Planning Commission

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes Planning Commission Monday, October 25, 2021 7:00 PM Telepresence Meeting: City Web Stream | Comcast Channel 15 | AT&T Channel 99 Special Meeting: Study Session - Canceled | Public Hearing - 7:00 PM Special Teleconference Notice Public Participation Accessibility/Americans with Disability Act (ADA) Notice STUDY SESSION CANCELED 7 P.M. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING CALL TO ORDER Pursuant to Government Code Subdivision 54953 (e),the meeting was conducted telephonically; pursuant to state law, the City Council is scheduled to make the necessary findings on October 26, 2021. Chair Howard called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. ROLL CALL Present: 6 - Chair Daniel Howard Vice Chair Martin Pyne Commissioner Sue Harrison Commissioner John Howe Commissioner Ken Rheaume Commissioner Carol Weiss ORAL COMMUNICATIONS CONSENT CALENDAR MOTION: Commissioner Howe moved and Vice Chair Pyne seconded the motion to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion carried by the following vote: City of Sunnyvale Page 1 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes October 25, 2021 Yes: 6 - Chair Howard Vice Chair Pyne Commissioner Harrison Commissioner Howe Commissioner Rheaume Commissioner Weiss No: 0 1. 21-0991 Approve Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of October 11, 2021 PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS 2. 21-0963 Proposed Project: DESIGN REVIEW to allow a 363 square feet first-floor addition, 490 square feet second-floor addition, and a new 56 square feet covered entry porch on an existing two-story single-family home, resulting in 3,149 square feet gross floor area (2,763 square feet living area and 386 square feet garage) and 50% Floor Area Ratio (FAR). Location: 736 Silver Pine Court (APN: 213-15-049) File #: 2021-7010 Zoning: R-0 Applicant / Owner: Willwerth Design (applicant) / Raja M Gopal and Annu Ramachandran (owner) Environmental Review: A Class 1 Categorical Exemption relieves this project from the CEQA provisions. Project Planner: Aastha Vashist, (408) 730-7458, avashist@sunnyvale.ca.gov Senior Planner Aastha Vashist presented the staff report with a slide presentation. Commissioner Howe asked whether staff received any written or oral comments from the public for the proposed project. Senior Planner Vashist confirmed that they did not. Commissioner Harrison noted that renderings for the proposed project included a gable roof on the right side of the second floor and a hip roof on the left side of the second floor. She questioned whether this was done to meet solar requirements. Associate Planner Vashist answered that the purpose of the hip roof is to minimize visual bulk as it reduces the number of exposed walls. In reference to Basic Design Principle 2.2.2 in Attachment 3, Commissioner Harrison stated that the homes presented in the staff presentation displayed either gable roofs or hip roofs but not a City of Sunnyvale Page 2 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes October 25, 2021 combination of both. She then announced that she would ask the architect about the design intent. Chair Howard opened the Public Hearing. Cliff Willwerth, Architectural Designer at Willwerth Design, presented the project including additional images and information. Mr. Willwerth advised Commissioner Harrison that the proposed project features one hip roof and one gable roof to reduce solar impact to neighbors of the proposed project. Commissioner Harrison and Mr. Willwerth discussed plans for the proposed project to increase energy efficiency. Mr. Willwerth explained that it will incorporate a cool roof design, new insulation throughout, new Energy Star kitchen appliances, and the addition of larger windows to allow for more natural light. Mr. Willwerth added that the design intent of the second-floor roof is to minimize solar shading to the adjacent properties. He added that the proposed project is designed to accommodate solar panels, if desired by the property owners, and that if the existing furnace system is incapable of supplying heat to the entire house, a new electric heating system will be considered. Commissioner Weiss asked about whether the furnace will be moved into the garage. Mr. Willwerth explained that collaboration with an HVAC engineer will determine the best location for the furnace, but consideration has been made to move the furnace either into the garage or attic. There were no public speakers for this agenda item. Annu Ramachandran and Raja Gopal, property owners, expressed gratitude to Senior Planner Vashist and other City staff for assisting them with creating a better design for the proposed project. Chair Howard closed the Public Hearing. MOTION: Commissioner Harrison moved and Commissioner Howe seconded the motion to approve Alternative 1 – Approve the Design Review with the Conditions of Approval in Attachment 4. City of Sunnyvale Page 3 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes October 25, 2021 Commissioner Harrison commented that, if not for the purpose of meeting solar shading requirements, she would have encouraged the use of gable roofs for the proposed project to maintain consistency with the character of the homes in the surrounding neighborhood. She also noted the nice design of the proposed project and the ability of the proposed project to meet setback rules. Overall, she stated she can make the findings to support this motion. Commissioner Howe agreed with comments made by Commissioner Harrison and commended the proposed project for its wonderful design that will be functional even with time. Commissioner Rheaume spoke in favor of the motion as he can make the findings and mentioned his hope that his fellow Commissioners may also make the findings to support the motion. He also applauded the proposed project’s nice, quality design and contributions made by staff. Commissioner Weiss voiced her support of the motion and highlighted several nice features of the proposed project: a garage that is not overly prominent; an expanded porch, entrance, and living room area; and a continuation of the roof line. She specified that the proposed project has been carefully designed to avoid a massing effect and that it possesses an attractive, classic look. Since the proposed project meets the criteria of the City’s Single Family Home Design Techniques, she can make the findings. Vice Chair Pyne revealed that he can make findings and called attention to the proposed project’s cool roof and eco-friendly design. He added that the proposed project is an attractive home overall and that he looks forward to supporting the motion. