REPORT TO THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
SUBJECT
Title
Proposed Project:
USE PERMIT: for the installation of two 15-foot tall wireless telecommunication facilities for Verizon Wireless on the top floor of the parking structure at the Sunnyvale Caltrain Station.
Location: 295 West Evelyn Avenue (APN: 209-06-082)
File #: PLNG-2025-0437
Zoning: DSP-21 (Downtown Specific Plan Area, Block 21)
Applicant / Owner: Centerline Communications (applicant) / City of Sunnyvale (owner)
Environmental Review: Class 1 Categorical Exemption relieves this project from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) provisions.
Project Planner: Momo Ishijima, 408-730-7532, mishijima@sunnyvale.ca.gov
Report
BACKGROUND
Description of Proposed Project
The proposed project is to allow installation of a new wireless telecommunications facility with two 15-foot tall telecommunication poles on the top floor of the City-owned parking structure at the Sunnyvale Caltrain Station. The project also includes the installation of associated telecommunications equipment, equipment screening structures, and conduits for power and cables on the ground floor and up to the fourth floor of the parking structure. Sunnyvale Municipal Code (SMC) Section 19.54.080 requires a Minor Use Permit, with approval by the Zoning Administrator, for the installation of telecommunications equipment which extend up to 15 feet above the structure ridgeline in the Downtown Specific Plan zoning district.
See Attachment 1 for a map of the vicinity and mailing area for notices.
Previous Actions on the Site
Murphy Station was established as a flag stop of the Central Railroad in 1864 and has continued to function to present day as one of the two Sunnyvale Caltrain stations. The Downtown Specific Plan was adopted by City Council in 1994, with significant updates in 2003 and 2020. The City-owned four-story parking structure was constructed in 2004. There are currently no wireless telecommunication facilities on the parking structure.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
A Categorical Exemption Class 1, Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) (d) (l) relieves this project from CEQA provisions. The project is exempt from further environmental review because the project entails minor building modifications to an existing parking structure with the installation of two 15-foot telecommunications poles on the top floor, and associated equipment on the ground floor.
DISCUSSION
Site Layout and Design
The project is located on the City-owned four-story parking structure between the railroad and West Evelyn Avenue at the Sunnyvale Caltrain Station and Transit Center. The project includes the installation of a new wireless telecommunication facility at this location. Two 15-foot wireless telecommunications poles will be located on the top floor (fourth floor) of the parking structure as depicted in the project plans (See Attachment 4 - Site and Architectural Plans). The two poles are considered slimline poles, with a diameter of approximately 15 inches each, without equipment. The two poles will be located between two existing 20-foot light poles, 21 feet apart and mounted on top of a concrete column that are 3 feet 8 to 9 inches in height. Each floor of the parking structure slopes up to provide parking spaces on each level. The wireless telecommunications poles will be located on the top and terminus slope of the parking structure. The top of the lower pole will reach 60 feet and the top of the lower pole will reach 59 feet in height from the ground floor. Both slimline poles are lower than the existing light pole which is at 65 feet 5 inches in height.
Each pole will have three antennas mounted at the top, one on each array (AIR 6419 and AIR 3283). The height of the AIR 6419 antenna is approximately 33 inches and the AIR 3283 is approximately 48 inches. The diameter of the antenna array mounted on the pole will be four to five feet. These antennas may be replaced in the future with modifications and advancement in technology and will be reviewed by staff under a separate application. The poles will be painted to match the existing light poles. (See Attachment 6 - Photosimulations).
The equipment cabinets and screening structures will require approximately 208 square feet of space and will be located on the ground floor of the parking structure at the northwest corner. There will be three cabinets for power, battery, and miscellaneous use and electrical panels and other equipment on the wall. The area will be secured with a 9-foot tall metal railing fence with a security mesh installed behind the fence. The fencing will extend above the equipment structure to prevent access into the equipment area. The fence will allow transparency and air flow while the mesh will protect the equipment from access by unauthorized persons. The fence design is similar to the safety railings existing on the parking structure.
