Planning Commission

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes Planning Commission Monday, March 21, 2016 7:00 PM Council Chambers, City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086 Special Meeting Date and Start Time 7 P.M. STUDY SESSION 1 Call to Order in the Council Chambers 2 Roll Call 3 Study Session 16-0297 Discussion of Future Traffic Improvements, such as the Intersection of Mathilda Avenue/Hwy 101/Hwy 237 Staff Contact: Manuel Pineda, Director of Public Works 4 Public Comment on Study Session Agenda Items 5 Adjourn Study Session 7:30 P.M. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING CALL TO ORDER Chair Melton called the meeting to order in Council Chambers. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Chair Melton led the salute to the flag. ROLL CALL Present: 6 - Chair Russell Melton Vice Chair Sue Harrison Commissioner Ken Olevson Commissioner Larry Klein Commissioner David Simons Commissioner Carol Weiss Absent: 1 - Commissioner Ken Rheaume City of Sunnyvale Page 1 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes March 21, 2016 Chair Melton reported Commissioner Rheaume's absence is excused. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Vice Chair Harrison announced recruitment for upcoming vacancies on Boards and Commissions and an upcoming application deadline. Kevin Jackson, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission member speaking for himself, encouraged the Planning Commission to support and agendize the study issue pertaining to moving the City from a bronze level to a silver or gold level in the League of American Bicyclists - Bicycle Friendly Communities. CONSENT CALENDAR Chair Melton requested to pull Item 1.B. Commissioner Simons requested to pull Item 1.A. MOTION: Commissioner Klein moved and Vice Chair Harrison seconded the motion to approve the Consent Calendar. Principal Planner Andrew Miner stated that approval of Item 1.C would continue the item to April 25, 2016. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - Chair Melton Vice Chair Harrison Commissioner Olevson Commissioner Klein Commissioner Simons Commissioner Weiss No: 0 Absent: 1 - Commissioner Rheaume 1.A 16-0239 Approve the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of March 14, 2016 Commissioner Simons referred to the motion for Item 3 on page 6 of the minutes and stated the first modification to the conditions of approval should include the addition of “50%” for the parking lot shading requirement. Chair Melton opened the Public Hearing. City of Sunnyvale Page 2 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes March 21, 2016 No speakers. Chair Melton closed the Public Hearing. MOTION: Commissioner Simons moved and Commissioner Olevson seconded the motion to approve the Planning Commission Minutes of March 14, 2016 as amended. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - Chair Melton Vice Chair Harrison Commissioner Olevson Commissioner Klein Commissioner Simons Commissioner Weiss No: 0 Absent: 1 - Commissioner Rheaume 1.B 16-0298 Approve the 2016 Planning Commission Annual Work Plan Chair Melton requested the Annual Work Plan be reviewed by staff and updated to include either on the calendar or in the “Additional Items to be Scheduled” section, any item that affects the General Plan, that amends or creates a new precise plan, that amends or creates a new specific plan, that causes a rezone, has an EIR for public review or a potential certification of an EIR; any items relating to downtown, study issues approved by Council that will be reviewed by the Planning Commission, or any project that was preceded by an EIR or will have an EIR attached to it. Chair Melton noted that a June 27, 2016 may also be missing from the Work Plan. Commissioner Simons inquired about the study issue mentioned by speaker Kevin Jackson during Oral Communications and requested it be added to the Work Plan if appropriate. Chair Melton opened the Public Hearing. No speakers. Chair Melton closed the Public Hearing. MOTION: Chair Melton moved and Vice Chair Harrison seconded the motion to continue the item to the next Planning Commission meeting of March 28. The motion carried by the following vote: City of Sunnyvale Page 3 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes March 21, 2016 Yes: 6 - Chair Melton Vice Chair Harrison Commissioner Olevson Commissioner Klein Commissioner Simons Commissioner Weiss No: 0 Absent: 1 - Commissioner Rheaume 1.C 16-0315 RECOMMEND CONTINUANCE TO APRIL 25, 2016 File #: 2015-7756 Location: 803 W El Camino Real (APN: 165-01-029, 042, and 043) Zoning: C-2 / ECR (Highway Business / El Camino Real Precise Plan) Proposed Project: Related applications on a 2.59-acre site: SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT for a mixed use development on a 2.97 acre site with 49 residential units (40 apartments + 8 attached single family homes + 1 detached single family home), approximately 5,662 square feet of commercial space, and expansion of the adjacent Grand Hotel (51 rooms) VESTING TENTATIVE MAP to subdivide the 3 existing lots into 11 separate lots. A condominium map is requested for lot #11. Applicant / Owner: De Anza Properties (applicant) / Pastoria El Camino Partnership (owner) Environmental Review: Mitigated Negative Declaration Project Planner: Ryan Kuchenig, (408) 730-7431, rkuchenig@sunnyvale.ca.gov Recommend continuance to April 25, 2016. PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS 2. 