REPORT TO PLANNING COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Proposed Project: A request for a Downtown Specific Plan Amendment Initiation to study changes to the development intensities and standards for Block 20 of the Downtown Specific Plan to increase the number of allowable residential units, an increase to the square footage of office allowed, and an increase in building height to allow up to five stories.
File #: 2018-7034
Location: 510 and 528 S. Mathilda Ave. (APNs: 209-29-060 and 061) and 562 and 566 S. Mathilda Ave. (APNS: 209-29-057 and 067)
Zoning: DSP (Block 20)
Applicant / Owner: SiliconSage Builders, LLC (applicant and owner 562 and 566 S. Mathilda Ave.) and Shawn Karimi (applicant and owner 510 and 528 S. Mathilda Ave.)
Environmental Review: The project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(a).
Project Planner: Cindy Hom, (408) 730-7411, chom@sunnyvale.ca.gov
Report
BACKGROUND
Two Specific Plan Amendment Initiations (SPI) requests were submitted pursuant to Sunnyvale Municipal Code section 19.92.040 (a) to allow changes to the development intensities and standards for Block 20 of the Downtown Specific Plan (DSP). The applicants have agreed to proceed with one amendment study moving forward, if initiated.
The Downtown Specific Plan (DSP) area comprises roughly 125 acres, generally bounded by the Caltrain tracks to the north, Bayview Avenue to the east (extends almost to Washington along Evelyn Ave), Olive Avenue to the south and Charles Street to the west. Preparation of the Downtown Specific Plan (DSP) was initiated in the mid-1980s; the first plan was adopted in 1993. The DSP was comprehensively updated in 2003 and was last amended in 2013 when the boundaries were expanded to include areas north of Evelyn Avenue by the addition of Blocks 21, 22 and 23. More recently, the City Council authorized a General Plan Initiation for four applications in the Downtown Specific Plan (DSP) area for DSP...
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