There will be conduits routed along the structural columns to connect power and cables to the roof top wireless telecommunications poles with the equipment cabinets on the ground floor, and also routed to the electrical transformers located on the ground floor at the southeast corner.
Radio Frequency (RF) Emissions
Federal law preserves the City’s authority to regulate the placement, construction and modification of personal wireless service facilities, so long as such regulations do not impose a blanket prohibition on the construction of such facilities or intrude into the regulation of radio frequency emissions, which are the sole province of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and certain state regulations. Thus, the City has the power to conduct a limited review of wireless communication facilities for compliance with zoning and land use requirements.
The FCC has established guidelines that place limits on human exposure to radio frequency fields generated by personal wireless service facilities. These guidelines have been endorsed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration. The FCC requires all personal wireless facilities to comply with these guidelines. A Radio Frequency Site Compliance Report, prepared by Centerline, dated July 7, 2025, was submitted with this application. This report addresses exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields in accordance with FCC Rules and Regulations for all individuals, classified in two groups: “Occupation or Controlled” and “General
Public and Uncontrolled.” The report concludes that the project will be compliant. Staff recommends as a condition of approval that all required RF alert signage at the site access location be installed prior to building permit finalizing (See Attachment 3, Condition PF-2).
Parking
The proposed project does not require parking and will not result in a loss of any parking spaces. Technicians and contractors will utilize available parking spaces in the parking structure (See Attachment 3, Condition AT-2).
FISCAL IMPACT
The City will receive monthly rents from the wireless telecommunications carrier.
NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACTS/COMPATIBILITY:
The surrounding area consists of the downtown core south of West Evelyn Avenue with a mix of commercial, restaurants, entertainment, and multi-story, mixed residential and commercial/office buildings. North of the railroad, east and west of the Downtown Specific Plan area are residential neighborhoods consisting of single-family, duplex, and multi-family residences. There are no structures immediately to the west of the project site (Sunnyvale Caltrain Station) and adjacent to the east is the three-story, Murphy Square building with a restaurant and offices. The proposed monopole facility will not significantly detract from the visual context of the area, in that the slimline poles are designed to look like the existing light poles on the top floor of the parking structure, both in height and color. The proposed design stands approximately five feet lower than the existing tallest light pole. Given that the location is adjacent to the railroad on the top of a parking structure, staff anticipates minimal impacts in terms of neighborhood compatibility.
PUBLIC CONTACT
4,131 notices were sent to surrounding property owners and residents adjacent to the subject site. Staff has received one comment from a neighbor on the item who expressed support of the project (see Attachment 8.) In addition, the notice of the Public Hearing was published in the Sun newspaper.
Public contact was made by posting the meeting agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board at City Hall. In addition, the agenda and this report are available at the City Hall 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.
CONCLUSION
Staff is able to make the findings required for the Use Permit, and the project is in conformance with the goals and policies of the General Plan, Downtown Specific Plan and Council Policy on Telecommunications. There are no exterior modifications associated with the project other than the two slimline poles installed on the top floor of the existing parking structure which will be lower than the existing tallest light pole and the design integrates well with these light poles.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve the Use Permit with recommended Findings in Attachment 2 and Recommended Conditions in Attachment 3.
2. Approve the Use Permit with modifications.
3. Deny the Use Permit.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Alternative 1. Approve the Use Permit with recommended Findings in Attachment 2 and Recommended Conditions in Attachment 3.
Staff
Prepared by: Momo Ishijima, Senior Planner
Approved by: Noren Caliva-Lepe, Principal Planner
ATTACHMENTS
1. Vicinity and Noticing Maps
2. Recommended Findings
3. Recommended Conditions of Approval
4. Site and Architectural Plans
5. Project Description Letter
6. Photosimulations
7. RF Compliance Report
8. Neighbor Comment