Heritage Preservation Commission

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes Heritage Preservation Commission Wednesday, April 5, 2023 7:00 PM Online and Bay Conference Room City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086 Regular Meeting - 7 PM Public Participation Accessibility/Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Notice CALL TO ORDER Chair Sharma called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Chair Sharma led the salute to the flag. ROLL CALL Commissioner Caroompas arrived at 7:34 PM and was not present for items 1 and 2. Commissioner Bratton's absence is excused. Present: 6 - Chair Pamela Sharma Vice Chair Sarosh Patel Commissioner Steve Caroompas Commissioner Dawn Hopkins Commissioner Sue-Ellen Johnson Commissioner Ashmita Rajkumar Absent: 1 - Commissioner Jenny Bratton ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. CONSENT CALENDAR 1. 23-0483 Approve the Draft Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes of February 1, 2023 City of Sunnyvale Page 1 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes April 5, 2023 Vice Chair Patel motioned and Commissioner Hopkins seconded to approve the Draft Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes of February 1, 2023, as submitted. Yes: 5 - Chair Sharma Vice Chair Patel Commissioner Hopkins Commissioner Johnson Commissioner Rajkumar No: 0 Absent: 2 - Commissioner Bratton Commissioner Caroompas PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS 2. 23-0482 RESOURCE ALTERATION PERMIT: To construct a second-story addition of 819 square feet to an existing one-story single-family home in the Taaffe-Frances Heritage Housing District, resulting in 2,799 square feet (2,322 square feet living area and 477 square feet garage) and 43% floor area ratio (FAR). Location: 567 South Frances Street (APN: 209-29-011) File #: 2022-7682 Zoning: R-0/HH (Low Density Residential, Heritage Housing Combining District) Applicant / Owner: Brad Cox (applicant) / Rick Logsdon and Mindy Ward (owner) Environmental Review: A Class 1 categorical exemption relieves this project from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) provisions. Project Planner: Drew Taplin, Associate Planner, (408) 730-7407, dtaplin@sunnyvale.ca.gov Associate Planner Drew Taplin presented the report with a slide presentation. Chair Sharma noted she had questions for the applicant and Principal Planner George Schroeder responded that the Commission may ask the applicant questions once the public hearing is opened. Vice Chair Patel asked staff about the data table in Attachment 2 of the staff report. He confirmed with staff that the number of the existing stories should be one and not two. Chair Sharma asked staff why the project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and Mr. Taplin responded that most single-family homes are categorically exempt from CEQA. City of Sunnyvale Page 2 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes April 5, 2023 Vice Chair Patel asked staff about recommended condition DC-2 in Attachment 4, and whether any trees are proposed for removal. Mr. Taplin responded that this is a standard condition for tree protection during project construction and there are no trees proposed for removal. Commissioner Johnson asked if the original home’s footprint is proposed for expansion and Mr. Taplin responded no. Chair Sharma opened the public hearing. Brad Cox, project architect, acknowledged staff for their assistance in the process and presented a slide show to the Commission . He noted that the addition meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties and the Taaffe-Frances Heritage Neighborhood Design Guidelines by integrating the second story addition into the existing building footprint, consistent architecture with the existing style, and limiting the visual impact of massing through greater setbacks on the second floor. He noted that the project historical evaluation emphasized the importance of the awning which is maintained in the proposal. He also noted that the second floor setbacks are generous with the neighbors' privacy in mind. Rick Logsdon, owner, noted that the architect he selected for this project was important because Streamline Moderne homes in Sunnyvale are very unique. He also noted that the architect is a professor in architectural history. Mindy Ward, owner, noted that the proposal is going to enhance the Taaffe Frances Heritage Housing District. Commissioner Hopkins admired the architectural design of the proposed addition. Commissioner Johnson noted that she had read the project historical evaluation and appreciated that the proposal was consistent with guidelines and would make their home more livable for the future. Chair Sharma also appreciated the owners passion and consistency with the guidelines. She asked Mr. Cox about earthquake retrofitting and he responded that the shear walls in the basement will be added and the foundation will be improved. Chair Sharma asked for any public comments and Recording Secretary Joey Mariano noted that there are no public speakers physically nor on the Zoom City of Sunnyvale Page 3 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes April 5, 2023 meeting. MOTION: Commissioner Hopkins motioned and Vice Chair Patel seconded the motion for Alternative 1: Approve the Resource Alteration Permit with the Conditions of Approval in Attachment 4. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5 - Chair Sharma Vice Chair Patel Commissioner Hopkins Commissioner Johnson Commissioner Rajkumar No: 0 Absent: 2 - Commissioner Bratton Commissioner Caroompas STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS Commissioner Caroompas joined the meeting. Chair Sharma thanked staff for providing the materials and walking them through the first onsite meeting. Mr. Schroeder welcomed Commissioner Johnson to her first meeting. He updated the Commission with the study issue workshop results, where study issue CDD 19-04, Update to the Historical Context Statement to Include Historical Contributions Made By Asian Americans and Other Minorities, was ranked above the line, and will be brought as a budget supplement at the May 18th City Council budget workshop. The Council deferred study issues CDD 18-02, Update and Review of the Heritage Resource Inventory and CDD 19-06 Programs to Encourage Visitation to Heritage and Landmark Resources.. -Commissioner Comments INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS Commissioner Hopkins requested to hold a future meeting at the former Mello’s Nursery site (currently occupied by 23 and Me) and Mr. Schroeder noted it depends on property owner approval. City of Sunnyvale Page 4 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes April 5, 2023 ADJOURNMENT Chair Sharma adjourned the meeting at 7:37 PM. City of Sunnyvale Page 5