REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the City of Sunnyvale Parking Structure Design Guidelines and Find that the Project is Exempt Under CEQA Pursuant to Guidelines 15060(3) and 15378(b)(5) (Study Issue CDD 15-01)
Report
BACKGROUND
The City has experienced a recent influx of higher density residential and higher intensity office projects. These types of developments typically include underground or structured parking areas. Although the pending Toolkit for Mixed-use Development includes design guidance on parking structures in mixed-use development, there is no adopted design guidance specific to parking structures in the current zoning code or City-wide Design Guidelines. In an effort to better guide the public, developers and decision-makers when considering projects that include structured parking, a study issue was selected for the development of specific design guidelines for parking structures (Attachment 1).
EXISTING POLICY
General Plan:
From Land Use and Transportation (LT):
GOAL LT-2 Attractive Community - Preserve and enhance an attractive community, with a positive image and a sense of place that consists of distinctive neighborhoods, pockets of interest and human-scale development.
Policy LT-2.1 Recognize that the City is composed of residential, industrial and commercial neighborhoods, each with its own individual character; and allow change consistent with reinforcing positive neighborhood values.
Policy LT-4.2 Require new development to be compatible with the neighborhood, adjacent land uses and the transportation system.
From Community Character (CC):
Policy CC-1.3 Ensure that new development is compatible with the character of special districts and residential neighborhoods.
GOAL CC-3 Well-Designed Sites and Buildings - Ensure that buildings and related site improvements for private development are well designed and compatible with surrounding properties and districts.
Policy CC-3.1 Place a priority on qua...
Click here for full text