Planning Commission

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes - Final Planning Commission Monday, August 22, 2016 6:30 PM Council Chambers and West Conference Room, City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086 Special Meeting Start Time - Study Session-6:30 PM | Special Meeting-7:30 PM 6:30 P.M. SPECIAL PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING (Study Session) 1 Call to Order in the West Conference Room 2 Roll Call 3 Study Session A. 16-0823 File #: 2015-7392 Location: 1120 Kifer Rd. (APN: 205-50-004) Zoning: M-S Proposed Project: Preliminary concept plan for the redevelopment of a 7.99-acre industrial property with mixed-use, including 7,400 square feet of retail and 520 apartment units (Greystar). Applicant / Owner: Greystar Real Estate Partners / 1130 Kifer Property Owner Llc B. 16-0822 File #: 2016-7212 Location: 1050 Kifer Rd. (APN: 205-50-036) Zoning: M-S Proposed Project: Redevelopment of a 21.7-acre site, including construction of two new four-story office/R&D buildings and two parking structures resulting in 755,144 square feet and 80% Floor Area Ratio (Intuitive Surgical). Applicant / Owner: Intuitive Surgical 4 Public Comment on Study Session Agenda Items 5 Adjourn Study Session 7:30 P.M. PLANNING COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING CALL TO ORDER Chair Harrison called the meeting to order in Council Chambers. City of Sunnyvale Page 1 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes - Final August 22, 2016 SALUTE TO THE FLAG Chair Harrison led the salute to the flag. ROLL CALL Present: 5 - Chair Sue Harrison Commissioner Larry Klein Commissioner Russell Melton Commissioner Ken Olevson Commissioner David Simons Absent: 2 - Vice Chair Ken Rheaume Commissioner Carol Weiss ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. CONSENT CALENDAR MOTION: Commissioner Melton moved and Commissioner Simons seconded the motion to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 4 - Chair Harrison Commissioner Melton Commissioner Olevson Commissioner Simons No: 0 Absent: 2 - Vice Chair Rheaume Commissioner Weiss Abstained: 1 - Commissioner Klein 1.A. 16-0845 Approve Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of August 15, 2016 Approve Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of August 15, 2016 as submitted. PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS 2. 16-0621 Forward Recommendations related to the PEERY PARK SPECIFIC PLAN (2013-7653) to the City Council to: 1. Adopt a Resolution to: a. Certify the EIR; b. Make the Findings Required by the California Environmental City of Sunnyvale Page 2 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes - Final August 22, 2016 Quality Act; c. Adopt the Statement of Overriding Considerations and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program; d. Adopt the Water Supply Assessment e. Amend the General Plan to Create the Peery Park General Plan Designation; f. Update the General Plan Map to Reflect the Peery Park Plan Area; g. Adopt the Peery Park Specific Plan, with Modifications; h. Adopt the Peery Park Specific Plan Community Benefits Table; and i. Repeal the Southern Pacific Corridor Specific Plan Site 2. 2. Introduce an ordinance to: a. Amend Sunnyvale Municipal Code (SMC) Section 19.16.020 (Zoning Districts - Creation), repeal SMC Section 19.16.070 (Perry Park District Review Process); Add SMC Section 19.27.040 (Peery Park Specific Plan District); b. Amend the Precise Zoning Plan Zoning Districts Map to add the Peery Park Specific Plan District and Rezone the Parcels in the Peery Park Specific Plan Area to Peery Park Specific Plan District; and c. Rezone the Encinal Park Parcel to Public Facilities. 3. Adopt a Resolution to: a. Amend Resolution No, 762-16 (Master Fee Schedule) to add the Peery Park Plan Review Fees, Peery Park Conditional Use Permit Fees, a Peery Park Specific Plan Fee and Peery Park Infrastructure Fee; b. Authorize the City to impose a Sense of Place Fee and Peery Park Water Infrastructure Fees on a project specific basis. 4. Adopt a Motion to Prioritize the Flexible Community Benefits as Recommended by Staff. 5. Adopt a Motion in support of the use of $100,000 of City Funds to Provide a Portion of the Local Match for the Peery Park Rides Grant Program. Principal Planner Amber Blizinski presented the staff report. Commissioner Melton confirmed with Principal Planner Blizinski that the net new 2.2 million square feet of office space translates to 14,000 new jobs, and discussed with staff future options if the Planning Commission votes for a new environmental study that considers additional residential uses in Peery Park. Commissioner Klein discussed with Principal Planner Blizinski options for additional housing if a new General Plan Amendment is initiated for residential and whether those options would be limited in the interim if a developer applies for office space City of Sunnyvale Page 3 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes - Final August 22, 2016 in the area targeted for residential. He also confirmed with Principal Planner Blizinski that 2 million square feet of the 2.2 million net new is currently under formal application, none of which have been approved, and discussed why the various zoning designations, overlays and districts are not reflected in the General Plan. Commissioner Olevson clarified with Planning Officer Andrew Miner the statement in the water supply assessment that there is adequate water supply in part due to increased conservation, and clarified with Principal Planner Blizinski the amount