Seven Hills Daycare Project Info
📢 Community Meeting
Monday, July 13
Time: 06:00 PM attend the meeting to support your community or plan to speak (3 minutes per person at the public comments at the beginning of the meeting)
Location: Castro Valley Library, Chabot Room, 3600 Norbridge Avenue
Attend in person or via Zoom
Your participation helps ensure community concerns are heard.
Community Information & Project Updates
Keeping our community informed about proposed changes at the former retail center on Seven Hills Road.
The purpose of this page is to provide residents with factual information regarding the proposed daycare facility, current project status, upcoming meetings, and opportunities to participate in the public process.
Project Overview
The applicant has been permitted to convert the retail space on Seven Hills Road into a childcare facility serving approximately 94-98 children ages 0 - 17 years.
Applicant
The project proposes converting the former retail center located on 4274 Seven Hills Road into a childcare facility operating under the Safari Kid brand.
Safari Kid is an international childcare and early education organization offering a variety of programs that may include infant care, toddler programs, preschool, pre-kindergarten, after-school enrichment, summer camps, and, at some locations, elementary educational programs.
Property Owner
According to Alameda County property records, the property is owned by: Castro Valley Montessori Property LLC. The property was purchased in February 2026.
The proposal includes significant modifications to the existing parking lot, including:
Construction of new outdoor play areas
Reconfiguration of the parking lot
One-way vehicle circulation
Removal and relocation of parking spaces
Changes to the shared access driveway used by neighboring properties
The proposed parking lot redesign remains under County review.
Why the Community Is Paying Attention
Many residents and neighboring businesses support quality childcare within our community.
However, the current proposal has raised a number of important planning and safety questions that many neighbors believe deserve additional review before the parking lot redesign is approved.
These include:
Shared driveway access
Traffic and parking operations
Pedestrian safety
Emergency vehicle access
Construction impacts
Compatibility with surrounding residential neighborhoods
Operational details that have not yet been publicly explained
Our goal is not to oppose childcare.
Our goal is to ensure that the final project is thoughtfully designed so it functions safely for the childcare facility, neighboring businesses, nearby residents, pedestrians, and emergency responders.
Current Status
Childcare Use
The childcare use has been approved through an Alameda County Planning Department Administrative Use Permit (AUP).
Parking Lot Redesign
The proposed parking lot redesign has not yet been approved.
Alameda County Planning has requested additional information and revisions from the applicant regarding the proposed site design.
The applicant has also been asked to respond to operational questions submitted by members of the community.
Community Questions
The community has requested additional information regarding:
How the shared driveway will continue to operate safely
How the protection of neighboring properties recorded ingress and egress easement will be maintained
Traffic analysis
Pedestrian safety
Emergency responder access
Parking demand
Staffing assumptions
Transportation services
Construction impacts
Operational details regarding the proposed facility
Upcoming Castro Valley MAC Meeting
Monday, July 13
Time: 06:00 PM - 10:00 PM - Arrive in person no later than 6:00 PM for the public comments at the beginning of the meeting
Location: Castro Valley Library, Chabot Room, 3600 Norbridge Avenue
This meeting provides an opportunity for community members to express their concerns regarding the public review process and encourage additional evaluation of the proposed parking lot redesign.
Everyone is welcome.
If you cannot attend in person, participation by Zoom is encouraged.
How You Can Participate
There are several ways to stay involved:
✅ Attend the MAC Meeting
✅ Submit comments to Alameda County Planning
✅ Stay informed about project updates
✅ Share this page with neighbors
Project Documents
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the community opposed to childcare?
No.
The community’s concerns relate to whether the proposed site design has been adequately evaluated for traffic, safety, emergency access, pedestrian circulation, and shared driveway operations.
Has the parking lot redesign been approved?
No.
County Planning has requested additional information from the applicant before continuing its review.
Why is the MAC meeting important?
Many residents were surprised to learn that the childcare use was processed administratively rather than through a public hearing.
The MAC meeting provides an opportunity for community members to express concerns regarding the review process and encourage a thorough evaluation of the proposed site redesign.
Stay Informed
This page will continue to be updated as additional information becomes available from Alameda County Planning and the applicant.
Please share this page with neighbors who may be affected by the proposed project.
This page is maintained by neighboring community members to compile publicly available information regarding the proposed project. It is intended to help residents stay informed and participate in the planning process. It is not affiliated with Alameda County or the project applicant.
If you live along Seven Hills Road, Watters Drive, or operate a neighboring business and would like to share information regarding traffic, pedestrian activity, or site operations, we’d appreciate hearing from you. Community observations help us better understand how the shared area functions today.
Contact us: SevenHillsDayCareProject@gmail.com