthy
care
for
their
children.
Fur
thermore,
t
he new
location of
Le Petit
E
lephant
w
ill
of
fer
enha
nced facilities
and r
esour
ces,
enabling them
t
o
pr
ovide an even higher
s
tandard of
c
are.
W
ith larger
pl
ay
ar
eas,
upd
ated lear
ning
m
aterials,
and
im
proved safety
m
easures,
t
he facility
w
ill
c
reate an environment
t
hat
pr
omotes
exploration,
c
r
eativ
ity,
and
s
ocial
i
nteraction
am
ong the c
hildren.
T
his
i
nvestment
i
n our
c
hildren's
early
education
will
undoubtedly
have
a
positive
and
lasting
im
pact
on
their
future
development.
This new location houses areas that will be beneficial to families that are looking for local activities for their children. As of now, Napa lacks child friendly recreation for ages 0-12 years. We are constantly looking for ways to get out and engage our child with activities suitable for her, but we must drive to out of town locations just to find anything worth while.
I know traffic is a concern for those opposed to LPEs new location, but in 3 years of dropping off and picking up my child at LPE, I have never encountered a traffic back-up. I have always been able to find a parking spot in the mornings and afternoons at peak times, and not once have I ever had to wait in line. The neighborhood that LPE currently resides has small, congested streets, and never has there been concerns with neighbors or parents over traffic.
Without affordable childcare in the local area, I would have to quit my job and care for my children while my husband works. We live in a home that requires 2 incomes, and to provide the basic necessities our children need to thrive, we would have to continue with our 2 income household. We would not be able to afford to live in Napa if one of us has to stop working.
I
k
indly
r
eques
t
y
our
s
upport
i
n advocating for
t
he successful
r
eloc
ati
on
of
Le Petit
E
lephant
Childcar
e
Facility.
Y
our
e
ndorsement
of
t
his
mov
e
will
c
arry
s
ignificant
w
eight
a
nd help ens
ur
e that
the necess
ary
p
ermits
an
d
appr
ovals
ar
e obtained in a timely
m
anner.
B
y
s
upporting the growth and
e
xpansion of
Le Petit
E
lephant,
y
ou will
be championing the well
-b
eing of
our
com
munity's
c
hildren
a
nd
s
upporting
work
ing
families
who
rely
on
quality
c
hildcare
services.
Thank
you for
your attention to this
matter. I am
confident that with your support, Le Petit Elephant's
r
elocation
will be a r
es
ounding success, benefiting our community and the children it serves. I would
be
gr
ateful for
any
updates
o
r
a
ctions
y
ou
t
ake
r
egar
ding
t
his
i
ss
ue.
P
leas
e do not
hes
itate to contact
me if
y
ou requir
e
any
f
urther
i
nformation or
i
f
I c
an be of
as
sistance
i
n any
way.
I appr
ec
iate your
ded
ication to our
c
ommunity
a
nd your
c
ommitment
t
o improving the
l
ives
of
its
residents.
Your
s
s
inc
erely,
S
av
anna
and
Remi
Petri
From:
Anastasia Vizcarra
To:
Clerk
;
Scott Sedgley
;
[email protected]
Subject:
In Support of Le Petit Elephant"s Use Permit
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 4:02:15 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Dear Mayor, Napa Clerk, and Council Member,
I was in attendance with my two toddlers during the April 4th town hall meeting in support of Le Petit Elephant’s (LPE) permit. I continue to stand behind and support LPE for our continued fight for childcare. With the already limited resources in childcare in Napa Valley many working mothers like myself find it difficult to focus and excel in our careers. I work to be able to support and feed my small family. My kids are enrolled at LPE to build structure and get a head start on early childhood education as this is a critical stage in their growth.
My children have only started childcare as of September 2023 and since then LPE has made a significant impact in our lives. My children’s social/communication skills and wealth of knowledge since beginning childcare are outstanding. We’ve been quickly welcomed to the LPE Village and have already been invited and attended many birthday parties. Not only has LPE given me the opportunity to have a career, but it’s provided our family with a fun, safe, supportive community with other parents/families that we’ve connected with.
Please help LPE give other families/working mother’s whose children are not already enrolled in childcare the same opportunities we’ve been given. Napa’s economy will continue to grow when we are given the support and resources. We need affordable childcare. We need date nights. We need to be able to support our town, our people, the families, without such a big fight because 4 members of the ‘Atlas Peak Coalition’ want to control the neighborhood.
Please continue to approve LPE's permit.
Respectfully,
Anastasia Vizcarra
From:
Lia Tomczak
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Support for LPE Use Permit Approval
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 4:02:18 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Dear City Council Members,
I am writing to express my full support for the approval of the LPE use permit. As a
resident of Napa, I believe that this initiative will contribute positively to our community in
several ways.
Firstly, I want to highlight the pressing need for more child and family-friendly activities
tailored to children aged 0-12 during weekends in Napa. Too often, families like mine find
ourselves leaving the city in search of suitable activities. This not only takes away from the
local economy but also detracts from the sense of community within Napa.
Secondly, I would like to emphasize that, despite the potential concerns about traffic and
parking, I have never observed any significant congestion during school drop-off or pickup
times. In fact, the number of cars rarely exceeds ten vehicles.
Approving the LPE use permit aligns with our collective goal of fostering a vibrant and
inclusive community in Napa. It will provide much-needed recreational opportunities for
families and contribute to the overall well-being of our residents.
I urge the City Council to consider these points and move forward with the approval of the
LPE use permit. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Warm regards,
Lia Contursi
From:
Erin M. First
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Parents in support of Le Petit Elephant at 15 Chapel Hill Drive Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 4:25:19 PM
[EXTERNAL]
To the Napa City Council,
I'm writing in support of the proposed site for Le Petit Elephant at 15 Chapel Hill Drive. My daughter is about to turn two, and has been attending LPE since she was four months old. LPE has provided a vital lifeline that
has allowed my husband and I to remain in the workforce, while also providing an incredible community and important social and education engagement for our daughter.
The reality is that parents in Napa Valley are in a childcare crisis. There is only one childcare spot for every four children in the county, and most are for the ages 2 and over.
The lack of
availability and cost of childcare prevents parents like us from staying in the workforces so important to the local economy, and contributes longer-term to a lower birth rate and declining enrollment in our local school district.
Napa County is aging, and not allowing successful childcare facilities like LPE to expand
to
meet the demand prevents families (and their tax dollars) from staying in Napa Valley. I understand there is pushback from the surrounding community, with concerns regarding traffic, safety and other potential nuisances if LPE were to relocate to this site. I believe that LPE can address concerns around traffic and safety as effectively on 15 Chapel Hill as it has at its current location on Laurel Street.
I hope you'll join me in supporting the next generation of Napa natives by supporting this petition.
Best regards,
Erin & James Rosen
From:
Em
To:
[email protected]
;
Scott Sedgley
;
Beth Painter
;
Clerk
Subject:
LPE permit appeal
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 4:29:05 PM
[EXTERNAL]
To whom it may concern,
I write as a working parent of a 20 month child in Napa.
My husband and I have professional
careers and have a property in Browns valley - we pay considerable property taxes and regularly invest in the businesses and wineries in the area.
We moved here, from San Francisco, to build our family and invest in the community.
But we
have been both surprised and disappointed by the lack of investment into families and particularly under 5s.
To such an extent that we are considering moving out of Napa.
A lack of daycare places and facilities puts enormous pressure on parents (and their jobs) and worse, provides very limited opportunities to little growing minds. It is not unusual for my husband and I to drive upwards of an hour outside of Napa to expose our child to new experiences.
This is mind boggling to me given the wealth of this county and the number of families in Napa.
I recall some time ago that there is a limit on the number of air bnbs the city allows in order to preserve the community of napa.
Yet on the other hand, we don’t have enough daycares or facilities for young families - so do we really want a rounded community that includes families or not?
Miss Milli and her team provide thoughtful, kind and well mannered environments for children to thrive.
There could not be a better organization to take over this property and it will literally improve the lives of hundreds of people.
I will leave you with this:
As VP Hubert Humphrey said “It was once said that the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in dawn of life…children have much to offer society, if they are just given the chance and resources that they need to be successful”
Thank you for reading.
Respectfully,
Emily Peoples, Browns Valley
From:
Noah Lovitz-Wolfson
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Support high quality childcare and Le Petit Elephant
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 4:38:01 PM
[EXTERNAL]
To Whom it May Concern:
I am writing as a parent of a 4 year old currently attending Le Petit Elephant to support their efforts of opening a childcare center that will address some much needed things in Napa. My wife and I live in Napa while my parents are located on the East Coast. Being so far from family has made it incredibly difficult to raise a child with no family nearby to help. Enrolling our daughter at Le Petit Elephant has been one of the best decisions we have made and has provided much needed support both from a daily perspective so that we can work and also by providing monthly "date" nights that allow us to have some adult time to go out to eat and reconnect every once in a while.
Parenting is a 24/7 responsibility and It is a challenge to find family friendly things to do with young children in Napa. The proposed center for LPE would provide a place for us to take our child during the day but also a place to meet parents and other children on weekends and after hours occasionally. We find ourselves having to leave Napa almost every weekend to find activities that are family friendly. We drive to Sonoma to go to Train town or Vallejo to go to Jumpity Bumpity. There are very few places in Napa that we have found geared towards children so the idea of having a place in our neighborhood that could provide some of these services is not only incredibly exciting but would provide much needed mental health space for parents to reconnect with adults from time to time.
I urge you to support the development of this childcare center and to re-evaluate how the city approaches attracting and keeping families in the city of Napa.
Thank you,
Noah Lovitz-Wolfson
Napa Resident and Parent
ᐧ
From:
Joan Kisthardt
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Letter in support of LPE
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 4:39:31 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Hello,
I live in off of Terrace with my husband and my 4 year old daughter. We moved to Napa in 2020 and have been traveling outside of Napa to find activities for my daughter. We often drive to Sonoma for Train Town, Fairfield for a jumping gym, and Santa Rosa for the children's museum. While Napa has some playgrounds and
private businesses for children, it
lacks other activities
for children and some of these businesses are prohibitively expensive (I was recently
quoted nearly $1000 for a two hour children's birthday party by a Napa business).
In addition to being a mother, I have a master degree in city planning and I am very familiar with what it takes to make a liveable city and a healthy, diverse community.
I'm writing in support of the new location of LPE. I know some neighbors are worried about traffic but I live in Coombsville and I am a former resident of Alta Heights. I drive through the 5 way intersection almost every day. I do not believe traffic will be significantly
impacted (as
the traffic study conducted recently concluded). Additionally, the location is in a neighborhood and if we attend summer camps and other activities
there, we will be biking or
walking there from our house, as I'm sure other families will do.
Childcare and activities for children are difficult to find locally, especially at reasonable prices. LPE's proposal will provide much needed services for families and attract more families to the area which will increase the diversity of ages in Napa. As my daughter transitions to TK in the fall, I am nervous about finding summer camp options for her and I would be thrilled to send her to LPE in Alta Heights.
My daughter
has attended
LPE for two years and has thrived! She loves the teachers and I'm glad they are paid a living wage. They adore my daughter and I hope she can continue to be a part of the LPE family for years to come. Please show your support for working parents in Napa and approve this location for LPE. Thank you!
Joan Kisthardt
From:
Joana Beas
To:
Clerk
Subject:
LPE support letter permit application
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 2:13:47 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Hi my name is Joana Beas. I am a parent who has two children that attend LPE an infant and a toddler. The programs at LPE have been such a great help. Our kids, my partner & I have learned a lot being apart of the LPE community. The kids have wonderful teachers that are very loving and caring for the children at LPE. LPE has helped my daughter learn so much such as ASL, counting her numbers, Spanish, and saying full sentences. The teachers are great and there is great communication as well as Milli. Milli is very caring and knowledgeable about the children at LPE. The LPE community has helped us through so many things such as teething, eating solids, and communication. We have also been lucky to get financial aid to be able to afford childcare. There has never been traffic getting into LPE or out of LPE. A lot of people will benefit off of this, not just childcare but the whole community.
From:
Marisol Ruiz
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Le Petit Elephant Nursery and Preschool
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 2:20:14 PM
[EXTERNAL]
To Whom It May Concern,
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to draw your attention to the importance of reliable childcare for working parents. As a single parent, I have been actively seeking high-quality childcare options to ensure the safety and well-being of my daughter. I feel fortunate to have found Le Petit Elephant Nursery and Preschool, which has provided excellent care for my daughter.
The operating hours of LPE are ideal for my current job schedule, and losing this care for my daughter would have a significant impact on my family both financially and emotionally. I received LPE Financial Aid assistance. When LPE offered me the financial aid it was such a reliable because I knew that my daughter was going to be able to attend a high quality care. I am grateful for all the support not only financially but also emotionally that they have provided our family. I am grateful too for the exceptional staff at LPE who have created a loving environment that has allowed my daughter to excel in her development. Their friendly and attentive care has led to a remarkable improvement in her performance and overall development since enrolling her at LPE.
Another thing I would like to mention is that my kids and are excited to know that with this new facility they will have a safe place to play or have a birthday party indoors. Both of my kids birthdays are in November (cold weather) and the lack of affordable places to hold an indoor birthday party for a young child under 5 years old in Napa.
Every day, my daughter wakes up excited to attend "school," as she calls it, and returns home happy and content. It brings me immense relief to leave my daughter in a place where she feels happy and loved.
Le Petit Elephant deserve a forever home.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
From:
Lucie Brunetiere
To:
Clerk
Cc:
[email protected]
;
Mary Luros
;
Jean-Baptiste Laumond
Subject:
In support of LPE"s expansion project
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 2:20:48 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Dear Madam, dear Sir,
This email is to support
the LPE's new Child Development Center.
We arrived from Paris, France to Napa in October 2022 so that I could seize a formidable opportunity to work in one of
the top Napa Valley Wineries.
When I was presented with this career opportunity, one of the only negative factor was the lack of daycare
options in Napa - notorious even in Paris...- which is of great significance when you come from a country where finding affordable and qualitative daycare is not an issue.
When Milli texted me that we could have a spot at LPE a few months after our arrival, we were relieved. Since then, our son has been thriving. This also allows my husband to work as a substitute
teacher for the NVUSD.
We can only support LPE's project to provide daycare opportunities to more kids and to offer
more activities during the weekend. We are members of all the Children's Museums of the region which means that we have to drive at least an hour each way to be able to provide some fun activities to our child.
We are not US citizens and therefore cannot vote. But I can assure you that providing qualitative daycare and infrastructure for kids is a key factor for the economic attraction of your region and for the wine industry to be able to attract talent from around the world.
Many thanks for your attention,
Best regards,
Lucie Brunetiere
From:
Allie Emerson
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Le Petit Elephant Nursery & Preschool Permit- Letter
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 2:29:40 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Good afternoon,
I am writing this email in support of the permit for LPE to expand its program and relocate to Alta Heights. My daughter Liliana Redford attends LPE and started there when she was 8 months old. Leaving your child with anyone is extremely difficult, but the love and attention given to my daughter eased my anxious heart. My husband and I are so grateful for LPE and the staff that care for our little girl. She is thriving and we know it is largely due to their commitment to solid childhood development and creating an environment safe for these little ones to discover who they are.
Finding reliable child care is SO incredibly difficult in Napa. I was stressed the moment I found out I was pregnant.
After researching and touring LPE, we knew it was the perfect balance of fun and education for Liliana. LPE is truly a community and my daughter has bonded with the teachers and the kiddos she has grown up with- it is not uncommon that she doesn’t want to leave at the end of the day. I can’t express the relief it is to have a kiddo so happy at their school and you don’t fear dropping them off when it is time for work. It is not often you walk the halls of a school and all the teachers/ Director know each and every child.
Personally I have witnessed many close friends struggle to find childcare and some had to take a break from their career with no other options.
Without LPE, I would not be able to contribute to the workforce here in Napa Valley as I would need to stay home with Liliana. It is because of LPE, I am able to keep my job and therefore my daughter will grow up and know that she can be both a mother and a working professional should she choose. I only hope she has a community that understands and empathizes with working parents, and they come together to try and find solutions, just as Milli has, for our future generations.
Without a doubt, Napa needs more childcare- especially a program like LPE which puts the needs, safety, and development of these kids above all else.
I hope the committee can see the serious need here and how much this school means to so many of us.
With gratitude,
Allie & Matt Redford
Sent from my iPhone
From:
Lauren Skuchas
To:
Clerk
Cc:
S Heffran
;
[email protected]
Subject:
LPE SUPPORTER
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 2:42:40 PM
[EXTERNAL]
This is a note begging for the approval of the new LPE site.
My husband and I moved to Napa 2 years ago when expecting our daughter. We have been FLOORED by this community's lack of resources and attention to families with children.
Finding childcare for two working parents was a grueling process with very few options, we were lucky enough to be accepted to LPE and took a spot before I was even back to work with an income in fear that there wouldn't be availability once I accepted a job.
LPE has been a wonderful place to help raise our young daughter... that's right - RAISE.
Children
spend more awake hours with their teachers than their parents and LPE takes that responsibility seriously. They are one of the few (seems like the only) preschool options with curriculum and continuous teacher education to provide a solid educational and emotional foundation for their students.
When my daughter was confirmed to have significant
gross motor delays, it was Millie who
called us with her findings and personally made introductions to professionals who could help us, scared first-time parents. That experience would not have happened without her education, decades of experience, local network, and dedication to all the families at LPE.
This new site will be able to increase the number of families that LPE supports and expand their offerings to include other challenges like summer camp and after-school care, all concerns and why my husband (a local hotel owner) and I find it difficult to see a future for our family in Napa Valley.
This should be a simple decision.
LH
--
Lauren A. Skuchas
From:
Brooke Winther
To:
Clerk
Subject:
LPE support
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 2:44:34 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Good afternoon,
I wanted to send a note in support the new LPE location.
LPE has been a safe haven for my son for 2 years and we would love for them to have this new facility.
There has never been any traffic getting in and out of Lpe at literally any time of day. It’s always so easy to get in and out.
We would also love a new facility to give Napa families a place for education and outdoor activities on the weekends. Napa is very much lacking ruses type of places.
We hope to see it happen!
Cheers,
Fenwick Family
Sent from my iPhone
From:
Tyler S.
To:
Clerk
Subject:
LPE
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 2:47:14 PM
[EXTERNAL]
To Whom it may concern,
My wife and I looked for some time before finding LPE for our daughter's child care, where she currently attends.
She actually was somewhere else prior, so we could
recognize the superior organization, care and attention given to the little ones at LPE.
She always feels safe and stimulated.
As physicians, we need reliable child care to
do our jobs here in the community of
Napa
.
We hope you can support high-quality
child care here in
Napa
by helping them find the right long-term home.
We wouldn't
be able to take care of our community without it, and our daughter will be a better growing member of our town because
of it.
We have
heard of arguments against
including flimsy retorts of theoretical traffic jams or parking issues, which we have never witnessed in 3 years around LPE. Lastly, we know that LPE pays their teachers a real living wage which allows much needed teachers to live and work here, truly changing our future generation of Napans.
Thanks,
Tyler Street and Kate Kent
From:
Meg Robinson Kloberdanz
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Support for LPE"s Proposed New Location
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 2:51:10 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Hello!
My name is Megan Robinson and my husband and I have a two year old son, Jack who is currently enrolled at LPE in their
daycare program with plans to continue
through Pre-K. We also own two homes in Alta Heights (on E. 1st Street that my parents reside in, and Clark Street where we raise our son). We've been really tuned into this project as it impacts our family in multiple ways and have been discouraged by the negativity surrounding this potential move for LPE into the space approved with resounding, unanimous support of the Planning Commission.
LPE has been an absolute godsend for our family. As a first-time mother, the thought of leaving our son in the
care of someone outside of our family was terrifying and I know this is common for parents everywhere. The only thing that put my mind at ease was the curriculum, compassion, expertise, and support of Milli and the staff at LPE. The team there is extraordinary - the love and dedication they have for the children is palpable, and seeing our son develop and flourish as a result of their care is the greatest gift a mother could imagine. I was thrilled to learn that he would potentially soon be a little closer to us throughout the day and this move seemed to reflect the values of this neighborhood we've called home since moving to Napa in 2016 - compassionate and child-friendly with the school and multiple parks for children to play.
Therefore, the vitriol in opposition to this seemingly perfect move was nothing short of shocking and there were a few points that kept coming up over and over again in public forums that I'd like to address:
1) Traffic concerns: While the attendance is (slightly) lower at LPE in the current location, I have NEVER experienced a surge of traffic consisting of more than 5 or 6 cars in the parking lot at once. Due to staggered drop-offs and no concrete start and end time like in elementary-high school, there simply is not a huge surge of traffic all at once. After discussions with many neighbors, I think *some* of them might finally understand this. The jarring vision of 250 drop-offs all at once is simply not a reality
.
2) Noise: We lived in our home on E. 1st Street directly across from the elementary school for seven years before we outgrew our home and needed some more space for our growing family. Even before having children of my own, hearing the kids on recess (louder than the noise level at LPE) was never a disturbance. If anything, it was such a joy to hear sweet voices periodically throughout the day. We aren't talking about adding a bar or restaurant to the neighborhood. Are we really concerned with the sounds of children learning and exploring their surroundings?
3) Safety: This concern has been addressed by experts at the Fire Department in terms of evacuations and life safety so I will defer to their findings, but Alta Heights is such a safe neighborhood in terms of crime that I was over the moon to hear of this potential move to a super safe part of town for Napa's children.
Lastly, as business owners, we understand the reality of the lack of quality childcare in Napa County and the soaring costs for our employees. It's been such a struggle for us that we've considered offering nanny services for our teammates who simply can not find childcare here. It's becoming harder and harder for hospitality and service staff to live in or near Napa and commute to work. This is a crisis for our community and expanding enrollment at a quality childcare provider is so needed. I was thrilled to learn LPE was going to grow a bit to help more children and families in Napa.
