Zoning Administrator Hearing

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes Zoning Administrator Hearing Wednesday, October 11, 2023 3:00 PM Teleconference: City Web Stream Meeting Online link: https://sunnyvale-ca-gov.zoom.us/j/94442399040 Public Participation Accessibility/Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Notice CALL TO ORDER George Schroeder, Zoning Administrator, called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. Mr. Schroeder granted a request to hear the agenda item on 331 and 385 Weddell Drive first. PUBLIC HEARINGS Proposed Project: USE PERMIT to allow the demolition of two hotel buildings and construction of a surface parking lot with associated site improvements. Location: 331 and 385 East Weddell Drive (APNs 110-13-074 and 076) File #: PLNG-2022-7728 Zoning: M-S/POA - Industrial and Service/Places of Assembly Applicant / Owner: Prologis Environmental Review: A Class 3 Categorical Exemption relieves this project from the California Environmental Quality Act provisions. Project Planner: Cindy Hom, 408-730-7411, chom@sunnyvale.ca.gov Mr. Schroeder inquired with Cindy Hom, Project Planner, if there were any additions to the staff report. Ms. Hom acknowledged that this item was continued from the July 12th, 2023 Zoning Administrator Hearing. Additional time was required for staff to work with the applicant on revised language to the conditions that required an operational plan and a 6-month review. Further clarification on the intended use of the site was also requested. The parking lot is proposed for fleet parking use which includes passenger transportation, rental cars, and delivery services. The use of City of Sunnyvale Page 1 Zoning Administrator Hearing Meeting Minutes October 11, 2023 autonomous cars was removed from the Use Permit scope. Staff recommended approval of the permit subject to the Conditions of Approval. Mr. Schroeder inquired with the applicant if there were any additions or comments. Samidha Thakral, applicant, thanked staff for working on the project and hopes to revitalize the current vacant lot. Ms. Thakral had no additional comments or updates. Mr. Schroeder opened the hearing to public comments. No members of the public wished to speak on this item. Mr. Schroeder closed the hearing to public comments. Mr. Schroeder inquired with Ms. Thakral if she had any final comments. Ms. Thakral had no final comments. ACTION: Approve the Use Permit subject to the recommended findings in Attachment 2 and recommended Conditions of Approval in Attachment 3. Proposed Project: VARIANCE to allow an air conditioning unit in the front yard of an existing multi-family development when no mechanical equipment shall be located between the face of building and the street. Location: 551 Grand Fir Avenue Unit 1 (APN: 209-19-044) File #: PLNG-2023-0450 Zoning: R3 (Medium Density Residential) Applicant / Owner: Rachel Ieda (applicant) / Daniel Lee (owner) Environmental Review: A Class 1 Categorical Exemption relieves this project from the California Environmental Quality Act provisions. Project Planner: Robby Miller, 408-730-7429, rmiller@sunnyvale.ca.gov Mr. Schroeder inquired with Robby Miller, Project Planner, if there were any additions to the staff report. Mr. Miller gave a brief presentation summarizing the project. He noted that the A/C unit would be in the front of Unit 1 of the property facing Grand Fir Avenue. Mr. Miller explained that staff reviewed alternative locations for the A/C unit. Other locations would create a deficient driveway width, encroach on usable space, create City of Sunnyvale Page 2 Zoning Administrator Hearing Meeting Minutes October 11, 2023 noise for other units, or cause a hazard in the primary pedestrian walkway. The unit would be inside of a custom enclosure. Staff requested Conditions of Approval for landscape screening in front of the enclosure, maintenance of said screening and enclosure in good condition, and that the enclosure coor matches the facade . No public comments were received and Staff recommended approval of the permit subject to the Conditions of Approval. Mr. Schroeder inquired the applicant if there were any additions or comments. Rachel Ieda, applicant, had no additions or comments. Mr. Schroeder opened the hearing to public comments. Janet Murdock, neighbor, expressed approval of the Variance. Ms. Murdock expressed that A/C units were less of an eyesore than other large pipes in the neighborhood and that due to climate, A/C units are important to multi-family housing units that do not have many options for ventilation. She stated that the Grand Fir Avenue units are older and did not have the A/C units as options when they were built. Ms. Murdock noted that other housing units can simply install an A/C unit in their backyards without a public hearing. Mr. Schroeder noted that a Variance is required for any mechanical equipment in the front of a building, which is where the A/C unit location is proposed. Mr. Schroeder inquired with Ms. Ieda if she had any final comments. Ms. Ieda had no final comments. ACTION: Approve the Variance subject to the recommended findings in Attachment 2 and recommended Conditions of Approval in Attachment 3. Proposed Project: SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT: Allow a recreational and athletic facility (swim club and classes) within the Civic Square shopping center. Location: 816 W. El Camino Real (APN: 201-21-005) File #: PLNG-2023-0336 Zoning: ECR-MU42 (El Camino Real Mixed Use) Applicant / Owner: Hippo Swim Club (applicant) / Sunnyvale Civic Square LLC (owner) Environmental Review: Class 1 Categorical Exemption relieves this project from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) provisions. City of Sunnyvale Page 3 Zoning Administrator Hearing Meeting Minutes October 11, 2023 Project Planner: Shila Bagley, 408-730-7418, sbagley@sunnyvale.ca.gov Mr. Schroeder inquired with Shila Bagley, Project Planner, if there were any additions to the staff report. Ms. Bagley gave a brief presentation on the description of the project. Ms. Bagley noted that staff found the proposed use consistent with other uses within the shopping center. The proposed use would be no more intense than other uses found in this location. No public comments were received and Staff recommended approval of the permit subject to the Conditions of Approval. Mr. Schroeder inquired the applicant if there were any additions or comments. Jay Que, applicant, stated that the goal of the swim club would be to support the local community. Mr. Que emphasized he specifically wanted to bring enrichment and to support the elderly and low-income families with this facility. Mr. Schroeder opened the hearing to public comments. Laura Jacobsen, who identified herself as an owner of the Civic Square Shopping Center expressed her approval of the project. Ms. Jacobsen felt the athletic facility would be a great addition to the shopping center. Mr. Schroeder closed the hearing the public comments. Mr. Schroeder inquired with Mr. Que if he had any final comments. Mr. Que had no final comments. ACTION: Approve the Special Development Permit subject to the recommended Conditions of Approval in Attachment 2 and recommended findings in Attachment 3. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Schroeder adjourned the hearing at 3:20 p.m. City of Sunnyvale Page 4