The Chadwick CUP
Planning for our Future. In Harmony with Our Community.
When Chadwick opened its doors in 1935, we were establishing roots in what was then
the remote, open countryside of coastal Palos Verdes. Since then, Chadwick and the
neighboring communities on the Palos Verdes Peninsula have grown together.
Throughout that time, our Mission has endured: Chadwick School develops global
citizens with keen minds, exemplary character, self-knowledge and the ability to lead.
Planning responsibly for our campus helps us fulfill that Mission -- preserving the
educational environment and natural landscape that make Chadwick unique while
providing facilities that support modern teaching and learning.
Our Core Values of Compassion, Fairness, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility also guide
how we work with our neighbors. We are committed to building positive relationships
through listening, sharing and working thoughtfully and respectfully together.
A Framework for Our Campus
Twenty-five years ago, we worked with faculty and staff, neighbors, and community partners throughout the South Bay to formalize Chadwick’s plans for the future. That work shaped our Conditional Use Permit (CUP), which establishes Los Angeles County’s requirements for how Chadwick operates and develops its campus.
The permit set an enrollment cap, established transportation requirements and neighborhood protections and provided for improvements to academic, athletic and arts facilities, along with additional on-campus faculty housing.
Our Next Chapter
Chadwick is now seeking to renew this framework, extending our existing commitments while updating our transportation program and campus plans to reflect current needs and lessons learned over the past 25 years.
The proposed CUP would maintain:
- The existing student enrollment cap.
- The limit on the number of approved faculty residences.
- The overall limit on campus building square footage.
The updated transportation management program would build on Chadwick’s expanded bus, shuttle and carpool programs, with vehicle trip limits, monitoring and reporting requirements, and continued County oversight.
As the County reviews the proposal, we look forward to sharing information, hearing from our neighbors and continuing to plan thoughtfully for Chadwick’s future.
If you have questions or comments, please contact us at pv-CUP@chadwickschool.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
| Why does Chadwick need a CUP? |
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Like many independent schools located in or near residential communities, Chadwick operates under a Conditional Use Permit (CUP). A CUP establishes the standards governing Chadwick's operations and helps ensure the school remains compatible with the surrounding community. The CUP addresses issues such as enrollment, transportation, campus development, school operations and community protections. It provides a clear and accountable framework for balancing the school’s needs with those of the surrounding neighborhoods and the broader community.
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| What is the review process for applying for the proposed CUP? |
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Los Angeles County is reviewing the proposed CUP renewal through a public process that includes environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), public comment opportunities and hearings before the Regional Planning Commission. Community members will have multiple opportunities to review the proposal and provide input. Chadwick is committed to maintaining an open and transparent process and will continue providing updates as the application moves forward.
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| How long will the new CUP be in effect? |
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Chadwick is requesting a 20-year CUP term, consistent with the current CUP. A 20-year term is a standard approach, providing stability, predictability and accountability for both the school and the surrounding community.
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| Is Chadwick seeking to increase its enrollment cap? |
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No. The proposed CUP maintains the existing enrollment cap. This will allow us to maintain our 1:8 faculty-student ratio, which we believe is the optimal class size for a world-class education.
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| What are the differences between the current CUP and the proposed CUP? |
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The proposed CUP largely maintains the core standards that govern Chadwick today while updating portions of the permit to reflect current operations, modern regulatory requirements, and lessons learned over the past 25 years. The proposed CUP maintains the existing student enrollment cap, preserves limits on faculty housing, retains the overall limits on campus development, maintains transportation management requirements, and preserves ongoing County oversight. The most significant updates involve modernizing the Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program and revising the campus plan to reflect current needs, modern requirements and more than two decades of operating experience.
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| Will the proposed CUP address traffic in the community? |
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The proposed CUP is designed to continue managing and reducing transportation impacts associated with Chadwick’s operations. It modernizes the school’s Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program, a central component of the school's operations for more than 25 years. The updated program continues to focus on managing traffic during peak student drop-off and pick-up periods through trip limits, monitoring and reporting requirements, transportation alternatives and ongoing community engagement. In recent years, Chadwick has expanded bus, shuttle and carpool programs, strengthened event transportation planning, and improved transportation monitoring and compliance. These efforts have reduced school-related vehicle trips and improved transportation performance. The proposed CUP builds on that progress and incorporates lessons learned to guide transportation management over the next 20 years.
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| How is Chadwick's transportation performance measured? |
| Chadwick operates under transportation requirements established by Los Angeles County and monitors vehicle activity using County-approved methodologies. The school tracks vehicle trips, evaluates performance against established standards, and submits required reports to the County. The proposed CUP continues these accountability measures while updating the transportation framework to reflect current technology and operational practices. |
| How can I review project documents and provide comments? |
| Los Angeles County will make project documents, including environmental review materials, available through the public review process. Community members will have opportunities to review materials, submit comments and participate in public hearings as the CUP renewal moves forward. Chadwick will also share information about opportunities for community participation as they are scheduled. |
| How can I learn more or ask questions? |
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| Chadwick is committed to maintaining an open and transparent dialogue with neighbors and community members throughout the CUP renewal process. Additional information will be posted as it becomes available, and community members are encouraged to contact the school with questions or comments |
