July 31, 2025 Your Source for Brentwood News

Opinion: 20 Year Archer Agreement Is A Win-Win For Brentwood

By Ray Klein

Special to Brentwood News

Archer School for Girls has had its reduced Archer Forward project approved June 30 after agreeing to 25,000 square feet less than originally proposed plus a handful of other reductions.
Archer School for Girls has had its reduced Archer Forward project approved June 30 after agreeing to
25,000 square feet less than originally proposed plus a handful of other reductions.

Many folks have the impression that because Archer School for Girls received a permit from the City, Archer “won” and the community “lost.” That is not c orrect. Archer is an example of a win-win when people act reasonably and responsibly.

It is true that Archer received a permit to increase the physical facilities and usage of its campus. However, after some community organizations objected to the size and scope of Archer’s original request, Archer cut back their plans. Also, the permit granted by the City includes many restrictions under which Archer must operate.

More importantly, Archer entered into an agreement with the Brentwood Homeowners Association (“BHA”). “The Archer School for Girls Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions” referred to in this article as the “Covenant” is privately enforceable by the BHA and does not rely on the City for enforcement. If Archer defaults, the BHA, on behalf of its homeowners, may seek damages for certain violations, and may seek a Court order requiring performance of Archer’s promises for other defaults. The BHA has been in existence since 1946, and has a long history of enforcing a school covenant. Archer is required to submit compliance reports, and to hire independent traffic engineers to do traffic counts and surveys to demonstrate compliance and to report violations.

During the permit application process, it became clear that the City intended to grant Archer a Conditional Use Permit. And it is general knowledge that the City is notorious for not following up on City imposed conditions and for its lack of enforcement of conditions in its permits granted to institutions and developers. Faced with these circumstances, BHA hired a top land use lawyer and entered into intensive negotiations with Archer. BHA’s lengthy and detailed Covenant affords a much more effective means of policing compliance. The Covenant incorporates many of the conditions contained in the City permit, but also includes additional restrictions not imposed by the City with significant financial damages for violation of these conditions. These additional conditions and financial damages are terms to which only private parties could agree, not the City. Any payments of financial damages will go into a Community Fund to deal with visual, noise, and traffic impacts.

One of the most important protections BHA obtained in the Covenant is that Archer may not, for the 20-year term of the Covenant, apply to the City for further construction or an increase of use of the Archer campus. The conditions will remain unchanged and enforceable for 20 years, something a City permit alone could not do, and something previously not in place. We will be comfortable for a long time, and Archer will be able to continue to provide an excellent education for its students in an updated facility.

The following is a list of some of the most important restrictions in the Covenant, and the damages payable for violations:

1. Three year construction period – for each week of construction beyond three years and a one month grace period, Archer will pay $30,000/week for week 5 through 8, $50,000/week for week 9 through 12, $75,000/week for week 13 and every week thereafter

2. Maximum enrollment of 518 – Archer will pay 50% of the annual tuition for each student over 518.

3. Vehicle trip caps of 44 guest vehicles arriving Monday-Friday, 3-4 pm, zero guest vehicles 4-6 pm, 126 guest vehicles 6-7 pm (maximum of 3,145/academic year), 44 guest vehicles departing 5-6 pm – Archer will pay $500/vehicle in excess of caps.

4. Average vehicle ridership and required busing – minimum three persons per vehicle, and busing of a minimum of 76 percent of enrolled students on a daily basis – $500/trip for violations.

5. Limit of 185 vehicles in underground parking garage – Monday – Friday, 3-6 pm – $1,000/day for each day in violation.

Some additional restrictions include:

1. Summer school – limited to six weeks for no more than 125 Archer students who need additional assistance to meet academic standards, and all of who must arrive and depart on buses.

2. Saturday and Sunday limits on use of the campus.

3. No multi-school athletic tournaments to be held on campus.

4. Athletic competitions limited to 98 days/academic year, and 40 days on the outdoor field.

5. Limit of 65 Special Events per year with additional limits on the size, hours and days for Special Events.

6. Electronic reservation ticketing system for guests to facilitate compliance with parking and trip caps.

7. Independent traffic counts and reporting paid for by Archer.

8. Limits on amount of seating on the outdoor athletic field.

Related Posts

Lulu Hosts Summer Tardeada With Guest Chef From Oakland’s Bombera

July 30, 2025

July 30, 2025

Chef Dominica Rice-Cisneros Joins Alice Waters for a Courtyard Celebration Lulu, the acclaimed restaurant located at the Hammer Museum, will...

