The San Diego City Council unanimously approved a plan filed by The Bishop’s School in La Jolla to expand and renovate its campus at its March 11 meeting.

The proposed plans would add new batting cages and practice field, a new, three-story, 27,762-square-foot creative sciences and athletics building, new three-story, 29,689-square-foot athletic center, a one-story 653-square-foot foot tennis pavilion and a new three-story, 13,120-square-foot athletics and creative science building.

The work would be done in phases.

Bishop’s, a private school on 11.3 acres at 7522 and 7554 Draper Ave. and 7607 La Jolla Blvd, included with the application a request for a vacation of a portion of the adjacent alley running parallel to Draper from Pearl Street, currently ending at the Bishop’s campus.

In a vacation, the city of San Diego relinquishes its right-of-way and cedes the property to the private owner.

The plan was approved by all other local planning groups in 2022 and 2023.

Based on the previous approvals, the City Council opted to forgo a formal presentation of the plan March 11; Council member Joe La Cava, whose District 1 includes La Jolla, instead asked whether the plans would result in a higher student enrollment at Bishop’s, more parking or more traffic.

Brian Williams, Bishop’s director of facilities, confirmed the plans are not related to an increase in enrollment or parking and traffic. 

“It’s just to better utilize our campus for our student’s well-being,” Williams said.

The Bishop’s School, which opened in 1909, “has been an important part of The Village,” LaCava said, adding the school is “awfully creative” at using the space on campus.

The City Council’s decision is final.