POLICY STUDY ISSUES
Ongoing Study Issues:
New Study Issues for 2001:
For the City Council meeting schedule, please refer to 2001 Study Issues Calendar.
Annexation Process for County Pockets
There are three areas within the City's urban service area which have not been annexed to the City. The study will determine the costs and benefits of annexation of these areas and whether the City should pursue an annexation process. The study will include a cost/benefit analysis of annexation and determine the best method for transferring the areas to City systems.
Rezoning Studies for R-4 Zoned Properties
The item is a continuation of the study of the appropriate zoning for properties currently zoned R-4 and R-5. All of the R-5 zoned properties have been examined. Over half of the R-4 neighborhoods have been reviewed resulting in the rezoning of several properties. Staff will continue to study the remaining areas, using the criteria adopted by the City Council in 1999.
Housing and Community Revitalization Sub-Element
The Housing and Community Revitalization Sub-Element was last updated in 1991. It was assumed to be a 5 year document. This sub-element is the only sub-element required to be certified by the state. For the last 10 years the state has been discussing a revised format and content for the sub-element. As a result the renewal for the sub-element has been delayed and certification has been extended. The state has now required a new Housing Element to be certified by June 2001. To view the Draft Housing and Community Revitalization Sub-element for January 1999-June 2006, please click on the following links:
- Cover (.pdf format)
- Housing and Community
Revitalization Sub-element (.pdf format)
In-Lieu Fee For the Undergrounding of Utilities
The study will evaluate the effectiveness of establishing in-lieu fees for undergrounding projects as well as delineating districts where the fee would be used. This issue will also include consideration of the elimination of conduit installation as an alternative to undergrounding.
In 1997, five individual study issues were combined to create a program of heritage preservation activities for two years. As part of that program, staff was directed to select existing Heritage Resources that may be eligible for Local Landmark status and to conduct a program to notify property owners to determine their interest in landmark designation. The Heritage Preservation Commission has selected 12 properties for inclusion in the notification process. Properties that are ultimately qualified and have the owner's agreement will be brought to to the Council for consideration.
The Moffett Park Industrial area has been experiencing tremendous rates of redevelopment, both within the designated 50% FAR area and on 35% FAR sites, and on former Lockheed properties. This growth is creating additional demands on the infrastructure in the Moffett Park area. This issue will evaluate growth trends and patterns and examine environmental impacts and mitigation measures.
Restructure of Title 19 Phase III
Phases I and II of the restructure of Title 19 have been completed. At the public hearing of October 24, 2000 the City Council directed four new items to be considered as Phase III of the restructure of Title 19. Phase III shall include:
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Review of Storage shed and side yard storage regulation in R-0, R-1, R-1.5 and R-1.7 Zoning Districts
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Elimination of the CD (Civic Center) Zone.
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Clarification of the vehicle storage and parking prohibition in commercial zones.
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Modification of non-conforming use limitations for commercial and industrial users to allow limited reconstruction of structures involuntarily destroyed.
Wood burning fireplaces and stoves generate 40% of the the particulate matter in the Bay Area during winter months. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) has requested that all local governments adopt ordinances controlling wood burning appliances in new or remodeled construction.
The BAAQMD provides a model ordinance that only allows wood burning appliances which are : (1) pellet fueled wood burning heaters (2) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified wood heaters, or (3) fireplaces certified by the EPA. This model ordinance would not ban all fireplaces. However, it would effectively put a moratorium on wood burning fireplaces as the EPA currently has no certification program for wood burning fireplaces. As a result, only gas-fired fireplaces or pellet stoves would be allowed in new or remodeled construction.
CEQA Exemption 32 and Minor Permits (In-Fill Projects)
The purpose of this study issue is to analyze the impacts of recent in-fill project Categorical Exemption revision to CEQA (the California Environmental Quality Act), and make recommendations on any necessary changes to the City' development review process.
Parking Lot Landscaping Performance Standards
The purpose of this study issue is to develop parking lot performance standards for private and public development. Currently, the City has several parking lot landscaping standards, however, nothing is included that sets standards for shading and long-term performance. The long-term performance standards would improve the livability of the City of Sunnyvale by reducing summer temperatures using shade trees, which in turn reduces energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, urban ozone levels and ultraviolet radiation exposure.
The issue will study the potential conversion of existing industrially zoned properties to allow residential and retail uses, or the potential rezoning to residential and commercial zones. The study area is bounded by Lawrence Expressway, Route 237 and Bayshore Freeway (101).
The study issue is intended to address current housing shortages by allowing the development of residential units in areas currently zoned for industrial use. The issue could be handled similarly to the Futures Study which rezoned six areas within the City with an Industrial to Residential (ITR) Combining District. The purpose of the ITR was to allow, at the discretion of the property owner, industrial office, commercial and residential uses to existing within the same zoning district and to allow industrial, office or commercial sites identified in the study to convert gradually to residential use. Futures Site 7 is located within the proposed study area. Site 7 comprises 84 acres and was rezoned in 1993 to Industrial Service/Industrial to Residential/Medium Density Residential/Planned Development (M-S/ITR/R-3/PD). Alternatively, the study issue could focus on the rezoning of existing industrial properties to non-industrial uses. Other alternatives may be considered.
The Downtown Specific Plan indicates a number of uses to create a vibrant mixed use environment in the North of Washington district of the downtown. The plan describes the intensity of the various uses and specifies an overall floor area ratio (FAR) of 142%. Redevelopment has started in the North of Washington area of the downtown. With the intensity of development that has been allocated with the Mozart project, interest has been expressed in reviewing the overall intensity of development in the North of Washington area to assure that scale and intensity of use are compatible in this area. The district is close to several transit stops (i.e. Caltrain, VTA Buses, Greyhound) and could potentially support greater intensity of development. The study would examine whether additional residential and/or retail uses are desirable and whether the FAR should be increased.
For more information, please contact the Planning Division at planning@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us or (408) 730-7440.