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - Chair Howard Vice Chair Pyne Commissioner Harrison Commissioner Howe Commissioner Rheaume Commissioner Weiss No: 0 City of Sunnyvale Page 4 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes October 25, 2021 This decision is final unless appealed or called up for review by the City Council by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, November 9, 2021. 3. 21-0976 Recommend that the City Council Introduce an Ordinance to Amend Sunnyvale Municipal Code Section 19.37.060 (General Planting, Soil Management and Water Feature Design Requirements) and Section 19.38.030 (Recycling and Solid Waste Facilities) and Find that the Action Is Exempt from CEQA. David Krueger, Solid Waste Programs Division Manager, presented the staff report with a slide presentation. Commissioner Harrison asked whether multi-family properties are required to have only a container for food scraps and not yard waste. Mr. Krueger confirmed that they are required to possess containers for both unless they can demonstrate that their landscaper is recycling yard waste for them at a compost facility. Commissioner Rheaume asked about the City’s methods for monitoring whether the new guidelines pertaining to proper recycling of yard waste is adhered to. He also confirmed with Principal Planner Noren Caliva-Lepe that the front yard paving restriction in the Sunnyvale Municipal Code is enforceable. Vice Chair Pyne noted that the Background section of the staff report mentioned goals for 2020 and asked whether there is any concern about those goals not having been met. Mr. Krueger assured him that they may not be retroactively fined for those goals not being met and that they are striving to maintain compliance with regulations by 2025. Commissioner Harrison inquired about the City’s progress in terms of achieving a 75 percent reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste. Mr. Krueger informed her that the City’s progress is better than that of neighboring cities due to its zero-waste goal and efforts to enforce the food scrap program. There were no public speakers for this agenda item. Mr. Krueger clarified the meaning of B-2.1.b on page six of Attachment 3 for Commissioner Weiss. Chair Howard closed the Public Hearing. MOTION: Commissioner Harrison moved and Commissioner Weiss seconded the City of Sunnyvale Page 5 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes October 25, 2021 motion to approve Alternative 1 – Recommend that City Council introduce the Ordinance in Attachment 2 and find that this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b) (3). Commissioner Harrison revealed that, in her opinion, it is a good idea to revise the language of the guidelines in advance and that she is glad the City is making progress in terms of recycling organic material. Commissioner Weiss stated that, in her opinion, it is good that this issue is being addressed and that more will be done at the state level. Chair Howard spoke in favor of the motion and expressed pride in the City for the progress it has made relative to neighboring cities in terms of waste management. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - Chair Howard Vice Chair Pyne Commissioner Harrison Commissioner Howe Commissioner Rheaume Commissioner Weiss No: 0 This recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for consideration at the November 9, 2021 meeting. STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS 4. 21-0990 Planning Commission Proposed Study Issues, Calendar Year: 2022 (Information Only) NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS -Commissioner Comments Commissioner Weiss disclosed that she intended to abstain during the vote on the City of Sunnyvale Page 6 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes October 25, 2021 Consent Calendar item. Senior Assistant City Attorney Rebecca Moon explained that she may approve meeting minutes based on her faith in staff and staff’s ability to write accurate minutes. Commissioner Weiss confirmed her faith in staff and, thus, her vote. When prompted by Commissioner Rheaume, Assistant Director Andrew Miner advised of large projects that are currently in the works and provided examples of a few. -Staff Comments Assistant Director Miner announced his efforts to coordinate the attendance of the Planning Commissioners at Devcon’s Google Caribbean Beam Raising Ceremony. Assistant Director Miner spoke of the workshop on land use processing held by Leadership Sunnyvale/Urban Land Institute (ULI) that the Planning Commissioners are invited to attend. Assistant Director Miner, that on October 26, 2021, the City Council will consider the continuation of virtual public meetings for the City Council and Boards, Commissions and Council Subcommittees during the COVID-19 State of Emergency. Assistant Director Miner advertised a vacant position on the Planning Commission. Assistant Director Miner stated that he will be sending the Planning Commissioners photos of the Irvine Company apartments that are currently under construction at the AMD site. ADJOURNMENT Chair Howard adjourned the meeting at 7:50 PM. City of Sunnyvale Page 7