PLANNING COMMISSION STUDY SESSION
SUBJECT
Title
Proposed Project: Public Comments on the Notice of Preparation (NOP) of a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed Central Arques Specific Plan.
Location: The plan area includes 17 existing parcels totaling approximately 80 acres and is generally bounded by East Arques Avenue to the north, Central Expressway to the south, Commercial Street/DeGuigne Drive to the west, and Santa Trinita Avenue to the east.
File #: PLNG-2024-0493
Zoning: M-S (Industrial and Service)
Applicant: City of Sunnyvale
Environmental Review: Environmental Impact Report
Project Planner: Cindy Hom, (408) 730-7411, chom@sunnyvale.ca.gov
Report
REPORT IN BRIEF
The City released a Notice of Preparation (NOP) of a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed Central Arques Specific Plan on July 29, 2024 for a 30-day public comment period as specified in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This is the first step in the EIR process. The purpose of the NOP is to solicit guidance from the public and public agencies as to the scope and content of the environmental information to be included in the EIR. The City and its consultant, Ascent Environmental, will hold an online community outreach and environmental scoping meeting during the public comment period on August 14, 2024. The public comment period ends at 5:00 pm PT on August 29, 2024. The City is also sending consultation request letters to local Native American tribes under the state law provisions of AB 52/SB 18.
The proposed Central Arques Specific Plan consists of 17 existing parcels totaling 80 acres near Commercial Street and East Arques Avenue. Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) owns most of the properties in the plan area. The plan would study allowing up to 100% floor area ratio (FAR) and building heights up to 100 feet on all parcels within the plan area. Allowable uses would remain those allowed in the M-S zoning district, such as office, industrial, and research and development (R&D). Residential uses would continue to be prohibited. The proposed buildout of nonresidential gross floor area under 100% FAR would be 3,491,700 square feet, a net increase of 1,844,346 square feet above existing development. The NOP in Attachment 1 includes the full list of parcels as well as other high-level information about the proposed plan.
The purpose of the Planning Commission study session is to provide an overview of the proposed specific plan and record any questions and comments from the public and planning commissioners. Comments received during the NOP review period will be addressed in the draft EIR.
Public Contact
Public contact was made by posting the Planning Commission meeting agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board at City Hall. In addition, the agenda and this report are available at the NOVA Workforce Services reception desk located on the first floor of City Hall at 456 W. Olive Avenue (during normal business hours), and on the City's website.
The City sent 2,870 notices to surrounding property owners and residents within 2,000 feet to the subject site announcing the community outreach and environmental scoping meeting on August 14, 2024. The NOP was also posted on the City’s CEQA notices webpage and state CEQA clearinghouse webpage. Staff has not received any letters, emails, or calls from the public at the time of staff report production.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Provide comments on the Notice of Preparation.
Levine Act
LEVINE ACT
The Levine Act (Gov. Code Section 84308) prohibits city officials from participating in certain decisions regarding licenses, permits, and other entitlements for use if the official has received a campaign contribution of more than $250 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant in the previous 12 months. The Levine Act is intended to prevent financial influence on decisions that affect specific, identifiable persons or participants. For more information see the Fair Political Practices Commission website: www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to-play-limits-and-prohibitions.html
A check or “Y” in the checklist below indicates that the action being considered falls under a Levine Act category or exemption:
SUBJECT TO THE LEVINE ACT
_x_ Land development entitlements
___ Other permit, license, or entitlement for use
___ Contract or franchise
EXEMPT FROM THE LEVINE ACT
___ Competitively bid contract
___ Labor or personal employment contract
_ __ General policy and legislative actions
Staff
Prepared by: Cindy Hom, Associate Planner
Reviewed by: George Schroeder, Principal Planner
Approved by: Shaunn Mendrin, Planning Officer
ATTACHMENTS
1. Notice of Preparation