Pegasus, residents resolve some disputes

Angelique Flores

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Residents and Pegasus School officials are hoping

they will finally resolve long-running disputes regarding traffic and

construction on the campus.

School staff and parents met with neighbors last week to discuss the

status of concerns raised in September.

“We need to make it livable for both parties,” said Glenda Moberg, who

lives on Shangri La Drive near the school “It’s going to take time.”

A group of neighbors and school officials met in September to address

several concerns -- primarily traffic, access to the campus and the new

22,000-square-foot activities center. The construction of the center,

which began last year and wrapped up in September, left some residents

upset.

Many say they are now pleased to see the school has already met some

of their requests. School gates are now left unlocked, allowing neighbors

access to the fields. Campus lights that had been left on late at night

are now being turned off.

“It seems that they’re working on it, and they’re open to any new

issues that we have,” Moberg said.

Both groups are also coming to some agreement on the ongoing traffic

problem.

While residents see a minor improvement, the problem isn’t completely

solved yet.

“We’re not perfect, but we are trying,” said Laura K. Hathway, the

school’s director.

Pegasus officials are notifying parents about obeying the traffic

rules, and teachers have been out directing parents as they drop off and

pick their children.

“There are always a few people that don’t listen, but most are trying

to follow the rules,” Hathaway said.

The school needs help from the city to slow down the speeding drivers

who sometimes ignoring the stop signs, Moberg added.

“We can only patrol so far,” Hathaway said. “We can’t patrol the

traffic beyond the school grounds.”

Hathaway said she intends to ask the city for assistance, possibly

speed bumps.

Besides the traffic problem, the school is still working on a way to

cut down noise for those who live on Shangri La. Hathaway said the school

may either extend the existing wall that borders the roadway or plant

trees as a sound barrier.

Hathaway is waiting for more input from the residents before making a

decision.

“We’ll do the best we can to minimize the impact beyond the normal

school day,” Hathaway said.

School officials agreed to have more open dialogue with the residents

before making decisions that would affect the surrounding community.

“We want to keep lines of communication open and just keep working on

it,” Hathaway said.

The school plans to meet with the neighbors regularly, with the next

meeting tentatively scheduled in January.