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Appeal Application No. 2025-02 — Forty Martyrs Armenian Church Middle School (5311 <br /> W. McFadden Avenue) <br /> February 3, 2026 <br /> Page 3 <br /> school building 17,500 square feet in size, serving students from pre-kindergarten to sixth <br /> grade. The Project proposes to construct a new two-story, 4,846-square-foot building <br /> located at the rear (north) portion of the site. The proposed building will feature <br /> contemporary architectural design to complement the existing church and private school <br /> facilities. The structure will have a maximum height of 32.5 feet and includes a 13.5-foot <br /> ground-level opening to allow vehicular circulation beneath the second-story classrooms. <br /> The second floor will extend over the two-way drive aisle, providing additional classroom <br /> space while maintaining safe on-site circulation for staff and visitors. <br /> The first floor will include a 274-square-foot lobby, a single-stall restroom, and a 502- <br /> square-foot classroom. The second floor will consist of three classrooms measuring 587, <br /> 417, and 622 square feet, respectively, and a 709-square-foot laboratory. Two of the <br /> proposed classrooms are designated to support the existing elementary school grade <br /> levels, which currently serves students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. These <br /> classrooms will provide additional space to reduce the overall class sizes for the existing <br /> grade levels. The remaining two classrooms are specifically allocated to accommodate <br /> the new seventh and eighth grade levels, thereby allowing the school to expand its <br /> curriculum and retain students through middle school. In addition, the proposed laboratory <br /> is intended to serve students across all grade levels, from pre-kindergarten through eighth <br /> grade. As currently constructed, student enrollment is approximately 180 students; with <br /> the proposed expansion, the student enrollment will be approximately 195 students, <br /> representing an eight-percent (8%) increase. <br /> The existing site maintains the required landscaped setbacks with ground cover, shrubs, <br /> and trees. The existing landscape includes three 24-gallon trees, a shrub hedge that is <br /> approximately five feet tall and ten feet wide, and drought-tolerant shrubbery along the <br /> front-yard setback. Additionally, the site contains 25 trees throughout the parking lot and <br /> around the church and existing school buildings, which are proposed to remain. <br /> Furthermore, the site includes an existing playground located at the rear of the property, <br /> which also functions as a parking area when the school is not in session. The playground <br /> is utilized exclusively during school hours and is used as parking during the church's <br /> hours of operation. No expansion or physical modification of the playground area is <br /> proposed as part of this request, and its dual use will continue to operate as it does under <br /> existing conditions. <br /> Site and Project Background <br /> In 1982, the Planning Commission approved CUP No. 1982-18 and Variance No. 1982- <br /> 20, allowing the construction of a new church building and a private school designed to <br /> serve students in kindergarten through ninth grade. The CUP allowed the church and <br /> private school uses in the R1 zoning district and the variance allowed the reduction in <br /> parking. <br /> City Council 18 — 3 2/3/2026 <br />