Project Justification

Project Justification

A r c h V e r s a a r c h i t e c t u r e

2325 Cimarron Dr, Santa Clara, CA-95051 | 408.250.0558 | [email protected]

Chapel Way School

General Plan Amendment Screening Request.

40950 Chapel Way, Fremont, CA

June 14, 2021.

Property Information:

Assessor’s Parcel Number: 525-680-9

General Plan: Public Facility Zoning: Public Facility (PF)

Current Use: School/Community Center Proposed Use: School/Community Center

Lot Size: 87,121 sf / 2.0 acres. Building Covered Area: 14,880 sf

Proposed General Plan Amendment and Rezoning:

General Plan: Urban Residential Zoning: R3 Multi Family (R3-70)

Project Description

40950 Chapel Way is a County of Alameda owned property currently zoned as a Public Facility. The

approximately 87,000 sf site consists of a community center/school building covering approximately

14,000 sf of building area. The existing building was custom built to operate as a school and comprises of

six class rooms, restrooms for children and adults, a kitchen, a playroom and paved outdoor play courts

at the front and back. An additional 720 sf office building was later added to the facility. The existing

parking lot has 25 parking spaces for use by the faculty and parents. This property has been operating as

a private school under a lease agreement with the County.

The property is located in a mixed commercial and residential area of Fremont. The immediately

surrounding properties consist of:

Residential and Commercial buildings to the North.

A public parking lot and US Post office to the East.

A church to the South.

Cemetery to the West.

The Alameda County now intends to sell the property to generate funds to improve the County Office

of Education facilities and for the benefit of its students. The Shia Association of Bay Area (SABA) is

intending to purchase the property to continue the current use of this property of providing educational

services to the community. SABA intends to use part of the property for its own school, the RISE

Academy, and lease out the remaining portion to another school, the ‘Averroes High School’, which is

currently looking for a permanent home in Fremont.


General Plan Amendment Screening Request

40950 Chapel Way, Fremont, California

June 14, 2021

2325 Cimarron Dr, Santa Clara, CA-95051 | 408.250.0558 | [email protected] P a g e | 2

The scope of the project is to request a General Plan Amendment to change the current Public Facility

to private use as an educational facility.

Architectural Design Statement

The existing building has been a functioning school until recently. Originally built in the 1970-1980’s and

improved overtime for code compliance, no changes are being proposed as part of this request for the

General Plan Amendment. The single story concrete block building was custom built as a school and a

community center with large class rooms, spacious hallways, high ceilings and a large covered front port.

Parking is conveniently located at the front of the property. The building is in a good condition, and well

suited for continued use as a school.

Business Operation Description.

SABA plans to use the facility for two schools:

The first school is the RISE academy, which is a subsidiary of SABA, Inc. that was established in 2007 and

it operates K-12 school in San Jose, California. A large portion of SABA membership resides in Fremont

and neighboring areas along Highway 880 corridor. SABA plans to start the Fremont Branch of the RISE

academy at the elementary school level this year and expand it to higher grades as we upgrade our

facilities. Additionally, SABA will use the facilities to serve local community at large for language classes,

adult education and sports during non-school hours. SABA’s current and potential students in the area

are eager to join the Fremont campus as soon as possible.

The other half of the facility will be leased to the Averroes High School, a private school based in

Fremont that has been successfully operating since 2010 with a college preparatory focus. Averroes

High School has had to move its campus multiple times to locations in the Bay area including Fremont.

This school has is currently looking for a long-term home and is in urgent need for a place to open its

doors when the academic year begins in the fall of 2021.


The purpose and goals of the current zoning designation as a Public Facility, as stated in the zoning

ordinance, are to foster orderly development of large scale educational and public service uses in the

community as a vital part of community balance.

The General Plan describes the uses of a Public Facility and notes that the facilities owned by public

agencies are not precluded from future use through joint public-private development, provided such

development is consistent with the policies of the General Plan.

In the proposed project case, the public agency intends to sell the property to private owner ship, and

SABA intends to continue to pursue the intended goals of providing educational services to the

community. The zoning ordinance does not allow the current zoning to remain as a Public Facility as


General Plan Amendment Screening Request

40950 Chapel Way, Fremont, California

June 14, 2021

2325 Cimarron Dr, Santa Clara, CA-95051 | 408.250.0558 | [email protected] P a g e | 3

soon as the property is transferred to private ownership. There has to be a change in both the General

Plan Land use designation and the zoning.

The amendments proposed in this application are based on the goals and vision of the General Plan

2030. The Urban Residential land use and the R3 multifamily with a Conditional Use permit will allow

the use of the building it its current state. These amendments will also allow for future growth in the

facility to support the growing population needs of an increasingly dense neighborhood. The General

Plan 2030 strives to develop this area as a Transit Oriented District with high population density,

pedestrian oriented traffic, and mix of uses. The proposed amendments allow for most flexibility in the

use of this site to support the growing needs of the community. The request is therefore consistent

with the current and intended uses described in the General Plan.

