Meet the Neighbors – VA Aspire Center Info Meeting – Wednesday Oct 22

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Dear OTA Parents and Guardians:Save the date

The next meeting of the NAC will be held in the 7th grade classroom on Wednesday, October 22, from 5:00-6:30 pm. The purpose of this meeting is to enhance communication between OTA parents and the Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC).

  • Please mark your calendar now and plan to bring any questions or concerns you have about the Aspire Center and its oversight.

—Casey Murphy and Gordon Hess, OTA Parent Representatives to the NAC

To Learn More about the VA Aspire Center…

The Aspire Center operates under a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) approved by the City Council.  As part of the process and decision to give the CUP, the Council considered a statement prepared by the VA (and with input from OTA and others) regarding the facility.  The statement, now part of the administrative record in the CUP decision process, sets forth a description of the Aspire Center, its size and purpose, and additional conditions agreed to by the VA to operate the facility.  Some of the major conditions in the statement include:

  • The facility will have 40 beds, with approximately 34 for men and 6 for women.  The statement also includes specifics as to size, location, and other details regarding living quarters. Reflective coating was required and is installed on all bedroom windows facing San Diego Avenue.
  • Admission and discharge criteria, including specific screening tests to be used, length of treatment, and prohibiting the Center from admitting veterans with known sexual misconduct convictions, violent tendencies, or judged to be a danger to self or others.
  • General operating criteria, including operating hours and curfew times for residents and restrictions on what may be brought into the Center.  Residents are subject to regular inspections and checks to insure compliance with all rules.
  • Building security (including at least two security staff during OTA school hours) and incident protocol
  • Restrictions on smoking, parking, and prohibition of outpatient services at the facility

Finally,  the statement included creation of the NAC and its representation. If you would like a full copy of the VA’s statement, please let us know.

To Learn More About the History of the Aspire Center and the NAC…

Shortly after OTA opened in 2012,  the VA San Diego Healthcare System announced it had leased the building directly across the street as the future location of a residential facility to treat veterans suffering from PTSD. The facility location was initially opposed by the school as well as local community groups (namely the Mission Hills Town Council, Five Points/Middletown Business Association, Uptown Planners and the Old Town Chamber of Commerce), in large part because the building was not zoned for this use, but also because the proximity of a mental health facility so close to the school raised concerns about security.

Ultimately, the City Council approved the VA’s request for a conditional use permit (CUP), clearing the way for the VA to move forward with its plans. But it included an important addendum to the CUP that documented key elements about the program, security requirements, admission restrictions and program oversight.  As part of this addendum, a Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC) was formed to give regular input on the operations of the Aspire Center and to facilitate collaboration between the Aspire Center and the surrounding community.  The NAC meets monthly and includes the following members:

  • 1 administrative and 2 parent representatives from OTA
  • 3 local residents
  • Representatives from Uptown Planners, Western Slopes Community Association, Old Town Chamber of Commerce, the San Diego Police Department, and a San Diego mental health agency
  • 1 representative from the VA Aspire Center

Non-voting representatives from Councilman Todd Gloria’s office and Councilwoman Susan Davis’ office also attend the NAC meetings.

The monthly NAC meetings are open to the public, and OTA parents and the community are encouraged to attend. Meetings typically include a report  of security incidents at the facility, programmatic updates of interest to the community, and a discussion of ways to ensure that the Aspire Center operations do not have un-expected impact on OTA and the surrounding neighborhood.

Further Reading:

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