La Crescenta : Waiver for School Studied

A three-member Glendale city panel today will consider waiving a costly environmental impact study on a request by Chamlian Armenian School to expand its enrollment from 425 students to 600 in kindergarten through eighth grades.

The private school, operated since 1983 on a former public elementary school site at 4444 Lowell Ave., was found earlier this year to have an enrollment exceeding its permitted capacity by more than 100 students.

Zoning officials ordered the school to reduce enrollment and comply with 19 other conditions, including a new retaining wall, increased use of buses and more employee parking.

Residents have complained that the growing popularity of the school caused increased noise and traffic congestion in their neighborhood.

Members of the Environmental and Planning Board said last week that an environmental study may not be needed because school officials have agreed to consider staggered hours, limited street parking and other conditions to reduce stress on the neighborhood.