The community is invited to attend the upcoming meetings of Claremont’s Traffic and Transportation Commission and Architectural Commission regarding the Keck Graduate Institute mixed-use project, parking expansions and projected campus growth.

The traffic and transportation commission will meet Monday, November 28 at 7 p.m. The commission review the traffic study and provide comments.

The architectural commission will meet Wednesday, December 14 at 7 p.m. The architectural commission is the decision-making body regarding the project’s environmental documentation, as well as the design review for all new buildings, landscaping and other site changes, including a setback reduction request.

Both meetings will be held in the council chamber at city hall, 207 N. Harvard Ave.

The Keck Graduate Institute is proposing a project that involves development of two new, four-story campus buildings on the existing vacant lot at the southwest corner of Bucknell Avenue and Wharton Drive/Santa Fe Street. Buildings would include residential units, academic space and ancillary uses.

Keck also seeks an expansion of three existing parking lots and development of one new parking lot, resulting in a total increase of 212 parking spaces.

Plans include new and remodeled open spaces such as courtyards, plazas, walkways, streetscapes and landscaping.

Keck projects enrollment increases from 456 students, faculty and staff in the 2015–2016 academic year to 723 students, faculty and staff in the 2021–2022 academic year.

Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) an initial study has been prepared for the proposed project, which determined there could be significant impacts. However, through the incorporation of mitigation measures, these impacts would be reduced to less than significant levels the study showed. Impacts to all other study areas were found to be less than significant, according to city staff. A mitigated negative declaration (MND) has been prepared. The public review period for the initial study and draft mitigated negative declaration will conclude on December 1.

Copies of the project design plans are available in the planning division at city hall, 207 Harvard Ave. For additional project information, contact Senior Planner Mark Carnahan at (909) 399-5322 or by email to mcarnahan@ci.claremont.ca.us, Principal Planner Christopher Veirs at (909) 399-5486 or cveirs@ci.claremont.ca.us or Associate Engineer Maria Tipping at (909) 399-5330 or mtipping@ci.claremont.ca.us.