Film Review: Together

July 30, 2025

July 30, 2025

By Dolores Quintana Dave Franco and Alison Brie, a married couple in real life, star in Michael Shanks’ gruesomely passionate...

Heidi Klum’s Tropical Erewhon Smoothie Drops Just in Time for Summer

July 30, 2025

July 30, 2025

Supermodel’s Limited-Edition Drink Blends Kiwi, Coconut, and Matcha Erewhon has debuted its newest celebrity smoothie collaboration, this time with supermodel...

The Getty Unveils Trellis Bar & Lounge: Sip Art-Inspired Cocktails with a Gorgeous View

July 30, 2025

July 30, 2025

New Alfresco Experience Offers Seasonal Drinks, Light Bites, and Stunning Architecture Visitors to the Getty Center can now unwind with...

New Beginnings in Brentwood: Dr. Marian Oppenheimer Opens Private Psychology Practice at wellpeople

July 30, 2025

July 30, 2025

For more than 30 years, Dr. Marian Oppenheimer has dedicated herself to one clear purpose: helping people heal, grow, and...

Westchester Del Rey Stuns Tucson With 11-Run Inning to Reach World Series

July 30, 2025

July 30, 2025

Westside Team Heads to Greenville, North Carolina to Compete for Glory  Westchester Del Rey Little League is headed to the...

UCLA Agrees to $6.1 Million Settlement Over Alleged Discrimination During Campus Protests

July 30, 2025

July 30, 2025

Faculty Group Argued Protest Wasn’t Antisemitic; Judge Approval Still Pending UCLA will pay more than $6 million to settle a...

Tsunami Advisory Issued for Los Angeles Coast After 8.7 Quake Near Russia

July 29, 2025

July 29, 2025

Strong Currents, Surges Expected; Residents Urged to Avoid Beaches and Harbors Update from NWS Los Angeles at 6:50 a.m. “Latest...

Brazen Wheel Thieves Hit Beverly Grove, Hollywood Neighborhoods

July 29, 2025

July 29, 2025

Early-Morning Thefts Leave Cars on Blocks; Residents Coordinate  Los Angeles police are investigating a growing number of wheel thefts reported...

Brentwood Weekly Crime Report:  July 7, 2025 – July 27, 2025

July 29, 2025

July 29, 2025

LAPD Confirms Fatal Stabbing Among 12 Reported Incidents Senior Lead Officer Matthew Kirk has resumed crime reporting duties following a...

Second Grenade Still Missing After Blast That Killed Three LA Sheriff’s Detectives

July 29, 2025

July 29, 2025

Only One Grenade Exploded; The Second Device Has Vanished Authorities said Friday that one of two grenades recovered last week...

Kathleen Kaufman Brings Gothic Séance Tale to Brentwood Bookstore

July 28, 2025

July 28, 2025

The Author of Nora Grey Will Appear in Conversation With Jo Kaplan  Diesel, A Bookstore in Brentwood, will host author...

Felony Charges Dropped for Man in UCLA Encampment Attack After Diversion Deal

July 28, 2025

July 28, 2025

Malachi Marlan-Librett Must Complete Therapy, Anti-bias Training in Hate Crime Case The only person charged with a felony in connection...

Homecare Company Celebrates 14 years of Compassion While Planting New Roots After January Fire

July 28, 2025

July 28, 2025

Luxe Homecare, a leading provider of compassionate and reliable in-home care services for seniors has recently announced the opening of...

Wallis Annenberg, Visionary Philanthropist and Civic Leader, Dies at 86

July 28, 2025

July 28, 2025

Philanthropist Expanded Foundation’s Reach From Arts to Conservation Wallis Annenberg, a prominent philanthropist and longtime leader of the Annenberg Foundation,...