City of Sunnyvale
Meeting Minutes
Sustainability Commission
7:00 PM Online and Bay Conference Room (Room
145), City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave.,
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Monday, June 19, 2023
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Wickham called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. in the Bay Conference Room (Room 145) at City Hall.
SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Chair Wickham led the salute to the flag.
ROLL CALL
Chair Kristel Wickham
Vice Chair Douglas Kunz
Commissioner Kathryn Besser
Commissioner Bobbykin Makwana
Commissioner Jeffery Nabhan
Commissioner Kristina Pistone
Commissioner Tonya Veitch
Present: 7 -
Council Liaison - Councilmember Sell (present)
STUDY SESSION
23-0654 Village Centers
Shaunn Mendrin, Planning Officer, provided an overview of the Draft Village Center Master Plan, highlighting the goals and objectives, updates and next steps of the draft plan. Commissioners asked clarifying questions, and staff provided answers.
Commissioner Makwana asked if staff have referenced other cities' Village Center design templates and what lessons came from the research. Mr. Mendrin clarified that the consultant incorporated successes from similar plans in other cities into Sunnyvale's Village Center Master Plan. Commissioner Makwana asked if there are dedicated open and green spaces in the Master Plan. Mr. Mendrin explained it
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depends on the Village Center, and there are open space and landscape requirements they will follow as part of the City's Zoning Code. Mr. Mendrin clarified that Senate Bill 330 does allow developers to request exemptions or concessions for open space and park space depending on how much affordability they have in their project. Commissioner Makwana inquired about when the parking space requirements will be stated in the Master Plan. Mr. Mendrin stated parking standards will be added before the public review draft is released.
Commissioner Besser asked what the limit or parameters are on waivers the developers can have and whether the waivers go over 30 units per acre. Mr.
Mendrin responded that the waivers work with development standards, and they can be unlimited. Mr. Mendrin explained there are two exemption components:
concessions, which are limited based on the affordability percentage of the proposed project, and waivers, which are unlimited. Mr. Mendrin clarified that the increase in density is not something a developer gets a concession or waiver from.
A density increase comes from the state density bonus, which is part of the Housing Accountability Act, so the percentage of affordability the developer proposes in the project allows them to increase their density. Commissioner Besser then asked for further explanation on how waivers are granted. Mr. Mendrin explained they are usually given in instances where certain development requirements would affect the cost of the project or otherwise prevent it from being developed.
Commissioner Nabhan inquired about how much the Village Center Master Plan connects to the City's Climate Action Playbook (CAP). Mr. Mendrin responded that any new building or redevelopment project would need to follow the CalGreen Building Code and the City's Reach Code requirements, which align with Sunnyvale's CAP goals. Commissioner Nabhan also inquired about bioswales. Mr.
Mendrin added there are requirements in the City's Stormwater Municipal Regional Permit that will require bioswales and other green stormwater infrastructure.
Commissioner Veitch thanked staff for a thorough presentation and workshop overview. She then asked for more information about the outreach strategies to encourage attendance at the workshops. Mr. Mendrin explained that with workshop one, staff conducted a video presentation that provided an overview of the Village Center Master Plan as well as an existing conditions report. Staff looked at the opportunities and constraints of each of the different Village Centers and had an online survey for residents take. Mr. Mendrin explained that for each workshop staff sent emails to the Homeowners Associations, neighborhood groups, and an interested parties list. Notices were also mailed to residents living within 1,000 to
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2,000 feet of each Village Center. Commissioner Veitch asked if outreach and direct notices were translated into other languages. Mr. Mendrin responded that the mailers included text in Tagalog and Spanish directing people to a number to call for translating the mailer and other outreach pieces. Commissioner Veitch asked if staff have developed a strategy on how to retain existing businesses in the areas without driving rental costs up due to redevelopment. Mr. Mendrin responded that the Economic Development team and consultant are looking at ways to ensure existing business retention within the plan. Mr. Mendrin stated staff would need to incentivize the developers to increase height or density in the Village Centers to accommodate lower rent for existing businesses. Mr. Mendrin also explained in some cases construction can lead to displacement of existing businesses. Staff are assessing what kind of support can be provided in these instances. Commissioner Veitch asked if the same type of outreach strategies were used on the business community and did businesses attend the workshops. Mr. Mendrin confirmed similar outreach strategies were used and businesses did attend.