16-0105 Recommend that City Council Introduce an Ordinance to Amend Title 19 (Zoning) of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code (SMC) and Update the Water-Efficient Landscaping Regulations per California Governor's Executive Order B-29-15 and make a Finding that the Project is Exempt from the Requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act City of Sunnyvale Page 4 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes March 21, 2016 (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15307 and 15308 (Planning File: 2016-7032) Associate Planner Rosemarie Zulueta presented the staff report and responded to Commissioner questions. Planning Officer Miner provided additional information. Commissioner Klein requested an example of a single family residential project in which a use permit would be required. Commissioner Klein referred to the draft ordinance and inquired as to how staff sees the use of recycled water in the water allocation on a project as it relates to special landscape areas (SLA). Commissioner Klein inquired about the water cost difference between standard potable water and recycled water in the City. Commissioner Simons inquired if there are any other major water uses that could be improved upon at this time, outside of the proposed ordinance and commented regarding potential water conservation requirements upon the sale of a home. Commissioner Olevson inquired if the proposed ordinance is more stringent than required and inquired as to the baseline for the statement regarding the 30-40% reduction. Commissioner Olevson inquired if staff has evaluated the cost impact to commercial and residential projects subject to the proposed ordinance. Commissioner Olevson inquired about the action going to Council in May. Commissioner Olevson referred to an exhibit in the presentation and inquired if the ordinance is going to potentially eliminate residential swimming pools in the future. Commissioner Olevson inquired if trees are considered to be a high or low water usage and inquired as to the process should an applicant be found to be non-compliant. Commissioner Weiss inquired about enforcement or penalties. Commissioner Weiss expressed concern regarding the impact on staff and inquired as to the fiscal impact of adoption of the ordinance. City of Sunnyvale Page 5 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes March 21, 2016 Commissioner Weiss stated compliance with the ordinance could be daunting for a homeowner. Vice Chair Harrison inquired if there is someone is checking the landscape plan to confirm that it is what was proposed. Chair Melton opened the Public Hearing. No speakers. Chair Melton closed the Public Hearing. MOTION: Commissioner Klein moved and Commissioner Olevson seconded the motion to approve Alternatives 1 and 2: 1) Recommend that City Council introduce an ordinance to amend Sunnyvale Municipal Code Chapter 19.37 (Landscaping and Usable Open Space) per the State of California Governor's Executive Order B 29 15, as set forth in Attachment 1 of the report and 2) Recommend that City Council find that the project is exempt from the requirements of CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15307 and 15308. Commissioners Klein and Olevson spoke in support of the motion. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - Chair Melton Vice Chair Harrison Commissioner Olevson Commissioner Klein Commissioner Simons Commissioner Weiss No: 0 Absent: 1 - Commissioner Rheaume STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES Commissioner Klein suggested a study issue to look at utilizing recycled water in the are adjacent to Wolfe Road as the purple pipe is being installed over the next 6 months to one year. Commissioner Klein stated that from a timing standpoint a study issue may not make sense, but stated as purple pipe continues to be installed, the City may be short-sighted in how to encourage the usage immediately within the neighborhoods. Commissioner Klein further clarified the potential study issue would include how to encourage the use and expansion of purple pipe within the City and the timeframe to do that. City of Sunnyvale Page 6 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes March 21, 2016 Commissioner Simons confirmed that Commissioner Klein would be amenable to modifying the study issue to put an emphasis on the Sunnyvale parks that are going to be closest to the purple pipe, and offering access to Santa Clara usage. Commissioner Klein further clarified to focus the study issue on City-owned land as an immediate focus of what should be upgraded, and secondarily going into Santa Clara. Planning Officer Miner stated he would prepare a draft study issue paper for consideration, however this would not be a study issue for ranking by the Planning Commission. NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS -Commissioner Comments Commissioner Simons encouraged staff review of the study issue regarding the League of American Bicyclists - Bicycle Friendly Communities for discussion before the item goes to Council. -Staff Comments Planning Officer Miner reported on the Council action on March 15 regarding Stratford School to certify the EIR and approve the use permit. Planning Officer Miner stated the Landbank project, now referred to as the Central & Wolfe project, will come before the Planning Commission in Study Session on March 28. ADJOURNMENT Chair Melton adjourned the meeting at 8:46 p.m. City of Sunnyvale Page 7