I could go on and on about my love for LPE and this addition to Alta Heights, but know there are countless other parents who are sending in similar letters of support.
If you have any questions or concerns or would like to discuss anything at all pertaining to our experience with LPE or Alta Heights, please do not hesitate to reach out. Otherwise, our family plans to be there in support at the meeting on 5/21.
With gratitude,
Megan
Megan Robinson Kloberdanz
Interior & Experience Design | Art Director
310.625.5742
onehopewine.com
20/20 COLLECTIVE WAITLIST
From:
Angela Alvarez-Cendejas
To:
Clerk
Subject:
FW: LPE School
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 2:51:47 PM
Hello,
Please see the letter of support for the PL23-0159 Le Petit (UP) (Appeal).
Please let me know if you have any questions!
Best,
Angela Alvarez-Cendejas
Assistant Planner
Planning Division
Community Development Department, City of Napa
1600 First Street, Napa, CA 94559
Direct: 707-257-9639 | Main: 707-257-9530
E: [email protected]
-----Original Message-----
From: Stacy Wells
Sent: Friday, May 17, 2024 2:25 PM
To: Angela Alvarez-Cendejas <[email protected]>
Subject: LPE School
[EXTERNAL]
>
>
Good afternoon,
>
> I am writing on behalf of our family here in Napa. Our little grandson is now a fifth generation Napa born child. >
> We have been in this valley for many generations and have been business owners. This is our home and will continue to be for his family as well.
>
> After having raised our families here, and now, our grandson, I cannot tell you how important it is, that families in this community have a safe preschool to send their children. There is a serious lack of childcare in this city. >
> La petite elephant provides a very vital and quality education
and care facility for the most important of our
citizens, our infant and young children.
>
> I urge this office and the committees involved to please approve what is a vital and necessary part of this community.
>
> Please feel free to reach out to us for any questions
And please know that we will continue to be very vocal about getting the school approved.
>
> Regards,
>
> The Woodrow Duckhorn Weinert Family
>
From:
Michelle Gracheff
To:
Clerk
Subject:
LPE Permit Approval | Letter of Support
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 2:59:49 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Dear Members of the Napa City Council,
I am writing to express my strong support for the Use Permit for LPE’s new Child Development Center, which has recently come under appeal by a small group of neighbors in Alta Heights calling themselves the "Alta Heights Neighborhood Coalition." As you are aware, our community unanimously approved this permit, recognizing the critical need for family and child-oriented activities in Napa. It is deeply concerning that a vocal minority is attempting to derail a project that holds such immense value for our families and children.
The Alta Heights Neighborhood Coalition's relentless opposition to this project overlooks the profound need for more family-friendly activities and affordable recreational options in Napa. The proposed Child Development Center is designed to be a vital resource for families, offering safe and engaging environments where children can learn, play, and grow, and where parents can connect and socialize. These are exactly the kinds of services and activities that our community desperately needs and that have been in short supply.
Denying this project on the grounds posed by this small group not only disregards the findings of professional studies and expert opinions but also ignores the broader community’s support and the benefits this center will bring to Napa families. The actions of this coalition represent a classic "Not In My Backyard" (NIMBY) mentality that hinders progress and the well-being of our community as a whole.
I urge the City Council to stand firm in support of the unanimously approved Use Permit for the LPE Child Development Center. Let us move forward with this essential project that promises to enrich the lives of countless families and children in Napa. The benefits far outweigh the baseless objections raised, and it is imperative that we prioritize the needs of our community over the unfounded concerns of a few.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I trust that you will make the right decision for the future of our families and children in Napa.
Sincerely,
Michelle & Christopher Gracheff
Parents of Isabella, enrolled at LPE.
From:
Dustin Boss
To:
Clerk
Cc:
Angela Alvarez-Cendejas
Subject:
Le Petit Elephant’s proposal for 15 Chapel Hill Drive
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 3:04:12 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Please see the letter below to be shared with the planning commission for the upcoming meeting regarding Le Petit Elephant’s proposal for 15 Chapel Hill Drive.
Thank you,
Dustin Boss
--
Dear Planning Commission,
We are writing in strong support of the proposal for Le Petit Elephant’s (LPE) child care facility to be located at 15 Chapel Hill Drive.
We have been sending our four-year-old daughter to LPE for the past year, and we have nothing but wonderful things to say about the organization and its staff. In our experience, it has been a very well-run and responsible preschool that our daughter loves.
We moved to Napa one year ago, and we’ve been thrilled to find such a vibrant community of parents and families. That community is bolstered by work that LPE does to create, sponsor, and promote family-friendly events in the area. LPE has been the center of our Napa social network.
LPE-sponsored events fill a necessary gap in the available family-friendly activities in the city of Napa. Napa has fantastic public facilities, like parks and playgrounds, but when it comes to kid-friendly businesses, we find ourselves leaving town. With a more robust facility, we would be excited to see how much more value LPE could add.
Over the years, LPE has established a strong reputation in the community as a top-performing preschool, and we believe that they have much more to offer. We enthusiastically support their opportunity to expand their services, both for the sake of their students, as well as all Napa parents who would be excited to have additional activity and childcare options.
We have seen first-hand the extraordinary amount of work the LPE staff puts into creating an excellent child care and educational opportunity, and we have no doubt they will put that same level of effort into being a responsible and considerate neighbor to all those in Alta Heights.
Sincerely,
Dustin and Jen Boss
COMMUNITY
RESOURCES
FOR
CHILDREN
May
1 7
,
2024
To
the
Coun
cil
of
the City of
Napa
:
I
am
writing
in
support
of
the
establishment
of
an
early
care
and
education
site,
Le
Petit
Elephant
Nursery
and
Pres
-
school, at 15 Chapel Hill Dr.
As Napa County’s only Resource and Referral agency, Community Resources for Children has been providing resources
for
the
early
care
and
education
of
children,
monitoring
the
supply
and
demand
of
childcare,
as
well
as
advocating
on
behalf
of
children
and
families
in
the
local
community
for
over
46 years.
We know
that
childcare
is
essential to our economy and to the wellbeing of our community.
Our clients are low
-
to
-
moderate income, working parents who are employed in Napa County’s essential industries: hospitality, wine agriculture, elderly care, and construction. Our clients support Napa’s thriving economy yet struggle to afford
childcare
in the area
,
especially
infant slots
.
Our
community
only
has
1 licensed
childcare
slot
for
every
10 infants
who
need
care.
Napa
desperately needs more infant slots. Le
Petit Elephant
Nursery and Pre
-
school is an existing and successful childcare business in the City of Napa, and their new site at 15 Chapel Hill Dr. will provide a solution to working parents who are currently unable to find childcare. Many of these parent
s cannot find infant care and often drop out of the workforce or the family moves away. In the new proposed site, Le Petit Elephant will increase their infant capacity by at least
25 slots and their preschool capaci
ty
by 40+ slots. This is an opportunity for the City of Napa to make a significant dent in the childcare supply of our community, allowing working families to continue to work.
Furthermore,
Napa
lacks space
s where families with
young children can g
ather and build
community
.
T
he
a
ncillary uses
that Le Petit
Elephant
propose
s
ar
e also needed
in our community as
families
often
must
drive
to other counties
to enjoy
these spaces
with their young children.
C
ommunity
Resources
for
Children
firmly
supports
Le Petit El
ephant
’
s proposal
. Doing so would allow parents to
work and children to thrive, protecting the social and economic wellbeing of our children and families while ensuring the health and sustainability of our
community
.
Sincerely,
Erika
Lubensky
Executive
Director
On
behalf
of
Community
Resources
for
Children
Community
Resources
for
Children
provides
adults
who
care
for
children
with
the
knowledge,
tools and resources so that children thrive and continue to learn.
3299 CLAREMONT WAY, SUITE 1
NAPA, CA 94558
-
3382
PHONE: 707
-
253
-
0376
1 -
800
-
696
-
4CRC
FAX: 707
-
253
-
2735
E
-
MAIL:
WWW.CRCNAPA.ORG
5 /1
7 /2024
Subject: Support for
Le Petit Elephant to operate
at 15 Chapel Hill Drive
, Napa
Dear Members of the
City Council
,
I am writing to express my strong support for the proposal to establish the
childcare
facility, Le Petit Elephant (LPE), at 15 Chapel Hill Drive. As a parent with two children attendee LPE
I have personally experienced the invaluable impact of having reliable childcare services in Napa on my family and career.
Having access to
the
high
-
quality childcare at LPE has been vital for me and my family.
It has provided both my husband and me with the peace of mind and assurance that our children are in a safe and
nurturing environment while we pursue our professional
careers and ability to afford to live in the beautiful Napa Valley. Without the presence of LPE, finding reliable childcare, in particular infant care for children under the age of two that meets the
standards set by LPE would have been an incredibly stressful and challenging task.
When we had our first son in 2021 my husband was in school to become a Physician
A
ssistant and I needed to go back to work to continue supporting our family.
With no
family living locally, we could not have made this possible had we not been able to find childcare for our son at 4 months of age. Now both of our children go to LPE and we are both working for Napa based companies contributing to our community.
My family resides in the Terrace neighborhood below Alta Heights and our children will attend the Alta Heights Elementary school. To have this childcare facility and the children’s community spaces would be life changing and would drastically improve our quality of life. The severe lack of spaces that are dedicated to children and families in Napa is a contributing factor to the diminishing number of families choosing to live here.
These spaces would provide locations for extracurricular activities that are desperately
needed to help keep our kids safe and
active.
Developers come before city planning and the council every week seeking to construct and develop new buildings and the vast majority are winery
or hospitality related. You
are also faced with residence resisting these projects who are upset that Napa is becoming overdeveloped. On top of being a sustainable project environmentally, this is the council’s chance to show the community of young famil ies and those hostile towards
new development that they are willing to approve projects that don’t require any demolition and new construction and positively impact the families who live here. I can’t think of an easier decision.
Investing in
families and children like the project
LPE
is submitting
is crucial for the well
-
being of families in Napa. It not only supports working parents like us but also contributes to the overall development and future success of our children. By providing a supportive and enriching environment for our little ones, we
are investing in the future
of our community.
I urge the Napa
City Council
to approve the establishment of the new childcare facility
and community spaces for
LPE
on Chapel Hill.
Your support will not only benefit families
like mine but also demonstrate Napa's commitment to prioritizing the needs of its residents.
Thank you for considering my input on this important matter. I look forward to seeing the positive impact that the
new
facility will have on our community.
Sincerely,
Allison Wilson
From:
Toni Rasavong
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Permit Approval: Le Petit Elephant Nursery and Preschool Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 3:24:46 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Hello,
I am writing to share my experience and advocate for Le Petit Elephant Nursery and Preschool (LPE) within our community. LPE enriches lives and enhances the fabric of our community in profound ways. It is more than just a childcare facility; it is a cornerstone for nurturing our youngest citizens and fostering a sense of community spirit.
Early Childhood Development:
LPE provides a nurturing environment where children can flourish emotionally, socially, and cognitively. Access to high-quality early childhood education is invaluable, laying the foundation for lifelong learning and development, setting our children on a trajectory for success.
Convenience and Accessibility:
LPE offers convenient childcare services for working parents like me, catering to children aged 0-5. The new facility would help scale resources/support with a venue that also
can also provide services for children up to 12 year olds. This helps bridge the gap in childcare for older children and allows parents to enjoy important aspects of life, such as date nights. The proximity of the facility reduces commute times, alleviating the stress associated with balancing work and childcare responsibilities. Additionally, the lack of traffic jams around pick-up times further enhances convenience. By serving families within our community, LPE contributes to a more inclusive and supportive environment for all residents.
Affordable Childcare:
The importance of affordable childcare cannot be overstated. It allows parents to pursue their careers and educational goals, knowing their children are in a safe and nurturing environment. Affordable childcare services like those provided by LPE make it possible for more families to thrive economically and socially, ensuring that all children, regardless of their background, have access to high-quality early education.
Affordable Indoor Birthday Venues:
Finding affordable indoor birthday venues is a
significant concern for many families, especially in areas with harsh weather or limited outdoor space. LPE addresses this issue by providing a safe and welcoming environment for children's celebrations, making it easier for families to create memorable experiences without the financial strain. This enhances the community by offering a venue where families can come together and celebrate important milestones.
Community Engagement:
Le Petit Elephant serves as more than just a place for children; it is a hub for community engagement. Through events such as gardening, Halloween parades, and cultural celebrations like Lunar New Year and St. Patrick's Day, they foster connections among families and promote a sense of belonging. By actively involving parents in their children's education, LPE strengthens family bonds and creates a supportive network for caregivers.
Economic Growth:
Investing in early childhood education is beneficial not only for families
but also for the local economy. By enabling parents to participate in the workforce, Le Petit Elephant contributes to increased productivity and economic growth. Moreover, as a reputable institution, it attracts families to our community, boosting demand for local goods and services. Additionally, LPE provides teachers with a living wage, ensuring that educators are valued and supported, which in turn enhances the quality of education provided.
Educational Excellence:
LPE prioritizes educational excellence, employing qualified educators and implementing evidence-based teaching methods. By offering a curriculum that emphasizes holistic development, including academics, social skills, and creative expression, they prepare children for future academic success and equip them with the skills needed to thrive in an ever-changing world.
In conclusion, Le Petit Elephant Nursery and Preschool brings immense value to my life as a parent and to our community as a whole. I am deeply invested in my child's well-being and future success, and I have come to understand the profound impact that early education has on his development. LPE supports reading with an on-site borrowed book library, nurtures curiosity through outdoor play and educational toys, fosters resilience by teaching self-care skills, and empowers children to become compassionate and confident individuals. Witnessing the transformative growth my child has experienced from 6 months to nearly 2 1/2 years old reaffirms my belief that it takes a village to raise a child. LPE is part of my village and a village for many parents. LPE is doing an outstanding job with its current resources and location, consistently providing excellent support for the community. I have no doubt that with the planned expansion and extended hours, they will be able to enhance their services even further. This will allow them to reach more people in need and offer a greater variety of support, making an even more significant impact on our community.
Thank you,
Toni Rasavong
S
av
anna
Petri
3/15/2024
S
ubject:
S
upport
f
or
Le Petit
E
lephant
C
hildcare Facility's
Relocation
To whom this may concern
,
I am
wr
iting to express
m
y
s
trong support
for
Le Petit
E
lephant
Childcare Facility
a
nd their
u
pc
oming move to a
new
location.
A
s
a concerned
c
itizen and a parent,
I bel
ieve that
qua
lity
c
hildcar
e
services
ar
e essential
f
or
t
he
well
-b
eing and
d
evelopment
of our
c
hildren,
and I
a
m
c
onfident
t
hat
t
he relocation of
Le Petit
E
lephant
w
ill
gr
eatly
benefit
our
community.
Le P
etit
E
lephant
has
been
a
tr
usted
and
reputable
childcare
facility
in
our
ar
ea
for
m
any
years.
Their
c
ommitment
t
o providing a safe,
nur
turing,
and
educ
ational
en
vironm
ent
f
or
c
hildren has
earned them
t
he respect
and admiration of
par
ents
a
nd caregivers
al
ike.
T
he facility
's
ded
icated staff
members
g
o above and beyond to
ensure that
ea
ch
c
hild receives
t
he attention and care they
des
er
ve,
f
ostering their
gr
owth and preparing them
f
or
f
uture success.
O
ur
t
hree year
o
ld has
bee
n
t
here
from
11 months.
In
addition,
we
have
one
on
the
way
that
will
start in
August.
We
have
full
trust
that
M
illi Pintacsi and
her
dedicated
staff
care for
our
children
just
like
their
own.
The decision to relocate Le Petit
E
lephant
t
o a new,
m
ore spacious
l
ocation is
a testament
t
o their
c
om
m
itm
ent
t
o
c
ontinuous
i
mprovement.
T
his
move will
allow
t
hem
t
o expand their
c
apacity
and
s
erve a larger
nu
mber
of
f
am
ilies
i
n our
c
ommunity.
By
pr
oviding additional
s
pots
f
or
c
hildren in need
o
f
qual
ity
c
hildc
ar
e,
Le
Petit
E
lephant
will
h
elp alleviate the growing demand for
s
uch services,
ensur
ing
that
work
ing
par
ents
have
access
to
reliable
and
trustworthy
care
for
their
children.
Fur
thermore,
t
he new
location of
Le Petit
E
lephant
w
ill
of
fer
enha
nced facilities
and r
esour
ces,
enabling them
t
o
pr
ovide an even higher
s
tandard of
c
are.
W
ith larger
pl
ay
ar
eas,
upd
ated lear
ning
m
aterials,
and
im
proved safety
m
easures,
t
he facility
w
ill
c
reate an environment
t
hat
pr
omotes
exploration,
c
r
eativ
ity,
and
s
ocial
i
nteraction
am
ong the c
hildren.
T
his
i
nvestment
i
n our
c
hildren's
early
education
will
undoubtedly
have
a
positive
and
lasting
im
pact
on
their
future
development.
This new location houses areas that will be beneficial to families that are looking for local activities for their children. As of now, Napa lacks child friendly recreation for ages 0-12 years. We are constantly looking for ways to get out and engage our child with activities suitable for her, but we must drive to out of town locations just to find anything worth while.
I know traffic is a concern for those opposed to LPEs new location, but in 3 years of dropping off and picking up my child at LPE, I have never encountered a traffic back-up. I have always been able to find a parking spot in the mornings and afternoons at peak times, and not once have I ever had to wait in line. The neighborhood that LPE currently resides has small, congested streets, and never has there been concerns with neighbors or parents over traffic.
Without affordable childcare in the local area, I would have to quit my job and care for my children while my husband works. We live in a home that requires 2 incomes, and to provide the basic necessities our children need to thrive, we would have to continue with our 2 income household. We would not be able to afford to live in Napa if one of us has to stop working.
I
k
indly
r
eques
t
y
our
s
upport
i
n advocating for
t
he successful
r
eloc
ati
on
of
Le Petit
E
lephant
Childcar
e
Facility.
Y
our
e
ndorsement
of
t
his
mov
e
will
c
arry
s
ignificant
w
eight
a
nd help ens
ur
e that
the necess
ary
p
ermits
an
d
appr
ovals
ar
e obtained in a timely
m
anner.
B
y
s
upporting the growth and
e
xpansion of
Le Petit
E
lephant,
y
ou will
be championing the well
-b
eing of
our
com
munity's
c
hildren
a
nd
s
upporting
work
ing
families
who
rely
on
quality
c
hildcare
services.
Thank
you for
your attention to this
matter. I am
confident that with your support, Le Petit Elephant's
r
elocation
will be a r
es
ounding success, benefiting our community and the children it serves. I would
be
gr
ateful for
any
updates
o
r
a
ctions
y
ou
t
ake
r
egar
ding
t
his
i
ss
ue.
P
leas
e do not
hes
itate to contact
me if
y
ou requir
e
any
f
urther
i
nformation or
i
f
I c
an be of
as
sistance
i
n any
way.
I appr
ec
iate your
ded
ication to our
c
ommunity
a
nd your
c
ommitment
t
o improving the
l
ives
of
its
residents.
Your
s
s
inc
erely,
S
av
anna
and
Remi
Petri
From:
Anastasia Vizcarra
To:
Clerk
;
Scott Sedgley
;
[email protected]
Subject:
In Support of Le Petit Elephant"s Use Permit
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 4:02:15 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Dear Mayor, Napa Clerk, and Council Member,
I was in attendance with my two toddlers during the April 4th town hall meeting in support of Le Petit Elephant’s (LPE) permit. I continue to stand behind and support LPE for our continued fight for childcare. With the already limited resources in childcare in Napa Valley many working mothers like myself find it difficult to focus and excel in our careers. I work to be able to support and feed my small family. My kids are enrolled at LPE to build structure and get a head start on early childhood education as this is a critical stage in their growth.
My children have only started childcare as of September 2023 and since then LPE has made a significant impact in our lives. My children’s social/communication skills and wealth of knowledge since beginning childcare are outstanding. We’ve been quickly welcomed to the LPE Village and have already been invited and attended many birthday parties. Not only has LPE given me the opportunity to have a career, but it’s provided our family with a fun, safe, supportive community with other parents/families that we’ve connected with.
Please help LPE give other families/working mother’s whose children are not already enrolled in childcare the same opportunities we’ve been given. Napa’s economy will continue to grow when we are given the support and resources. We need affordable childcare. We need date nights. We need to be able to support our town, our people, the families, without such a big fight because 4 members of the ‘Atlas Peak Coalition’ want to control the neighborhood.
Please continue to approve LPE's permit.
Respectfully,
Anastasia Vizcarra
From:
Lia Tomczak
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Support for LPE Use Permit Approval
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 4:02:18 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Dear City Council Members,
I am writing to express my full support for the approval of the LPE use permit. As a
resident of Napa, I believe that this initiative will contribute positively to our community in
several ways.
Firstly, I want to highlight the pressing need for more child and family-friendly activities
tailored to children aged 0-12 during weekends in Napa. Too often, families like mine find
ourselves leaving the city in search of suitable activities. This not only takes away from the
local economy but also detracts from the sense of community within Napa.
Secondly, I would like to emphasize that, despite the potential concerns about traffic and
parking, I have never observed any significant congestion during school drop-off or pickup
times. In fact, the number of cars rarely exceeds ten vehicles.
Approving the LPE use permit aligns with our collective goal of fostering a vibrant and
inclusive community in Napa. It will provide much-needed recreational opportunities for
families and contribute to the overall well-being of our residents.
I urge the City Council to consider these points and move forward with the approval of the
LPE use permit. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Warm regards,
Lia Contursi
From:
Erin M. First
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Parents in support of Le Petit Elephant at 15 Chapel Hill Drive Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 4:25:19 PM
[EXTERNAL]
To the Napa City Council,
I'm writing in support of the proposed site for Le Petit Elephant at 15 Chapel Hill Drive. My daughter is about to turn two, and has been attending LPE since she was four months old. LPE has provided a vital lifeline that
has allowed my husband and I to remain in the workforce, while also providing an incredible community and important social and education engagement for our daughter.
