Zoning Administrator Hearing

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes Zoning Administrator Hearing Wednesday, December 15, 2021 3:00 PM West Conference Room, City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086 Meeting Online Link: https://sunnyvale-ca-gov.zoom.us/j/94442399040 Special Teleconference Notice Public Participation Accessibility/Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Notice CALL TO ORDER Michelle King, Zoning Administrator, called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. PUBLIC HEARINGS Proposed Project: USE PERMIT: to allow an 8-foot high front yard and reducible front yard fence. Location: 1199 Pimento Avenue (APN: 202-21-017) File #: 2021-7319 Applicant / Owner: Gopal Parupudi / Gopal Parupudi Trustee & Et Al (applicant/owner) Environmental Review: Class 3 Categorical Exemption relieves this project from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) provisions. Project Planner: Momoko Ishijima, 408-730-7532, mishijima@sunnyvale.ca.gov Issues: Compatibility with the neighborhood Recommendation: Approve with conditions Ms. King inquired with Momoko Ishijima, project planner, if there were any additions to the staff report. Ms. Ishijima made a presentation highlighting the basic overview of the project. She highlighted it was for a Use Permit for a fence taller than 6-feet. She explained details of the location and the placement of the fence relative to the site plans. The style and dimensions of the fence were discussed, and it was noted the rest of the fences on property would be replaced to match the new one in the future. Photos of City of Sunnyvale Page 1 Zoning Administrator Hearing Meeting Minutes December 15, 2021 the fence were shown. Ms. King opened the hearing to the applicant and asked if they had any additions to the project. Gopal Parupudi, owner, noted a reason for the new fence was because a tree damaged the original fence. The new fence would be futured proofed against trees he wishes to preserve and future trees he wishes to plant. He also wished for a modern and contemporary style for the fence that would be easier for the owners and guests to access and use the area space. Ms. King opened the hearing to public comment and asked if anyone wished to do so. Mr. Sunil S., neighbor, inquired why the fence needed to be 8-feet tall instead of 6-feet tall and asked if it would encroach to the sidewalk area. He also wanted to make sure the fence did not interfere with the vision triangle in the corner of neighbors’ driveways. Mr. Matt Whalley, neighbor, also had concerns over the height of the fence due to appearance issues because the fence would be significantly taller than the rest of the neighborhood fences. Ms. Ishijima brought up the site plans and showed the fence does not come out further into the front yard than what is drawn. She clarified the fence height and what the permit allows. She noted there is a Condition of Approval that notes if the fence reaches 8-feet tall, the vision triangle must be preserved on the Ticonderoga side. If the fence stays at the current 7-foot height, the triangle is already intact. Ms King noted there was a call from a member of the public, but they were unable to speak due to technical difficulties on their end. Mr. Parupudi wanted to clarify that the current fence height was already near 8-feet tall, thus the proposed fence would not present much of a difference. Ms. Matsumoto, neighbor, wanted clarification on if a substantial amount of an existing fence would be replaced and asking if the fence location would be the same as it is currently. City of Sunnyvale Page 2 Zoning Administrator Hearing Meeting Minutes December 15, 2021 Ms. King confirmed there would be a new side fence and it would be in the same location. She reiterated there would be no impact to the vision triangles. Ms. Whalley, neighbor, asked for clarification on if part of the 8-foot height of the fence could be made of screening versus solid material. Ms. King responded that there is no requirement that the last foot of the fence be made of lattice or open. She asked the applicant if they would allow the last foot of fencing be more open. Mr. Parupudi stated he would prefer to proceed with his proposed design. Ms. King closed the public comments. ACTION: Approved the Use Permit with recommended Conditions in Attachment 4. ADJOURNMENT Ms. King adjourned the hearing at 3:26 p.m. City of Sunnyvale Page 3