Historic Significance

The structures on the property are less than 50 years old and therefore ineligible for historic evaluation.

Community Benefit

The proposed General Plan Land Use and Rezoning is intended to provide maximum benefit to the

community. Important benefits include:

• The proposed amendments are in line with the City of Fremont’s Vision 2030 that strives to

develop this part of the Irvington district as a Focused Priority Development Area, to transform

it into a vibrant high density, pedestrian oriented area, with proximity with the BART station.

Urban Residential designation allows the use of the school in its current form as a Conditional

Use, and also allows for future growth of the school campus and other aligned uses.

• The school, in its current state, and with possibility of future growth will provide immense

benefit to the community in the form of education from elementary to high school.

• The intended uses of the site include future community facility to include activities like the

senior community center, a home base for boy scouts and girl scouts, faith-based studies and

research, multi-purpose rooms for events, educational seminars, and other community outreach

activities.

• The proposed amendments will support future teachers housing and low-cost affordable housing

for seniors and other community groups.

End of Document.

Attachments:

• Universal Planning Application for General Plan Amendment Screening Request.

• Parcel Map (Assessor’s Map 525)

• Standard Plan Set

A R C H V E R S AA R C H I T E C T U R E

2325 Cimarron Dr, Santa Clara, CA 95051

408.250.0558 I [email protected]

DATE DESCRIPTION NO.

CLIENT

PROJECT

ADDRESS

PROJECT NO.

SCALE

TITLE

2021-06-00 ------

SENECA CENTER

FREMONT DAY

TREATMENT CENTER

SENECA CENTER

40950 CHAPEL WAY

FREMONT, CA 94538

Project Status

Project Number

COVER SHEET

A0

SENECA CENTER FREMONT DAY

PROPOSED ADDITION/ALTERATION

40950 CHAPEL WAY FREMONT, CA 94538OWNER: ARCHITECT

Contact:

Address:

Phone:

email:

Contact:

Address:

Phone:

email:

WENDY HYDE

40950 CHAPEL WAY

FREMONT, CA 94538

415-355-3400 408-250-0558

[email protected]

ARCH VERSA ARCHITECTURE

AMIN ADIL QAZI, AIA

2325 CIMARRON DRIVE

SANTA CLARA, CA-95051

PROJECT DATA

ADDRESS: 40950 CHAPEL WAY FREMONT, CA 94538

ACCESSOR PARCEL#:

USE ZONE:

BUILDING TYPE:

STORIES:

XX-XXX-XX

XX-XX / XX

X-X

EXISTING - 1 STORY

SITE AREA: 83,820 SF

EXISTING BUILDING AREA: FIRST FLOOR 14,160 SF

TOTAL COVERED: 14,160 SF

DEMO 0 SFPROPOSED DEMOLITION:

TOTAL DEMO: 0 SF

PROPOSED BUILDING AREA: FIRST FLOOR EXISTING 14,160 SF

FIRST FLOOR PROPOSED ADDITION 720 SF

TOTAL FIRST FLOOR: 14,880 SF

EXISTING LOT COVERAGE:

(EXISTING 1ST FLR AREA) / (SITE AREA) x 100 = 14,880 SF/83,820 SF = 17.75%

PROPOSED LOT COVERAGE:

(PROPOSED MAIN 1ST FLOOR / (SITE AREA) x 100 = XXXXX / 83,820 =XX.XX%

ALLOWABLE BUILDING HEIGHT 30'-0"

PROPOSED BUILDING HEIGHT 24'-0"

ALLOWABLE SPECIAL STRUCTURE HEIGHT 55'-0"

PROPOSED SPECIAL STRUCTURE HEIGHT 42'-0"

SCOPE OF WORK:

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

TREATMENT CENTER

APPLICABLE CODES

2019 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE (2018 IBC)

2019 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE (2018 IMC)

2019 CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE (2018 IPC)

2019 CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE (2017 NEC)

2019 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE (CFC)

2019 CALIFORNIAGREEN BLDG. STANDARDS (CalGreen)

2019 CALIFORNIA ENERGY CODE (CEnC)

2019 CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE (2018 IRC)

VICINITY AND PLOT PLANSCALE: NONE

N

AERIAL SITE PLAN

N

SITE

SITE

SHEET INDEXARCHITECTURAL/MECHANICAL

A0 COVER SHEET

A1 EXISTING FIRST FLOOR PLAN

A2 EXISTING SITE PLAN

CHAPEL WAY SCHOOLSHIA ASSOCIATION OF BAY AREA (SABA)

GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT SCREENING REQUEST

AKBER KAZMI4415 FORTRAN CT,SAN JOSE, CA 95134

408-896-6659

525-680-9PUBLIC FACILITYV-B

14,880

14,880

OCCUPANCY TYPE: E

PARKING: EXISTING STANDARD SPACES PROVIDED 23 EXISTING ACCESSIBLE PARKING SPACES PROVIDED 2 TOTAL PARKING 25

NO CHANGE TO EXISTING BUILDING AREA IS PROPOSED

EXISTING SETBACKS: FRONT ALLOWABLE: 20' (NOT LESS THAN BLDG HT.) FRONT PROVIDED: 107' (AT SORTEST DISTANCE) BACK ALLOWABLE: 20' (NOT LESS THAN BLDG HT.) BACK PROVIDED: 129' (AT SHORTEST DISTANCE) SIDES ALLOWABLE: 10' SIDES PROVIDED: 10'-0" AND 15'-5"

SCOPE OF WORKGENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT SCREENING REQUEST TO CONVERT EXISTING SCHOOL FACILITY OPERATING UNDER A LEASEAGREEMENT IN A PROPERTY ZONED AS A PUBLIC FACILITY, TO A PRIVATELY OWNED SCHOOL FACILITY. SCOPE OF WORK DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY PHYSICAL CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS TO THE EXISTING FACILITY.

PROPOSED USE: PRIVATE SCHOOLPROPOSED OCCUPANCY: E (NO CHANGE)ALLOWABEL AREA: PER CBC2019 TABLE 506.2, TYPE V-B FULLY SPRINKLERED BUILDING AREA ALLOWED = 38,000 SF AREA PROVIDED = 14,880 SF

A0 COVER SHEETA1 EXISTIGN SITE PLANA2 EXISTING FLOOR PLANA4 CLEAN BAY BLUE PRINT

45'-0"EXISTING

20210614 GPA SCREENING

87,121 SF

87,121 SF = 17.07%

CONTEXT MAP

GENERAL PLAN MAP

12

' -

0"

10

' -

0"

PR

OP

ER

TY

LIN

E

207' - 1

1"

PROPERTY LINE

396' - 0"

PR

OP

ER

TY

LIN

E

209' - 0

"

PROPERTY LINE

404' - 0"

EXISTING BUILDING

60' - 0"

(E)

PA

RK

ING

(E)

PA

RK

ING

(E)

PA

RK

ING

(E)

PL

AN

TE

R A

RE

A(E

) P

LA

NT

ER

AR

EA

(E)

PL

AN

TE

R A

RE

A

(E)

DR

IVE

WA

Y

(E) DRIVEWAY

(E) DRIVEWAY

(E)

DR

IVE

WA

Y

(E) PLAY GROUND

(N) OFFICE BUILDING





CLIENT

PROJECT

ADDRESS

PROJECT NO.

SCALE

TITLE

2021-06-00 ------

1/16" = 1'-0"

SENECA CENTER

FREMONT DAY

TREATMENT CENTER

SENECA CENTER

40950 CHAPEL WAY

FREMONT, CA 94538

Project Status

Project Number

EXISTING SITE PLAN

A2

1/16" = 1'-0"

EXISTING SITE PLAN1

107'-0"

15'-5

"

129'-0"

A1


215'-1"

408'-0"

214'-9"

410'-9"

Room

Room

CLOSET

Room

Room

Room

Room

Room

Room

Room

Room

HALLWAY

Room

Room

Room

Room

HALLWAY

Room

Room

Room

Room

Room

Room

Room

Room

Room

Room

RoomRoom

Room

HALLWAY

Room

Room

Room

CLOSET

Room

Room

CLOSET

Room

Room

Room

Room

Room

CLOSET

Room

Room

66' - 8" 17' - 7" 76' - 9"

45

' -

6"

39

' -

0"

50

' -

0"

161' - 0"

13

4' -

6"

34' - 6" 2' - 6" 26' - 6" 5' - 3" 28' - 0" 5' - 3" 37' - 9" 2' - 6" 26' - 6"

19

' -

9"

21

' -

2"

60

' -

0"

53

' -

4"

1' -

5"

2' -

8 1

/2"

50

' -

7 1

/2"

27' - 6" 12' - 0"





CLIENT

PROJECT

ADDRESS

PROJECT NO.

SCALE

TITLE

2021-06-00 ------

1/8" = 1'-0"

SENECA CENTER

FREMONT DAY

TREATMENT CENTER

SENECA CENTER

40950 CHAPEL WAY

FREMONT, CA 94538

Project Status

Project Number

EXISTING FIRST FLOOR

PLAN

A11/8" = 1'-0"

EXISTING FIRST FLOOR PLAN1

A2

Class

Class

Class

Class

Class

MultiPurpose

BackLobby

Lobby


Kitchen

Office

Office

Mech Equipment

Class

Vestibule

Rest

Restroom

Boys

Girls

Class Equipment

Storage

Storage

Rest

Storage

Storage

Staff

Staff

Storage

Storage

Staff

Closet Closet

Closet

City of Fremont

City

City ofFremont

CLE

AN

BA

Y

BLU

E P

RIN

T

Clean Bay Blue Print

A4

Project Justification

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