The reality is that parents in Napa Valley are in a childcare crisis. There is only one childcare spot for every four children in the county, and most are for the ages 2 and over.
The lack of
availability and cost of childcare prevents parents like us from staying in the workforces so important to the local economy, and contributes longer-term to a lower birth rate and declining enrollment in our local school district.
Napa County is aging, and not allowing successful childcare facilities like LPE to expand
to
meet the demand prevents families (and their tax dollars) from staying in Napa Valley. I understand there is pushback from the surrounding community, with concerns regarding traffic, safety and other potential nuisances if LPE were to relocate to this site. I believe that LPE can address concerns around traffic and safety as effectively on 15 Chapel Hill as it has at its current location on Laurel Street.
I hope you'll join me in supporting the next generation of Napa natives by supporting this petition.
Best regards,
Erin & James Rosen
From:
Em
To:
Scott Sedgley
;
Beth Painter
;
Clerk
Subject:
LPE permit appeal
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 4:29:05 PM
[EXTERNAL]
To whom it may concern,
I write as a working parent of a 20 month child in Napa.
My husband and I have professional
careers and have a property in Browns valley - we pay considerable property taxes and regularly invest in the businesses and wineries in the area.
We moved here, from San Francisco, to build our family and invest in the community.
But we
have been both surprised and disappointed by the lack of investment into families and particularly under 5s.
To such an extent that we are considering moving out of Napa.
A lack of daycare places and facilities puts enormous pressure on parents (and their jobs) and worse, provides very limited opportunities to little growing minds. It is not unusual for my husband and I to drive upwards of an hour outside of Napa to expose our child to new experiences.
This is mind boggling to me given the wealth of this county and the number of families in Napa.
I recall some time ago that there is a limit on the number of air bnbs the city allows in order to preserve the community of napa.
Yet on the other hand, we don’t have enough daycares or facilities for young families - so do we really want a rounded community that includes families or not?
Miss Milli and her team provide thoughtful, kind and well mannered environments for children to thrive.
There could not be a better organization to take over this property and it will literally improve the lives of hundreds of people.
I will leave you with this:
As VP Hubert Humphrey said “It was once said that the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in dawn of life…children have much to offer society, if they are just given the chance and resources that they need to be successful”
Thank you for reading.
Respectfully,
Emily Peoples, Browns Valley
From:
Noah Lovitz-Wolfson
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Support high quality childcare and Le Petit Elephant
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 4:38:01 PM
[EXTERNAL]
To Whom it May Concern:
I am writing as a parent of a 4 year old currently attending Le Petit Elephant to support their efforts of opening a childcare center that will address some much needed things in Napa. My wife and I live in Napa while my parents are located on the East Coast. Being so far from family has made it incredibly difficult to raise a child with no family nearby to help. Enrolling our daughter at Le Petit Elephant has been one of the best decisions we have made and has provided much needed support both from a daily perspective so that we can work and also by providing monthly "date" nights that allow us to have some adult time to go out to eat and reconnect every once in a while.
Parenting is a 24/7 responsibility and It is a challenge to find family friendly things to do with young children in Napa. The proposed center for LPE would provide a place for us to take our child during the day but also a place to meet parents and other children on weekends and after hours occasionally. We find ourselves having to leave Napa almost every weekend to find activities that are family friendly. We drive to Sonoma to go to Train town or Vallejo to go to Jumpity Bumpity. There are very few places in Napa that we have found geared towards children so the idea of having a place in our neighborhood that could provide some of these services is not only incredibly exciting but would provide much needed mental health space for parents to reconnect with adults from time to time.
I urge you to support the development of this childcare center and to re-evaluate how the city approaches attracting and keeping families in the city of Napa.
Thank you,
Noah Lovitz-Wolfson
Napa Resident and Parent
ᐧ
From:
Joan Kisthardt
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Letter in support of LPE
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 4:39:31 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Hello,
I live in off of Terrace with my husband and my 4 year old daughter. We moved to Napa in 2020 and have been traveling outside of Napa to find activities for my daughter. We often drive to Sonoma for Train Town, Fairfield for a jumping gym, and Santa Rosa for the children's museum. While Napa has some playgrounds and
private businesses for children, it
lacks other activities
for children and some of these businesses are prohibitively expensive (I was recently
quoted nearly $1000 for a two hour children's birthday party by a Napa business).
In addition to being a mother, I have a master degree in city planning and I am very familiar with what it takes to make a liveable city and a healthy, diverse community.
I'm writing in support of the new location of LPE. I know some neighbors are worried about traffic but I live in Coombsville and I am a former resident of Alta Heights. I drive through the 5 way intersection almost every day. I do not believe traffic will be significantly
impacted (as
the traffic study conducted recently concluded). Additionally, the location is in a neighborhood and if we attend summer camps and other activities
there, we will be biking or
walking there from our house, as I'm sure other families will do.
Childcare and activities for children are difficult to find locally, especially at reasonable prices. LPE's proposal will provide much needed services for families and attract more families to the area which will increase the diversity of ages in Napa. As my daughter transitions to TK in the fall, I am nervous about finding summer camp options for her and I would be thrilled to send her to LPE in Alta Heights.
My daughter
has attended
LPE for two years and has thrived! She loves the teachers and I'm glad they are paid a living wage. They adore my daughter and I hope she can continue to be a part of the LPE family for years to come. Please show your support for working parents in Napa and approve this location for LPE. Thank you!
Joan Kisthardt
From:
Daniele Riboni
To:
Clerk
Subject:
LPE Letter of Support
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 5:14:17 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Hello,
Our daughter, who is 15 months old goes to Le Petit Elephant, and we wanted to write to show our support for the Use Permit.
There are a few issues important to us that this new location will help with. Napa has very few child/family friendly activities for children 0-12 years old on the weekends in Napa. We often find ourselves driving to the East Bay or other areas just for this, and it would be great to have more child- friendly spaces in Napa.
LPE’s Date Night, even while it’s just one Friday a month for 2.5 hours, is a life saver and a peace of mind for our family.
It's also incredibly important to us that our chid’s teachers are paid a living wage and get raises regularly and receive competitive benefits. This should be possible without LPE needing to raise our tuition. We know many families that aren't able to find high quality childcare and/or can’t afford it without scholarships, and this shouldn't be the case.
Thank you for your consideration,
Daniele Riboni and Alexandra Hayman
From:
Cameron Tangen
To:
Clerk
Subject:
LPE Application
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 5:15:30 PM
[EXTERNAL]
To whom it may concern:
Our son currently attends LPE. We were in dire need of childcare in early 2023 and were having a hard time finding a quality preschool that we could afford.
Thankfully there was a spot available at LPE. Milli has been very kind and worked with our unique situation. This has enabled Cameron to continue working full time so that Florence can work part time as a caregiver for her elderly mother.
We would like to mention that traffic congestion into and on the current LPE premises is nonexistent even though there is an elementary school 0.3 mi away.
While elementary schools require students to arrive and depart at a certain time, LPE instead has children arriving based on their personal schedules. For example, our son attends LPE three partial days a week. Other students attend only two days a week. We live on the other side of town, so the drive there can be tedious, but once we arrive it's always a pleasant
drop off and pick up. Recently
the city
was doing street work on Laurel in front of LPE, with one lane partially redirected, and still there was no traffic.
Our older son currently attends Alta Heights Elementary and our younger son will begin attending in 2025. We are very familiar with the traffic patterns in the proximity of Chapel Hill Drive. We also understand the concerns of the current residents regarding potential fire evacuation. Milli is very conscientious and we trust that her plans will be well thought out and possibly lead to an even safer
evacuation plan for the whole neighborhood.
We hope that the city will consider how much affordable, quality child care is needed by its residents, and that LPE is an asset to the community. We sincerely hope all parties involved can come to an agreement that will satisfy this need.
Sincerely,
Cameron Tangen & Florence Tangen
From:
Alice
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Le Petit Elephant at 15 Chapel Hill Drive
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 7:43:14 PM
[EXTERNAL]
To Whom It May Concern,
I'm writing in support of the proposed site for Le Petit Elephant at 15 Chapel Hill Drive. My daughter is currently two, and has been attending LPE since she was six months old. LPE has provided a vital lifeline that has allowed my husband and I to remain in the workforce, while also providing an incredible community and important social and education engagement for our daughter.
As a local school teacher in the district we are also seeing the impacts of declining enrollment in our school system which is directly related to the lack of
and affordability of resources for parents in Napa. The reality is that parents in Napa Valley are in a childcare crisis. There is only one childcare spot for every four children in the county, and most are for the ages 2 and over. The lack of availability and cost of childcare prevents parents like us from staying in the workforces so important to the local economy, and contributes longer-term to a lower birth rate and declining enrollment in our local school district. LPE is one of the few Child Care Facilities that provides infant care which is one of the only reasons I was able to return to my teaching career because hiring a nanny would have consumed my entire paycheck, making it pointless to return and unaffordable to live in Napa.
Napa County is aging, and not allowing successful childcare facilities like LPE to expand to meet the demand of local young families prevents families like mine (and their tax dollars) from staying in Napa Valley. There is a general complaint that Napa is no longer the small town community it used to be, I hear it from my students' parents all the time, the reason it is no longer that small community feeling is because there is a lack of resources for families who want to stay and raise their families here. We also need to consider who will be taking care of the aging population in Napa, and continue to be the workforce in our community. I understand there is pushback from the surrounding community, with concerns regarding traffic, safety and other potential nuisances if LPE were to relocate to this site. I believe that LPE can address concerns around traffic and safety as effectively on 15 Chapel Hill as it has at its current location on Laurel Street.
I hope you'll join me in supporting the next generation of Napa natives by supporting this petition.
Best regards,
Alice & Tim Salles
From:
Mary Luros
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Fwd: In support of LPE"s expansion project
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 8:17:15 PM
Mary Luros
Councilmember, District 3
City of Napa
PO Box 660 /
955 School Street, Napa, CA 94559
Phone
(707) 258-7800 x5284
[email protected]
Website
www.cityofnapa.org
Social
www.facebook.com/CityOfNapa
· @CityOfNapa
Begin forwarded message:
From:
Lucie Brunetiere
Date:
May 17, 2024 at 2:29:47
PM PDT
To:
Clerk <[email protected]>
Cc:
Jean-Baptiste Laumond
>, Scott Sedgley
<[email protected]>, Mary Luros <[email protected]> Subject:
In support of LPE's expansion project
[EXTERNAL]
(resending due to mistake in email address)
Dear Madam, dear Sir,
This email is to support
the LPE's new Child Development Center.
We arrived from Paris, France to Napa in October 2022 so that I could seize a formidable opportunity to work in one of
the top Napa Valley Wineries.
When I was presented with this career opportunity, one of the only negative factor was the lack of daycare
options in Napa - notorious even in Paris...- which is of great significance when you come from a country where finding affordable and qualitative daycare is not an issue.
When Milli texted me that we could have a spot at LPE a few months after our arrival, we were relieved. Since then, our son has been thriving. This also allows my husband to work as a substitute
teacher for the NVUSD.
We can only support LPE's project to provide daycare opportunities to more kids and to offer
more activities during the weekend. We are members of all the
Children's Museums of the region which means that we have to drive at least an hour each way to be able to provide some fun activities to our child.
We are not US citizens and therefore cannot vote. But I can assure you that providing qualitative daycare and infrastructure for kids is a key factor for the economic attraction of your region and for the wine industry to be able to attract talent from around the world.
Many thanks for your attention,
Best regards,
Lucie Brunetiere
From:
Kristen Reid
To:
Clerk
Subject:
LPE
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 9:24:39 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Dear City of Napa,
LPE has been invaluable resource for our family. Our 3 1/2 year old son Harrison attends LPE 5 days a week and we are so incredibly grateful for the teachers and staff that care for our son as if he were their own. Our two year old daughter will begin preschool in the fall and we are so excited for her to integrate into the LPE family. We moved to Napa one year ago and with a small amount of family here, we have been so grateful to be welcomed into the LPE community. Starting a family has been one of the most challenging ventures that my husband and I have gone through. We had Harrison in Pasadena, and with no help and incredibly expensive child care we experienced a lot of stress. With LPE we have felt that stress lessen.
We have taken full advantage of the date nights that they offer. Our kids love going to their pizza party, while my husband and I have some time to reconnect without a child yelling, “mom, dad, mom, dad..” It’s been a major game changer for our family. The preschool and the date nights are affordable, and we know the kids are in such good hands. The curriculum is fun for Harrison. I love to hear about what he’s learning or what art project their class worked on and he loves to share about his day with us. When it comes to drop off and pick up there is little to no traffic because every family has different start and
end times for their day.
Attending LPE has been the best thing that has happened for our family. Milli truly wants to provide the best for the kids and the families in Napa. To have someone like her in the community is a true gift.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
The Reid Family
From:
Kate Harland
To:
Beth Painter
;
Clerk
;
Scott Sedgley
Cc:
John Harland
Subject:
Please Approve the Le Petit Elephant Nursery and Preschool - Alta Heights Site Proposal Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 9:36:46 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Hello Napa City Council, Mayor Sedgley, Supervisor Painter:
I am Kate Harland, a Napa native, my husband John works for the City as a police officer.
Our two children currently attend LPE for preschool.
Funnily enough, I went to Alta Heights
Elementary long, long ago.
My parents have lived in Napa since the 1970's, my dad was a real estate lawyer in town and on the LAFCO board for some time prior to 2020.
After ~10 contacts and various tours, applications, etc, I feel very fortunate LPE had the space to take both boys when we needed to start childcare for them.
Prior to that, our working plan
was to send one child to one school, another to a different school (and then the school for the infant had that spot filled so we were back to square 1).
Infant care especially was difficult
to find options.
LPE has been a wonderful addition to our village.
The kids
love
all the staff and have learned
(and continue to learn) life skills, relationship and emotional management, produce lots of cute little kid crafts, and get to play outside for the majority of their time.
Milli and her team work
really hard to create connections between everyone at LPE, run a good business that takes care of our babies, and contribute to the community.
Due to conflicts, I likely won't be able to attend the council meeting on next week, and I want to loudly share my full support for Milli's plan for the Chapel Hill Drive location.
We all
know ECE is a difficult industry to succeed in and more spaces are desperately needed in Napa.
I hope the council sees the value in what Milli is proposing and approves the permit application.
Thank you,
Kate Harland
From:
Allison Spear
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Letter in support of LPE’s new Childcare Location
Date:
Saturday, May 18, 2024 7:01:05 AM
[EXTERNAL]
To the Office of the Napa City Clerk
I’m writing in support of Le Petite Elephant’s (LPE) proposed new location for their early childhood education center.
Napa is a wonderful town, but it lacks resources, support, and activities for young families. LPE is the premier preschool and daycare center in Napa Valley and has provided a joyful and supportive community for young Napa families who are raising the next generation.
All efforts to develop and support the LPE program should be enabled and enhanced. It is so awful to hear that a handful of Napa families can derail a simple project like this which supports the livelihood of so many children and families in our community.
LPE is a quiet, beautiful, nurturing place with very little traffic moving in/out. The entire community is respectful of the surrounding neighborhood. Direct neighbors may notice cars driving in/out at drop off and pick up times M-F, but there are never traffic jams, or large numbers of people gathering at the school. Even school parties and events are relaxed and don’t draw large crowds.
Thank you for considering the support of this proposed move. LPE is a warm and kind early childhood institution in Napa and should be supported completely.
Napa needs more early childhood education and family friendly activity centers to support our growing community! Please help us support the young families of Napa Valley during this challenging time post Covid, economic challenges and a high tech era where we need more healthy options for kids to learn in media-free environments! Thank you,
Allison Spear, mother of Waylon Spear (4yo at LPE)
Sent from my iPhone
From:
Karen Sieloff
To:
Clerk
Subject:
LPE
Date:
Saturday, May 18, 2024 9:06:09 AM
[EXTERNAL]
As a Napa resident and grandparents in Alta Heights, I would like to express our strong support for the relocation and expansion opportunity for LPE and the much needed child & daycare in Napa. Our children and grandchildren are the future of Napa, and nothing can be more important than providing them a reputable and necessary start in their education and care, outside their homes. I strongly support this chance for LPE to grow and bring more opportunities to our community. Many of these little ones likely have older siblings being dropped off at the elementary school just a short block away, so the extra traffic concerns is somewhat exaggerated IMO.
Please allow
this project to move forward.
Thank you.
Karen & Ken Sieloff
Sent from my iPhone
From:
Audrie Walsh
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Alta Heights Child Development Center
Date:
Saturday, May 18, 2024 11:00:39 AM
[EXTERNAL]
Hello,
I’m contacting you to express my family’s support for the new Child Development Center in Alta Heights. Both of my kids currently attend LPE, which has been a fantastic daycare and preschool for them. I’m very thankful to have such a great facility available to us, which allows me to continue my career as a winemaker. It is very tough to find daycare options in Napa, and in my opinion LPE provides the safest and most enriching environment for my children’s needs. I am especially excited about the prospect of having more resources available to us after work hours. There are limited child friendly local weekend options to take our kids to, and we have to travel out of town to find places such as a children’s museum.
I also am very thankful for the financial support available to us through LPE given the cost of living in Napa and the cost of raising two children. We find that both of us working is financially difficult given the cost of childcare, despite both of us having master’s degrees and well paying jobs. We have been able to make it work so far without financial assistance, but with childcare cost increasing in the new school year having extra support via financial assistance relieves some financial stress. We can pay for my daughter’s dance class and pay for swim classes without overstretching ourselves financially.
My husband and I would also like to avail of the after hours date nights at the daycare center, since we do not have family close by who could watch our children for a few hours.
I love our city and hope that we can foster an environment that celebrates the children raised here by providing enriching and community oriented spaces. Thank you for taking the time to consider my opinion.
Thank you,
Audrie Walsh
From:
Nida Garchitorena
To:
Clerk
Subject:
LPE permit
Date:
Saturday, May 18, 2024 12:04:59 PM
[EXTERNAL]
This project will be such a blessing to everyone. My grandsons go here and has helped their over all development and the teachers are so loving and caring. They promote healthy eating habits here as well. My daughter and her sons are low income and eventhough CRC covers them, Milli also is giving them scholarship/more discount so it helps my daughter especially when she is working full time to provide for her family. Good quality child care
is
very important. Thank you for your time.
From:
MARY ANN Garchitorena
To:
Clerk
Subject:
LPE permit
Date:
Saturday, May 18, 2024 12:10:58 PM
[EXTERNAL]
To whom it may concern,
LPE has given my sons a lot of opportunity to learn and grow as they hit a lot of milestones through their wonderful philosophy. Not only Milli is very respectful of children, she also promotes healthy eating habits for the children under her school. She is there for the children and makes sure the teachers are more than enough to cover and care to meet the needs
of the
children in each class. Milli is a very intelligent person and loves all the children! I work full time to provide for my family and we fall on the low income but even though CRC covers most of the tuition, Milli covers the rest of it by offering financial aid /scholarships. This helps a lot. Good quality childcare is very important for our future leaders. Thank you for your time.
From:
Jason TerAvest
To:
Clerk
Cc:
Scott Sedgley
;
Beth Painter
Subject:
LPE in Alta Heights
Date:
Saturday, May 18, 2024 2:41:13 PM
[EXTERNAL]
To Whom It May Concern,
I'm writing in support of Le Petit Elephant's
application for the proposed new site in Alta
Heights. As a born and raised Napan, now raising two children of my own in this beautiful community, I have seen many sides of the childcare experience here in Napa.
My mother moved to Napa in the 60s when she was a teenager. She and I are both proud Napa High alums. And I'm chuffed at the
idea that someday my two children will carry on to be the 3rd generation in our family to attend high school there. Though I spent a few years away for college and establishing my career, I am delighted to be back in Napa as an adult settling into family life. It has been a surreal joy to rediscover old haunts, and to find new things to appreciate about our town. Living in Napa, my children get to have a daily relationship with their grandparents who still live here as well.
But, for two reasons, it almost didn't happen.
1. Napa has become expensive in the 40 years since I was born here, and our careers do not have industry in the nearby region. A silver-lining of the COVID-19 pandemic brought to us an ability to work remotely, saving us the 2-hr each way commute to San Francisco and enabling us to spend more time with our children on weekdays. Thus a move to Napa was within reach.
2. Our other hurdle was childcare. Living in a big city when our oldest was born was a learning curve in securing childcare. Yes some were full, but population density ensured an abundance of options. Napa is a different story. Our son was under 2 when we were planning our move back to Napa. And we had another on the way. We were not prepared for the extremely
limited number of options. And while we were pleased with the reputation of our options, our hopes came down to the dreaded waitlist.
We were lucky and secured a spot at LPE. And when I say lucky, I mean capital-L - LUCKY.
Kiss me I'm Irish - LUCKY. See a penny, pick it up, all day long you'll have good luck - LUCKY.
Not just lucky to get in, but lucky that LPE is an institution that doesn't just care for kids: they love
our kids, and they
teach
our kids, and our kids will enter public school with the kind of advantages only this sort of experience can provide.
Napa needs LPE. And LPE needs Napa. This is your chance to address a critical need for today's Napans by investing in tomorrow's Napans. I urge you to do the right things and approve this plan.
Sincerely,
Jason TerAvest
Adrean Takemoto
Honorable
Napa City Council
members
City Hall
Napa, CA, 94559
Dear
Councilmember
s,
My name is Adrean Takemoto and I currently serve as the Assistant Director at Le Petit Elephant Nursery and
Preschool. I am writing to voice my support for the plans under consideration to develop a new location for our preschool.
I have worked in the early childhood development field for more than 2 5 years and have deep
experience with the needs of children and families. I am also a passionate advocate for high quality education and care for young children
,
something
that is sorely lacking in our community.