of net new square footage. Commissioner Olevson discussed with Principal Planner Blizinski why the 21 pages of corrections and clarifications were not incorporated into the draft Peery Park Specific Plan (PPSP) prior to submission to the Planning Commission and that City Council will receive the same set of corrections. Chair Harrison and Principal Planner Blizinski discussed how already approved but unconstructed projects fit into Peery Park and the square footage calculation. Planning Officer Miner added that there may be interest within the development community to build more residential in Peery Park but that it was not previously possible. Chair Harrison confirmed with Principal Planner Blizinski that one benefit of adopting the PPSP now is the collection of funds for pedestrian and bicycle improvements and shuttle stops. Planning Officer Miner added that the entire plan could be stalled to allow several hundred housing units to be added although the plan was designed for business and employment. Chair Harrison discussed with Planning Officer Miner whether adoption of the plan with direction to study housing in the southern area would cause a significant change in water and waste water improvements, and discussed with Director of Public Works Manuel Pineda potential increases in pipe size due to a change from industrial to residential use. Commissioner Klein verified with staff the current maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) percentages in Moffett and Peery Parks and which decision making body approves increased FARs at stepped levels, and he confirmed with Principal Planner Blizinski the maximum FARs reached for currently constructed projects in Moffett and Peery Parks. Commissioner Klein and Planning Officer Miner discussed examples of projects that could be approved by the Director of the Community Development Department in Moffett and Peery Parks. Commissioner Klein discussed with Principal Planner Blizinski the reasoning behind the FAR thresholds for the flexible community benefits, and discussed whether recycled water and purple pipe features were considered for the area. He discussed with staff whether further improvements can be made for bicycle and pedestrian connectivity going into Peery Park, clarified which projects may need to receive a no hazard determination from the Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) and clarified the City of Sunnyvale Page 4 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes - Final August 22, 2016 purpose of an avigation easement. Commissioner Melton clarified with Planning Officer Miner the benefit of approving the plan even if City Council decides to initiate a study on providing more housing in Peery Park. Chair Harrison confirmed with staff that recently adopted solar access requirements will need to be met and discussed with Principal Planner Blizinski why the southern activity center lacks service stations and businesses. Commissioner Simons discussed with Principal Planner Blizinski how projects in the queue for approval would be impacted if the PPSP was not adopted, and discussed with Planning Officer Miner the concern with not exploring additional options for residential at this time. Director of Community Development Trudi Ryan interjected that while there may be some areas in Peery Park that are suitable for housing, there are other locations in the City that may be more appropriate. Commissioner Simons discussed with Principal Planner Blizinski the cost to add to the plan potential improvements to bicycle and pedestrian access, and discussed with staff potentially recommending higher levels of Transportation Demand Management (TDM) programs for projects in Peery Park. Commissioner Klein discussed with Director Pineda why staff is not requiring specific TDM tools of potential projects and the process for issuing penalties to property owners who do not meet TDM goals. Principal Planner Blizinski added that the purpose of the Transportation Management Association (TMA) is to help developments achieve TDM goals and potentially change their programs over time to become more effective. Commissioner Klein confirmed that hydraulic analyses have been required of previous projects and would be required of all Peery Park projects. Chair Harrison opened the Public Hearing. Tharun Kuppireddy, resident of the SNAIL neighborhood, discussed his concerns with increased traffic on Mathilda, the effect of opening the walls at Ferndale and Duane Avenues on parking and multistory buildings blocking light and air. Karen Schlesser, Sunnyvale resident, encouraged an increase in housing in the PPSP. Jason Uhlenkott encouraged an increase in housing in the PPSP. City of Sunnyvale Page 5 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes - Final August 22, 2016 Dave King, Sunnyvale resident, said the proposed bicycle and pedestrian connections at Duane Avenue and Ferndale Avenue will create security and privacy issues for residents, and that the Draft EIR is not the same thing being considered tonight. Principal Planner Blizinski interjected that with Peery Park potential jobs are increased by 3,000 over the existing General Plan. John Cordes, Sunnyvale resident, urged the approval of Alternative 1 (no project) due to air quality and traffic impacts, and said that his second choice would be for mixed use to increase housing. Ann Davis, Sunnyvale resident said as part of the community benefit a landscape architect should improve Mathida via landscaping that would soften the impact of tall buildings, and encouraged the improvement of existing