City of Sunnyvale

Planning Commission

APPROVED
SUMMARY
MINUTES

A regular meeting of the Sunnyvale Planning Commission was held on March 24, 2003, at 8:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 456 West Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale, with Vice Chair Babcock presiding.

Members Present: Vice Chair Babcock, Comms Chu, Moylan, Satterlee and Swegles

Excused Absence: Chair Simons and Comm. Lee

Staff Present: Trudi Ryan Planning Officer; Joan Borger, Senior Assistant City Attorney; Fred Bell, Principal Planner; Kelly Diekmann, Associate Planner; Erin Walters, Associate Planner; Diana O'Dell, Associate Planner and Alice Gamboa, Recording Secretary

Comm. Moylan move to change the order of the agenda moving the public hearing items first. The motion carried 5-0 with Chair Simons and Comm. Lee absent.

PUBLIC HEARING:

Approval of Minutes

Comm. Satterlee made a motion to approve the minutes of March 10, 2003 with modifications. Comm. Swegles seconded.

Motion carried 5-0 with Chair Simons and Comm. Lee absent.

Report on Council Meeting

Trudi Ryan, Planning Officer, reported that on March 18, 2003, City Council considered the appeal of the decision of the Planning Commission denying the Variances on a property located at 115 N. Murphy Avenue. The City Council denied the appeal and upheld the decision of the Commission and directed the applicant to abide with the previously approved plans. The City Council also directed staff to address the parking issues expressed by the neighbors.

Ms. Ryan further reported that the Council considered an appeal on the decision of the Commission denying the Variance for lot coverage for the property located at 978 The Dalles Avenue. The Council denied the appeal without prejudice and upheld the decision of the Commission. The City Council directed staff to look at lot coverage and return to Council with information later this year. Ms. Ryan added that this study will be presented to the Planning Commission prior to the City Council.

Further, Ms. Ryan reported that Council also considered the application on Morse and Karlstad Avenues. The Council approved the rezoning to R-4/PD and approved the Special Development Permit in accordance with the Planning Commission action.

Lastly, the Council considered the Downtown Plaza and directed staff to phase the plaza construction to keep down the cost of construction

Planning Officer’s Report

Ms. Ryan reported there is an outreach meeting on the Downtown EIR on Thursday, April 10, 2003 and will be notifying the community about the Draft EIR availability. She noted that the meeting is information only and is not meant for a formal comment of the Draft EIR. The meeting is not currently planned as a Planning Commission forum and that the Commission is invited. The Draft EIR 45-day review will end May 16, 2003.

Ms. Ryan reminded the Commission of a joint study session that was originally scheduled on April 8, but has been changed to April 22 to review the work of "Wayfinding" Signage for the Downtown. A Focus Group was created which includes residents and businesses to discuss ideas and signs for the downtown.

There was discussion as to the role of the Commission on the EIR informational meeting. The Commission expressed its desire to have the meeting as a planning commission forum format for consistency and for adherence to City Council direction on this community outreach effort. Three commissioners preferred to have a Planning Commission forum, one preferred not to and one stated no preference.

Vice Chair Babcock concluded that the PC forum format would demonstrate that the Commission is paying attention to public comments and suggestions.

Ms. Ryan informed the public that the Information Meeting on the Downtown Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and discussion of the Downtown Planning Efforts will be on Thursday, April 10, 2003 at the Community Center, Community Room from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.

Senior Assistant City Attorney Borger emphasized that the meeting is an informational meeting and not a forum to gather formal comments on the EIR. The meeting is a presentation.

Comm. Chu asked if the meeting would be recorded for later viewing. Ms. Ryan responded that the video quality is not great and due to budget issues it may not be recorded.

Comm. Swegles asked if the EIR would be available prior to April 10. Ms. Ryan stated that the Draft EIR would be available later in the week.