I have had the
privilege
to work under
Milli Pintacsi at Le Petit Elephant
for almost 7
years now, and I can
say without a doubt that LPE is the most well run preschool that I have been employed at . It’s refreshing
to work for an organization whose primary focus is the education, growth, and well being of the children in our care, a sentiment that I know you have already heard from many families that we serve. It also helps us attract, retain, and t
rain amazing members of our staff into an important field, to the longer term benefit of our community.
The proposal for our new site at 15 Chapel
Hill Drive represents not only an addi
tional 63 childcare s
pots
for
Napa
’
s youn
g families
(
wh
ich are desperately needed
)
,
but 15
new
well paying jobs
, community
space for mothers and
young children,
and a chance to
add all of this in a business that has proven its
skill and worth
t
o the community
over many years
.
Le Petit Elephant is extraordinarily well regarded in the community and with the hundreds of families that we have served
.
We a
re extremely
proud of our reputation with
our
fa
milies
, the community at
large, and the neighbors that we co
exist with so well
.
I
n my
management
role at the center, I can speak
directly to the concerns raised by appel
lants as to parking, traffic, and what they
perceive
to be an issue
with evening and weeken
d
activities
at our center
.
In our
current
location, we have 35 employees and
115
children in our care daily
on
average
. In the 7
years I have worked at this center I have never once seen a backup on the street, jammed parking
lot, or
traffic issue
caused by fami
lies or staff associated wit
h our operation.
We
simply
do not have the same
rhythm
as
a
K
-
12 school
, and do not have large numbers of families and/or staff arriving in one block of time, certainly not enough to cause traffic jams in the surrounding neighborhood. The new Chapel Hill site
can accommodate even more vehicles
and while it is true that there
will be an increase in traffic
spread out throughout the morning and afternoon, it
should not cause congestion or traffic on
neighborhood
streets
,
as
evidenced by the detailed traffic study
done prior to approval by the Planning
Commission.
There
are
many things to love a
b
out living
in our wonderful
Napa
community, but
activities and spaces
for small children are in exceptionally short supply here. While children are allowed most anywhere in
our community, there are precious few places that are designed
for
or geared toward them. Aside from
local parks and outdoor activities, most families of small children are forced
to constantly
travel
outside
the county for kids
’
activities
.
One
of the amazing aspects of the new Chapel Hill site is that it offers the opportunity
to create a space for a multitude of children
’
s activi
ti
es
ranging from
sports practices to play
dates
,
and
a
modest
and affordable
event venue for small children
’
s
birthday
parties or mother
’
s groups
–
all
of which would take place indoors, mitigating the
perceived
noise pollution
that appellants seem
concerned with
.
Appellants frame these as
“
add
-
ons
”
to the
concept
of
the new preschool, but th
ese are
all
things that are very sorely lacking in our community now, and things that parents and young
families
are constantly looking for.
We have the
unique
opportunity to
add amenities and a
ctivity spaces
dedicated to small children
attached to a business that has pr
oven its skill and value to the community
over m
any years.
I
understand
that the appellants do not like the idea of a
preschool
coming to their neighborhood, but as
has been noted by many in this discussion, we live in a larger community and ne
ed to
collectively
use the
resources at our disposal to continue to ma
ke it
better
.
The new LPE location can help add
badly
needed
childcare spots
and simultaneously add spaces for children and young families to feel valued and
included in our city
’
s
evolution.
I apprec
iate your
time
and attention to hear f
ro
m
t
he community
about this very important is
sue and
hope that you see this project as the opportunity it is to build a better , brighter, more vibrant
Napa for
you
ng families
.
Sincerely,
Adrean Takemoto
Assistant Director
Le Petit Elephant Preschool and Nursery
From:
Eva Rubalcava
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Fwd: Le Petit Nursery and preschool
Date:
Monday, May 20, 2024 7:35:46 AM
[EXTERNAL]
Please take this in consideration
Sent from my iPho
Begin forwarded message:
From:
Eva Rubalcava
Date:
March 15, 2024 at 9:32:59
PM PDT
To:
Angela Alvarez-Cendejas <[email protected]>
Subject:
Re: Le Petit Nursery and preschool
Thank you
Sent from my iPhone
On Mar 15, 2024, at 1:52
PM, Angela Alvarez-Cendejas
<[email protected]> wrote:
Hello Eve,
Thank you for your comment. I am confirming that it was received.
Best,
Angela Alvarez-Cendejas
Assistant Planner
Planning Division
Community Development Department, City of Napa
1600 First Street, Napa, CA 94559
Direct
: 707-257-9639 |
Main
: 707-257-9530
E:
[email protected]
<image001.png>
From:
Eva Hernandez
Sent:
Friday, March 15, 2024 11:54 AM
To:
Angela Alvarez-Cendejas <[email protected]>
Subject:
Le Petit Nursery and preschool
[EXTERNAL]
To my community, my name is Eva Rubalcava, back in 2021 I went through a divorce. I felt alone with no support from anyone.
I was homeless with no job. I was emotionally, financially, mentally, spiritually broken, I felt lost. I needed to go back to school.
I started looking for daycare for both my daughters who were 12 months and 3 years old at that time.
Nowhere in Napa would they
take my youngest daughter because she was a baby. I stressfully continued to call daycare centers. My start date at school was May first. With little time I Prayed to find a good trusting loving
caring place were
my children would learn. I came across Le
Petit. Spoke to Milli who with lots of love and kindness heard my story and she said to me “I don't have space now but let me see what I can do to help. I was thinking I could add one more baby to the classroom, but I will give you a call.” I prayed harder and Milli got back to me the next day with good news Lynnay and Dariana were both accepted in Le Petit. Milli helped me so much and continues to help me. Lynnay graduated preschool ready to start kindergarten knowing her numbers and ABCs and is very social.
Darina continues to attend. The teachers are great.
Without Le Petit I don't know where I would be. Without Lepetit it
would be a hardship to our family, I would have to quit my job and be a burden on taxpayers. Napa needs to invest in quality child care.
Milli gave me lots of hope and courage and gave me
confidence that there are nice people out here that still care. The new location at Alta heights will defiantly help a lot of children including mine. Please let the Alta heights daycare center project continue, and this center may be a center of trust which is hard to find these days, love, joy and learning for our generations. God bless. Thank you. With all our heart Eva ,Dariana and Lynnay .
From:
Mathilde Depresle
To:
Clerk
Cc:
Scott Sedgley
Subject:
Use Permit Appeal LPE Napa
Date:
Monday, May 20, 2024 8:30:43 AM
[EXTERNAL]
To whom it may concern,
Our 2 children have been attending LPE for 1 and 2 years, respectively. We have a deep appreciation for the services and education they offer to our little ones. It is unparalleled as it compares to every other daycare that we’ve sought out and have performed research on. With that said, we learned of the incredible opportunity to improve the infrastructure in dramatic fashion by moving facilities altogether and increasing the capacity in order to provide daycare for more families in Napa.
This opportunity provided great excitement for our family for many reasons:
1)
Increased infrastructure for our little ones
2)
Giving the chance to other families to access LPE outstanding education program => more and more young families are leaving Napa because of the lack of daycare. 3)
Space for our kids’ birthday parties indoors, get togethers, and overall activities (Napa severely lacks this).
LPE has gone above and beyond providing additional benefits for us as parents including but limited to a monthly date night that at certain times was crucial to our relationship as husband and wife. They also provide educational opportunities for our children that at this stage just aren’t available at other institutions. LPE is also the only daycare in Napa who has business hours from 730am to 530pm giving us the possibility to work full time.
The ability to grow and
thrive from what they’ve already built in their existing location would be monumental for early child development of Napa and the surrounding areas. The Founder Milli, has shown an authentic passion for building a true sanctuary for our children to blossom in an educational, friendly and care-free environment! We truly look forward to a positive outcome here, as this is very important to us.
Sincerely appreciate your serious consideration of immediate approval.
Kind Regards,
Mathilde and Andrew Seagrave
From:
Jessica Breslin
To:
Clerk
Cc:
Scott Sedgley
;
Bernie Narvaez
;
[email protected]
;
Jeremy Breslin
Subject:
In support of LPE
Date:
Monday, May 20, 2024 10:28:25 AM
[You don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification
]
[EXTERNAL]
Dear Napa City Council, Mayor Sedgley, and Council Member Bernie Narvaez:
Our names are Jessica and Jeremy Breslin and we live in District 4 with our 3.5 year old and 4 month old. Our oldest daughter has been going to LPE for the last 2.5 years. She loves it, we love it. The teachers are excellent, it is a tight run ship, and because of LPE our daughter is developing into an amazing person. We are writing in support of LPE and making Napa better for families with kids.
We love Napa. It has all of our favorite things - amazing wine and food, great weather, music, and nature. It has so many great things to do…for adults. Napa is amazing, but most of what makes it great isn’t family friendly (eg. post pandemic most wineries don't allow kids anymore) and that makes raising a family in Napa super hard. It also means that whenever we want to go and enjoy Napa, spend money in Napa, we need to get childcare, which isn’t easy to get.
Building a community in a new city isn't easy either. Being a new parent and a parent of young kids can feel isolating. Traditional childcare hours don't work with work schedules and have never worked with work schedules.
Having a trusted, well run, family friendly place with activities on nights and weekends would be a godsend. A real community builder and great support for Napa families.
My husband and I don’t have family in Napa. LPE’s date nights are some of the only times we get to go out to dinner, visit a winery, and fully enjoy Napa.
LPE has the opportunity to do something amazing for the city of Napa.
It has the opportunity to not only provide amazing daycare and preschool during the traditional childcare times, it also has the opportunity to strengthen the community by being a place where families can connect, kids can continue their development through more activities, and where parents can get some additional help every 1.5 months with longer childcare hours so parents can go out and enjoy Napa, spend money in Napa.
We ask that you continue to approve LPE's full proposal and help make Napa a better and easier place for parents and families.
Our best,
Jessica and Jeremy Breslin
From:
Julian Christian
To:
Clerk
;
Kathryn Siegfried
Subject:
Le Petit Elephant Daycare Appeal
Date:
Monday, May 20, 2024 10:29:00 AM
You don't often get email from [email protected].
Learn why this is important
[EXTERNAL]
To whom it may concern:
I'm writing this letter to show support for the LPE nursery school and daycare permits currently being appealed.
My wife and I have lived in Napa since 2017 amd since starting a family in 2018 have experienced first hand the limited resources and availability for infant-pre K childcare as well as a good source of enrichment and community.
We are lucky to have placed our two small children in the care if Milli Pintacsi and her wonderful team at Le Petit Elephant since 2018.
In addition to traditional daycare/preschool, we have relied on LPE to make up for the lack of child/family friendly activities such as their once per month "date night" babysitting service.
It also must be said that we commend the LPE team for their organizational efforts with regards to traffic handling during drop off and pick up and management of their parking lot.
Last and most importantly we'd like to stress the negative impact the lack of affordable/quality child care is having on so many other parents we know who can’t find high quality childcare/after school or weekend enrichment.
Julian Christian & Kathryn Siegfried
From:
Brett Freeland
To:
Clerk
Cc:
Subject:
LPE use permit and "ancillary uses"
Date:
Monday, May 20, 2024 10:42:14 AM
[EXTERNAL]
To whom it may concern,
I am writing to show my support for LPE and their use permit for their potential new location.
I am a parent and member of the LPE community. I strongly support their strive to provide affordable child care in Napa, as well as their support of the LPE community and the larger Napa community.
Their ability to provide things such as a monthly date night for us parents, indoor birthday parties, and other child centered activities on the weekends will be a positive impact on the city of Napa.
Any new parent is apprehensive about how their children will be cared for in a daycare setting, I was no different.
What became clear to me from the beginning is that LPE is more than a daycare center.
The entire LPE community has shared values of providing for their communities.
I felt immediately called to support this community, and the thoughtful leadership from Millie and her team have created in me a more concerned and involved community member.
Please give the larger LPE community
and I the opportunity to prove to
you that this use permit will benefit all Napa because of the incredible LPE community.
Kind regards,
~Brett
From:
Paul Dugoni
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Le Petit Elephant- Support
Date:
Monday, May 20, 2024 10:45:33 AM
[EXTERNAL]
Hello Napa,
I’m writing this letter in support of LPE. As a parent of two toddlers, I've found it very hard to find quality, affordable childcare in Napa Valley. My kids have benefited from the structure and camaraderie that LPE offers. In general, Napa doesn’t have a ton of kid-friendly activities; we typically find ourselves going outside of Napa to the children's museum, Oakland/Sacramento/SF Zoo, or birthday parties at Scandia(Fairfield), train town(Sonoma), or Sky Zone(Vacaville). I would support the use of extracurricular activities to generate additional tax revenue and support the local economy. I’ve never noticed any issues with traffic or congestion during pick-up/drop-off. Most parents are in and out within 5 mins, and the parking lot is 90% empty most of the time. It's important that my child's teachers are supported via a livable wage; scaling to the size of LPE gives them the ability and efficiency to pay a livable wage without overcharging parents. I’m happy to answer any additional questions about my experience with LPE.
Cheers,
Paul Dugoni
|
Associate -
Premium Wine Division
|
707.688.2035
|
1300 First Street, Napa, CA
94559
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From:
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Letter in support of LPE
Date:
Monday, May 20, 2024 10:47:42 AM
[EXTERNAL]
Good afternoon,
We are writing in support of the petition for Le Petit Elephant pre-school.
Our family moved to Napa from Paris, France a year ago in the middle of the school year. It was comforting to know that LPE was able to accommodate our then 3-year old son, Andre.
Milli and her wonderful staff welcomed us with open arms and made our trans-Atlantic transition seamless by giving extra attention to our son who did not speak a word of English! We are forever grateful for their openness, flexibility, and care especially during the first few months.
After a year in Napa, we realize that there is definitely a shortage of childcare and activities as well as affordable places to hold celebrations. Therefore, we urge the City of Napa to consider this amazing proposal to not only keep LPE but extend their services to the community through additional programs.
We appreciate your attention and hope for a positive outcome, benefiting Napa families.
Sincerely,
Adiba and Julien Issenmann
Sent from my iPhone
From:
Jacqueline Wall
To:
Clerk
Subject:
LPE Alta Heights project
Date:
Monday, May 20, 2024 11:09:33 AM
[EXTERNAL]
Hello City of Napa,
Writing in to share my support for the new proposed LPE site in Alta Heights.
My family is growing, and the lack of viable affordable childcare options in Napa is glaring.
As a mom in Napa I regularly see desperate posts from other parents seeking childcare options or share conversations about what to do concerning childcare (especially infant care). I know of more and more families that are having to take a pause from their careers to accommodate a lack of viable childcare options.
My daughter has been at LPE for the last 3 years and I’ve watched her flourish there, it has been a blessing to find a childcare center that accommodates our work schedules with full time care- and a place we can leave our child that we trust. The teachers and staff we adore, my daughter looks forward to going to “school”. She continues to hit milestone after milestones as she learns and grows at LPE. Having the teachers supported is a big priority for us as we want LPE to be able to retain the high quality of staff that they have.
We have never observed any traffic issues, drop offs have always been seamless- never have I experienced a congested parking lot there or had to wait in line for drop off etc. Drop off is a quick (maybe 5min at most?) process, no one lingers- as there is a large base of working parents…most have to get to work to start their day.
We have taken advantage of the LPE date nights a few times and they have been such a great resource for my family, leaving my child with adults/friends shes comfortable with and that once again…we trust. This once a month extra few hours of care is a huge benefit to families like mine that have limited outside
support.
I learned this center will also have indoor space for young children’s birthday parties, another great add to our community. I’m currently trying to plan my daughter’s 4th birthday and options other than something at an outdoor park are almost non existent (especially affordable options). Activities in Napa for children is limited in general, my family and I are regularly driving to the Children’s Museum in Santa Rosa…or other experiences out of town to have something to do. We whole heartedly welcome any growth when it comes to community spaces for children, event/play/care…all of it is lacking and desperately needs to be supported.
Milli has continued to create a community at LPE that supports family’s, and we are very grateful to be a part of this village. I would love to see this project grow into fruition to support more families here in Napa- which I only see as an added resource to our city.
Thank you,
Jacqueline Wall
From:
Daniele Riboni
To:
Clerk
Subject:
LPE Letter of Support
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 5:14:17 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Hello,
Our daughter, who is 15 months old goes to Le Petit Elephant, and we wanted to write to show our support for the Use Permit.
There are a few issues important to us that this new location will help with. Napa has very few child/family friendly activities for children 0-12 years old on the weekends in Napa. We often find ourselves driving to the East Bay or other areas just for this, and it would be great to have more child- friendly spaces in Napa.
LPE’s Date Night, even while it’s just one Friday a month for 2.5 hours, is a life saver and a peace of mind for our family.
It's also incredibly important to us that our chid’s teachers are paid a living wage and get raises regularly and receive competitive benefits. This should be possible without LPE needing to raise our tuition. We know many families that aren't able to find high quality childcare and/or can’t afford it without scholarships, and this shouldn't be the case.
Thank you for your consideration,
Daniele Riboni and Alexandra Hayman
From:
Cameron Tangen
To:
Clerk
Subject:
LPE Application
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 5:15:30 PM
[EXTERNAL]
To whom it may concern:
Our son currently attends LPE. We were in dire need of childcare in early 2023 and were having a hard time finding a quality preschool that we could afford.
Thankfully there was a spot available at LPE. Milli has been very kind and worked with our unique situation. This has enabled Cameron to continue working full time so that Florence can work part time as a caregiver for her elderly mother.
We would like to mention that traffic congestion into and on the current LPE premises is nonexistent even though there is an elementary school 0.3 mi away.
While elementary schools require students to arrive and depart at a certain time, LPE instead has children arriving based on their personal schedules. For example, our son attends LPE three partial days a week. Other students attend only two days a week. We live on the other side of town, so the drive there can be tedious, but once we arrive it's always a pleasant
drop off and pick up. Recently
the city
was doing street work on Laurel in front of LPE, with one lane partially redirected, and still there was no traffic.
Our older son currently attends Alta Heights Elementary and our younger son will begin attending in 2025. We are very familiar with the traffic patterns in the proximity of Chapel Hill Drive. We also understand the concerns of the current residents regarding potential fire evacuation. Milli is very conscientious and we trust that her plans will be well thought out and possibly lead to an even safer
evacuation plan for the whole neighborhood.
We hope that the city will consider how much affordable, quality child care is needed by its residents, and that LPE is an asset to the community. We sincerely hope all parties involved can come to an agreement that will satisfy this need.
Sincerely,
Cameron Tangen & Florence Tangen
From:
Alice
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Le Petit Elephant at 15 Chapel Hill Drive
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 7:43:14 PM
[EXTERNAL]
To Whom It May Concern,
I'm writing in support of the proposed site for Le Petit Elephant at 15 Chapel Hill Drive. My daughter is currently two, and has been attending LPE since she was six months old. LPE has provided a vital lifeline that has allowed my husband and I to remain in the workforce, while also providing an incredible community and important social and education engagement for our daughter.
As a local school teacher in the district we are also seeing the impacts of declining enrollment in our school system which is directly related to the lack of
and affordability of resources for parents in Napa. The reality is that parents in Napa Valley are in a childcare crisis. There is only one childcare spot for every four children in the county, and most are for the ages 2 and over. The lack of availability and cost of childcare prevents parents like us from staying in the workforces so important to the local economy, and contributes longer-term to a lower birth rate and declining enrollment in our local school district. LPE is one of the few Child Care Facilities that provides infant care which is one of the only reasons I was able to return to my teaching career because hiring a nanny would have consumed my entire paycheck, making it pointless to return and unaffordable to live in Napa.
Napa County is aging, and not allowing successful childcare facilities like LPE to expand to meet the demand of local young families prevents families like mine (and their tax dollars) from staying in Napa Valley. There is a general complaint that Napa is no longer the small town community it used to be, I hear it from my students' parents all the time, the reason it is no longer that small community feeling is because there is a lack of resources for families who want to stay and raise their families here. We also need to consider who will be taking care of the aging population in Napa, and continue to be the workforce in our community. I understand there is pushback from the surrounding community, with concerns regarding traffic, safety and other potential nuisances if LPE were to relocate to this site. I believe that LPE can address concerns around traffic and safety as effectively on 15 Chapel Hill as it has at its current location on Laurel Street.
I hope you'll join me in supporting the next generation of Napa natives by supporting this petition.
Best regards,
Alice & Tim Salles
From:
Mary Luros
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Fwd: In support of LPE"s expansion project
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 8:17:15 PM
Mary Luros
Councilmember, District 3
City of Napa
PO Box 660 /
955 School Street, Napa, CA 94559
Phone
(707) 258-7800 x5284
[email protected]
Website
www.cityofnapa.org
Social
www.facebook.com/CityOfNapa
· @CityOfNapa
Begin forwarded message:
From:
Lucie Brunetiere
Date:
May 17, 2024 at 2:29:47
PM PDT
To:
Clerk <[email protected]>
Cc:
Jean-Baptiste Laumond
>, Scott Sedgley
<[email protected]>, Mary Luros <[email protected]> Subject:
In support of LPE's expansion project
[EXTERNAL]
(resending due to mistake in email address)
Dear Madam, dear Sir,
This email is to support
the LPE's new Child Development Center.
We arrived from Paris, France to Napa in October 2022 so that I could seize a formidable opportunity to work in one of
the top Napa Valley Wineries.
When I was presented with this career opportunity, one of the only negative factor was the lack of daycare
options in Napa - notorious even in Paris...- which is of great significance when you come from a country where finding affordable and qualitative daycare is not an issue.
When Milli texted me that we could have a spot at LPE a few months after our arrival, we were relieved. Since then, our son has been thriving. This also allows my husband to work as a substitute
teacher for the NVUSD.
We can only support LPE's project to provide daycare opportunities to more kids and to offer
more activities during the weekend. We are members of all the
Children's Museums of the region which means that we have to drive at least an hour each way to be able to provide some fun activities to our child.
