REPORT TO THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Title
SUBJECT
Consideration to Initiate the Heritage Resource Nomination Process for Several Redwood Trees at Sunnyvale Civic Center
Report
BACKGROUND
On June 7, 2017, during the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) public comment hearing item, a representative of the Sunnyvale Urban Forest Advocates (SUFA) requested the HPC to consider the nomination of 15 to 17 redwood trees at the civic center to the Heritage Resource Inventory (Attachment 2). The Commission voted 5-0 (two absent) to agendize the item at their next public hearing in accordance with Sunnyvale Municipal Code (SMC) Chapter 19.96.
The subject trees are located within a walkway and open space area at Sunnyvale Civic Center, between the Sunnyvale City Council Chambers and City Hall Annex buildings (Attachment 3). The trees are visible from West Olive Avenue and All America Way. The trees generally appear to be in good condition.
The City is currently preparing a master plan for modernization of the Civic Center campus, which is comprised of approximately 26 acres, including public streets. Preservation of trees is one of the key issues called out in the Vision Statement for the plan. An inventory of all the trees at the Civic Center has already been completed as part of the project. The City is currently developing master plan alternatives and will conduct extensive community outreach before the master plan is considered for adoption. Once the City Council selects the preferred scenario, a Program Environmental Report will be prepared and circulated for public review and comment. It will include an evaluation of existing trees and potential heritage resources throughout the campus. Staff anticipates final adoption of the master plan and environmental analysis to occur in September 2018.
CRITERIA FOR NOMINATION
The criteria for designation of heritage resources is described in detail in SMC 19.96.050 (Attachment 1). Currently, there are 19 trees on the Heritage Resources Inventory. Reasons for the designation include association with significant events or persons (Criterion b), or that the tree is one of the few remaining examples in the city (Criterion j). In December 2017, the City Council added four oak trees located at 871 E. Fremont Avenue (Butcher’s Corner property) because the trees constitute a view or vista representing an established or familiar visual feature (Criterion f). SUFA’s presentation regarding the Civic Center trees advocates for designation based on Criterion f.
PROCESS FOR NOMINATION
The typical process for nomination is initiated by a member of the public. An application, fees, and supporting documents are submitted. Supporting documents for a similar application would include an arborist report and cultural study, evaluating the potential resource against the criteria for designation as a heritage resource. Heritage Preservation Commission would conduct a public hearing and make a recommendation to the City Council. The City Council would then conduct a subsequent public hearing, where the decision would be considered final.
In this case, the process is different because the City is the property owner and applicant. Once initiated and commencement of the study, the process could take approximately six months. Heritage Preservation and City Council public hearings could occur in January or February 2018. Staff would conduct the research and prepare supporting documents, including the following:
• City Arborist cursory evaluation of the trees,
• Research history of the trees, including reviewing aerial photos and visiting the Sunnyvale Historical Society and Library,
• Evaluate information available against the criteria for designation and prepare a staff report.
Limited information may be available for staff to conduct a thorough analysis. If insufficient information is available, staff would request a budget allocation from the City Council. The process to request a budget allocation and to obtain necessary studies would likely add an additional three months to the study, extending the public hearings to as late as April or May 2018. The following additional studies may be required:
• Arborist report prepared by a certified arborist,
• Cultural study prepared by a historian.
The benefit of initiating the study is that the findings may help to inform the Civic Center project. However, the schedule for the Civic Center Master Plan is to develop alternative site plans for public input in fall of 2017. Limited staff resources and the amount of time it will take to complete the study makes it difficult to complete the nomination process in time to inform the site planning process for the Civic Center project. If the Heritage Preservation Commission decides to not initiate the study, preservation of the trees will continue to be analyzed through the Civic Center project.
Environmental Determination: This action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per 15061(b)(3), as it has no potential environmental impacts. If the trees are designated as a Heritage Resource, future actions may be subject to CEQA review.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Initiate the heritage resource nomination process for several redwood trees at Sunnyvale Civic Center.
2. Do not initiate the heritage resource nomination process for several redwood trees at Sunnyvale Civic Center.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Alternative 2: Do not initiate the heritage resource nomination process for several redwood trees at Sunnyvale Civic Center. The Civic Center Master Plan process already has a mechanism in place to evaluate all protected trees at the Civic Center and to evaluate potential historic resources. Any protected trees that are potentially impacted by future buildings or site features would be evaluated further with a Program Environmental Impact Report, which requires City Council approval. The Vision Statement adopted by City Council for the Civic Center already includes the preservation of trees.
Staff
Prepared by: Noren Caliva-Lepe, Senior Planner
Approved by: Andrew Miner, Planning Officer
ATTACHMENTS
1. Sunnyvale Municipal Code Chapter 19.96 (Heritage Preservation)
2. Sunnyvale Urban Forest Advocates June 7, 2017 Presentation
3. Tree Map