bicycle and pedestrian connections rather than creating connections at Ferndale and Duane. Sue Serrone, Sunnyvale resident, urged increased housing, especially for low- and very low income households. Adina Levin, with Friends of CalTrain and Sunnyvale Affordable and Sustainable Living Coalition, encouraged Alternative 2 with increased housing and the new bicycle and pedestian connections. She also suggested the use of residential parking permits and a 35 percent trip reduction. Chair Harrison closed the Public Hearing. Commissioner Klein confirmed with Principal Planner Blizinski that landscaping along Mathilda is a standard and discussed with Director Pineda the future layout of the pedestrian realm on Mathilda Avenue, which would include more landscaping. Commissioner Klein confirmed with Principal Planner Blizinski that if City Council decided to forgo the additional bicycle and pedestrian connectivity on Ferndale and Duane Avenues the plan would include alternatives for improved connectivity. Director Ryan said the EIR overstates the number of new jobs that will be created by the addition of 2.2 million square feet of office space, and that the higher intensity buildings constructed under the plan are more likely to have a higher employee ratio than the buildings there now. Commissioner Melton verified with Director Ryan that the draft Land Use and Transportation Element (LUTE) suggests a 6,000 housing unit increase over the City of Sunnyvale Page 6 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes - Final August 22, 2016 current General Plan, 450 of which have been achieved by the DeGuigne site. MOTION: Commissioner Olevson moved and Commissioner Klein seconded the motion to recommend to City Council Alternative 1a through 1d: adopt a Resolution to certify the EIR; make the findings required by the California Environmental Quality Act; adopt the Statement of Overriding Considerations and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program; and, adopt the Water Supply Assessment. Commissioner Olevson said the EIR as a document providing information but not an approval process for any individual project has adequately identified the relevant impact of potential change to the PPSP, and it has adequately identified the traffic, air quality and noise impacts appropriately for City Council to make a final decision on any subsequent projects, therefore, he recommends to City Council adoption of the resolution. Commissioner Klein said he can make the findings and described the EIR process. He said what was seen in the Draft EIR many months ago has changed in the Final document in response to questions from citizens, the Planning Commission, City Council and other regional organizations, and that staff and the consultant have updated the Final EIR appropriately. Commissioner Melton said he will not support the motion and that we should not certify the EIR. He said it should be sent back for further analysis for CEQA, and that things have changed since City Council gave its original direction to staff to analyze a potential PPSP as an employment center. He said only Council can answer the question about whether 3,000 - 14,000 new jobs without a corresponding increase in housing is what was intended, a conclusion he recommends Council not come to as we need to address the housing issue created by the new jobs in Peery Park. He noted that Vice Mayor Larsson said during the joint study session that we need to look at Sunnyvale as a whole, but that we have not crossed the bridge in terms of identifying where the housing will be for the new jobs created. Commissioner Simons said he will not support the motion and agrees with Commissioner Melton's comments. He said recommending approval of an EIR with the intent of augmenting it for the long term goal would be appropriate if changes were minor. He said he opposes allowing development at a higher level of square footage in this area and then reviewing the ratio and adding extra housing in the future. He said we should plan from the beginning what is intended long term and not incrementally. City of Sunnyvale Page 7 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes - Final August 22, 2016 Chair Harrison said she will support the motion and can make the finding that the EIR adequately addressed the concerns that were brought forward initially, and believes the Water Supply Assessment was thorough in its investigation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 3 - Chair Harrison Commissioner Klein Commissioner Olevson No: 2 - Commissioner Melton Commissioner Simons Absent: 2 - Vice Chair Rheaume Commissioner Weiss Senior Assistant City Attorney Rebecca Moon noted that under the Zoning Code recommending a General Plan Amendment or Rezone requires a majority of Planning Commission members, which is four votes, but the certification of the EIR can pass with three votes. Chair Harrison confirmed with Senior Assistant City Attorney Moon that adopting the PPSP would require four votes because it includes a Rezone and General Plan Amendment. MOTION: Commissioner Klein moved and Chair Harrison seconded the motion to recommend to City Council Alternatives 1g, 1h and 4: adopt the Peery Park Specific Plan with modifications; adopt the Peery Park Specific Plan Community Benefits Table; and, prioritize the Flexible Community Benefits as recommended by Staff, with the following modifications: 1) On page 19, to determine the hearing body, change the maximum FAR for Zone 1 to 35%, 50%, 70% and 90%; and change the maximum FAR for Zone 2 to 50%, 65%, 80% and 100%; 