REPORT TO THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
SUBJECT
Title
Proposed Project:
SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT to allow replacement of an existing eight-foot tall chain-link with barbed wire perimeter fence with a new 13-foot tall chain-link with barbed wire fence and installation of a new eight-foot tall parking lot fencing and gates on 1111 Lockheed Martin parcel and installation of a new 13-foot tall chain-link with barbed wire fencing along the rear property line for the site at 1235 N. Mathilda Avenue.
Location: 1111 Lockheed Martin Way (110-44-007, 110-01-046) and 1235 N. Mathilda Avenue (110-02-015)
File #: PLNG-2023-0680
Zoning: MP-AC and MP-R (110-44-007), MP-E2 (110-01-046) and MP-1 (110-02-015)
Applicant / Owner: Gordon Prill, Inc. (applicant) / Lockheed Missiles and Space Company (owner)
Environmental Review: Class 1 Categorical Exemption relieves this project from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) provisions.
Project Planner: Cindy Hom, 408-730-7411, chom@sunnyvale.ca.gov
Report
BACKGROUND
Lockheed Martin Space Corporation is a facility that is comprised of approximately 25 buildings on a 360-acre campus and is with the Moffett Park Specific Plan area. The Lockheed Martin campus has existed since 1957 and produces commercial and defense-related products. Due to National Defense requirements, the campus has always had a secured perimeter around the campus consisting of chain link fencing with a section of barbed wire on top.
Lockheed Martin shares part of its security perimeter with the adjacent Navy-owned Naval Industrial Reserve Ordnance Plant (NIROP) property at 1235 N. Mathilda Avenue. The Navy vacated the property with the intent to sell the property. As such, Lockheed Martin must upgrade the fencing that was previously considered inside the campus to their current standards.
Sunnyvale Municipal Code (SMC) Section 19.48.025 requires a Special Development Permit to allow front yard fences to exceed 6 feet in height and rear yard fences to exceed 8 feet in height. The SMC defines a front yard fence to include any fence located between the face of the building and the street.
Description of Proposed Project
The applicant is requesting a Special Development Permit to allow the removal and replacement of an existing eight-tall chain-link with barbed wire fence with a 13-foot tall chain-link with barbed wire fence and gates to match the fencing along the south campus perimeter fencing along 5th Avenue. The project also includes removing existing fencing, gates, and concrete masonry walls adjacent to Lockheed Martin Buildings 159 and Building 71, located on the west side of Lockheed Martin Way.
The proposed fencing runs north along 1st Avenue, east along 2nd Avenue and C Street, south along both sides of Lockheed Martin Way, and terminates at a visitor badging station. The proposed fence also extends east along E Street and terminates at 5th Avenue. The applicant is also proposing to enclose a portion of the parking lot near the corner of 1st and 2nd Avenue with an eight-foot tall parking lot fencing with gates.
See Attachment 1 for a map of the vicinity and mailing area for notices and Attachment 4 for the Site and Architectural Plans.
Previous Actions on the Site
In 1994, a Site Master Use Permit was approved for the Lockheed Martin campus which allows multiple buildings and described circulation, land use, security, and landscape elements. The Site Master Use Permit expired in 2010. Over recent years, portions of the campus have been sold and redeveloped into several other corporate campuses for Yahoo, Juniper, and Amazon Labs. Subsequent minor use permits and staff-level permits have been approved for minor site modifications and wireless telecommunication facilities.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
A Categorical Exemption Class 1 (minor alteration of existing structures, facilities, mechanical equipment or topographical features that involve negligible or no expansion of existing or former use) relieves this project from CEQA provisions.
DISCUSSION
Fence Design
The proposed new fencing will not be visually different from existing conditions. Although the proposed fence is taller, it will utilize the same chain link with barbed wire material as the existing eight-foot tall fence and match the security perimeter fencing that currently exists along 5th Avenue and the south campus.
Furthermore, the segment of fencing that occurs along Lockheed Martin Way will be behind the visitor badging stations and will not be accessible or visible to the public. The fencing along E Street interfaces with the rear of the NIROP site at 1235 N. Mathilda Avenue and Lockheed Buildings 149, 153, and 154. This segment will also be located behind an existing 13-foot tall chain link with barbed wire fence along 5 Avenue.
The fencing has a varied setback along 1st Avenue that ranges from 48 feet to 211 feet, a setback of 9 feet from C Street, a 26 to 46-foot setback along Lockheed Martin Way, and a 10 foot along E Street. There is existing landscaping provided along 1st Avenue and Lockheed Martin Way that helps soften the appearance of the fence. Staff recommends a Condition BP-6, which requires the applicant to provide a landscaping plan to infill any areas that are missing landscaping with shrubs and groundcover that matches the existing planting theme.
The project was reviewed for consistency with the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company Design Guidelines. Policies B6, and E1 provide chain-linked fence material is allowed for security purposes. Whenever chain-linked or cyclone fences are used, landscaping shall be provided to screen the fence. As conditioned, the proposed fencing will not result in a substantial visual impact.
NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACTS/COMPATIBILITY:
The proposed fence provides a secured perimeter that is required for the Lockheed Martin facility and does not result in a significant visual impact. Staff finds that the proposed fence location, height, and design meet the policies and guidelines discussed above. The proposed fence has a varied setback and landscaped buffer along 1st Avenue and will not create a walled-off appearance along the existing streetscape. The other segments will be internal to the Lockheed Martin campus or between buildings that don’t have a publicly accessible street frontage.
Staff is supportive of the Special Development Permit because Lockheed Martin is a special and unique use that requires robust security. The proposed project will not be a substantial visual change to existing conditions because the chain link with barb wire fencing is already existing. Portions of the chain-link fencing will be internal to the Lockheed Martin Campus and will not be located along a publicly accessible street frontage.
PUBLIC CONTACT
31 notices were sent to surrounding property owners and residents adjacent to the subject site in addition to standard noticing practices, including advertisement in the Sunnyvale Sun Newspaper and on-site posting. At the time of writing this report, no letters or calls were received from the public by staff.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve the Special Development Permit with recommended Findings in Attachment 2 and recommended Conditions in Attachment 3.
2. Approve the Special Development Permit with modifications.
3. Deny the Special Development Permit and direct staff with requested changes.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Alternative 1. Approve the Special Development Permit with recommended Findings in Attachment 2 and recommended Conditions in Attachment 3.
Staff
Prepared by: Cindy Hom, Associate Planner
Approved by: Momoko Ishijima, Senior Planner
ATTACHMENTS
1. Vicinity and Noticing Map
2. Recommended Findings
3. Recommended Conditions of Approval
4. Site and Architectural Plans
5. Special Development Permit Justification Form