City of Sunnyvale
Excerpt Meeting Minutes - Draft
Planning Commission
7:00 PM Online and Bay Conference Room
(Room 145), City Hall,
456 W. Olive Ave.,
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Monday, July 10, 2023
Special Meeting: Study Session - Canceled | Public Hearing - 7:00 PM 7 P.M. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Pyne called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
ROLL CALL
Chair Martin Pyne
Vice Chair Nathan Iglesias
Commissioner Galen Kim Davis
Commissioner Daniel Howard
Commissioner John Howe
Commissioner Michael Serrone
Commissioner Neela Shukla
Present: 7 -
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
3. 23-0533 Proposed Project:
Forward Recommendations to the City Council related to the General Plan Air Quality, Noise, Safety, and Environmental Justice Update to:
a. Adopt a Resolution to Amend the following Sunnyvale General Plan elements:
i. Chapter 1: Introduction (Environmental Justice);
ii. Chapter 6: Safety and Noise; and
iii. Chapter 7: Environmental Management (Air Quality). b. Introduce an Ordinance to repeal and replace Sunnyvale Municipal Code (SMC) Section 19.42.030 (Noise or Sound Level) and make related changes to Chapter 19.12 (Definitions).
c. Accept the Addendum to the Previously Certified Environmental Impact Report for the Land Use and Transportation Element (State Clearinghouse No. 2012032003) of the Sunnyvale General Plan pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15164.
Attachment 17
July 10, 2023Planning Commission Meeting Minutes - Draft Planning File Number: 2017-7965
Environmental Review: Addendum to the previously certified Environmental Impact Report for the Land Use and Transportation Element of the Sunnyvale General Plan. The Sunnyvale Municipal Code updates are exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines 15061(b) (3) and 15378(b)(5).
Project Planner: Mary Jeyaprakash, 408-730-7449,
[email protected]
Senior Planner Mary Jeyaprakash presented the staff report with a slide presentation.
Commissioner Serrone shared his thoughts on language included in the General Plan amendments and his support for the integration of Environmental Justice objectives in the General Plan.
Commissioner Serrone inquired about why the worst pollution appears to be concentrated north of State Route 237 according to the map on page 25 of Attachment 8. Senior Planner Jeyaprakash explained that transportation is a primary reason for pollution and that factors such as proximity to sources of pollution, exposure to pollution, and economic conditions were considered in the creation of this map. Dimitri Antoniou (Air Quality, GHG, Noise CEQA Practice Leader at Ascent Environmental, Inc.) provided additional details on the data that supports the information on the map.
At Commissioner Serrone’s request, Senior Planner Jeyaprakash and Principal Planner George Schroeder explained how Environmental Justice policies EJ 1.6 and EJ 1.7 were established and how developers will be encouraged and incentivized to incorporate them in their plans.
Commissioner Serrone asked whether the assessment of development projects using the Noise Element’s new standards will prevent housing development near transit. Senior Planner Jeyaprakash answered that site-specific analysis will be conducted to apply appropriate mitigation measures to reduce noise levels. She assured him that the prevention of development near transit is not a desired outcome and that the City strives to provide a high-quality lifestyle for its residents by protecting them from high noise levels.
Commissioner Serrone confirmed with Senior Planner Jeyaprakash and Principal Planner Schroeder that vehicle noise and childcare noise are considered ambient noise.
Attachment 17
July 10, 2023Planning Commission Meeting Minutes - Draft
Commissioner Serrone confirmed with Senior Planner Jeyaprakash that SN-8.13c addresses sound walls or other noise reduction barriers.
Commissioner Serrone confirmed with Senior Planner Jeyaprakash that the General Plan’s chapter on Environmental Management includes a policy that encourages the use of electric landscaping equipment such as leaf blowers. She added that a separate policy in this chapter aims to phase out the use of gas-powered landscaping equipment in City operations.
Commissioner Serrone noted that the General Plan’s chapter on Safety and Noise indicates that the City does not provide paramedic services to its own or contracted fire service provider. He added that this chapter also notes that the Department of Homeland Security has stated that interoperability is a top priority for Public Safety agencies nationwide. He suggested that consideration be given to these items so that they may be updated.
Commissioner Davis commented that air pollution will be significantly reduced only once the City is developed in a way that limits the need for modes of transportation that emit particulate pollution from brakes and tires. He also stated that walking and bicycling should be considered normal means of transportation rather than alternative means of transportation.
Commissioner Davis confirmed with Senior Planner Jeyaprakash that traffic calming qualifies as a noise abatement measure.
Commissioner Shukla noted that there are trees which can trap particulate matter and act as noise barriers, and she asked whether a policy may be included in the General Plan to encourage the use of these trees in new developments. Senior Planner Jeyaprakash answered that while policies in the General Plan cover general items and do not list specific trees, City staff may encourage developers to include such trees in their project plans.
Chair Pyne confirmed with Planning Officer Mendrin and Principal Planner Schroeder that the census tracts will not reflect the likely increase in residential population in the Moffett Park area for many years to come.
Chair Pyne confirmed with Senior Planner Jeyaprakash that none of the tracts in Sunnyvale contain what is defined as a food desert. For this reason, the General
Attachment 17
July 10, 2023Planning Commission Meeting Minutes - Draft Plan may not include language that addresses this circumstance as a health and safety issue.
Chair Pyne inquired about how the City plans to prioritize the addition of schools in low-income communities. Senior Planner Jeyaprakash answered that Environmental Justice policy EJ 1.3 encourages the development of such public facilities in low-income and high-pollution burden bearing communities.
Chair Pyne opened the Public Hearing.
Agnes Veith, Sunnyvale resident and member of Livable Sunnyvale, inquired about the goals and policies listed in Attachment 11 and the goals listed on slide 12 of the staff presentation. In particular, she asked about how often these goals will be updated upon determination of their effectiveness and how the results of these goals will be shared with the members of the public.
Chair Pyne closed the Public Hearing.
MOTION: Commissioner Howard moved and Commissioner Davis seconded the motion to approve Alternative 1 – Forward Recommendations to the City Council to take the following actions:
a.) Adopt a Resolution (Attachment 2) to Amend the following Sunnyvale General Plan elements:
i. Chapter 1: Introduction (Environmental Justice);
ii. Chapter 6: Safety and Noise; and
iii. Chapter 7: Environmental Management (Air Quality). b.) Introduce an Ordinance (Attachment 3) to repeal and replace Sunnyvale Municipal Code (SMC) Section 19.42.030 (Noise or Sound Level) and make related changes to Chapter 19.12 (Definitions).
c.) Accept the Addendum (Attachment 4) to the Previously Certified Environmental Impact Report for the Land Use and Transportation Element of the Sunnyvale General Plan pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15164.
Commissioner Howard noted the effort and attention to detail that staff invested to revise and amend the General Plan and make sure that state and public
Attachment 17
July 10, 2023Planning Commission Meeting Minutes - Draft consideration were taken into account.
Commissioner Davis spoke in support of the motion and the General Plan’s focus on environmental justice.
Chair Pyne voiced his support of the motion, highlighted the hard work staff invested to update the General Plan, and stated that the amended General Plan is worthy of the City Council’s support and adoption.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes: Chair Pyne
Vice Chair Iglesias
Commissioner Davis
Commissioner Howard
Commissioner Howe
Commissioner Serrone
Commissioner Shukla
7 -
No: 0
This recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for consideration at the July 25, 2023 meeting.
Attachment 17