Long Range Plan Facility Report - FAQ

Needs

• What are the needs for a new building? Those defined in the Long Range Plan (LRP) - meeting rooms, senior center, youth area, AM/PM program, multi-use room, storage, offices, kitchen, bathrooms (with shower). It will be impossible to meet all needs, but 80% should be addressed.
• Pastor Jim's comments - The three ministries that were defined in the LRP to be addressed with facility planning were:
  1. Ministry to the Elderly
  2. Cupertino High School Students
  3. The Asian Community - both school parents and neighborhood.
  With our school on the site, it is necessary to keep these ministry programs separate from the school facility.
• Where did design and needs come from? Input from existing ministries.

General

• Why the expansion and the design - is it for the school or the Church? The Long Range Plan concerns the entire facility. The LRP is biased to the Church, but does take the school into consideration.
• Would there be room for Congregational Dinners in the new facility? Yes, a multipurpose room - it could accommodate 600 for meals, and 800-1,000 for a play.
• How much sq. footage would we be adding? 16,000 sq. ft. 26,000 total when complete.
• What is the time frame ? Begin construction in 1 1/2 - 2 years. This June - funds approval by congregation for schematic design, June 2001 - final congregational approval and full plans 6 months later.
• What is wrong with Torvand Hall? Everything is an add-on, including furnaces, ceiling is coming down, floors need work, and doors are rotten.
• Does the multi-purpose room need to be only one story? For gym use yes, but two-stories are possible at the far end of the building.
• What about removing the current Torvand Hall and putting parking in front of the Church, and building the new facility where the current parking lot is located behind the church. What would be the cost? This needs research. Apartments would probably be more agreeable about building restrictions.
• Is there a numerical maximum square footage allowed on our site? We are limited by the available parking.
• How can we let the Committee know of needs that have not been addressed? Send a letter to the committee through Clayton Johnson.
• When will we see more detail? The next phase (June to December) will put fine points on the design.

Church Building

• What about the current Sanctuary building? Nothing at this time
• Won't the new building block the front of the Church? Yes, and that might be a concern.
• What about additional office needs - don't we have enough now? No, our present office space is very limited and needs to be expanded. As Bethel grows, so too will the number of staffing positions. Ideally there will be a separation of Church and School Offices. The office space will be defined in the next phase of the facilities planning - the Schematic Phase. Office space in the new plan is one of many very important considerations.

Outdoor Worship

• How many people will the outdoor area hold? 400 people.
• What about outdoor space - would the neighbors be happier with the services internal? The front has worked OK with the neighbors. The new proposed area worked not be as public.

School

General

• What about the school playgrounds? The elementary school playground will remain the same.
• Will the school office be in the new facility? Additional space is needed, and is being considered in the plan.
• What about school growth? The school has no plans for additional enrollment.
• Can the school program be accommodated by the new plan? Yes
• Are there restrictions to Zoar Hall? Could we go two story there, for offices? That could be an option, but work has just been done to redo the building, and is that good use of funds?
• What about the AM/PM Program? Where will their space be? These and all other interior space allocation questions will be answered at the next level of design, the Schematic Design Phase.

Preschool

• Where will the preschool be located? In same area as now with a change from L-shaped building to rectangular.
• How many rooms in the rebuilt preschool? 3 classrooms
• Where will be pre-school playground? This issue is being studied.
• What about a two-story preschool? Neighbors on that side do not want height. What we can build in large part is based on what the community will allow. .

Construction

• Could we sink the 1st floor and make a basement? No - high water table - too expensive.
• Could the nursery (pre-school) be done separately? It could reduce re-location. Contractors want to do all at the same time.
• Can we go three stories with the new building? We have not looked into this, but not likely.
• Are the new buildings being planned with expansion (second story) in mind? This can be done.

Youth

• Will there be showers in the gymnasium for athletic activities and for visiting youth groups? Yes.

Lawn and Trees

• Do we have a preliminary approval for removal of existing lawns? Yes
• Does new open space equal what we have now? Yes
• Did the committee consider keeping the lawn? Yes, but we are limited by the available building site. Some green will be kept around the buildings and front sidewalk area. This is a concern that needs to be looked into further. Also, the concern for outdoor worship area.
• What about the memorial trees planted where buildings are proposed? One is being moved at this time, as will the other memorial tree.
• Where would the grass and decorative landscaping be located? Indicated on the master plan
• Do we have to give up the front lawn? The new building will also block the view of the Church. Can the outdoor worship area be moved back to the front lawn area? Our committee will look at a redesign of the building to save the front lawn. It is important to remember that a master plan gives insight into the locations where buildings might be constructed on this site. The congregation must decide its priority, meeting rooms or open space.

Parking

• What about parking? Parking will remain the same.
• What about the plan to redo the existing lot for $20K now? Maybe it should be held off? Good idea - needs to be looked into.
• What about parking - any new alternative parking arrangements? The city will approve with what we have.

Neighbors

• Have the neighbors been questioned about the new facility? The architects have gone over the site plan with the planners. The planners have knowledge of the neighborhood and its feelings.

Acquiring more space

• How about approaching the homeowner behind the nursery and inquire if he is interested in selling? Would it take away the problems? Pastor Jim - not necessarily. There is still one house involved.
• Could the house be purchased in a time frame for the building project? This would be a long shot, but could be possible.
• Is there a possibility of purchasing additional land - house next door or duplexes across the street? The committee has not looked at this in depth. Perhaps a member of the congregation would want to purchase the house and donate it to the church?

Alternate Site

• What findings and conclusions has the committee come to about moving to an alternate site? That question has yet to be addressed in full. If the needs cannot be met at the present site, we will look for alternatives. The committee will begin shortly to make initial inquiries of available sites, for comparison purposes. Moving to a different site would be a congregation decision.

Miscellaneous

• Is open space limited by neighbors? Yes
• Why the gates? A design features, and security issues for the school children.
• Where will a new kitchen be located? On the 1st floor of the proposed multi-purpose building.
• What plans are being made for the Sunday School Nursery? One possibility is the use of a meeting room at the end of the new Torvand Hall.
• Would the Pre-School Building be used on Sundays? Yes, this could be used. It is important to remember that our Committee will not be responsible for usage allocation. Creative usage of this site will be a necessity.
• What about Church Nursery space during the week? Long Range Plans call for programs during the week that require a nursery.
• Where will stage, tables, and chairs go? Storage space will be needed. This will be decided at the schematic design level.