We are not US citizens and therefore cannot vote. But I can assure you that providing qualitative daycare and infrastructure for kids is a key factor for the economic attraction of your region and for the wine industry to be able to attract talent from around the world.
Many thanks for your attention,
Best regards,
Lucie Brunetiere
From:
Kristen Reid
To:
Clerk
Subject:
LPE
Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 9:24:39 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Dear City of Napa,
LPE has been invaluable resource for our family. Our 3 1/2 year old son Harrison attends LPE 5 days a week and we are so incredibly grateful for the teachers and staff that care for our son as if he were their own. Our two year old daughter will begin preschool in the fall and we are so excited for her to integrate into the LPE family. We moved to Napa one year ago and with a small amount of family here, we have been so grateful to be welcomed into the LPE community. Starting a family has been one of the most challenging ventures that my husband and I have gone through. We had Harrison in Pasadena, and with no help and incredibly expensive child care we experienced a lot of stress. With LPE we have felt that stress lessen.
We have taken full advantage of the date nights that they offer. Our kids love going to their pizza party, while my husband and I have some time to reconnect without a child yelling, “mom, dad, mom, dad..” It’s been a major game changer for our family. The preschool and the date nights are affordable, and we know the kids are in such good hands. The curriculum is fun for Harrison. I love to hear about what he’s learning or what art project their class worked on and he loves to share about his day with us. When it comes to drop off and pick up there is little to no traffic because every family has different start and
end times for their day.
Attending LPE has been the best thing that has happened for our family. Milli truly wants to provide the best for the kids and the families in Napa. To have someone like her in the community is a true gift.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
The Reid Family
From:
Kate Harland
To:
Beth Painter
;
Clerk
;
Scott Sedgley
Cc:
John Harland
Subject:
Please Approve the Le Petit Elephant Nursery and Preschool - Alta Heights Site Proposal Date:
Friday, May 17, 2024 9:36:46 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Hello Napa City Council, Mayor Sedgley, Supervisor Painter:
I am Kate Harland, a Napa native, my husband John works for the City as a police officer.
Our two children currently attend LPE for preschool.
Funnily enough, I went to Alta Heights
Elementary long, long ago.
My parents have lived in Napa since the 1970's, my dad was a real estate lawyer in town and on the LAFCO board for some time prior to 2020.
After ~10 contacts and various tours, applications, etc, I feel very fortunate LPE had the space to take both boys when we needed to start childcare for them.
Prior to that, our working plan
was to send one child to one school, another to a different school (and then the school for the infant had that spot filled so we were back to square 1).
Infant care especially was difficult
to find options.
LPE has been a wonderful addition to our village.
The kids
love
all the staff and have learned
(and continue to learn) life skills, relationship and emotional management, produce lots of cute little kid crafts, and get to play outside for the majority of their time.
Milli and her team work
really hard to create connections between everyone at LPE, run a good business that takes care of our babies, and contribute to the community.
Due to conflicts, I likely won't be able to attend the council meeting on next week, and I want to loudly share my full support for Milli's plan for the Chapel Hill Drive location.
We all
know ECE is a difficult industry to succeed in and more spaces are desperately needed in Napa.
I hope the council sees the value in what Milli is proposing and approves the permit application.
Thank you,
Kate Harland
From:
Allison Spear
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Letter in support of LPE’s new Childcare Location
Date:
Saturday, May 18, 2024 7:01:05 AM
[EXTERNAL]
To the Office of the Napa City Clerk
I’m writing in support of Le Petite Elephant’s (LPE) proposed new location for their early childhood education center.
Napa is a wonderful town, but it lacks resources, support, and activities for young families. LPE is the premier preschool and daycare center in Napa Valley and has provided a joyful and supportive community for young Napa families who are raising the next generation.
All efforts to develop and support the LPE program should be enabled and enhanced. It is so awful to hear that a handful of Napa families can derail a simple project like this which supports the livelihood of so many children and families in our community.
LPE is a quiet, beautiful, nurturing place with very little traffic moving in/out. The entire community is respectful of the surrounding neighborhood. Direct neighbors may notice cars driving in/out at drop off and pick up times M-F, but there are never traffic jams, or large numbers of people gathering at the school. Even school parties and events are relaxed and don’t draw large crowds.
Thank you for considering the support of this proposed move. LPE is a warm and kind early childhood institution in Napa and should be supported completely.
Napa needs more early childhood education and family friendly activity centers to support our growing community! Please help us support the young families of Napa Valley during this challenging time post Covid, economic challenges and a high tech era where we need more healthy options for kids to learn in media-free environments! Thank you,
Allison Spear, mother of Waylon Spear (4yo at LPE)
Sent from my iPhone
From:
Karen Sieloff
To:
Clerk
Subject:
LPE
Date:
Saturday, May 18, 2024 9:06:09 AM
[EXTERNAL]
As a Napa resident and grandparents in Alta Heights, I would like to express our strong support for the relocation and expansion opportunity for LPE and the much needed child & daycare in Napa. Our children and grandchildren are the future of Napa, and nothing can be more important than providing them a reputable and necessary start in their education and care, outside their homes. I strongly support this chance for LPE to grow and bring more opportunities to our community. Many of these little ones likely have older siblings being dropped off at the elementary school just a short block away, so the extra traffic concerns is somewhat exaggerated IMO.
Please allow
this project to move forward.
Thank you.
Karen & Ken Sieloff
Sent from my iPhone
From:
Audrie Walsh
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Alta Heights Child Development Center
Date:
Saturday, May 18, 2024 11:00:39 AM
[EXTERNAL]
Hello,
I’m contacting you to express my family’s support for the new Child Development Center in Alta Heights. Both of my kids currently attend LPE, which has been a fantastic daycare and preschool for them. I’m very thankful to have such a great facility available to us, which allows me to continue my career as a winemaker. It is very tough to find daycare options in Napa, and in my opinion LPE provides the safest and most enriching environment for my children’s needs. I am especially excited about the prospect of having more resources available to us after work hours. There are limited child friendly local weekend options to take our kids to, and we have to travel out of town to find places such as a children’s museum.
I also am very thankful for the financial support available to us through LPE given the cost of living in Napa and the cost of raising two children. We find that both of us working is financially difficult given the cost of childcare, despite both of us having master’s degrees and well paying jobs. We have been able to make it work so far without financial assistance, but with childcare cost increasing in the new school year having extra support via financial assistance relieves some financial stress. We can pay for my daughter’s dance class and pay for swim classes without overstretching ourselves financially.
My husband and I would also like to avail of the after hours date nights at the daycare center, since we do not have family close by who could watch our children for a few hours.
I love our city and hope that we can foster an environment that celebrates the children raised here by providing enriching and community oriented spaces. Thank you for taking the time to consider my opinion.
Thank you,
Audrie Walsh
From:
Nida Garchitorena
To:
Clerk
Subject:
LPE permit
Date:
Saturday, May 18, 2024 12:04:59 PM
[EXTERNAL]
This project will be such a blessing to everyone. My grandsons go here and has helped their over all development and the teachers are so loving and caring. They promote healthy eating habits here as well. My daughter and her sons are low income and eventhough CRC covers them, Milli also is giving them scholarship/more discount so it helps my daughter especially when she is working full time to provide for her family. Good quality child care
is
very important. Thank you for your time.
From:
MARY ANN Garchitorena
To:
Clerk
Subject:
LPE permit
Date:
Saturday, May 18, 2024 12:10:58 PM
[EXTERNAL]
To whom it may concern,
LPE has given my sons a lot of opportunity to learn and grow as they hit a lot of milestones through their wonderful philosophy. Not only Milli is very respectful of children, she also promotes healthy eating habits for the children under her school. She is there for the children and makes sure the teachers are more than enough to cover and care to meet the needs
of the
children in each class. Milli is a very intelligent person and loves all the children! I work full time to provide for my family and we fall on the low income but even though CRC covers most of the tuition, Milli covers the rest of it by offering financial aid /scholarships. This helps a lot. Good quality childcare is very important for our future leaders. Thank you for your time.
From:
Jason TerAvest
To:
Clerk
Cc:
Scott Sedgley
;
Beth Painter
Subject:
LPE in Alta Heights
Date:
Saturday, May 18, 2024 2:41:13 PM
[EXTERNAL]
To Whom It May Concern,
I'm writing in support of Le Petit Elephant's
application for the proposed new site in Alta
Heights. As a born and raised Napan, now raising two children of my own in this beautiful community, I have seen many sides of the childcare experience here in Napa.
My mother moved to Napa in the 60s when she was a teenager. She and I are both proud Napa High alums. And I'm chuffed at the
idea that someday my two children will carry on to be the 3rd generation in our family to attend high school there. Though I spent a few years away for college and establishing my career, I am delighted to be back in Napa as an adult settling into family life. It has been a surreal joy to rediscover old haunts, and to find new things to appreciate about our town. Living in Napa, my children get to have a daily relationship with their grandparents who still live here as well.
But, for two reasons, it almost didn't happen.
1. Napa has become expensive in the 40 years since I was born here, and our careers do not have industry in the nearby region. A silver-lining of the COVID-19 pandemic brought to us an ability to work remotely, saving us the 2-hr each way commute to San Francisco and enabling us to spend more time with our children on weekdays. Thus a move to Napa was within reach.
2. Our other hurdle was childcare. Living in a big city when our oldest was born was a learning curve in securing childcare. Yes some were full, but population density ensured an abundance of options. Napa is a different story. Our son was under 2 when we were planning our move back to Napa. And we had another on the way. We were not prepared for the extremely
limited number of options. And while we were pleased with the reputation of our options, our hopes came down to the dreaded waitlist.
We were lucky and secured a spot at LPE. And when I say lucky, I mean capital-L - LUCKY.
Kiss me I'm Irish - LUCKY. See a penny, pick it up, all day long you'll have good luck - LUCKY.
Not just lucky to get in, but lucky that LPE is an institution that doesn't just care for kids: they love
our kids, and they
teach
our kids, and our kids will enter public school with the kind of advantages only this sort of experience can provide.
Napa needs LPE. And LPE needs Napa. This is your chance to address a critical need for today's Napans by investing in tomorrow's Napans. I urge you to do the right things and approve this plan.
Sincerely,
Jason TerAvest
Adrean Takemoto
Honorable
Napa City Council
members
City Hall
Napa, CA, 94559
Dear
Councilmember
s,
My name is Adrean Takemoto and I currently serve as the Assistant Director at Le Petit Elephant Nursery and
Preschool. I am writing to voice my support for the plans under consideration to develop a new location for our preschool.
I have worked in the early childhood development field for more than 2 5 years and have deep
experience with the needs of children and families. I am also a passionate advocate for high quality education and care for young children
,
something
that is sorely lacking in our community.
I have had the
privilege
to work under
Milli Pintacsi at Le Petit Elephant
for almost 7
years now, and I can
say without a doubt that LPE is the most well run preschool that I have been employed at . It’s refreshing
to work for an organization whose primary focus is the education, growth, and well being of the children in our care, a sentiment that I know you have already heard from many families that we serve. It also helps us attract, retain, and t
rain amazing members of our staff into an important field, to the longer term benefit of our community.
The proposal for our new site at 15 Chapel
Hill Drive represents not only an addi
tional 63 childcare s
pots
for
Napa
’
s youn
g families
(
wh
ich are desperately needed
)
,
but 15
new
well paying jobs
, community
space for mothers and
young children,
and a chance to
add all of this in a business that has proven its
skill and worth
t
o the community
over many years
.
Le Petit Elephant is extraordinarily well regarded in the community and with the hundreds of families that we have served
.
We a
re extremely
proud of our reputation with
our
fa
milies
, the community at
large, and the neighbors that we co
exist with so well
.
I
n my
management
role at the center, I can speak
directly to the concerns raised by appel
lants as to parking, traffic, and what they
perceive
to be an issue
with evening and weeken
d
activities
at our center
.
In our
current
location, we have 35 employees and
115
children in our care daily
on
average
. In the 7
years I have worked at this center I have never once seen a backup on the street, jammed parking
lot, or
traffic issue
caused by fami
lies or staff associated wit
h our operation.
We
simply
do not have the same
rhythm
as
a
K
-
12 school
, and do not have large numbers of families and/or staff arriving in one block of time, certainly not enough to cause traffic jams in the surrounding neighborhood. The new Chapel Hill site
can accommodate even more vehicles
and while it is true that there
will be an increase in traffic
spread out throughout the morning and afternoon, it
should not cause congestion or traffic on
neighborhood
streets
,
as
evidenced by the detailed traffic study
done prior to approval by the Planning
Commission.
There
are
many things to love a
b
out living
in our wonderful
Napa
community, but
activities and spaces
for small children are in exceptionally short supply here. While children are allowed most anywhere in
our community, there are precious few places that are designed
for
or geared toward them. Aside from
local parks and outdoor activities, most families of small children are forced
to constantly
travel
outside
the county for kids
’
activities
.
One
of the amazing aspects of the new Chapel Hill site is that it offers the opportunity
to create a space for a multitude of children
’
s activi
ti
es
ranging from
sports practices to play
dates
,
and
a
modest
and affordable
event venue for small children
’
s
birthday
parties or mother
’
s groups
–
all
of which would take place indoors, mitigating the
perceived
noise pollution
that appellants seem
concerned with
.
Appellants frame these as
“
add
-
ons
”
to the
concept
of
the new preschool, but th
ese are
all
things that are very sorely lacking in our community now, and things that parents and young
families
are constantly looking for.
We have the
unique
opportunity to
add amenities and a
ctivity spaces
dedicated to small children
attached to a business that has pr
oven its skill and value to the community
over m
any years.
I
understand
that the appellants do not like the idea of a
preschool
coming to their neighborhood, but as
has been noted by many in this discussion, we live in a larger community and ne
ed to
collectively
use the
resources at our disposal to continue to ma
ke it
better
.
The new LPE location can help add
badly
needed
childcare spots
and simultaneously add spaces for children and young families to feel valued and
included in our city
’
s
evolution.
I apprec
iate your
time
and attention to hear f
ro
m
t
he community
about this very important is
sue and
hope that you see this project as the opportunity it is to build a better , brighter, more vibrant
Napa for
you
ng families
.
Sincerely,
Adrean Takemoto
Assistant Director
Le Petit Elephant Preschool and Nursery
From:
Eva Rubalcava
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Fwd: Le Petit Nursery and preschool
Date:
Monday, May 20, 2024 7:35:46 AM
[EXTERNAL]
Please take this in consideration
Sent from my iPho
Begin forwarded message:
From:
Eva Rubalcava
Date:
March 15, 2024 at 9:32:59
PM PDT
To:
Angela Alvarez-Cendejas <[email protected]>
Subject:
Re: Le Petit Nursery and preschool
Thank you
Sent from my iPhone
On Mar 15, 2024, at 1:52
PM, Angela Alvarez-Cendejas
<[email protected]> wrote:
Hello Eve,
Thank you for your comment. I am confirming that it was received.
Best,
Angela Alvarez-Cendejas
Assistant Planner
Planning Division
Community Development Department, City of Napa
1600 First Street, Napa, CA 94559
Direct
: 707-257-9639 |
Main
: 707-257-9530
E:
[email protected]
<image001.png>
From:
Eva Hernandez
Sent:
Friday, March 15, 2024 11:54 AM
To:
Angela Alvarez-Cendejas <[email protected]>
Subject:
Le Petit Nursery and preschool
[EXTERNAL]
To my community, my name is Eva Rubalcava, back in 2021 I went through a divorce. I felt alone with no support from anyone.
I was homeless with no job. I was emotionally, financially, mentally, spiritually broken, I felt lost. I needed to go back to school.
I started looking for daycare for both my daughters who were 12 months and 3 years old at that time.
Nowhere in Napa would they
take my youngest daughter because she was a baby. I stressfully continued to call daycare centers. My start date at school was May first. With little time I Prayed to find a good trusting loving
caring place were
my children would learn. I came across Le
Petit. Spoke to Milli who with lots of love and kindness heard my story and she said to me “I don't have space now but let me see what I can do to help. I was thinking I could add one more baby to the classroom, but I will give you a call.” I prayed harder and Milli got back to me the next day with good news Lynnay and Dariana were both accepted in Le Petit. Milli helped me so much and continues to help me. Lynnay graduated preschool ready to start kindergarten knowing her numbers and ABCs and is very social.
Darina continues to attend. The teachers are great.
Without Le Petit I don't know where I would be. Without Lepetit it
would be a hardship to our family, I would have to quit my job and be a burden on taxpayers. Napa needs to invest in quality child care.
Milli gave me lots of hope and courage and gave me
confidence that there are nice people out here that still care. The new location at Alta heights will defiantly help a lot of children including mine. Please let the Alta heights daycare center project continue, and this center may be a center of trust which is hard to find these days, love, joy and learning for our generations. God bless. Thank you. With all our heart Eva ,Dariana and Lynnay .
From:
Mathilde Depresle
To:
Clerk
Cc:
Scott Sedgley
Subject:
Use Permit Appeal LPE Napa
Date:
Monday, May 20, 2024 8:30:43 AM
[EXTERNAL]
To whom it may concern,
Our 2 children have been attending LPE for 1 and 2 years, respectively. We have a deep appreciation for the services and education they offer to our little ones. It is unparalleled as it compares to every other daycare that we’ve sought out and have performed research on. With that said, we learned of the incredible opportunity to improve the infrastructure in dramatic fashion by moving facilities altogether and increasing the capacity in order to provide daycare for more families in Napa.
This opportunity provided great excitement for our family for many reasons:
1)
Increased infrastructure for our little ones
2)
Giving the chance to other families to access LPE outstanding education program => more and more young families are leaving Napa because of the lack of daycare. 3)
Space for our kids’ birthday parties indoors, get togethers, and overall activities (Napa severely lacks this).
LPE has gone above and beyond providing additional benefits for us as parents including but limited to a monthly date night that at certain times was crucial to our relationship as husband and wife. They also provide educational opportunities for our children that at this stage just aren’t available at other institutions. LPE is also the only daycare in Napa who has business hours from 730am to 530pm giving us the possibility to work full time.
The ability to grow and
thrive from what they’ve already built in their existing location would be monumental for early child development of Napa and the surrounding areas. The Founder Milli, has shown an authentic passion for building a true sanctuary for our children to blossom in an educational, friendly and care-free environment! We truly look forward to a positive outcome here, as this is very important to us.
Sincerely appreciate your serious consideration of immediate approval.
Kind Regards,
Mathilde and Andrew Seagrave
From:
Jessica Breslin
To:
Clerk
Cc:
Scott Sedgley
;
Bernie Narvaez
;
;
Jeremy Breslin
Subject:
In support of LPE
Date:
Monday, May 20, 2024 10:28:25 AM
[EXTERNAL]
Dear Napa City Council, Mayor Sedgley, and Council Member Bernie Narvaez:
Our names are Jessica and Jeremy Breslin and we live in District 4 with our 3.5 year old and 4 month old. Our oldest daughter has been going to LPE for the last 2.5 years. She loves it, we love it. The teachers are excellent, it is a tight run ship, and because of LPE our daughter is developing into an amazing person. We are writing in support of LPE and making Napa better for families with kids.
We love Napa. It has all of our favorite things - amazing wine and food, great weather, music, and nature. It has so many great things to do…for adults. Napa is amazing, but most of what makes it great isn’t family friendly (eg. post pandemic most wineries don't allow kids anymore) and that makes raising a family in Napa super hard. It also means that whenever we want to go and enjoy Napa, spend money in Napa, we need to get childcare, which isn’t easy to get.
Building a community in a new city isn't easy either. Being a new parent and a parent of young kids can feel isolating. Traditional childcare hours don't work with work schedules and have never worked with work schedules.
Having a trusted, well run, family friendly place with activities on nights and weekends would be a godsend. A real community builder and great support for Napa families.
My husband and I don’t have family in Napa. LPE’s date nights are some of the only times we get to go out to dinner, visit a winery, and fully enjoy Napa.
LPE has the opportunity to do something amazing for the city of Napa.
It has the opportunity to not only provide amazing daycare and preschool during the traditional childcare times, it also has the opportunity to strengthen the community by being a place where families can connect, kids can continue their development through more activities, and where parents can get some additional help every 1.5 months with longer childcare hours so parents can go out and enjoy Napa, spend money in Napa.
We ask that you continue to approve LPE's full proposal and help make Napa a better and easier place for parents and families.
Our best,
Jessica and Jeremy Breslin
From:
Julian Christian
To:
Clerk
;
Kathryn Siegfried
Subject:
Le Petit Elephant Daycare Appeal
Date:
Monday, May 20, 2024 10:29:00 AM
[EXTERNAL]
To whom it may concern:
I'm writing this letter to show support for the LPE nursery school and daycare permits currently being appealed.
My wife and I have lived in Napa since 2017 amd since starting a family in 2018 have experienced first hand the limited resources and availability for infant-pre K childcare as well as a good source of enrichment and community.
We are lucky to have placed our two small children in the care if Milli Pintacsi and her wonderful team at Le Petit Elephant since 2018.
In addition to traditional daycare/preschool, we have relied on LPE to make up for the lack of child/family friendly activities such as their once per month "date night" babysitting service.
It also must be said that we commend the LPE team for their organizational efforts with regards to traffic handling during drop off and pick up and management of their parking lot.
Last and most importantly we'd like to stress the negative impact the lack of affordable/quality child care is having on so many other parents we know who can’t find high quality childcare/after school or weekend enrichment.
Julian Christian & Kathryn Siegfried
From:
Brett Freeland
To:
Clerk
Cc:
[email protected]
Subject:
LPE use permit and "ancillary uses"
Date:
Monday, May 20, 2024 10:42:14 AM
[EXTERNAL]
To whom it may concern,
I am writing to show my support for LPE and their use permit for their potential new location.
I am a parent and member of the LPE community. I strongly support their strive to provide affordable child care in Napa, as well as their support of the LPE community and the larger Napa community.
