By Raymond Mendoza
352 N. Lemon Ave. Walnut, the site of the proposed location for the new DiMiYa Learning Center. (Photo Courtesy: Raymond Mendoza)
Walnut – After being originally met with concerns of traffic safety for a proposed DiMiYa Learning Center from the City of Walnut’s Planning Commission, members of the City Council are edging toward a resolution that might bring a new business into the Lemon Creek Village Shopping Center.
DiMiYa Learning Center, a company which provides after-school services and seeks to give attendees a deeper understanding of culture, was originally denied a conditional use permit from the Walnut Planning Commission during a May 7 meeting. Tom Weiner, Community Development Director, said that the denial had several factors, including an over-concentration of child related businesses in the Lemon Creek Village Shopping Center (located at 352 N. Lemon Avenue), a lack of off-street parking, a lack of passenger loading parking spaces, and an outdoor use area for a “playground.” Weiner said the City’s biggest concern has always been with child safety in association with a lack of exclusive parking at the front of the business location.
“Safety is the number one concern for any approval that is being reviewed,” Weiner said. “However this operation, and any child related business in the city, requires a conditional use permit which allows for conditions of approval and a more scrutinized review of the use. Unlike Von’s or Chase Bank, this business is serving children exclusively – and when it comes to Walnut’s children and youth, safety concerns are going to be given special attention.”
During the public hearing meeting on June 25, Lemon Creek Village property manager, Alex Flores, said he was willing to work with the representatives from DiMiYa, with the possibility of creating more parking spaces for the business.
Jean Navarro, the real estate agent who spoke on DiMiYa Learning Center President Bing-Bing Zhu’s behalf, said the brunt of the confusion comes from mistakes made on DiMiYa Learning Center’s permit application for the Lemon Creek Village Shopping Center. Navarro said that DiMiYa Learning Center representatives accidentally put the incorrect age range for the center’s attendees – which would serve children from 4.9-years to 9-years of age instead of the initial proposal of 3 to 5-year olds.
Navarro also said DiMiYa Learning Center is dropping their consideration of using the building’s rear parking area for a drop off zone.
After the public hearing, the City Council opted to not approve or deny the permit, but instead work with DiMiYa Learning Center by clearing up misconceptions on what the business would and would not provide to its patrons.
Additionally, Navarro said that DiMiYa Learning Center is willing to work with all of the City’s demands because Zhu believes that the business will flourish in Walnut.
“DiMiYa is really excited to go to the City of Walnut and (Zhu) first selected the City because it matches up with DiMiYa’s strongest beliefs in education,” Navarro said. “The education system and the residents of Walnut who support education are just a perfect match.”
Since DiMiYa’s permit is now under consideration pending changes to its application, Mayor Tony Cartagena said that the City Council members are glad that the organization is working along with Lemon Creek Village property owner, Arturo Flores.
“I was pleased to hear that the property owner and the applicant’s representatives are very much willing to help mitigate public safety and health concerns on the proposed business,” Cartagena said.
Navarro said that once the City approved DiMiYa Learning Center’s conditional use permit, the company would plan on opening in September.
