Architectural Review Board backs conversion of 3950 Fabian Way to girls' middle school, imposes follow-up reviews

The Palo Alto Architectural Review Board recommended on May 1 that the director of planning and development services approve a proposal to convert the office building at 3950 Fabian Way to a private girls' middle school, including a roughly 4,444-square-foot gym addition and a conditional use permit allowing enrollment up to 240 students.

The decision follows a staff recommendation that the board find the project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under CEQA Guidelines section 15332 (infill development) and approve the project subject to findings and conditions. The board voted 4-0 to forward the project with conditions and to form an ad hoc committee to review several design and operational items.

The project converts an existing two-story, approximately 32,500-square-foot commercial building and adds a north-end gymnasium of about 4,444 square feet. The school proposes 10 classrooms plus shared spaces, new skylights at two stair towers, expanded bicycle parking and perimeter walkways, and an enclosed outdoor area. Staff said the application includes a conditional use permit to change the building use from office to a private school and that the applicant has submitted a draft Transportation Demand Management plan that staff will require as a condition.

Board concerns and applicant responses

Board members and staff focused most of the discussion on site circulation, bicycle parking, exterior colors and materials, trash and maintenance access, and the boundary fence with the adjacent single-family neighborhood. The applicant, Monique Wood of CAW Architects, said the revised plan moves a portion of the bicycle parking to the front of the property (16 spaces) while retaining other racks at the rear (about 30) and two within the fenced outdoor area; by code the project requires 48 bicycle spaces. "Historically, the school has only seen between 6 and 10 bike riders," Wood said to explain the layout choice. The project also adds skylights and extends the sidewalk to avoid previous dead-ends.

A neighbor, Richard Hyde, who said he owns the property at 3919 Bibbitt Drive immediately abutting 3950 Fabian Way, told the board that the existing rear fence is deteriorated: "the fence between our property and 3950 is quite old, and perhaps 30% of the posts are now rotted and the fence definitely needs to be replaced." Head of school Christine Fairless responded directly that the school "will absolutely take that into consideration as we move forward with the project."

Staff noted the project underwent a transportation analysis, including anticipated local street changes tied to a South Palo Alto bikeways demonstration project on Fabian Way. The analysis did not identify significant impacts and staff recommended a CEQA Class 32 urban infill exemption; the draft transportation demand-management plan remains under review and will be a condition of approval.

Board action and conditions

After discussion the board voted to recommend approval to the director of planning and development services based on the ARB findings and conditions of approval. The vote was 4-0. The board also set a package of follow-up items to be addressed by the applicant and reviewed by an ad hoc committee of board members (to be convened by the ARB). The follow-up items included: consider creating additional exterior design elements or modifications to the existing building to better integrate the addition; consider modifications to the front entry hardscape to provide a clearer gathering plaza for students; further review the bicycle parking layout and the design/materials of bicycle enclosures; examine interior-to-exterior circulation to facilitate trash removal and maintenance paths; and work collaboratively with adjacent neighbors to repair or replace the shared fencing along residential properties.

The board record shows the project will proceed to the director with the ARB recommendation and conditions; the ad hoc committee will review the requested design refinements before the project advances further. The staff planner noted that the city's transportation consultant, WTrans, is available to answer detailed TDM and circulation questions as part of the record.

Ending

The project remains subject to the director's final administrative approval and the conditions recorded in the staff report. The ARB recorded its recommendation and the ad hoc committee assignment as part of the public record for the project.