Their ability to provide things such as a monthly date night for us parents, indoor birthday parties, and other child centered activities on the weekends will be a positive impact on the city of Napa.
Any new parent is apprehensive about how their children will be cared for in a daycare setting, I was no different.
What became clear to me from the beginning is that LPE is more than a daycare center.
The entire LPE community has shared values of providing for their communities.
I felt immediately called to support this community, and the thoughtful leadership from Millie and her team have created in me a more concerned and involved community member.
Please give the larger LPE community
and I the opportunity to prove to
you that this use permit will benefit all Napa because of the incredible LPE community.
Kind regards,
~Brett
From:
Paul Dugoni
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Le Petit Elephant- Support
Date:
Monday, May 20, 2024 10:45:33 AM
[EXTERNAL]
Hello Napa,
I’m writing this letter in support of LPE. As a parent of two toddlers, I've found it very hard to find quality, affordable childcare in Napa Valley. My kids have benefited from the structure and camaraderie that LPE offers. In general, Napa doesn’t have a ton of kid-friendly activities; we typically find ourselves going outside of Napa to the children's museum, Oakland/Sacramento/SF Zoo, or birthday parties at Scandia(Fairfield), train town(Sonoma), or Sky Zone(Vacaville). I would support the use of extracurricular activities to generate additional tax revenue and support the local economy. I’ve never noticed any issues with traffic or congestion during pick-up/drop-off. Most parents are in and out within 5 mins, and the parking lot is 90% empty most of the time. It's important that my child's teachers are supported via a livable wage; scaling to the size of LPE gives them the ability and efficiency to pay a livable wage without overcharging parents. I’m happy to answer any additional questions about my experience with LPE.
Cheers,
Paul Dugoni
|
Associate -
Premium Wine Division
|
707.688.2035
|
1300 First Street, Napa, CA
94559
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From:
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Letter in support of LPE
Date:
Monday, May 20, 2024 10:47:42 AM
[EXTERNAL]
Good afternoon,
We are writing in support of the petition for Le Petit Elephant pre-school.
Our family moved to Napa from Paris, France a year ago in the middle of the school year. It was comforting to know that LPE was able to accommodate our then 3-year old son, Andre.
Milli and her wonderful staff welcomed us with open arms and made our trans-Atlantic transition seamless by giving extra attention to our son who did not speak a word of English! We are forever grateful for their openness, flexibility, and care especially during the first few months.
After a year in Napa, we realize that there is definitely a shortage of childcare and activities as well as affordable places to hold celebrations. Therefore, we urge the City of Napa to consider this amazing proposal to not only keep LPE but extend their services to the community through additional programs.
We appreciate your attention and hope for a positive outcome, benefiting Napa families.
Sincerely,
Adiba and Julien Issenmann
Sent from my iPhone
From:
Jacqueline Wall
To:
Clerk
Subject:
LPE Alta Heights project
Date:
Monday, May 20, 2024 11:09:33 AM
[EXTERNAL]
Hello City of Napa,
Writing in to share my support for the new proposed LPE site in Alta Heights.
My family is growing, and the lack of viable affordable childcare options in Napa is glaring.
As a mom in Napa I regularly see desperate posts from other parents seeking childcare options or share conversations about what to do concerning childcare (especially infant care). I know of more and more families that are having to take a pause from their careers to accommodate a lack of viable childcare options.
My daughter has been at LPE for the last 3 years and I’ve watched her flourish there, it has been a blessing to find a childcare center that accommodates our work schedules with full time care- and a place we can leave our child that we trust. The teachers and staff we adore, my daughter looks forward to going to “school”. She continues to hit milestone after milestones as she learns and grows at LPE. Having the teachers supported is a big priority for us as we want LPE to be able to retain the high quality of staff that they have.
We have never observed any traffic issues, drop offs have always been seamless- never have I experienced a congested parking lot there or had to wait in line for drop off etc. Drop off is a quick (maybe 5min at most?) process, no one lingers- as there is a large base of working parents…most have to get to work to start their day.
We have taken advantage of the LPE date nights a few times and they have been such a great resource for my family, leaving my child with adults/friends shes comfortable with and that once again…we trust. This once a month extra few hours of care is a huge benefit to families like mine that have limited outside
support.
I learned this center will also have indoor space for young children’s birthday parties, another great add to our community. I’m currently trying to plan my daughter’s 4th birthday and options other than something at an outdoor park are almost non existent (especially affordable options). Activities in Napa for children is limited in general, my family and I are regularly driving to the Children’s Museum in Santa Rosa…or other experiences out of town to have something to do. We whole heartedly welcome any growth when it comes to community spaces for children, event/play/care…all of it is lacking and desperately needs to be supported.
Milli has continued to create a community at LPE that supports family’s, and we are very grateful to be a part of this village. I would love to see this project grow into fruition to support more families here in Napa- which I only see as an added resource to our city.
Thank you,
Jacqueline Wall
From:
Mikaela McDermott
To:
Clerk
Cc:
Beth Painter
;
Scott Sedgley
Subject:
Le Petit Elephant Use Permit
Date:
Monday, May 20, 2024 2:36:05 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Hello,
I am reaching out regarding the use permit for Le Petit Elephant.
I have two children
currently attending LPE and as someone who works 40+ hours each week, having dependable, quality, and safe childcare is something that is more important to a parent than anything
else in the world. I was raised in Napa myself and I love this community. I was so thrilled to be able to return home to raise my own children here as well. It has been disheartening that there has been any opposition to the opportunity to continue to offer and expand the kind of childcare that Le Petit provides. I understand
that change is hard for most
people, myself included, but I watched the previous meeting recording and the arguments made felt full of fallacies and lacking logical rationale. Sadly, I also felt they they were lacking a sense of heart and kindness that has always been one of the
things I found so special
and present in this community while growing up here. I understand
the
displeasure with any
perceived change to a nice and quiet community and fears around what a new space might bring but we are talking about a childcare center,
not a nightclub. The pros for what a space
like this will bring to this town vastly outweigh any perceived concerns or downsides, which were wonderfully and pragmatically defended in the previous
town meeting.
My understanding is that the current argument against this new location in Alta Heights is around the evening and weekend activities that they would provide. A few points that I want to share in support of these ancillary
events are:
This is a respectful family-oriented community of people at LPE . These are family-
friendly events and would be treated with the
maturity and respect that the Alta Heights
neighborhood (and
any
other neighborhood in Napa) deserves. The families who drive in and out of Le Petit every day, and who I cross paths with daily in the hallways, are some of the kindest and most respectful people who I interact with throughout each week. These families will continue to bring that sense of respect whether it is a 5pm pick up, 8pm pick up or a weekend event.
Week-night events:
The "date night" offerings have been a godsend for parents. As I mentioned before, I work full-time as does my husband. The date nights which are offered once a month (or so) have been such a light in our busy weeks to
give some
reprieve to a tough work week. It's also a wonderful opportunity to offer more work/pay to the incredible teachers who stay to care for children during these events. I'll also note that
the
pickup for these date-nights has been such a
wide time range that I have never
experienced traffic or congestion when having a later pick-up.
Weekend events
: To my knowledge the only other location in Napa that offers weekend space indoors for birthday parties and events is Rola. Otherwise, we often have to
leave Napa to find child-friendly
event spaces. We love attending events at Rola but it
can be expensive for many families and to have additional/similar options for a safe, clean, affordable event space would be an incredible
benefit to the community. It's
worth adding, I've attended many events at Rola and they also have an outdoor space but I have never once seen any issues with their events impacting the surrounding community. The endings to these events have always been incredibly uneventful where people give hugs, say goodbye and leave quietly with their families.
Staffing
: One of the most important points, in my opinion, is that securing this space means securing (and expanding) jobs to some of the most incredible people, who deserve well-paying and secure jobs. The teachers at Le Petit have such an important job and they take that job
seriously. It's tough saying good-bye to my kids each morning and spending hours away from them every day but to see them run into the arms of these teachers who love them and protect them each day is a feeling of comfort I cannot begin to describe. I am forever grateful to these hard-working women. They deserve job security, good pay and the opportunity to continue to do their incredible
job.
Thank you so much for your time.
May 20, 2024
Dear Members of the
N
apa
City Council,
I am writing to express my enthusiastic support for the proposal by
Le Petit Elephant
Nursery and Preschool
to open a new
facility in Alta
Heights
. As a
parent
,
resident
,
and
community member
, I believe this initiative is not only beneficial but also essential for the well
-
being and development of our city.
The need for affordable and accessible childcare is a pressing issue for many families in Napa
. The addition of a daycare center would provide numerous benefits, including:
Support for Working Families
: Many parents in our community struggle to
balance work and childcare responsibilities. A local daycare center would offer a reliable solution, enabling parents to work knowing their children are in a safe and nurturing environment.
Early Childhood Development
: Quality daycare centers play a crucial role in
early childhood education, fostering social, emotional, and cognitive development.
Professional caregivers can provide structured activities and learning opportunities that help children reach important deve
lopmental milestones.
Community Economic Growth:
By providing affordable childcare options, we
can attract and retain a diverse workforce. This, in turn, can stimulate local economic growth as parents are able to contribute more effectively to the workforce.
Enhanced Community Engagement:
A daycare center can serve as a hub for
community activities and engagement. It provides a space for parents to connect, share resources, and build a stronger, more cohesive community network.
The proposed location for the daycare center is ideal, offering easy access for families across our city. Additionally, the planned facilities and programs align with best practices for childcare, ensuring a high
-
quality environment for our children.
I urge the
Council to approve
the use permit issue by the planning
commission
and to
move forward
with
this
center
. This initiative is a proactive step toward supporting our families, enriching our community, and fostering the growth and development of our youngest residents.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Jessica Silverman
Executive Director
Cope Family Center
From:
Pepe Lopez Waldron
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Request to Allow Le Petit Elephant Daycare in Napa
Date:
Monday, May 20, 2024 4:24:18 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Dear City Council Members,
My name is Pepe Lopez Waldron, and I am a stay-at-home father to two toddlers in Napa.
While I cherish caring for my children at home, the reality is they need a more structured social environment to enrich thier development and I've found
there is a lack of activities,
services, and facilities available in our city for kids under five years old.
It's for this reason that I was excited to learn of Le Petit Elephant, a reputable daycare provider, expressing interest in opening a new facility here. Le Petit Elephant has an excellent curriculum focused on play-based learning and fostering the growth and development of young minds.
The opportunity for my children to spend time in Le Petit Elephant's nurturing environment would provide them with crucial instructional and social experiences that I cannot provide on my own as their primary caregiver.
I am writing to urge you to approve Le Petit Elephant's application to operate in Napa. They would fill a major gap by offering a high-quality early childhood program tailored to the needs of families like mine. Having this option would greatly enrich my kids' developmental journey.
Thank you for your consideration. I'd be happy to further discuss the need for more robust offerings for our city's youngest residents.
Sincerely,
Pepe Lopez Waldron
From:
Owen McAdams
To:
Clerk
Subject:
LPE use permit
Date:
Monday, May 20, 2024 12:48:30 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Good afternoon , I am writing in regards to LPE daycares current request for a permit to expand their ability to provide child care services in Napa. I have had the good fortune of having two children parents LPE, and the quality of care and instruction they have received has been excellent.
As a small business owner I have always appreciated the consistent and professional service LPE has provided.
Before enrolling our son at LPE, we were placed on 3 separate wait list at various day care facilities. The uncertainty of having care for our child weighed heavily on my wife and I, and limited our search for employement and business expansion , as we were uncertain of the time constraints we faced while being the sole option to watch our children. The need for quality care is obvious, the desire abundant. Milli Pintasci and LPE bring a much needed service to the Napa valley and permitting their expansion would be a wonderful move.
Thank you
Owen McAdams
DEVINE PAINT CENTER
971 Lincoln Ave. Napa, Ca
office: 707-226-5211
From:
Mikaela McDermott
To:
Clerk
Cc:
Beth Painter
;
Scott Sedgley
Subject:
Le Petit Elephant Use Permit
Date:
Monday, May 20, 2024 2:36:05 PM
[
Hello,
I am reaching out regarding the use permit for Le Petit Elephant.
I have two children
currently attending LPE and as someone who works 40+ hours each week, having dependable, quality, and safe childcare is something that is more important to a parent than anything
else in the world. I was raised in Napa myself and I love this community. I was so thrilled to be able to return home to raise my own children here as well. It has been disheartening that there has been any opposition to the opportunity to continue to offer and expand the kind of childcare that Le Petit provides. I understand
that change is hard for most
people, myself included, but I watched the previous meeting recording and the arguments made felt full of fallacies and lacking logical rationale. Sadly, I also felt they they were lacking a sense of heart and kindness that has always been one of the
things I found so special
and present in this community while growing up here. I understand
the
displeasure with any
perceived change to a nice and quiet community and fears around what a new space might bring but we are talking about a childcare center,
not a nightclub. The pros for what a space
like this will bring to this town vastly outweigh any perceived concerns or downsides, which were wonderfully and pragmatically defended in the previous
town meeting.
My understanding is that the current argument against this new location in Alta Heights is around the evening and weekend activities that they would provide. A few points that I want to share in support of these ancillary
events are:
This is a respectful family-oriented community of people at LPE . These are family-
friendly events and would be treated with the
maturity and respect that the Alta Heights
neighborhood (and
any
other neighborhood in Napa) deserves. The families who drive in and out of Le Petit every day, and who I cross paths with daily in the hallways, are some of the kindest and most respectful people who I interact with throughout each week. These families will continue to bring that sense of respect whether it is a 5pm pick up, 8pm pick up or a weekend event.
Week-night events:
The "date night" offerings have been a godsend for parents. As I mentioned before, I work full-time as does my husband. The date nights which are offered once a month (or so) have been such a light in our busy weeks to
give some
reprieve to a tough work week. It's also a wonderful opportunity to offer more work/pay to the incredible teachers who stay to care for children during these events. I'll also note that
the
pickup for these date-nights has been such a
wide time range that I have never
experienced traffic or congestion when having a later pick-up.
Weekend events
: To my knowledge the only other location in Napa that offers weekend space indoors for birthday parties and events is Rola. Otherwise, we often have to
leave Napa to find child-friendly
event spaces. We love attending events at Rola but it
can be expensive for many families and to have additional/similar options for a safe, clean, affordable event space would be an incredible
benefit to the community. It's
worth adding, I've attended many events at Rola and they also have an outdoor space but I have never once seen any issues with their events impacting the surrounding community. The endings to these events have always been incredibly uneventful where people give hugs, say goodbye and leave quietly with their families.
Staffing
: One of the most important points, in my opinion, is that securing this space means securing (and expanding) jobs to some of the most incredible people, who deserve well-paying and secure jobs. The teachers at Le Petit have such an important job and they take that job
seriously. It's tough saying good-bye to my kids each morning and spending hours away from them every day but to see them run into the arms of these teachers who love them and protect them each day is a feeling of comfort I cannot begin to describe. I am forever grateful to these hard-working women. They deserve job security, good pay and the opportunity to continue to do their incredible
job.
Thank you so much for your time.
May 20, 2024
Dear Members of the
N
apa
City Council,
I am writing to express my enthusiastic support for the proposal by
Le Petit Elephant
Nursery and Preschool
to open a new
facility in Alta
Heights
. As a
parent
,
resident
,
and
community member
, I believe this initiative is not only beneficial but also essential for the well
-
being and development of our city.
The need for affordable and accessible childcare is a pressing issue for many families in Napa
. The addition of a daycare center would provide numerous benefits, including:
Support for Working Families
: Many parents in our community struggle to
balance work and childcare responsibilities. A local daycare center would offer a reliable solution, enabling parents to work knowing their children are in a safe and nurturing environment.
Early Childhood Development
: Quality daycare centers play a crucial role in
early childhood education, fostering social, emotional, and cognitive development.
Professional caregivers can provide structured activities and learning opportunities that help children reach important deve
lopmental milestones.
Community Economic Growth:
By providing affordable childcare options, we
can attract and retain a diverse workforce. This, in turn, can stimulate local economic growth as parents are able to contribute more effectively to the workforce.
Enhanced Community Engagement:
A daycare center can serve as a hub for
community activities and engagement. It provides a space for parents to connect, share resources, and build a stronger, more cohesive community network.
The proposed location for the daycare center is ideal, offering easy access for families across our city. Additionally, the planned facilities and programs align with best practices for childcare, ensuring a high
-
quality environment for our children.
I urge the
Council to approve
the use permit issue by the planning
commission
and to
move forward
with
this
center
. This initiative is a proactive step toward supporting our families, enriching our community, and fostering the growth and development of our youngest residents.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Jessica Silverman
Executive Director
Cope Family Center
From:
Pepe Lopez Waldron
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Request to Allow Le Petit Elephant Daycare in Napa
Date:
Monday, May 20, 2024 4:24:18 PM
[
Dear City Council Members,
My name is Pepe Lopez Waldron, and I am a stay-at-home father to two toddlers in Napa.
While I cherish caring for my children at home, the reality is they need a more structured social environment to enrich thier development and I've found
there is a lack of activities,
services, and facilities available in our city for kids under five years old.
It's for this reason that I was excited to learn of Le Petit Elephant, a reputable daycare provider, expressing interest in opening a new facility here. Le Petit Elephant has an excellent curriculum focused on play-based learning and fostering the growth and development of young minds.
The opportunity for my children to spend time in Le Petit Elephant's nurturing environment would provide them with crucial instructional and social experiences that I cannot provide on my own as their primary caregiver.
I am writing to urge you to approve Le Petit Elephant's application to operate in Napa. They would fill a major gap by offering a high-quality early childhood program tailored to the needs of families like mine. Having this option would greatly enrich my kids' developmental journey.
Thank you for your consideration. I'd be happy to further discuss the need for more robust offerings for our city's youngest residents.
Sincerely,
Pepe Lopez Waldron
From:
Owen McAdams
To:
Clerk
Subject:
LPE use permit
Date:
Monday, May 20, 2024 12:48:30 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Good afternoon , I am writing in regards to LPE daycares current request for a permit to expand their ability to provide child care services in Napa. I have had the good fortune of having two children parents LPE, and the quality of care and instruction they have received has been excellent.
As a small business owner I have always appreciated the consistent and professional service LPE has provided.
Before enrolling our son at LPE, we were placed on 3 separate wait list at various day care facilities. The uncertainty of having care for our child weighed heavily on my wife and I, and limited our search for employement and business expansion , as we were uncertain of the time constraints we faced while being the sole option to watch our children. The need for quality care is obvious, the desire abundant. Milli Pintasci and LPE bring a much needed service to the Napa valley and permitting their expansion would be a wonderful move.
Thank you
Owen McAdams
DEVINE PAINT CENTER
971 Lincoln Ave. Napa, Ca
office: 707-226-5211
From:
Dylan McCapes
To:
Clerk
Subject:
LPE Letter of Support
Date:
Monday, May 20, 2024 6:44:51 PM
[EXTERNAL]
My name is Dylan McCapes. My wife and I moved to Napa in 2018 to start a family. We purchased a home in Alphabet Streets, got married, and are raising or daughter here. We expect our son next month. It’s a lovely town and a great place to raise a family barring a few things such as the lack of public pools, public sports fields, and, most importantly, affordable and reliable child care.
We met Milly through friends, but chose LPE based on our research while expecting our daughter. Our daughter is almost four and has attended LPE for the last two and a half years. We’ve had a great experience with LPE. The teachers are kind and caring. Our daughter loves them and talks about them by name. We get updates on her day at pickup. It’s a great school in that regard alone, but Milli has also created a sense of community. We’ve met several other parents, and the occasional events are always a good time.
Milli is a lovely person who we are glad to give our business for child care. Child care isn’t a service provided by our government so naturally those who provide the service do so as a business. Milli provides this service well enough that she can provide it to others in town who are in need of child care if she expands. She is a valuable member of the community, and LPE is a valuable business priced by the market for the invaluable service it provides.
Moving the school to this wonderful and historic church in this beautiful neighborhood is a huge boon to this city.
It's also in line with the wishes of the congregation of the Church of Latter Day Saints that built this church in 1955.
It's been part of this town for nearly 70 years. Do you know why the congregation moved to Utah? It's too expensive to raise children in this town. Affordable housing is one issue, but lack of adequate and affordable child care is another. This church was a part of the community filled with parents and families. It's also an institution in this very neighborhood where many of the current residents purchased homes in the past 10 years. Their hope was for the property to remain a place of worship or a school. Milli fulfills that hope by moving LPE here.
Quick on parking and traffic.
This school is fantastic for parking. There are two entrance/exits and over 30 more parking spaces than at LPE's current location. That said, parking is rarely if ever an issue at LPE. The thing about nursery schools is that drop-off and pick-up times are determined by the parents' schedules. This staggers drop-off/pick-up times to the point that I'm annoyed if the closest parking section with maybe 10 spaces is full, and parents park 1.5 spaces there always.
The only time there is a parking issue is the Easter event which just means we have to park closer to the entrance if we arrive late. You know who else celebrates Easter? Mormons. This is nothing new to this neighborhood that has hosted 10AM cermons for seven decades. Parking here is in no way an issue.
The same applies to traffic. The staggered arrival times make this a non-issue, but, even so, the second entrance/exit mitigates the matter further. Montecito can handle two hundred parents arriving between seven and nine. It won't be a problem.
As for the other events, if you don't want girl scouts to meet here then shoot me your email, and I'll make sure you don't get any samoas next year.
Moving LPE here is a boon to this city. It is another step toward becoming the fantastic place to raise a family that it almost is. The only concerns have been addressed by the Fire Department already. Opposing this purchase is a betrayal to your neighbors and to the history of this neighborhood.
