Attached is the Downtown Urban Design Plan recommended by the Stakeholders Committee. The Committee’s specific recommendations for implementation are included in the letter of transmittal which is bound into the document. Staff recommends that the Plan be approved in concept and that staff be directed to work with the Planning Commission and the Redevelopment Agency to prepare appropriate amendments to the Downtown Specific Plan, the Zoning Code and Map, and the Redevelopment Area Plan, and to undertake the necessary environmental review.

The City Council established as a priority study issue for 2001 the evaluation of permitted residential densities for the area north of Washington Avenue in the 1993 Downtown Specific Plan, with the intent that higher densities be considered. On June 19, 2001, the City Council concurred with a staff recommendation to expand the North of Washington Study to include reevaluation of the entire 1993 Downtown Specific Plan, and authorized award of contracts to ELS of Berkeley and Keyser Marston of San Francisco to provide consultant support in urban design and land economics, respectively. On July 10, 2001, the City Council approved appointment of a Stakeholders Advisory Committee to work with the consultants and the staff in the preparation of the Downtown Urban Design Plan (Attachment A lists the members of the Committee).

The Stakeholders Advisory Committee immediately held an organizational meeting, followed by six workshops on a monthly basis. By September 2001, the group had agreed on a long-range vision for Downtown Sunnyvale. By November, they had reviewed a draft plan prepared by the consultants. Although ten minutes was reserved for public input at each workshop, the Committee felt the need for more extensive public participation, and therefore held a Public Forum on December 6, 2001, devoted entirely to public testimony on the draft plan. On February 12, 2002, the Committee voted unanimously to approve the Downtown Urban Design Plan and forward it to the City Council with specific recommendations for implementation.

Policy C1.2 Encourage nodes of interest and activity, such as parks, public open spaces, well planned development, mixed use projects, and other desirable uses, locations and physical attractions.

Action Statement C1.2.1 Promote downtown as a unique place that is interesting and accessible to the whole City and the region.

Action Statement 2.5A.2d. Continue to identify and adopt methods of preserving historic resources and special districts.

Action Statement 2.5A.3f. Strengthen the downtown as the visual as well as functional focus of Sunnyvale.

Action Statement 2.5A.3g. Consider design features that help locate the downtown district and emphasize the roadways and intersections leading downtown.

Action Statement 2.5D.2b. Continue to provide courtyards and public plazas around City buildings and encourage at least one large plaza downtown.

Attached is the copy of the Downtown Urban Design Plan which was adopted by the Stakeholders Advisory Committee. Included in the front of the document is a Letter of Transmittal presenting the Committee’s specific recommendations for implementation, which are responsive to the public testimony they received. A full presentation of the Plan and the Letter of Transmittal will be made at the public hearing.

There is no direct fiscal impact of the adoption of the Downtown Urban Design Plan in concept.

Attachment B sets forth the extensive citizen participation and notification process during the preparation of the Plan. Notice of the Planning Commission and City Council public hearings has been published as follows:

1. Approve in concept the Downtown Urban Design Plan recommended by the Downtown Stakeholders Advisory Committee, and direct staff to work with the Planning Commission and the Redevelopment Agency to prepare appropriate amendments to the Downtown Specific Plan, the Zoning Code and Map, and the Redevelopment Area Plan, and to undertake the necessary environmental review. Staff is specifically directed to work with the Planning Commission to evaluate the proposed reductions in permitted density and height for residential development in the 100 block of Charles Street, 400 and 500 block of Washington Ave., and the 400 block of McKinley, and the proposed increases in permitted height of buildings fronting on Mathilda Avenue.
2. Approve in concept the Downtown Urban Design Plan recommended by the Downtown Stakeholders Advisory Committee, and direct staff to work with the Planning Commission and the Redevelopment Agency to prepare appropriate amendments to the Downtown Specific Plan, the Zoning Code and Map, and the Redevelopment Area Plan, and to undertake the necessary environmental review.
3. Approve in concept the Downtown Urban Design Plan as described in Alternative 2 with additional specific direction to the staff.
4. Do not approve the Downtown Urban Design Plan recommended by the Downtown Stakeholders Advisory Committee.

Staff recommends Alternative 1.

Prepared by:

Robert Paternoster
Director Community Development Department

Approved by:

Robert S. LaSala
City Manager

Attachments

1. Membership of Downtown Stakeholders Advisory Committee
2. Citizen Participation in the Downtown Urban Design Plan
3. Downtown Urban Design Plan (available in .pdf format)