2) On page 13, for the Community Benefits Required table, change the maximum FAR for Zone 1 to 35%, 50%, 70% and 90%; and change the maximum FAR for Zone 2 to 50%, 65%, 80% and 100%; and, 3) Adopt the PPSP EIR and associated Resolutions with the consideration of multi-family residential in a mixed-use style development within the PPSP area, locations to be determined subject to additional environmental review and community outreach by staff. FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Chair Harrison offered a friendly amendment for solar access requirements only being applicable to multi- and single family residential properties and not to commercial properties. Commissioner Klein declined. City of Sunnyvale Page 8 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes - Final August 22, 2016 FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Commissioner Simons offered a friendly amendment to increase the TDM requirement by five percent for each level. Commissioner Klein and Chair Harrison accepted. Commissioner Klein said a very long process has brought us to this review of the PPSP, that quite a few projects have been approved in Peery Park and that other projects are set to move forward with or without the PPSP being approved. He said this is putting into place a series of community beneifts and an area wide vision for improving traffic, the sense of place and issues of sidewalk width, bike parking and lanes, attractive nodes and walkability. He said many of the issues with the existing area have been fixed piecemeal, project by project, and that one major issue is that there is not enough housing. He said Council has heard this concern and has directed staff to move forward on addressing it, but that not approving the EIR and PPSP and starting over puts this project on hold for a very long time. He said the plan can be applied to the office projects in progress, that moving forward we can try to improve the area, but that ultimately Council will decide. He said what staff and the consultant have created a good project that has addressed many issues we have seen over the years and created a long term vision that is flexible. He said the plan can be improved, but that it can make this office area a lot more positive in terms of transportation, Peery Park rights and community benefits, and that it is in the City's best interest to move the EIR and PPSP forward for consideration by Council. Chair Harrison applauded the plan for an office park with modern amenities, including shuttles, food trucks, open space in an industrial area for people who walk and socialize between buildings during the work day, bike and pedestrian paths, lighting and signage. She also applauded the increase in work place areas in a location that is not in an expected flood zone in 100 years for Sunnyvale's long term economic future, which is among the reasons she is supporting the motion. She said we need to look at increasing housing, but understands the limitations in the area because of the flight path, and that staff has identified a southern activity area where housing could happily coexist with retail that would serve residents in the general area. She said if we do not approve the PPSP now with various projects in the pipeline we are not taking advantage of the extensive studies conducted and that it is a community benefit to the entire City to have this plan move forward. Commissioner Olevson said he is not supporting the motion, and that he appreciates the several years of work on the plan that has brought us to where we are today. He said staff and others have put in a lot of time and effort commenting City of Sunnyvale Page 9 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes - Final August 22, 2016 on what Peery Park should look like and that the plan has nice drawings of different areas. He said the Planning Commission would be recommending that City Council change the law for this area and we have to be careful that what we change is in the best interest of the City and the people living around Peery Park and that the draft PPSP does not do that. He noted that there are 21 pages of corrections that the Planning Commission is asked to cut and paste into the right place in the document to understand what we are recommending, and the staff who put this together owes it to Council to put together a final document for approval, therefore he cannot vote to recommend adopting a cut and paste plan. Commissioner Melton verified with Senior Assistant City Attorney Moon that this motion requires four votes to approve or to deny this portion of the project. Planning Officer Miner noted that the Planning Commission could continue the project with a clear reason for staff. Commissioner Melton said he could readily find a way to vote no on this motion because we are not coming to the right conclusion with the PPSP and the EIR certification is going in the wrong direction. He confirmed with Director Ryan that staff would need approval from City Council to obtain the resources to create a complete plan with integrated corrections. Commissioner Melton said he will be voting yes on the motion. Commissioner Simons said there are a number of issues with this process and with housing, and increased TDM levels and a reduction in FARs are useful. He said he agrees with Commissioner Olevson's concerns regarding the Planning Commission receiving large quantities of data too late and said it is tough to go through the data and figure out what the intention was of the addendum. He said he will be voting no on this motion because he does