From:
Mary Stump
To:
Clerk
Cc:
Scott Sedgley
;
Liz Alessio
Subject:
Le Petit Elephant - Child Development Center - Alta Heights - Please Approve Daycare Center and Weekend Activities Permit Expansion
Date:
Monday, May 20, 2024 7:35:09 PM
To Whom it May Concern,
My name is Mary Stump, and I support the development of the LDS church as Le Petit Elephant’s new permanent center in Alta Heights. I have a daughter who currently attends Le Petit Elephant and has flourished between the support and care she receives from her daycare workers to her educational experiences I could never provide without personally studying child development.
I'm sure you're
aware of the many stresses young families face in raising children in Napa and won't go into my personal story as a parent struggling with a dual income household to make ends meet, so I decided to take the statistics
and economics based route in imploring you to approve of the expansion of this daycare facility as well as their weekend children's activity permitting. Childcare in its current state is provided at an inefficiently low level throughout the United States. ·
The benefits of high-quality daycare extend to the entire society but are borne primarily by individual families in the American economy.
o
High quality daycare enhances academic outcomes for the children who receive it as well as their future classmates (referenced in Neidell and Waldfogel 2010 study). §
The largest period of brain development occurs between birth and eight years old and is a vital window for education, clearly showcasing that early experiences either provide for a strong or fragile foundation for later learning, development and behavior (Unesco).
o
Reductions in criminality have been directly correlated with quality childcare and further large societal cost-savings (referenced in Anders et al 2023). o
Increased maternal labor supply to access to childcare enabling mothers to enlarge the labor pool but also directly benefiting local businesses and the economy broadly (Morissey 2017).
§
Women control or influence 85% of consumer spending in American households that can directly impact the local economy (Forbes 2019). §
In 2016 alone, an estimated 2 million parents made career sacrifices due to problems with childcare whether due to high cost, limited availability, or inconvenient hours (Center for American Progress 2017). §
Supporting access to childcare will save employers money on lost revenue associated with losing parent employees due to childcare problems, including the costs to train and hire new employees (Bishop-Josef “Want to Grow the Economy? Fix the Child Care Crisis”).
·
Childcare prices rose 210%, nearly three times the overall price index (74%) from 1990 to 2019.
o
SmartAsset’s study of most expensive places to raise a child in the United States, list Napa, CA at number nine in top ten most expensive cities to raise a child at a price tag of $30,412 per year.
Not only would a center of this high-quality provide an inordinate amount of support for families in Napa but would also support our future community and economy. A property owned by Le Petit Elephant would limit the pressures faced from landlords and the lack of protection from rent increases that impact operational overhead.
To build a strong community in Napa we need young families to have the support they need to provide for the future of this community. A project of this scope, giving permanent residency to a daycare center for future families to be able to rely on will enable growth within the community. Multiple studies have shown that high quality childcare can provide a $7 to $12 return on every $1 invested in such quality programs (Hederman et al. 2010). Not only that, but the long-term positive effects of childcare programs on outcomes like education, employment and earnings have direct correlation to high-quality childcare (Duncan and Magnusen 2013, Gray-Lobe, Pathak, and Walters 2023).
If we want to establish a healthy community for Napa, we must invest and foster the development of our future generation to do so both in the expansion of the daycare center as well as the weekend activities that are sorely needed for this particular age group in the community.
Thanks for your time in reading my letter in support of Le Petit Elephant.
Sincerely,
Mary Stump
Napa - District 1 Resident
Le Petit Elephant - Parent
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Brandon Quackenbush & Kathryn Bousquet
Napa County Planning Commission
c/o Angela Alvarez
-
Cendejas
1195 Third Street, Suite 210
Napa, CA 94559
Dear Commission,
I am writing to express my enthusiastic support for the approval of
Le Petit Elephant Nursery
and Preschool
’s
(LPE)
use permit application for 15 Chapel Hill Drive in Napa.
As a member of
our community, I firmly believe that accessible and high -
quality childcare services are essential
for the well
-
being of families and the overall development of our children.
Our son, Ethan, has been attending LPE for 1.5 years. When first looking for childcare options in Napa County, we joined multiple waitlists 9 months
in advance of
needing care. We were lucky
that our first choice, LPE, had a part
-
time opening and 6 months later offered us a full
-
time
position. Ethan has flourished at Le Petit Elephant. He loves his classmates and teachers, and we love how enriching the environment i
s for his development.
We also believe it necessary to
allow LPE the flexibility to offer ancillary services in addition to M
-
F daycare.
We’ve benefited greatly from the monthly “date nights” offered by LPE at their current property and the prospe
ct of weekend and weeknight family friendly activities would be a positive impact on Napa.
Thank you for your commitment to improving the lives of Napa’s children and families.
Sincerely,
Brandon Quackenbush
,
Kathryn Bousquet
, & Ethan Quackenbush
From:
Mary Luros
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Fwd: Alta Heights Day Care and Recreation Center
Date:
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 1:35:18 PM
Mary Luros
Councilmember, District 3
City Manager’s Office, City of Napa
PO Box 660 / 955 School Street, Napa, CA 94559
Phone
(707) 258-7800 x5284
Email
[email protected]
Website
www.cityofnapa.org
Social
www.facebook.com/CityOfNapa
· @CityOfNapa
Pothole? Graffiti? Litter?
You can
make a service request online here
!
Begin forwarded message:
From:
William Allen
Subject:
Alta Heights Day Care and Recreation Center
Date:
April 17, 2024 at 12:28:38 PM PDT
To:
Scott Sedgley <
[email protected]
>,
[email protected]
,
[email protected]
,
[email protected]
,
[email protected]
[You don't often get email from
[EXTERNAL]
From:
William Allen
Subject:
Alta Heights Day Care and Recreation Center
Date:
April 17, 2024 at 12:28:38 PM PDT
To:
Scott Sedgley <
[email protected]
>,
[email protected]
,
[email protected]
,
[email protected]
,
[email protected]
Dear Council,
I am writing to you regarding the appeal of a proposed day care and recreation center to be located on Montecito Blvd. I live on Chapel Hill Drive. As we have been characterized by some, I am an old white guy. I am not, however, a NIMBY who hates children.
When I first spoke with the new owner of the church, I was told that she was planning a day care center. I thought that was a good use of the building and was supportive. However, I feel that I was deceived. I have discovered through meetings and the newspaper article, the plan is for a 5 day a week day care center for over 200 infants and children as well as an evening and weekend recreation facility for basketball, volleyball and other activities as well. A very different use! I recently read the CDSS child care center regulations, which state that day care centers are typically located in a commercial building in a commercially zoned area. This is a residentially zoned area! While a day care center 5 days a week is certainly acceptable, this alternative use is not.
To reiterate some of the points mentioned by our neighbors, should the child care center appeal be considered, please add the following provisos:
Additional commercial and recreational use at the site is outside of our current residential zoning.
The city has decided that a CEQA is not needed for this project.
Restrict use hours to day care and weekdays only.
Deny any off-property parking.
In addition, I still can’t believe that a 1,000 extra vehicle trips a day would not impact our street and Montecito Blvd. And finally, I found it interesting that there is an evacuation plan for the center which doesn’t include the neighborhood. We have evacuated twice and I can’t imagine trying to evacuate in our car with dozens of buses and parents’ care evacuating their children.
Thank you for your consideration!
Bill Allen
From:
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Le Petit Elephant Proposal
Date:
Saturday, April 27, 2024 12:21:23 PM
Attachments:
Screenshot (228) (002).png
[EXTERNAL]
Dear Mayor and City Council,
We will be meeting in your chambers May 21 to appeal the Planning Commission’s approval of the Le Petit Elephant project.
This massive business facility designed for 250 children and operating 7 days per week is not a suitable fit for a residential neighborhood-- particularly not one that presently hosts a 300- child magnet elementary school and 125-child daycare
within a block of the proposed
location.
This is an unsound, ill-considered proposal.
There are legitimate traffic and pedestrian safety concerns as the facility would draw an estimated 1100 additional daily car trips to the location. Wildfire safety concerns, as this location with limited egress has twice been an evacuation zone in recent years. And questions of CEQA and zoning regulation non-compliance.
We are hoping for a fair hearing of our concerns and to be afforded some regard, unlike before the Planning Commission where we were treated as the villains in an LPE fairy story. We understand the dire need for childcare in Napa County but believe a business of this size and scope in Alta Heights would place an untenable burden on one neighborhood and is not the answer.
Robin Ellison
From:
Sergio Novak
To:
Clerk
Cc:
Alta Heights
Subject:
Letter to County Council Members regarding Opposition to LPE Date:
Monday, April 29, 2024 4:23:38 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Dear County Council Members,
I am writing to you to express my concerns about the size and scope of LPE and the ancillary uses that are being proposed at the Chapel Hill address in the Alta Heights neighborhood. I live on the corner of Montecito Blvd. and Bonita Ave., across from the proposed LPE site.
Initially, I was in favor of a daycare/preschool operating at the former Mormon Church,
UNTIL
I heard about the size, scope, ancillary uses
and the safety concerns that such a proposal would present. Alta Heights is already home to 1 elementary school and 2 preschools within a few block radius. To add another school, the size of the Alta Heights elementary school with after-school care, winter and summer camps and a 7 day a week activity center is irresponsible, unwarranted and unconscionable! We already have a ton of traffic, incessant speeding, parents not following driving laws (illegal U-turns, parking in front of houses and general inconsiderate driving), plus the 5 way intersection that is graded an F! It’s important to note that when they close the 5 way intersection to build the roundabouts, the intersection will be closed for 18-24 months, causing more traffic on our tiny roads, more safety risks to pedestrians, pets and wildlife and a colossal disaster for evacuations during emergencies.
In case you don’t know, all of the streets in upper Alta heights have dead ends, with only 1-2 roads for evacuation via Montecitio or Lakeview. If this proposal is approved and there is an emergency or evacuation, LPE parents, buses, police and fire trucks will be going UP
Montecito Blvd., while residents will be going
DOWN
Montecito in an
attempt to evacuate on one small road that barely accommodates 2 vehicles. Many of the Alta Heights residents recall previous evacuations in which they assisted elderly neighbors to safety and some residents remember flames approaching their back patio. My fear is that while first responders are trying to evacuate infants and children from LPE, senior citizens will be an afterthought and will not be rescued. In addition, Alta Heights is in a Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) zone. A WUI code is specifically designed to mitigate the risks from wildfire to life and
property. By approving LPE, Napa County would not be mitigating risks, it would be adding risks to life and property. Many residents in Alta Heights can no longer get home insurance policies. According to the Fire Factor which looks at the likelihood of being in a wildfire, Chapel Hill is classified as a “Major risk”.
Furthermore, by approving this project, the city of Napa will not be compliant with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). By following CEQA, Napa will preserve our environment and climate commitment, improve health and safety, reduce need to spend time in cars. Currently, residents frequently walk, dog walk, exercise, and bike throughout the neighborhood and into downtown Napa. A proposal that adds over 1000+ cars daily, exponentially increases the number of idling cars at the 5 way stop light and Lincoln Ave., and making our small streets unsafe for walking, biking etc. In addition, many elementary schools already have afterschool programs, so the idea of bussing kids from different Napa schools to LPE does not make sense. The LPE proposal does the exact opposite of what CEQA stands for. According to CEQA, it requests that new projects being built be built in a way that allows
MORE
options to drive
LESS.
In terms of the ancillary uses, the proposed plan is not consistent with the character of our neighborhood nor is it zoned for a residential neighborhood. An activity center open 7 days a week from 9:00-8:00pm for birthdays, anniversaries, retirement parties, youth leagues/tournaments, plays, music recitals and big activities will overwhelm our small neighborhood. The LPE proposal indicates that the “weekend use of property would consist almost entirely of indoor spaces”, however, it does not define what ALMOST means. I’m certain that if it’s a beautiful day, the party will head outside for the majority of the event. The proposal does not mention whether alcohol will be permitted on the grounds; it only specifies that alcohol cannot be sold. A huge concern is that large gatherings, excessive noise, speeding and parking off site will be allowed and become the norm. When you have people coming into your neighborhood who do not LIVE here, their investment, consideration and respect for residents, pets, and environment tend to greatly diminish; hence the signs, “Drive like your kids live here.” As earlier mentioned, LPE wants to offer afterschool care by bussing children from elementary schools to LPE. This is a redundant service! Almost all of the elementary schools offer after- school programs, as well as the Boys and Girls Club. Furthermore, LPE wants to provide summer and winter camps for children 5-12 years of age. This endeavor is also redundant! There are many winter and
summer programs available to Napa kids through such organizations as Parks and Recreation, Connolly Ranch, Blue Oak, Napa Valley Summer Camps, Napa Open Space District Camps, Boys and Girls Club, as well as many others.
The meeting with the Planning Commissioners painted Alta Heights residents as child haters, ignorant about childcare needs, racist, elderly, resistant to change and ultra wealthy. There were many inconsiderate statements and incorrect assumptions made towards the opposing side that greatly upset me and my family! Why would I want the proposed owners and LPE parents as neighbors? They are the ones coming to our neighborhood proposing major changes to our way of life. They don’t know us, nor do they want to know us. For context, my husband and I are middle class; I worked as social worker and my husband worked as a correctional officer for over 30 years and he is a veteran.
We have a 25 year old son with Autism. We worked over-time so that we could afford to move to Alta Heights from South Napa for a quiet, peaceful retirement. We pay a ton of taxes, we regularly vote and have lived in Napa for almost 40 years.
In terms of the need for childcare, yes we do need quality childcare.
When I had my son, I signed up as soon as I was pregnant. My husband and I worked alternate shifts and days to mitigate the cost and need for excessive childcare. The idea that LPE has been looking for 9 years may be true, especially if they have been looking for a facility to house 250 children! The average size of a daycare facility is between 30-50 children. There are many different kinds of day cares and creative ways to provide services. Our day care provider bought 2 homes next to each other on Hunt Street in Napa. Some day care centers have 3-4 homes. Three years ago St. John’s Catholic School closed and is now occupied by Mayacamas School. That would have been a fantastic option for LPE. There’s a property at 215 W. Gateway Rd. in Napa that has 14,000 square feet, with 16-18 offices, lots of open space and parking. Why doesn’t LPE jump on that opportunity? In years past, a preschool named “Sunshine and Rainbows” operated on the grounds of Napa State Hospital. The Napa Valley Korean SDA Church located at 28 Highland Ave. may be open to leasing to LPE, as it only provides services on Saturdays. Yes, this church is located in Alta Heights, but it is only 1-2 blocks from Silverado Trail, making it easy to enter and exit.
My point is that there are many different and creative options for daycare programs.
If Napa County really wanted to be leaders in supporting daycare, preschool and children’s activities and programs, why doesn’t the
County lease out Harvest Middle School and turn it into a hub for children’s services? I’m not sure why our Napa schools don’t rent out their spaces on the weekends, especially since there are huge budgetary concerns. Providing space for daycare, pre-school and activities for the Napa Community should not fall on the backs of one small neighborhood! There are other options that are compliant with CEQA, abide by zoning requirements and do not put others in harm’s way.
At the Planning Commission meeting, many parents voiced concerns of having to leave the workforce or leave Napa, due to lack of childcare.
Lack of childcare is a systemic issue that affects our entire country. It's multi-faceted involving employer's lack of flexibility, poor wages for childcare providers, schools ending too early, inadequate maternity and paternity leave, as well as a slew of other challenges. Napa, however has more challenges due to its valley location, high cost of housing and a huge focus on tourism, as opposed to family life. The leaders of Napa County need to take some responsibility for our current situation. It’s important to note that the child population is dramatically decreasing and that by 2035, 1 Napa high school will close. Given this downward trend, will there be as much of a need for childcare in 2035? In closing, the question of whether LPE is a good childcare provider or whether or not Napa needs daycare is NOT being debated. Alta Height’s neighbors were prepared to welcome LPE,
UNTIL
the size,
scope, ancillary uses and safety issues came to light. If you lived on or near Chapel Hill, would you want LPE as your neighbor?
Respectfully,
Sacia Novak
From:
Mary Burrell
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Le petit Elephant Appeal
Date:
Friday, May 3, 2024 9:08:45 AM
[EXTERNAL]
This is to register our concern and disapproval of the commercial operation and daycare at 15 Chapel Hill. This is a quiet residential area with winding roads, daily to and from school foot and car trafficking. A commercial development would negatively impact the area. The proposed endeavor would generate by their estimate an increase of a thousand trips a day. This proposes a true risk to children and the frequent joggers, walkers and residents of the area.
Mark and Mary Burrell
From:
Dan Meister
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Le Petit Elephant Appeal
Date:
Sunday, May 5, 2024 9:32:54 AM
[EXTERNAL]
Thanks for the opportunity to voice my concerns regarding the Chapel Hill ideas. I attended the informal meeting at Alta Heights school on March 21. One of the attendees asked the owners representative how you would evacuate 200 infants and toddlers in the event of a fire in the First Avenue area. His response was that there are special buses built to accommodate babies. He said that they have unique buggies that look like shopping carts that are strapped inside the bus. Let’s assume each bus can hold 50 babies or small children. That would require four of the special buses and their drivers. Am I to assume that the special buses are on site and the drivers as well? Otherwise, those buses and drivers would have to be brought in from elsewhere . And goodness knows how long that would take not to mention driving those special buses against a wave of evacuates struggling to drive in the opposite direction. I wonder how long it would take to load them all – after they finally get there.
We saw how quickly and fires can move. It’s hard to imagine all those moving parts coming together in 30 minutes – assuming the fire move that slowly.
Perhaps the empty Safeway would make more sense. More centrally located. Emergency service is less than two blocks away. Superior parking situation.
Thank you for taking the time to read my comments and consider my position.
Sincerely, Dan Meister
From:
Mary Luros
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Fwd: Opposition to Le Petit Elephant
Date:
Monday, May 6, 2024 8:34:43 AM
Begin forwarded message:
From:
Edward Matovcik
Subject:
Opposition to Le Petit Elephant
Date:
May 6, 2024 at 7:27:24 AM PDT
To:
"
[email protected]
" <
[email protected]
>
[EXTERNAL]
May 6, 2024
Dear Councilmember Luros:
We are writing to respectfully request your assistance in
opposing
the Le Petit Elephant Use Permit in its current form.
First, we fully support commercial childcare facilities in Alta Heights, as evidenced by the more than 260 families from throughout the entire Napa County already utilizing current childcare facilities in our neighborhood at Children’s Cottage, Yellow Brick Road and AHES. However, the scope of Le Petite’s petition far exceeds the compatibility of this neighborhood.
It appears that the Planning Commission failed to consider CEQA and its own zoning ordinance when unlawfully approving this project. Past experience suggests this usually leads to a lengthy and costly legal dispute which we understand may already be underway.
We are hopeful that the Council will take the community’s appeal seriously and work toward a solution that addresses childcare needs while not placing the entire burden on a neighborhood and street system ill-equipped to handle such a large, commercial enterprise operating 7 days/week including ancillary evening and weekend events.
Specifically, we are requesting the Use Permit be modified in the following:
Childcare services only. No ancillary uses.
Operational hours only between 7:30am-6:00pm Monday-Friday. (Consistent with normal childcare use.) Maximum Capacity 125 children. (Consistent with Le Petit’s current usage.) No off-premise parking.
We are disappointed that some supporters of this project are attempting to portray our neighborhood as wealthy and elitist. As you may well be aware, the majority of Alta Heights residents are seniors on fixed incomes who have lived in their homes for more than 30 years. Since there are no sidewalks, they get their exercise by walking either alone or with their dogs during the day on our narrow streets. Adding a minimum of 1,000 cars per day to these streets (and the infamous 5-way intersection) poses a significant safety risk the Council should not ignore.
Thank you in advance for your consideration.
We remain hopeful that this project can be scaled back in an appropriate manner that avoids litigation while addressing both needs and concerns.
Sincerely,
Ed Matovcik and Cheryl Meyer
From:
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Le Petit Elephant Appeal
Date:
Monday, May 6, 2024 10:11:47 AM
[EXTERNAL]
Dear City Council Members,
I am writing this letter to appeal the approval for the large commercial operation and daycare at 15 Chapel Hill.
While I understand the need for the city of Napa to provide more daycare centers for our children, our Alta Heights neighborhood should not be transformed into the large commercial operation as the recently approved proposal for Le Petit Elephant operation.
We urge you to retain Alta Heights single home neighborhood characters by prohibit the development of any large commercial operation at Le Petit Elephant.
The safety and security of the children attending the daycare are our upmost concerns.
We were overjoyed when Alta Heights elementary school was fenced, and limited accessibility was imposed to assure students safety.
The proposed commercial operations during the weekends at Le Petit Elephant site will bring traffics and non- residents into our neighborhood.
With the limited security/safety services outside of normal working hours, we are fearful for the children/their families and also our homes.
Please keep our peaceful neighborhood characters by voting down the proposed commercial operations in Le Petit Elephant’s proposal.
Sincerely,
Cam Tu Tran
From:
Gunter Konold
To:
Clerk
Cc:
Susan Konold
Subject:
Le Petit Elephant Appeal
Date:
Tuesday, May 7, 2024 6:50:30 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Gunter & Aurora Konold
May 7, 2024
Napa City Council
Napa, CA 94559
Subject :
Le Petit Elephant Appeal
Dear Mayor and City Council,
We want to express our serious concerns over the proposed daycare facility “and other youth services” at 15 Chapel Hill Drive.
First, we question the planning staff’s alleged determination that finds the use exempt from environmental review. We agree that infill development and existing facility are significant factors. But there are other major considerations: the proposed use would impact the health and safety of the children it is supposed to serve, and it would cause monumental impacts on the residential neighborhood.
No city should put children and residents at such an extreme risk by allowing a facility with only one street in and the same street out.
Montecito Blvd is already impacted by extensive vehicle traffic and considerable foot traffic, with practically no infrastructure besides a poorly maintained asphalt pavement. Montecito would have to handle ALL traffic to and from the facility.
The Traffic Study reads like it is written by the daycare execs. It finds practically no impacts on Montecito Blvd. No responsible city can accept such a report that has pretty charts and graphs, but omits the most significant aspects.
