REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Proposed Project: General Plan Amendment Initiation to consider amending the General Plan designation from Commercial to Medium Density Residential on a one-acre site.
Location: 665 South Knickerbocker Drive (APN: 198-08-036)
File: 2022-7477
Zoning: C-1/PD (Neighborhood Business with a Planned Development Combining District)
General Plan: Commercial
Applicant / Owner: Mandevilla LLC
Environmental Review: The project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(a)
Project Planner: Shila Bagley, (408) 730-7418, sbagley@sunnyvale.ca.gov
Report
SUMMARY OF COMMISSION ACTION
The Planning Commission considered this item on October 10, 2022. The Planning Commission was supportive of the proposed General Plan Amendment initiation to consider a land use designation change from commercial to residential. A commissioner proposed a motion to study both medium and high-density residential designations for the subject property at 665 South Knickerbocker Drive, with an invitation to property owners at 695 South Knickerbocker Drive and 745 South Bernardo Avenue (staff's recommended expanded study area properties) to join the study and fund their share of the costs. However, the motion failed due to a lack of majority support. No members of the public spoke on the item, except for the property owner and their architect. Prior to the hearing, the applicant sent an e-mail to the Planning Commission outlining their comments on staff's recommendation, which is in Attachment 7. An excerpt of the final meeting minutes is in Attachment 8.
The Planning Commission voted 5-2 (Howe and Weiss dissenting) to forward the following recommendation to City Council:
* Initiate a General Plan Amendment study to analyze amending the General Plan designation from commercial to high density residential on 665 South Knickerbocker Drive and find that the action is exempt from CEQA Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Se...
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