Education Center Could Fill Empty Office Space

The Diamond Hills Plaza Center could be getting a new tenant and filling empty office space if the city’s Planning Commission approves plans for a new tutorial center.

Developer Matt Jeng, with Anokia Inc., a commercial and residential design company, is asking for a conditional use permit from the commission in order to open a Pine Edu tutorial center at 21349 Cold Spring Lane.

The tutoring center had been operating as a home-based business, but its operators are looking to expand it into the 1,322-square-foot facility, city officials said.

Pine Edu works with students to improve test scores, including SAT scores, officials said. Classes would be offered Monday through Saturday with hours that are adjusted in accordance with the school year.

The 17.2-acre center has gone through many transformations over the years. Built in the 1970’s, renovations where made starting in 2008. Several buildings have been added while others were demolished.

This is not intended to accommodate a large class, city officials said.

"The maximum number of students that will be attending classes at the tutoring center at any one time at the tutoring center will be limited to 15,” according to Senior Planner Katherine Laufenburger. “The applicant (says) there will be 4 to 6 classes per session and that each class will consist of one instructor and two to three students per class for a total of 15 students at a time.”

The Planning Commission meets at 7 tonight at the AQMD/Government Center, 21865 Copley Drive.