not think the housing issue will be revisited. The motion failed by the following vote: Yes: 3 - Chair Harrison Commissioner Klein Commissioner Melton No: 2 - Commissioner Olevson Commissioner Simons Absent: 2 - Vice Chair Rheaume Commissioner Weiss Commissioner Simons discussed action options with Planning Officer Miner. Chair Harrison verified with Planning Officer Miner that if the Planning Commission recommends not adopting the PPSP Council could still decide to adopt it. Senior Assistant City Attorney Moon added that if the vote to not adopt the plan is 3-2 it City of Sunnyvale Page 10 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes - Final August 22, 2016 would go to Council as having no recommendation. Commissioner Simons verified with Planning Officer Miner that if a motion to continue the project is approved the earliest date it could come back to the Planning Commission is September 12. Senior Assistant City Attorney Moon corrected her earlier statement and said the Planning Commission needs to make a recommendation to Council to either approve or deny the project. MOTION: Commissioner Simons moved and Commissioner Olevson seconded the motion to continue this item to Monday, September 12, 2016, when staff will return with a merged document that includes the motion Commissioner Klein made in the information provided. Commissioner Olevson said he appreciates staff coming up with the ability to change the document. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 4 - Chair Harrison Commissioner Klein Commissioner Olevson Commissioner Simons No: 1 - Commissioner Melton Absent: 2 - Vice Chair Rheaume Commissioner Weiss Planning Officer Miner clarified the requested updates to the staff report that will be re-considered on September 12. Commissioner Simons confirmed with staff that Commissioner Klein's failed motion will be included in the information provided. Director Ryan added that staff will provide clarity on the number of jobs created by the plan to help the Commission make an informed decision. Commissioner Melton confirmed Planning Officer Miner that the balance of the staff recommended Alternatives will be voted on during the next meeting. Senior Assistant City Attorney Moon noted that the Planning Commission has already voted to recommend certification of the EIR. City of Sunnyvale Page 11 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes - Final August 22, 2016 3. 16-0660 Forward a recommendation to the City Council to Introduce an Ordinance to Add a new Chapter (19.45 - Residential Transportation Demand Management) to the Sunnyvale Municipal Code, Adopt a Resolution Creating the Multi-family Residential Transportation Demand Management Program (Study Issue Planning File 2015-7150), Rescind Council Policy 1.1.15 (Residential Transportation Demand Management), and Find that these Actions are Exempt from CEQA. Principal Planner Amber Blizinski presented the staff report. Commissioner Simons discussed with Principal Planner Blizinski whether staff considered the use of neighborhood parking stickers and the process for implementing unbundled parking. Commissioner Olevson discussed with Principal Planner Blizinski how staff determined ten units as the minimum for the residential Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program. Commissioner Klein confirmed with Principal Planner Blizinski that transit passes for residents would be provided for the first ten years of a project, and discussed the appropriate time to begin monitoring projects for trip reduction and implementing penalties for not meeting goals. Planning Officer Andrew Miner added that the plan does not require a particular percentage of trip reduction, rather it asks what the developer will do to achieve a certain number of points. Principal Planner Blizinski said staff is not opposed to a requirement for monitoring. Commissioner Klein discussed with Principal Planner Blizinski components of current residential TDM programs. Chair Harrison discussed with Ria Lo, project consultant with Nelson Nygaard, how providing affordable housing is a TDM benefit, and discussed with staff and Ms. Lo why ride sharing or shuttle stops were not considered as part of the plan. Chair Harrison commented on the increased likelihood that residents would use alternative transportation if there were designated stops, and discussed with Principal Planner Blizinski if potential access improvements would be built along with projects. Chair Harrison suggested publicly recognizing projects for achieving trip reduction goals if monitoring is required, and discussed with staff the process for substituting elements of a program after the project is completed. Chair Harrison confirmed with staff that some potential strategies for a TDM program would require a change to the parking code and direction from City Council, and discussed whether the plan would apply to upcoming project applications. Chair Harrison opened the Public Hearing. City of Sunnyvale Page 12 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes - Final August 22, 2016 Adina Levin, with Friends of CalTrain and Sunnyvale Affordable and Sustainable Living Coalition, encouraged monitoring from the functioning start of a project. MOTION: Commissioner Olevson moved and Commissioner Klein seconded the motion to recommend to City Council Alternatives 2, 3 and 4: 2) Introduce an ordinance to add a new Chapter (19.45 - Residential Transportation Demand Management) to the Sunnyvale Municipal Code and Adopt a resolution to adopt the Multi-family Residential TDM Program with the modification to the staff recommendation: a) To immediately begin monitoring at the project owner's expense. 