REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Proposed Project: Adopt a Resolution for a:
SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT to modify Block 20 of the Downtown Specific Plan to allow additional residential units and office square footage, and associated modifications to design guidelines and development standards; and
GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT to reflect increases in Projected Build-out in the Land Use and Transportation Element (LUTE).
Location: 510 and 528 S. Mathilda Avenue (APNs:209-29-060 and 061), and 562 and 568 S. Mathilda Avenue (APNs:209-29-057 and 067)
File #: 2018-7585
Zoning: DSP (Block 20)
Applicant / Owner: Shawn Karimi, Karimi Shahriar Trustee, (applicant and owner 510 and 528 S. Mathilda Avenue) and Sam Cloud Barn LLC (Shawn Taheri) (applicant and owner 562 and 568 S. Mathilda Avenue)
Environmental Review: Addendum to the Downtown Specific Plan Amendments Final Environmental Impact Report for the Block 20 Area Project.
Project Planner: Margaret Netto, (408) 730-7628, mnetto@sunnyvale.ca.gov
Report
SUMMARY OF COMMISSION ACTION
The Planning Commission considered this item on February 6, 2023. Several members of the public spoke concerned about height, State housing laws, traffic, sidewalk widths, bicycle lanes, and preservation of trees at the rear property line for privacy screening.
The Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of Alternative 1 to rescind their recommendation from December 12, 2022. The Planning Commission also recommended to the City Council, in accordance with staff’s recommendation, Alternatives 2a, and 2b, which included accepting the Addendum to the previously certified 2020 Downtown Specific Plan (DSP) Environmental Impact Report (EIR) pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15162, and approval of the DSP and General Plan (LUTE) Amendments. The vote was 7-0.
Minutes of the Planning Commission are in Attachment 10.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Public Library, Senior Center, Community Center and in the Department of Public Safety Lobby. The agenda and report are also available at the Sunnyvale Public Library, Office of the City Clerk, and on the City's website. In addition, the following public contact was completed: 3,069 notices sent to property owners and tenants within 2,000 feet of Block 20, 58 email notices were sent to interested parties list, an ad was posted in the Sunnyvale Sun, and on-site notice boards were placed on both project sites.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Accept the Addendum to previously certified 2020 Downtown Specific Plan Environmental Impact Report pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15162 (Attachment 4 to the report); and
2. Adopt a Resolution to amend the General Plan and Downtown Specific Plan (Attachment 5), Approve the Downtown Specific Plan Amendments for Block 20 (Attachment 4, Appendix A), and Adopt a Resolution to amend Figure 3-2 in the Land Use and Transportation Element of the General Plan (Attachment 5 to the report).
3. Alternative 2 with modifications to the allowed residential densities in the proposed Downtown Specific Plan and General Plan Amendments.
4. Deny the Downtown Specific Plan and General Plan Amendments and leave the current Block 20 development capacity, land uses and development standards in place.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Alternatives 1 and 2: 1) Accept the Addendum to previously certified 2020 Downtown Specific Plan Environmental Impact Report pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15162 (Attachment 4 to the report); and, 2) Adopt a Resolution to amend the General Plan and Downtown Specific Plan (Attachment 5), Approve the Downtown Specific Plan Amendments for Block 20 (Attachment 4, Appendix A), and Adopt a Resolution to amend Figure 3-2 in the Land Use and Transportation Element of the General Plan (Attachment 5 to the report).
The proposed Amendments to the DSP are consistent with the General Plan and DSP policies by providing additional housing opportunities and office/commercial space along the Mathilda Avenue corridor. The applicability of the City’s Affordable Housing requirements and the potential use of Green Building Incentive and State Density Bonuses would provide the City with additional affordable units. All future development would be evaluated against the existing or amended DSP through separate Planning Applications and public outreach process.
Staff
Prepared by: Margaret Netto, Senior Planner
Reviewed by: Noren Caliva-Lepe, Principal Planner
Reviewed by: Shaunn Mendrin, Planning Officer
Reviewed by Trudi Ryan, Director of Community Development
Reviewed by: Teri Silva, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Kent Steffens, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Report to Planning Commission [22-0912, December 12, 2022] (without attachments)
2. Vicinity Map and Noticing
3. Relevant General Plan and DSP Policies
4. Link to Addendum to the Downtown Specific Plan Amendments Final Environmental Impact Report for the Block 20 Area Project with Appendices
Appendix A: Downtown Specific Plan Amendments for Block 20
Appendix B: Project Details for 510-528 South Mathilda Avenue
Appendix C: Project Details for 562-568 South Mathilda Avenue
Appendix D: Air Quality, Energy, and Greenhouse Gas Modeling Data
5. Resolution to Amend the DSP and the General Plan Land Use and Transportation Chapter
6. Map of Block 20 within the DSP
7. Report to City Council [23-0233, January 24, 2023] (without attachments)
8. Draft Excerpt Minutes of the City Council Meeting of January 24, 2023
Additional Attachments for Report to Council
9. Report to Planning Commission [23-0253, February 6, 2023] (without attachments)
10. Draft Excerpt Minutes of the Planning Commission Meeting of February 6, 2023