Sunnyvale

The Planning Commission met in regular session in the Council Chambers, City of Sunnyvale, 456 W. Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA on September 13, 2004 at 8:00p.m. with Chair Moylan presiding.

Members Present: Chair Chris Moylan, Vice Chair Chuck Hungerford; Commissioner Laura Babcock; Commissioner Jim Fussell, Commissioner Larry Klein, Commissioner David Simons and Commissioner Brandon Sulser

Staff Present: Trudi Ryan, Planning Officer; Joan Borger, Senior Assistant City Attorney; Diana O’Dell, Senior Planner; Steve Lynch, Associate Planner; Ryan Kuchenig, Assistant Planner and Alice Gamboa-Navas, Administrative Aide-Recording Secretary

Comm. Klein made a motion to approve the minutes of August 23, 2004. Comm. Simons seconded. Motion carried 6-0 with Comm. Fussell abstaining.

1. 2004-0579 – Cingular Wireless [Applicant] Santa Clara Unified School District [Owner]: Application for a Use Permit on a 10-acre site to allow a new telecommunications antenna to be located inside a flag pole at the corner of Ponderosa and Iris Avenue at the Ponderosa Elementary School. The property is located at 804 Ponderosa in a P-F (Public Facility) Zoning District. (APN: 213-27-001) (Negative Declaration) DO (Applicant requests continuance to 10/11/04)

ACTION: Vice Chair Hungerford made a motion on Item #2004-0579 to continue to 10/11/04. Comm. Fussell seconded. Motion carried 7- 0.

2. 2004-0590 - Alaris Group [Applicant] St. Thomas Parish [Owner]: Application for a Use Permit on a 2.2-acre site to allow a new 50-foot tall monopole to be located at the rear of the parking lot. The property is located at 231 Sunset Avenue in a P-F (Public Facility) Zoning District. (APN: 165-10-035) (Negative Declaration) DO

Comm. Simons made a motion on Item #2004-0590 to adopt the Negative Declaration and approve the Use Permit and deny the Variance with modifications – 1) that the 100 foot rear yard setback must be met and to place the 50-foot monopole where appropriate; 2) that the applicant work with staff for appropriate tree design, 3) that Condition of Approval #8 be modified to include that good repair of the branching of the monopole shall be maintained, and 4) that the placement of the monopole is contingent upon the church meeting the required parking requirement. Comm. Babcock seconded. Motion carried unanimously 7-0.

APPEAL OPTIONS: Item is appealable to the City Council no later than 09/28/04.

3. 2004-0602 Brad Clausen [Applicant] Santa Clara Auto Clinic [Owner]: Application for related proposals on a 21,636 square-foot site located at 1044 West El Camino Real in a C-2 (Highway Business) Zoning District. (APN: 198-26-007) (Negative Declaration) (Also to City Council on 09/28/04) SL

Comm. Babcock made a motion on Item #2004-0602 to adopt the Negative Declaration and recommend approval of the Special Development Permit with modifications: 1) to eliminate Condition of Approval #5; 2) to keep Condition of Approval #8 as written; 3) to add a Condition of Approval that a minimum of two parking spaces be re-striped as motorcycle parking spaces for a total of four motorcycle parking spaces; 4) to reword Condition of Approval #7 to reflect “shall remain unlocked but normally closed.” Comm. Klein seconded. Motion carried unanimously 7-0.

APPEAL OPTIONS: Not appealable, item to be considered by City Council on 09/28/04.

4. 2004-0453 – Rodolfo and Elvira Cardona [Appellants]: Appeal of a decision by the Director of Community Development approving a Miscellaneous Plan Permit to allow a three-foot high fence in the required reducible front yard. The property is located at 816 Tamarack Lane in an R-0 (Low Density Residential) Zoning District. (APN: 213-30-030) RK

ACTION: Vice Chair Hungerford made a motion on Item #2004-0453 to deny the appeal and uphold the decision of Director of Community Development approving a Miscellaneous Plan Permit to allow a three-foot high fence in the required reducible front yard with modification to replace the chain link to an alternative material. Comm. Fussell seconded. Motion carried unanimously 7-0.

5. 2004-0469 – City of Sunnyvale: Study Issue To Revive Auto Dealer Decorative Banner Program: This study will examine whether to adopt a pilot program or codify provisions to allow decorative banners for auto dealers at certain locations along El Camino Real. RK (Also to City Council on 09/28/04)

ACTION: Comm. Babcock made a motion on Item #2004-0469 to recommend to City Council to adopt the Auto Dealer Decorative Banner Program as a permanent program and to delete the word “and require” in the last sentence of the first paragraph of the proposed Ordinance. Comm. Fussell seconded. Motion carried 6-1 with Chair Moylan dissenting.

APPEAL OPTIONS: Not appealable, item to be considered by City Council on 09/28/04.

On behalf of the Planning Commission, Comm. Simons presented a sympathy card to Comm. Fussell on the passing of his stepmother.

Comm. Babcock asked to staff to check on a property located at Sweetbay Avenue where the front yard fence was denied two and half years ago. She noted that the front yard needs cleanup as it was left at mid construction. Ms. Ryan will forward the request to Neighborhood Preservation for follow-up.

Comm. Babcock further asked staff about the letter received by the Planning Commission located at Cordilleras Avenue and what guidelines to give the citizen to address the concerns. Ms. Ryan responded that there were several concerns expressed in the letter and the biggest concern is the size of the home relative to the size of the homes in the immediate neighborhood. She added that staff applies the Single Family Design Guidelines and it is very difficult when there is a dramatic change in a neighborhood where the homes are small with large lots. She noted that during building permit issuance and during construction staff reviews the plans to ensure that the construction meets the approved plans.

Ms. Ryan reminded the Planning Commission of the Special Planning Commission meeting scheduled on Monday, 9/20 at 8:00PM with no Study Session but only Public Hearing and also the regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, 9/27. She thanked the Commission for their patience should they received an incomplete packet on Thursday noting that the remainder will be delivered on Friday.

She notified the Commissioners who are liaisons to four boards & commissions that contact names will be provided. She noted that there is a Special Heritage Preservation Commission meeting on Wednesday, 9/15, the Arts Commission scheduled for the week was moved to 9/29 and the Housing and Human Services Commission and Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee are on schedule.

Chair Moylan asked whether each of the liaisons received the contact names. Ms. Ryan responded that the staff support contact information has been provided to the liaisons and that Planning Commission information was given to the staff liaison.

Ms. Ryan reported that on August 24, the City Council considered an appeal on the Stratford School. She reported that the City Council upheld the decision of the Planning Commission with modifications and directed staff to assign staff to assure on-site parking and to monitor the drop-off activities of children.