Commissioner Pistone asked if outreach was conducted to schools and youth and referred to the presentation, which states 82% of the workshop attendees were ages 51 and over. Mr. Mendrin said they did not do any outreach to schools, but it could be something staff consider moving forward. Commissioner Pistone recommended staff conduct outreach to schools.
Vice Chair Kunz asked what residential density other cities used in their Village Center Master Plans and where Sunnyvale is in comparison. Mr. Mendrin responded he believes Sunnyvale is below other cities based on what he knows from previous work in the City of San Jose. Vice Chair Kunz asked what the residential density is in the surrounding area of the Village Centers. Mr. Mendrin stated that the zoning is considered R1, which is about seven dwelling units per acre. Vice Chair Kunz asked how staff plan to incorporate feedback from the Department of Housing to add another Village Center. Mr. Mendrin replied that it will be folded into the Housing Element update and will be one of the programs they look at later once the Housing Element is adopted within the next year. Vice Chair Kunz asked for clarification on how long that could take. Mr. Mendrin explained it should happen within a year or two. Vice Chair Kunz asked if staff had a sense of the impact the Village Centers would have on service levels for Valley Transit Authority (VTA). Mr. Mendrin responded that staff collaborate with VTA when new development is coming up, and work with them to anticipate impacts. Vice Chair Kunz then asked if there has been any assessment on the vehicle miles traveled (VMT) impacts in the plan areas. Mr. Mendrin said staff only quantified levels of
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service and not VMT. In the Environmental Impacts Report for this plan area, there will be analysis to translate the level of service to VMT with the 18 dwelling units per acre proposed. Mr. Mendrin clarified that if the commercial density in the area decreases this could cause VMT in the plan areas to increase. Vice Chair Kunz then asked about park space and what the effect the Village Centers will have on tree cover and if redevelopment will help increase tree cover. Mr. Mendrin explained that ideally it will as the City implements open space, landscaping, tree cover, and other requirements in the City's Zoning Code.
Commissioner Pistone asked if there is a distinction between different types of commercial requirements in the Village Centers. Mr. Mendrin responded that staff are focusing on neighborhood-serving commercial uses, such as grocery stores and dry cleaners.
Chair Wickham asked if the percentages for affordable housing are set. Mr. Mendrin clarified that the standard percent for affordable housing is set at 15%. Chair asked if the Village Centers will have a higher or lower percentage of housing units compared to the El Camino Real Specific Plan. Mr. Mendrin stated it is a higher percentage in the Village Centers. Chair Wickham asked if retail is higher as well, to which Mr. Mendrin responded he believes so. Chair Wickham asked if the City has a priority Village Center to develop first. Mr. Mendrin replied it is determined by the developers. He clarified that the Village Center Master Plan will help the City and developers ensure development aligns with the community's wishes. Chair Wickham asked if a developer would redevelop the entire parcel or do they develop parts of it.
Mr. Mendrin responded that ideally the developer would purchase the entire property and develop the whole site. Chair Wickham asked what the time scale would be to redevelop all seven Village Centers once the Master Plan is in place.
Mr. Mendrin answered that he is unable to provide a good estimate. Chair Wickham asked for clarification on how VTA and staff decide if more VTA service is needed in a redevelopment site. Mr. Mendrin said typically VTA and City staff coordinate in the planning phase, and VTA will let staff know if they need a new bus stop or if changes in the number of stops need to occur. Chair Wickham asked if the Village Centers height and density requirements are different than the Moffett Park Specific Plan. Mr. Mendrin responded there are very different requirements between the two projects.
Commissioner Besser asked what the process is if a waiver comes in from a developer and it does not align with the City's CAP goals. Mr. Mendrin responded staff are discussing this internally and they are working with the City Attorney. He
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added that waivers are usually for development standards and not CAP standards.
Commissioner Besser asked whether a developer could apply for a waiver to avoid meeting a CAP goal that created additional cost to a project. Mr. Mendrin replied that this has not occurred yet but would go to through a waiver justification process and go to the Planning Commission for consideration if it did.
Commissioner Pistone supports the idea of mixed-use for the Village Centers as well has higher density. She recommended more community outreach occur to a broader range of the community.
Commissioner Nabhan recommended staff investigate requiring more LEED certifications in the Village Centers to align with the City's CAP goals.
