REPORT TO THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Title
Heritage Resource Nomination for six trees on the former Butcher Property (871 E. Fremont Avenue)
Report
BACKGROUND
On June 1, 2016, the Heritage Preservation Commission held a public hearing and voted to initiate the Heritage Resource nomination process for six oak trees on the (former) Butcher Property (also known as Butcher's Corner), located at 871 E. Fremont Avenue. The site is approximately 5 acres and has frontage on Fremont Avenue (on the south), Wolfe Road (on the west) and El Camino Real (on the north). The Heritage Preservation Commission initiated the process to determine if the trees meet one or more of the criteria for nomination of a Heritage Resource contained in Sunnyvale Municipal Code (SMC) Section 19.96.050. The Heritage Preservation Commission's recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for consideration at a public hearing scheduled for December 13, 2016.
A related project application and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the redevelopment of the Butcher Property and adjacent office property (located at 895 E. Fremont Avenue) has been pending for over two years (2014-7373). The project and EIR are also scheduled for City Council on December 13, 2016. While the redevelopment application and environmental analysis are separate from the nomination under consideration, a Heritage Resource designation of the trees could affect the development potential of the site, including location of buildings and infrastructure.
EXISTING GOALS AND POLICIES
Chapter 4 of the Sunnyvale General Plan contains the following related goals and policies:
CC-5 To enhance, preserve and protect Sunnyvale's heritage including natural features, the built environment and significant artifacts.
CC-5.4 Seek out, catalog and evaluate Heritage Resources which may be significant.
CC-6.2 Promote the understanding that heritage preservation enhances property values and provides financial and economic benef...
Click here for full text