Citizens To Be Heard

None

Public Hearing
  1. 2003-0102 - Pacific Peninsula Group [Applicant] Sun Pacific, LLC [Owner]: Application for related proposals on a 38,303 square foot site located at 759 & 775 Carmel Avenue in an R-3 (Medium-Density Residential) Zoning District. (APN: 205-15-035 and 205-15-036) (Negative Declaration) RK (Staff and Applicant request continuance to 04/14/03) RK

Comm. Satterlee made a motion on Item #2003-0102 to continue the item to April 14, 2003. Comm. Chu seconded. Motion carried 5-0 with Chair Simons and Comm. Lee absent.
  1. 2003-0103 - Application for a Special Development Permit on a 4,283 square foot site to allow a second-story addition to an existing two-story home for a total of 2,193 square feet resulting in a 61% FAR (Floor Area Ratio) where 45% FAR is allowed without Planning Commission Review. The property is located at 536 Cashmere Court in an R-2/PD (Low-Medium Density Residential/Planned Development) Zoning District. (APN: 323-12-015) DO

Comm. Moylan made a motion on Item #2003-0103 to continue the item to April 28. Comm. Swegles seconded. Motion carried 5-0 with Chair Simons and Comm. Lee absent.
 
  1. 2003-0096 - Application for a Design Review on a 6,004 square foot site to allow a second-story addition to a single-family home resulting in a 57% FAR (Floor Area Ratio) where 45% FAR is allowed without Planning Commission Review. The property is located at 803 Haverhill Drive in an R-0 (Low-Density Residential) Zoning District. (APN: 201-09-033) EW

Comm. Swegles made a motion on Item #2003-0096 to approve the Design Review subject to the conditions of approval. Comm. Chu seconded. Motion carried with Chair Simons and Comm. Lee absent.

  1. 2003-0085 - Application for a Design Review on a 6,130 square foot site to allow a second-story addition to a single-family home resulting in a 58% FAR (Floor Area Ratio) where 45% FAR is allowed without Planning Commission Review. The property is located at 874 Spinosa Drive in an R-0 (Low-Density Residential) Zoning District. (APN: 201-33-039) DO

Comm. Moylan made a motion on Item #2003-0085 to approve the Design Review with modifications 1) that the balcony railing design shall match the design of the neighborhood and 2) that the two windows in the eastern elevation shall be reduced in height within the code requirements. Comm. Swegles seconded. Motion carried 5-0 with Chair Simons and Comm. Lee absent.
  1. 2003-0097 - Application for a Design Review on a 6,200 square foot site to allow a second-story addition to an existing single-family home resulting in a 59% FAR (Floor Area Ratio) where 45% FAR is allowed without Planning Commission Review. The property is located at 935 Larkspur Avenue in an R-0 (Low-Density Residential) Zoning District. (APN: 213-22-012) DO

Comm. Chu made a motion on Item #2003-0097 to approve the Design Review with modifications: 1) that the window size and shape shall be balanced meeting the code requirements and 2) that staff shall review the color and materials to ensure blending in with the existing structure. Comm. Moylan seconded. Motion carried 5-0 with Chair Simons and Comm. Lee absent.

  1. 2002-0082 - City of Sunnyvale [Applicant]: Consideration of revisions and updates to the Library Sub-element of the General Plan. This document contains information about community characteristics, description of services, goals and policies for the library over for the next ten years. (Negative Declaration) DO (Also to City Council on 04/08/03) DO

Comm. Swegles made a motion on Item #2002-0082 to recommend adoption of the Negative Declaration and approval of the draft Library Sub-element. Comm. Chu seconded. Motion carried 5-0 with Chair Simons and Comm. Lee absent.
  1. Announcements to City Council - There were no items for announcement.

Oral Communications

Comm. Moylan asked for suggestions on how to share or disseminate the information gathered from the conference. Comm. Swegles suggested sharing them informally.

Comm. Swegles congratulated Chair Simons for receiving the Citizen of the Year Award, a prestigious honor one can have in the City of Sunnyvale. The rest of the Commission extended their congratulations.

Comm. Chu commented that he learned a lot from the sessions he attended and overall it was a useful meeting to assist the Commission in its decision making.

Comm. Chu noted that Comm. Lee has been called for active duty in the United States Navy. He thanked Comm. Lee in serving our country.

Vice Chair Babcock echoed her fellow Commissioners. She suggested exchanging conference information during a study session. She commented that overall, it was an extremely successful conference.

Staff Communications

None

Adjournment

With no further business, the Commission meeting adjourned at 10:40 PM.

Submitted by:

Trudi Ryan
Planning Officer

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