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The North Fair Oaks Community Council voted 4-2 Thursday to recommend denial of a proposal that would allow Synapse School to open a second campus inside the SportsHouse’s recreational facility on Edison Way, following mounting concern from nearby residents over parking, traffic and neighborhood safety.
The vote is advisory. The proposal will move forward to a March 19 hearing with the county’s Zone Hearing Officer, who will make the final decision.
The application would renew SportHouse’s use permit and amend it to allow Synapse to establish a second campus or Campus No.2, a K-8 school at 3151 Edison Way. The plan would convert 9,260 square feet of interior space into six classrooms for up to 140 students and 15 staff members, while reducing parking from 125 spaces to 107 to create outdoor play and classroom areas.
The debate centered less on the school’s academic program and more on whether North Fair Oaks — an unincorporated, largely working-class neighborhood — should absorb additional traffic and parking impacts from a facility residents say already strains during peak events.
In the days leading up to the meeting, North Fair Oaks resident Gabriela Valencia submitted written public comment to county code compliance officials, planning staff and Supervisor Lisa Gauthier outlining what she described as ongoing public safety and quality of life impacts tied to SportsHouse operations.
In her letter, Valencia cited blocked fire hydrants, vehicles parked too close to corners, obstructed driveways and long lines of cars waiting to enter and exit the facility. She said SportsHouse’s 2020 conversion of parking spaces into outdoor volleyball courts worsened overflow parking, particularly on weekends.
“These issues have created a constant state of irritation and stress for residents and have significantly affected the overall sense of our community and our quality of life,” Valencia wrote.
North Fair Oaks is an unincorporated county community where roughly three-quarters of residents identify as Latino, according to U.S. Census data. Median household income in the area is lower than in neighboring Redwood City and Palo Alto.
Several residents said they worry that expanding a private school with annual tuition exceeding $40,000 would intensify traffic and parking pressures in a neighborhood that already feels stretched. Valencia said the impacts fall largely on families who are not the ones benefiting from the school’s presence.
Another resident, Stephanie Barrales, emailed county officials ahead of the meeting, questioning whether the school’s dismissal times would truly avoid overlap with SportsHouse’s after-school sports traffic.
“We don’t believe there is no overlap,” Barrales wrote, calling for traffic and community impact assessments before approval.
County Planner III Kanoa Kelley said the project complies with zoning and parking regulations. The applicant, Jim Eagen, head of school for Synapse, said the school plans to enter a reciprocal parking agreement with Synapse Campus No. 1 that would make 60 additional spaces available during school hours for a total of 167 parking spaces.
SportsHouse operations typically run from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and begin at 9 a.m. on weekends.
Kelly said that conditions could be added to address neighborhood concerns, including employing staff to patrol and direct parking to shared lots, posting signage to identify overflow parking locations and encouraging carpooling or alternative transportation.
Planning officials are also asking SportsHouse to prepare a parking demand study to evaluate impacts on surrounding streets and provide hard data to the county. The facility would undergo an administrative review every two years to assess compliance and determine whether mitigation measures are working, with full renewal required every five years.
Newly appointed Vice Chair Christian Aponte made the motion to deny the recommendation to the county’s zoning officer. Council member Kelly Parisi seconded it.
Council members pressed the applicant on outreach and transportation.
Council member Kathleen Daly asked Eagen whether nearby businesses had been notified about potential increases in traffic. Eagen responded that they had notified them to the extent they needed to and said the school is trying to be good neighbors.
Aponte asked Eagen if Synapse reimburses staff for using rideshare services. Eagen said staff receive a transportation stipend.
“We are trying to maximize as much as usage of foot, bike, train,” he said.
Council member Blair Whitney said he read some of the written remarks sent in from concerned neighbors.
“I live in North Fair Oaks. It’s a pain in the butt when there are people parked every which way, including blinking lights or leaving their cars on the street,” Whitney said. “I totally empathize. It’s not something you can answer, but the Sheriff’s (Office) needs to be responsive to the residents of North Fair Oaks.”
“We need to stop turning a blind eye to poor behavior that impacts people negatively,” he added.
Public comment lasted nearly an hour, and comments were mixed, from support for Synapse to others urging the council not to approve the recommendation.
Supporters of Synapse urged the council to back the proposal.
Jennifer, a Synapse parent who said she purchased a home in North Fair Oaks two years ago, described the community as caring and conscientious.
”What I have learned in my time at Synapse is that the community is very caring,” Jennifer said. “The amount of coaching and being good citizens and good neighbors, when we’re coming and dropping off our kids, is something they take very seriously.”
She added that if there hadn’t been that type of culture when she was dropping off her kid, she probably would never have bought a house in North Fair Oaks.
Opponents, many of whom live near SportsHouse, described years of parking conflicts and safety concerns.
Angelica Baez Aranda and her husband, Carlos, shared that they live across from the facility and have repeatedly had their driveway blocked. Aranda described a recent confrontation with a driver she said left her shaken.
“ I don’t know if these people are carrying guns,” Aranda said. “I thought he was gonna get out of the car and hit me.”
Carlos said he wants the Sheriff’s Office to take enforcement complaints more seriously.
After public comment, council members offered final remarks.
Aponte said Synapse began as a tiny bungalow in Palo Alto before expanding.
“My comment is maybe it’s time to look elsewhere,” Aponte said.
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