The report ignores the considerable pedestrian traffic on Montecito Blvd alongside fast-moving vehicular traffic. It glosses over the existence of a nearby elementary school with its own uncoordinated traffic and street parking impact. It ignores the lack of infrastructure that forces mothers to push their baby strollers virtually alongside vehicular traffic. And it does not have the foresight to address the inevitability of
children walking on Montecito Blvd to and from the daycare facility, with or with a parent, within feet of passing traffic. During winter rains, these children would have to walk in the flow of rainwater as it cascades down both side of Montecito Blvd, or move even closer to dangerous car traffic.
It is inconceivable that the City of Napa, which prides itself as being the gateway to a premier wine producing region, and that attracts visitors from all around the world, allows such a situation to prevail and possibly exacerbate it by accepting an inappropriate use in a residential neighborhood.
The Alta Heights area, of which the proposed daycare would be part, has experienced evacuation alerts in the past due to wildfires. Emergency vehicles were taking over Montecito Blvd day and night. Such a possibility in the future is a constant concern and, with Montecito Blvd being the only evacuation route, would present a nightmare scenario in attempting to evacuate the many children from the daycare facility. Not to mention the residents that would be blocked while fleeing on the only escape route.
Incidentally, I must assume that extensive, and expensive, structural improvements will be required to the building for the proposed use, to bring it up to earthquake safety standards.
It is commendable that the Le Petit Elephant owners plan to expand its operation.
There is certainly a need for such a facility. But the proposed residential area with limited access and egress is not the answer. The organization needs to combine its own resources with the generous grant money, seek additional grants which are generally available for children services, conduct a fundraiser and, along with City of Napa incentives, locate a more suitable location with more appropriate and safer access and egress for their precious children and staff. Building a new facility, tailored to its needs, with no expensive earthquake restoration, seems to be a more feasible alternative.
While we support facilities that provide community support for children, we strongly oppose the proposed daycare facility at 15 Chapel Hill Drive, due to its inappropriateness at that location and extreme safety concerns in a residential neighborhood. We strongly urge you to uphold the appeal and deny Use Permit PL23-0159.
Thank you for your consideration and objective approach to the issue.
Gunter Konold
From:
M Wilson-Grills
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Appeal of Le Petit Elephant"s use permit - restrict usage Date:
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 5:42:00 PM
[EXTERNAL]
City Council Members,
My name is Martha Wilson-Grills, my husband Paul and I are residents of Alta Heights. We live at
. We understand that the
City of Napa council
members have approved a use permit for Le Petit Elephant daycare,
but we continue
to have concerns regarding the apparent unrestricted use of that permit.
While we are aware of the need for a large daycare facility in the City of Napa, we still do not understand how allowing the daycare in the Alta Heights neighborhood makes good sense for the reasons already mentioned at the City Council meeting when the permit was approved. The applicant has also requested weekend use for parties and "other" social events. East Avenue and Montecito Boulevard are already heavily impacted by a daycare center, the elementary school and events held at the fairgrounds (namely Bottlerock and now La Onda). Our question to the council members, is why is the applicant also being permitted to use the facility as a party event center on the weekends, with no restrictions, when the need is for a daycare? Alta Heights is a residential neighborhood and not zoned for a business event center.
We urge the city council members to reconsider and reject the permit or at the very least restrict the use of the facility to just weekdays and for the sole purpose of a daycare.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
Martha and Paul Wilson-Grills
From:
Carolyn Hofacket
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Morman church
Date:
Thursday, May 9, 2024 9:14:53 AM
[EXTERNAL]
Montecito blvd is not the place to have a facility this large. It is a residential area and this would disrupt the neighborhood. Would you want this near your own home? I doubt it.
From:
Kirk Candland
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Oppose the Day Care Center
Date:
Friday, May 10, 2024 8:15:15 AM
[EXTERNAL]
To whom it may concern
I strongly oppose the day care center tentatively approved for 15 Chapel Hill Drive.
The amount of car traffic both
night and day 7 days a week is not safe.
One thing is a day care center but to expand its use to a public hall on weekends isn’t acceptable.
Hopefully the City Council will take a stronger look at the ramifications of their decision.
Thank You
Kirk Candland
Sent from my iPhone
From:
thomas sabo
To:
Clerk
Cc:
KARLA STROMBERGER
;
Thai Pham
;
Joe and Diana Wilcox
Subject:
El Petite Elephant Business
Date:
Saturday, May 11, 2024 10:45:11 AM
[EXTERNAL]
Open Message to All
Napa City Council Members:
Please distribute.
After speaking to elderly and handicapped Neighbors
about the
zoning change for
the Le Petite Business
I realized that my/our
ADA rights are
being violated by this Elephant/zoning change.
We have no sidewalks nor safe access to foot travel
on
our
narrow streets and are obliged to walk,
roll and stagger in
those
streets with a massive
pending increase in traffic.
If one imagines the potential of large busses and speeding parents under time restraints, it gets worse.
The
disabled
and children
walk in these
streets every day to
manage our
disability health
and for every-day living.
Many of
on the hill may be handicapped or
are driving with some
risk to themselves and others due to blind spots and declining ability.
Hurry through
shortcuts
makes it worse
We are all being denied safe use of
public streets
by this Zoning
change.
It is an ADA violation.
I think this is another area we must
explore.
Given
that more than 1000 trips are planned
into the main
streets and the primary residents use the streets to-navigate the neighborhoods, many on blind hillsides and junctions, and that the plans for safety
are
Wildly speculated
and potentially
more
clogging of
the streets,
The City
of Napa is endangering the The elderly,
and
handicapped with
complex traffic changes
by changing the
permit status in the neighborhoods.
Sincerely,
Thomas L. Sabo
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
From:
Deluca Eubanks
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Le Petit Elephant Appeal
Date:
Saturday, May 11, 2024 3:34:51 PM
[EXTERNAL]
I am writing to express my major concern over the use permit that Le Petit is trying to obtain.
My areas of concern:
- the preschool operation is already extremely inappropriate for a residential neighborhood. - evacuation of current residents, school children, and teachers is too large of a project in an emergency situation.
How can residents safely evacuate when 250 school children’s parents would be trying to get up the hill to their children.
-scoop of project is much greater than a preschool.
Turning this building into a 7 day a week
operation goes far beyond a preschool.
-there are better suited locations in Napa to house a 7 day a week operation that are in commercially zoned areas.
-with several other schools in the area that are no where near capacity this demonstrates that there is not a need in Alta heights for another school. -there are no sidewalks around the church or on most roads around the school. -I hope that the council will follow their own guidelines and not overreach in their decisions.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Anthony Schrauth
Deluca Eubanks
From:
Patrick Fitzpatrick
To:
Clerk
;
Ginevra Augustini
;
Angela Alvarez-Cendejas
Subject:
LPE Appeal - Chapel Hill Drainage Issue
Date:
Sunday, May 12, 2024 9:17:25 AM
[EXTERNAL]
Napa City Councilmembers,
My name is Patrick Fitzpatrick. I own
and have lived there with my family for over 30
years.
First of all we Alta Heights neighbors are all for a much more reasonable daycare project then the one being proposed for LPE use of the Mormon Church. One with possibly 130 infants, 25 employees and open Monday - Friday only. None of the proposed commercial ventures are reasonable.
When I bought the home there was an easement on the property that makes me the owner of the storm drainage system that services most of Chapel Hill Dr. This includes a concrete pipe that runs under my property and along the side of my home as well as a corrugated pipe I installed about 20 years ago to take all that water from the street, through my backyard, and onto the Napa Water Department service road behind my house.
I have dutifully managed my responsibility for these past 30 years.
The last three years have been both challenging and, at times, terrifying. It appears that the system under my property is breaking or cracking. I have had water back up to the street on at least 4 occasions where the water, with nowhere to drain, pours over the curb flooding my front yard as well as cascading down my steps to my front door. The only solution I have for that is to take a large push broom, get into the backed up pond that is Chapel Hill Dr. and push the water down my driveway which then dumps onto an unprotected hillside. This past winter, while checking my fuse box located above where the concrete pipe runs, I felt as if I was stepping on a water balloon which means water is escaping the concrete pipe and pooling
against my home!!
Once I have been able to control the immediate danger to my home I have twice called the City Public Works to tell them about the problem. Twice they eventually came out, checked the drain and brought in the large truck to power clean the pipes down to the service road. The first time I was told I'd be placed on a "problem drain" list but nothing came of it. The last time I was treated like I was trying to steal something from the city.
With the advent of the commercial LPE venture and the projected 1100 cars that will be using our street like we're LPE's private driveway I realized that to mitigate the problem as I do today would literally put me in harms way. Today I can get out in the street and broom water down my driveway with little concern for life and limb because I know there will be very few if any cars on my street and chances are I'd know those driving by and they'd probably offer to lend assistance. When LPE is running, in order to protect myself from physical harm, I will have to block the street, at my driveway, and begin the process of moving water and then wait for city assistance. This of course will put me in the crosshairs of all employees and parents attempting to get to the property as they will be forced to turn around and use the Montecito driveway.
I have spoken to, and emailed, both Angela Alvarez-Cendejas, Assistant Planner for the LPE project and Ginevra Augustine, Engineer Aide for Development Engineering Division (both receiving copies of this email).. Both have kindly responded to my early concerns but neither has offered resolution to the problem aside from: don't close the street, contact the city. This, of course, is not helpful or acceptable because my property will remain in danger of flooding, or worse, sliding down hill.
I would like to resolve this once and for all if the church is to sell to a person with obvious commercial
intent for it's use and with no concern for those of us who live here. I'd like to finally get out from under the burden of moving Chapel Hill Dr. runoff under my property. I am retired and the financial (and physical) impact on my person is becoming untenable.
Please don't approve this project with the numbers of kids, employees and
commercialization of the
neighborhood.
Regards,
Patrick Fitzpatrick
From:
Patrick Fitzpatrick
To:
Clerk
Subject:
LPE Appeal - Conflicts With City of Napa 2040 General Plan Date:
Sunday, May 12, 2024 2:01:54 PM
[EXTERNAL]
Please consider
the
City of Napa 2040 General Plan
goals as the affect the neighborhood around the
proposed LPE development.
GOAL TE-1
: "
Foster a comprehensive network of safe, accessible roads, trails, sidewalks, and pathways that emphasize a Complete Streets approach, while reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and dependence on single occupancy vehicles."
GOAL
TE 2-4
:
As part of streetscape design, incorporate features that enhance safety for all users.
This project fails because it actually makes the neighborhood LESS SAFE. Introducing all of the car trips past Alta Heights School into very quiet, highly pedestrian neighborhoods would destroy the current use of so many people today. There are no sidewalks much less safe sidewalks.
GOAL TE-3
:
Promote active transportation, support active lifestyles, and encourage physical activity by providing safe pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure citywide.
This is how this neighborhood lives today. This project will impact all those who bike and walk East First, Lakeview, Montecito and Chapel Hill. The project even admits that due to the hill climb required to get to 15 Chapel Hill both pedestrian and bike considerations are negligible at best. It will take automobiles driving toward dead end streets as the primary, or sole method of getting to LPE and the Traffic Statement agrees!
Project Impacts on Pedestrian Facilities
"Although the site is near residential development, given the type of proposed use
it is likely that a
minimal number of project patrons and/or employees will walk, bicycle, and/or use transit
to reach
the proposed daycare."
Please don't accept this project as it is. A much much smaller daycare at this site would be much more appropriate.
My name is Patrick Fitzpatrick. I've lived at
or over 30 years and raised 4 children here.
I coached volleyball at Justin Siena, Vintage and Napa High Schools. I coached for Napa Valley Volleyball Club, Napa/Sonoma Volleyball Club, CRUSH Volleyball Club and EVOLVE.
I was Director for both Napa Valley Volleyball Club as well as Napa/Sonoma Volleyball Club.
At the Planning Commission meeting I (and all in opposition to this project) was told that I hate children by employees of Le Petit Elephant. It was horrible for all of us who had to take the abuse from those who have no idea who we, the residents of Alta Heights, are. We have raised our own families with or without daycare; we have coached many teams without pay; we have volunteered at grammar schools, middle schools and high schools for decades without asking for recognition or thanks. We do not deserve to be abused by Millie or her employees for trying to retain what so many of us have built and sacrificed for.
PLEASE! Don't approve this project as it is.
May 14, 2024
Napa City Council
c/o Napa City Clerk
955 School Street
Napa, Ca. 94559
Re: PL-23-0159
Le Petit Elephant
Dear Napa City Council,
This letter is to inform you that as residents living on East Ave. for the past 22 years, we are both
opposed
to the proposed use of the Chapel Hills church as outlined in the use permit application submitted by the Le Petit Elephant Nursery and Child Development Center and approved by the Napa City Planning Commission.
The Use Permit will allow Le Petit unconditional authority to offer the onsite gymnasium/multi-use space for rent for special events, sports activities/training, plays and performances with the possibility of weddings, birthday and other celebratory events. This creates a potential profit center for Le Petit that goes beyond their stated use as an Infant and Nursery Development Center. These activities will add additional burden on the already aged residential sewer and water systems and will develop noise, traffic, parking and safety issues.
It is our understanding that the RS zoning for this residential area would not accommodate such a unrelated commercial use of this property and therefore should not be included in the permit.
We note that the Planning Commission allowed and approved a traffic study for the area that was not representative of typical traffic patterns as one of the larger traffic contributors, Alta Heights School, was not in session. The traffic study was also only performed on a single day and within a limited scope distance from Chapel Hills Drive. This study did not predict future traffic generated by utilizing the church gymnasium as a for rent space. This study should not be relied upon as a factor of use in the determination of a permit.
It should be noted that this project, as requested, will increase traffic in all arteries leading to and from Chapel Hill Drive to include the already congested 5-way intersection (East, Coombsville, Third, Silverado Trail), Montecito Blvd., Lakeville Drive, 1st Street, East First Street, the entire length of East Ave to Lincoln Ave. and several of the streets that intersect with East Ave.
We have concerns regarding emergency access and egress. Montecito Blvd. is the only exit street for the entire neighborhood built upon this hill which overlooks Alta Heights.
This hill was evacuated during
the 2017 Atlas Fire
. Egress from this area in an emergency would be problematic for management of up to 250 very young children and compounded by the evacuation of the existing residents themselves. The road is without sidewalks and narrows with street parking so that only one car could descend at a time.
Whereas we do not discount the need of child care in Napa, the proposed day care facility with the addition of renting out the gymnasium
for events equates to two separate uses and will have an unfavorable effect on the neighborhood.
We therefore request that the scope of the permit be limited to a child day care facility only and that any ancillary use of the church facilities be denied. We further request that the permit be limited to weekdays.
Respectfully,
Tracy Lynne & Kent Parker
From:
Bruce Halverson
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Le Petit Elephant Appeal
Date:
Wednesday, May 15, 2024 8:24:25 AM
[EXTERNAL]
Members of City Council,
My background and career has been in Early Childhood Education and I firmly believe families have an extreme need for quality childcare.
That said, I can not envision the vast impact this Le Petit may have on the Alta Heights neighborhood.
My concerns are listed below:
1. This facility would undoubtedly serve the workers who can transport and afford childcare at this location..
It will
not serve the population of many hospitality, agriculture, etc. workers who are employed throughout the county and have no means to transport a child to this inconvenient neighborhood. WOULD IT NOT CONTINUE TO DIVIDE OUR CITY ON THE BASIS OF RACE, INCOME, AND ACCESSIBILITY?
2. The speed and number
of cars and construction workers already traveling on Montecito is dangerous.
3. Access to the neighborhood during busy hours and emergencies could present danger to many residents. Access to Silverado along the fairgrounds is currently backed up due to set up of Bottlerock.
This, though, is a temporary
traffic difficulty.
4. Plans for hotel construction at First street intersection will add additional traffic concerns.
5. Environmental impact of car emissions, etc. is certainly another major point.
As many have expressed. a consideration of a more typical run preschool of 10 hours daily would certainly be a more positive approach for this well established neighborhood.
Thank you,
Judy Halverson
From:
Robert Heilig
To:
Clerk
Subject:
Appeal of use permit Le Petit Elephant
Date:
Wednesday, May 15, 2024 4:12:02 PM
[EXTERNAL]
May 15, 2024
To: City of Napa Council Members,
I am writing this email regarding the proposed childcare business coming into the church on Chapel Hill Drive.
I am an 87 year old senior citizen who is still able to take walks on the street where I reside.
Unfortunately, there are no sidewalks here, and I must walk in the street.
On my morning and afternoon walks I very seldom see many cars driving on Chapel Hill Dr. but have learned that the city has approved a use permit to allow a large daycare and community center to open at 15 Chapel Hill, which will bring 1000 car trips to this narrow street.
Because of my age and the medication I take daily, my balance is not good, so walking on this very quiet street is the only opportunity I have for exercise and for my mental well-being.
I suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and the walking exercises are very beneficial to my moving joints, as well as the fresh air that I need, which my healthcare providers all recommend.
The Le Petit Elephant childcare center, when opened, will change my walking routine completely.
I will not feel safe walking on my street if this business is allowed to operate here 7 days a week, and I fear that I will become home bound.
The character of this neighborhood will change from a walkable village to an urban jungle and racetrack for hurried parents and staff.
Please repeal the approval of the use permit for my safety.
All the best,
Robert Heilig
Chapel Hill Dr
1230 Pine Street
St.
Helena, CA 94574
707.967.9656
Phone
707.963.0771 Fax
BN 82626259v1
707.200.9414 Direct
May 15, 2024
Mayor
Scott
Sedgley
Email:
[email protected]
Members of the Napa City Council
Liz Alessio
Email:
[email protected]
Beth Painter
Email:
[email protected]
Mary Luros
Email:
[email protected]
Bernie Narvaez
Email:
[email protected]
R
e:
Letter
in
Support
of
Appeal
of
Approval
for
Le
Petit
Elephant
Application No.
PL23
-0159
D
ear Mayor Sedgley
and Members of the Napa City Council:
This letter supports the appeal of the above-
referenced action of the Napa Planning
Commission (the “Planning Commission”), pursuant to s
ection
17.60.090 of the Napa Municipal
Code (“N.M.C.”). We are Katharine Falace and Carissa Beecham, attorneys with Buchalter.
Buchalter represents the Alta Heights Neighborhood Coalition (the “Coalition”), a group of neighbors that own property in Alta Heights. For the reasons provided herein, we request that the City Council of the City of Napa (the “City Council”) grant this appeal, and
overturn the
Planning Commission’s approval of
the Use Permit for Application File No. PL23
-0159 (herein,
“Use Permit”)
. The entire administrative record for this matter is incorporated herein by reference.
The Coalition’s purpose in filing its app
eal is to preserve the safety and integrity of the
Alta Heights community. The Coalition supports the provision of day care services, and agrees
that services in a size and scope
suitable
to the neighborhood
are entirely appropriate. The
Coalition
has no objection to the applicant providing
such
services
, if studied and conditioned
Mayor Scott Sedgley
Members of the Napa City Council
May 15, 2024
Page
2 BN 82626259v1
appropriately, in this new location. Of note, the applicant currently provides day care services
for
128 child
ren in a separate location
(the “Project”)
.
The
Coalition objects to the proposed
Project
because it is out of scale for the neighborhood,
and
in
cludes
improper “
accessory uses
.
”
As set
forth herein, the “youth services” are clearly
not
subordinate to the proposed day
care use
and are
more properly characterized as unrelated commercial activity; in any event, these additional uses
were not properly studied, and should not be included in the Project.
The Planning Commission violated the City’s zoning ordinances and improperly ignored relevant mandates under
the California Environmental Quality Act (“
CEQA
”)
in approving the
Use Permit for the
proposed
Project
. Accordingly, the Council must grant this appeal and
rescind the ap
proval.
A.
Factual Background
Applicant, Milli Pintacs
i, requested a Use
Permit to authorize
a state
-
licensed daycare
facility with up to 250 children and other “youth services ” to be located
within Alta Heights
residential
neighborhood at a building formerl
y used as a church. The appr
oximately 2.6-
acre
site
has been vacant and unused for several years.
The “youth services” proposed as part of the Project include a community playroom and a gymnasium/multi
-use space, which would be available on both weekdays and weekends for various commercial activities, including but not limited to party rentals. The Planning Commission Staff Report describes these “ancillary uses 1 ” as having
very little overlap
with the
daycare facility.
The Coalition agrees.
In fact, the “youth services
2 ” (a use tha
t is wholly
distinct from a day
care)
component is given
no
consideration at all in terms of its impact.
In support of her application for the Use Permit, the applicant submitted a Transportation Impact Stu
dy (“TIS”)
, which purports
to evaluate the impacts of the Project
. Even a cursory
review of
the TIS
, however, reveals that
it
provides no such analysis. In fact, the TIS contains
only a single page discussing the purported
Vehicle
-
Miles Traveled (
VMT
)
impacts from the
Project
. (
See
TIS at p. 13.) This cursory
review
discusses
only the daycare component of the
Project
, not the other “youth serv
ices.” The TIS continues to analogize the daycare center to a
1 The Staff Report’s reference to these uses as “ancillary” is confusing. It appears the A
pplicant is arguing the uses
are “accessory,” not “ancillary.” If they are ancillary, there is no definition of same rendering the application ambiguous. If they are intended to be
“accessory,” they do not fit the
definition
of “accessory uses” in the Cit
y’s
own Code and cannot be approved as such.
2 Anniversary parties, retirement parties, sports tournaments, and general public classes
are all the potential uses that
Staff has coined as “youth services.”
The Coalition is further informed that, while not
described in the application,
the Applicant endeavors to serve alcohol at these events. Inarguably , these uses
have nothing to do with the day
care
center. To be sure, these uses will involve
different
cars,
different
people,
different
days,
different
tim
es
, and wholly
different
types of
commercial act
ivity
. None of these considerations were measured by Staff.