3) Rescind Council Policy 1.1.15 (Residential Transportation Demand Management); and, 4) Find that these actions are exempt from CEQA. FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Commissioner Klein offered a friendly amendment to require monitoring of trip counts to be done annually for ten years at the expense of the project owner. Commissioner Olevson accepted. Principal Planner Blizinski suggested determining a minimum unit size for required monitoring due to the expense involved. Planning Officer Miner noted that the developer would pay for the cost of driveway counts which would then be reviewed by staff, creating a time constraint for staff. Senior Assistant City Attorney Rebecca Moon suggested directing staff to include potential administrative guidelines that would be adopted by the department rather than putting it in the Ordinance. Commissioner Klein said he is concerned with clearly delineating who would pay for driveway counts, and confirmed with Principal Planner Blizinski that the minimum unit size is listed as ten. Senior Assistant City Attorney Moon said a fee could still be adopted. Planning Officer Miner added that the developer would not be paying a fee, but would be responsible for the cost of conducting a driveway count, which could be put into the guidelines. Chair Harrison clarified the motion with Commissioners Olevson and Klein. City of Sunnyvale Page 13 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes - Final August 22, 2016 Commissioner Simons suggested a staggered schedule of monitoring based on whether the project owner is in compliance at each review. Planning Officer Miner said a standard is not being set with which project owners will be in or out of compliance, rather that driveway counts will help track the program to potentially come up with a standard in the future. Commissioner Simons said it may be useful to include in the program that if there is a change demonstrated by monitoring, the project owner would be required to come back to the City to renegotiate, and that he would prefer to see information on whether there are seasonal changes, whether schools have an impact and what the situational transportation issues are. Commissioner Olevson said he appreciates staff providing hard data on existing programs elsewhere because we do not often get one-to-one comparisons, and that he likes starting the program without penalties. He said he usually does not like the government telling people what they should be doing but that Sunnyvale is booming and we need to experiment with controlling traffic issues without immediate penalties. He said he likes starting monitoring and that he is concerned about ten units being the threshold for getting into the program, but that he accepts it since there is no penalty phase yet. Commissioner Klein said he is pleased to see the residential TDM program and that many residents are concerned about increased traffic whether due to office or residential projects. He said this program is a good starting point for large projects trying to achieve community benefits and create a TDM program and for putting in place a toolkit for managing transportation amongst residential projects ten units and above. He said the requirement for monitoring is critical to determine if the toolkit is successful. He added that he was able to make the findings and that this is a good project going forward. Commissioner Melton said he is supporting the motion and thanked staff for good work on an important topic. He said he thinks a future conversation about this will include performance based and unbundled parking, and that his only reservation about the motion is that adding the monitoring progam is like designing from the dais. He said he would have preferred direction to staff to come up with a monitoring program and to make a recommendation based on what is considered best to Council, which could still happen. The motion carried by the following vote: City of Sunnyvale Page 14 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes - Final August 22, 2016 Yes: 5 - Chair Harrison Commissioner Klein Commissioner Melton Commissioner Olevson Commissioner Simons No: 0 Absent: 2 - Vice Chair Rheaume Commissioner Weiss STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES Commissioner Klein suggested a study issue regarding capping Central Expressway that would evaluate the cost of creating new park land by covering over the below grade portions of Central. He said it may be an easier solution rather than the City finding land to buy, that it could create open space, merge neighborhoods, improve the Cityscape by creating pedestrian and bike paths to the CalTrain station and be a way to spend park mitigation fees. Planning Officer Miner said the Department of Public Works would likely handle this study issue and that it would involve the County of Santa Clara. NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS -Commissioner Comments None. -Staff Comments Planning Officer Miner said future Planning Commission meetings will be started at 6:00 p.m. for Study Sessions and 7:00 p.m. for Public Hearings and that staff will be coming up with the wording to initiate a change in the policy to allow the earlier start time. He also noted that tomorrow night the Planning Commission will have a joint Study Session with City Council on the Land Use and Transportation Element. ADJOURNMENT Chair Harrison adjourned the meeting at 11:25 p.m. City of Sunnyvale Page 15