Zoning Administrator Hearing

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes Zoning Administrator Hearing Wednesday, February 12, 2014 2:00 PM South Annex Conference Room, City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086 CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC HEARINGS 14-0176 File #: 2014-7002 Location: 331 W. Washington Ave. (APN: 209-07-027) Applicant / Owner: Flywheel Sports / BRE Properties, Inc. Proposed Project: SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT to allow a recreational and athletic facility within a 2,975 square foot tenant space at the Solstice mixed-use development. Reason for Permit: A Special Development Permit is required for recreational and athletic facilities within Downtown Specific Plan Block 1A. Project Planner: Noren Caliva-Lepe, (408) 730-7659, ncaliva-lepe@sunnyvale.ca.gov Issues: Noise impacts Recommendation: Approve with conditions In attendance: Jeffrey Eaton, Architect; Andrew Miner, Zoning Administrator; Noren Caliva-Lepe, Project Planner; Luis Uribe, Staff Office Assistant. Mr. Andrew Miner, Zoning Administrator, on behalf of the Director of Community Development, explained the format that would be observed during the public hearing. Mr. Miner announced the subject application. Noren Caliva-Lepe, Project Planner, presented the item. Ms. Caliva-Lepe stated that this facility provides indoor cycling/spinning classes on a membership basis. Classes will be staggered by 15 minutes, reducing overlap between patrons inside the building. Staff provided a revised condition of approval PC-2 to further reduce noise impacts, which included provisions to account for low-frequency sounds or vibration. Ms. Caliva-Lepe noted that the updated condition of approval was provided by the applicant’s noise consultant and that it was based on noise standards used by the City of Palo Alto and City/County of San Francisco. City of Sunnyvale Page 1 Zoning Administrator Hearing Meeting Minutes February 12, 2014 Mr. Miner opened the public hearing. Jeffrey Eaton, Architect, received and reviewed a copy of the staff report. The applicant stated that they reached out to a noise consultant to protect the neighbors and the City from the noise that would be produced by the use. He also mentioned that he feels that they have gone above and beyond what is required by making sure that conditions were put into place to protect the current neighborhood environment. Mr. Eaton also stated that some of the equipment that was installed has some noise reducing elements. Mr. Miner closed the public hearing. This item was taken under advisement until Thursday, February 13, 2014. On that day, the Zoning Administrator approved the application subject to the findings and conditions of approval located in the staff report. Modifying condition PC-2 regarding noise verification and adding AT-1.b regarding hours of operation. Mr. Miner stated that the decision is final unless appealed to the Planning Commission with payment of the appeal fee within the 15-day appeal period. 14-0158 File #: 2013-8000 Location: 1292 Forgewood Avenue (APN: 104-32-013) Applicant / Owner: Made in Japan-USA-Europe/ Vedanta Society of Northern California Proposed Project: USE PERMIT to allow an auto repair facility in an existing 9,900 square foot industrial building. Reason for Permit: A Use Permit is required for auto repair facility in the M-S (Industrial and Service) Zoning District (SMC 19.22.030) Project Planner: Shétal Divatia, (408) 730-7367, sdivatia@sunnyvale.ca.gov Issues: Landscaping and customer parking. Recommendation: Approve with conditions In attendance: Mohsen Oghabian, Applicant; Jack Sullivan, Designer; Patrick Sargent, Contractor; Andrew Miner, Zoning Administrator; Shetal Divatia, Project Planner; Luis Uribe, Staff Office Assistant. Mr. Andrew Miner, Zoning Administrator, on behalf of the Director of Community Development, explained the format that would be observed during the public hearing. Mr. Miner announced the subject application. City of Sunnyvale Page 2 Zoning Administrator Hearing Meeting Minutes February 12, 2014 Shetal Divatia, Project Planner, presented the item and stated that the proposal requires and includes several site upgrades and modifications to facilitate the proposed use. The modifications include reducing widths of the two driveways to make room for two new parking stalls, addition of a 11 foot-wide landscaping strip along the frontage and planting of three street trees; and a 7 foot-wide landscaping strip along the real property line, striping of 15 parking spaces in the rear and addition of 2 bicycle parking spaces, construction of a solid waste enclosure and removal of an existing canopy above the entrance. Ms. Divatia stated that all repair work will be conducted indoors and there will be no car washing activity at this location. Staff recommends approval of the Use Permit. Mr. Miner asked if a paint booth will be used at this location, staff said no. Ms. Divatia mentioned that stress pads will be needed but are not allowed on the street. She also noted that the trash bins will have to be moved from the south to the north side of the property on trash pick-up days. Mr. Miner had concerns about parking, staff responded that it was not impossible to add more parking spaces in the front and stated that they will not have customers loitering while work is being completed. Mr. Miner opened the public hearing. Mohsen Oghabian, Applicant, received and reviewed a copy of the staff report. He stated that 90% of the customers do not stay while work is being conducted. The applicant stated that signs will be added to assist in directing customers to parking spaces located at the rear of the property. Mr. Oghabian noted that customers get quotes over the phone or on-line and just drop off the vehicle, eliminating customer loitering. The Zoning Administrator asked about how many vehicles will be on site at one time. The applicant stated that he does not like holding on to vehicles and would have to have a quick return time for customers. Pat Sargent, Contractor, stated that they have curbside parking available, which Mr. Miner informed that street parking cannot be counted as available parking. Staff stated that there are 17 parking spaces on site but only 13 are required. Mr. Oghabian informed staff that his lease agreement is for 20 years with an option for a lease to buy. Mr. Miner stated that a concern of his is that the parking in back will not be utilized since it is hidden from customer view. Mr. Miner closed the public hearing. The Zoning Administrator took the application under advisement so staff can figure out how to utilize the back parking area. The applicant and staff worked together to maximize the parking available on site, and on March 6, 2014, Mr. Miner approved the application subject to the findings and conditions of approval located in the staff City of Sunnyvale Page 3 Zoning Administrator Hearing Meeting Minutes February 12, 2014 report with additional language added to condition BP-13 regarding exterior lighting. Mr. Miner stated that the decision is final unless appealed to the Planning Commission with payment of the appeal fee within the 15-day appeal period. ADJOURNMENT At 2:42 p.m. City of Sunnyvale Page 4