Zoning Administrator Hearing

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes Zoning Administrator Hearing Wednesday, May 28, 2014 2:00 PM West Conference Room, City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086 CALL TO ORDER Mr. Andrew Miner, Zoning Administrator, opened the meeting at 2:00 p.m. PUBLIC HEARINGS File #: 2014-7043 Location: 441 S Sunnyvale Avenue and 449 S Sunnyvale Avenue (APNs: 209-26-029 and 209-26-030) Zoning: DSP 10 Proposed Project: SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT: to allow the construction of 4 new homes TENTATIVE MAP: to subdivide 2 parcels into 4 lots. Applicant / Owner: Sycamore Homes (applicant) / 349 First Street LLC (owner) Reason for Permit: A Special Development Permit is required for the construction of four new single-family homes and a Tentative Parcel Map is required to subdivide two lots into four lots. Project Planner: Elise Lieberman, (408) 730-7443, elieberman@sunnyvale.ca.gov In attendance: Jennifer Mastro, Architect; David Wagner, Neighbor; Andrew Miner, Zoning Administrator; Elise Lieberman, 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.. Elise Lieberman, Project Planner, presented the item. Lot Coverage for the entire lot is roughly 34% and FAR is under 60%. The applicant worked with staff to meet as many requirements as possible while maintaining their original intent for the site. Changes were made to the conditions of approval; condition GC-10: changed wording from final map to parcel map, BP-13: changed wording from previously City of Sunnyvale Page 1 Zoning Administrator Hearing Meeting Minutes May 28, 2014 submitted condition, EP-18 & EP-19 new condition added, TM-1: changed wording from final map to parcel map, TM-4: changed wording from previously submitted condition, TM-7: new condition added. Staff has not received any comments from the public and staff recommends approval with the conditions listed in Attachment A. Mr. Miner inquired about overhead utilities. Ms. Lieberman stated the utilities have already been relocated underground. Mr. Miner opened the public hearing. Jennifer Mastro, Architect, received and reviewed a copy of the staff report. Ms. Mastro had no questions or comments regarding the conditions of approval and confirmed the relocation of the overhead utilities. Staff stated that the applicant had gone through 3 different designs and feels this is the best option. David Wagner, Neighbor, had questions regarding parking. Ms. Lieberman stated that the two front parcels have a covered parking space and one uncovered parking space. The two parcels in back both have a two car covered parking space and one uncovered parking space. Mr. Miner closed the public hearing. Approved subject to the findings and conditions of approval located in the staff report with added and modified conditions that were discussed at the hearing. 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. File #: 2014-7339 Location: 1008 Havre Court (APN: 320-12-028 ) Applicant / Owner: Loc Nguyen Proposed Project: USE PERMIT to allow a 6-foot 10-inch tall wall in the front yard of a single-family residence. Reason for Permit: A Use Permit is required for any fence that exceeds 6 feet in height in the front yard. Project Planner: Momoko Ishijima, (408) 730-7532, mishijima@sunnyvale.ca.gov Issues: Height Recommendation: Approve with Conditions In attendance: Loc Nguyen, Applicant; Phil & Marlene Bernstein, Neighbor; Andrew Miner, Zoning Administrator; Momoko Ishijima, Project Planner; Luis Uribe, Staff Office Assistant. Mr. Andrew Miner, Zoning Administrator, on behalf of the Director of Community City of Sunnyvale Page 2 Zoning Administrator Hearing Meeting Minutes May 28, 2014 Development, explained the format that would be observed during the public hearing. Mr. Miner announced the subject application. Momoko Ishijima, Project Planner, presented the item. The property has a large front and reducible front yard. The proposed wall would be 16 feet from the front property line and 40 feet from the reducible side property line. The wall is proposed to create a small courtyard where there is existing landscaping consisting of a small tree (to be removed) and shrubs. There is no impact on the vision triangle and will retain the openness of the front and reducible front yard. The wall material will match the existing residence. Staff did receive one inquiry from a neighbor and staff recommends approval. Mr. Miner opened the public hearing. Loc Nguyen, Applicant, received and reviewed a copy of the staff report. The applicant had no questions or comments regarding the conditions of approval. Mr. Miner asked for the reasoning behind extending the fence out by four feet. Mr. Nguyen stated that it is not vital that the fence be out that far. Phil Bernstein, Neighbor, stated that he loves the openness of the neighborhood and feels that the current design is not compatible to the neighborhood and is going to be an eyesore. Marlene Bernstein, Neighbor, stated that a few neighbors are not excited for the current design and feels that it will go against everything the Neighborhood Preservation Department tries to preserve. Mr. Nguyen does not believe that this will be an eyesore since the material he will be using is currently being used to construct new homes. Mr. Miner closed the public hearing. The Zoning Administrator denied the Use Permit and took the application under advisement until Friday, May 30, 2014 to find a design that will work for approval at staff level. 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 City of Sunnyvale Page 3 Zoning Administrator Hearing Meeting Minutes May 28, 2014 Mr. Miner adjourned the meeting at 2:23 p.m. City of Sunnyvale Page 4