Vice Chair Kunz supports and applauds staff's goal to retain retail in the Village Centers. Vice Chair Kunz also favors the higher density goals set out in the Master Plan and recommends staff expand their reach to communicate with younger demographics in the City because he believes they would support higher density development projects due to the affordability. Lastly, Vice Chair Kunz applauded staff's instincts to have higher heights at the corners of the sites rather than closer to the neighborhood areas.
Chair Wickham recommended increased density and to continue working with VTA to ensure bike and pedestrian facilities are connected at the Village Centers. She was thrilled with the no required parking element in the design standard which would make developers identify the bike, pedestrian and public transit options in order to decrease the amount of parking lots in the Village Centers. Chair Wickham stated she believes 10% commercial is too low and would like to see that increase.
Commissioner Veitch recommended broadening community outreach to include diverse voices and age groups that would be more reflective of the City.
Commissioner Veitch additionally recommended increasing the boundary of mailers and other outreach. She supported mixed-use and higher density developments and more walkable and bikeable community projects. Commissioner Veitch was concerned about the retention of some of the existing businesses in the Village Centers and wanted to make sure staff do what they can to keep small businesses in Sunnyvale.
Commissioner Makwana recommended staff be creative in achieving higher density of residential development in the Village Centers as well as meeting the commercial
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requirements when space limitations may be present. He asked staff to consider if looking at Village Centers that are within the same corridor together help them design and achieve higher residential density and ensure retention of existing businesses.
Commissioner Veitch reiterated that the definition of a Village Center is mixed-use and not only residential, so she urges the City to make sure each Village Center remain mixed-use.
PRESENTATION
23-0642 PRESENTATION - Recognition of Service
Councilmember Sell thanked Commissioners Besser, Srinivasan and Wang for their years of service on the Sustainability Commission. She commended them and the Sustainability Commission for their contributions to moving the City’s sustainability initiatives forward.
23-0643
PRESENTATION - Review Study Issue Process and Timelines Madeline Khair, Environmental Programs Manager, presented the Study Issue process and timeline to the Commission and answered questions. 23-0645
PRESENTATION - Climate Action Playbook Update
Christina Raby, Environmental Engineering Coordinator, presented the Game Plan 2028 Outreach and Engagement Plan to the Commission and answered questions.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Resident Eric Krock of the Cherry Chase neighborhood asked the Sustainability Commission to support the neighborhood’s proposal to convert three fenced-in Pacific Gas and Electric right-of-ways into parkland with water-efficient, drought-tolerant native plants and Miyawaki Pocket Forests that will efficiently capture and store carbon.
CONSENT CALENDAR
23-0651 Approve the Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes of May 15, 2023
Approve the Sustainability Commission Minutes of May 15, 2023, as submitted.
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Yes: Chair Wickham
Vice Chair Kunz
Commissioner Besser
Commissioner Nabhan
Commissioner Pistone
5 -
No: 0
Abstain: Commissioner Makwana
Commissioner Veitch
2 -
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
23-0644 Draft Proposal for FY 2023/24 Sustainability Speaker Series The Sustainability Speaker Series Subcommittee, composed of Commissioners Veitch, Besser and Pistone, presented the Draft fiscal year (FY) 2023/24 Sustainability Speaker Series Proposal. The theme for this series is “Water in a Changing Climate,” and includes the following seven proposed topics, for up to four events to be hosted in FY 2023/24: (1) California Water Rights; (2) Water Related Climate Extremes; (3) Grey Water; (4) Microplastics; (5) Water Conservation; (6) Water Heaters; (7) Oceans and Aquaculture. The Subcommittee also presented potential speakers and talk titles for each topic. The Commission discussed the pros and cons of each topic and clarified differences between topics.
Staff tabulated the individual rankings and provided the following ranked list of topics:
(1) Grey Water; (2) Microplastics; (3) Water Related Climate Extremes; (4) Water Heaters; (5) Water Conservation; (6) Oceans and Aquaculture; (7) California Water Rights.
Commissioner Veitch moved, and Commissioner Besser seconded, a motion to approve the FY 2023/24 Sustainability Speaker Series topics as prioritized.
The motion carried by the following vote:
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Yes: Chair Wickham
Vice Chair Kunz
Commissioner Besser
Commissioner Makwana
Commissioner Nabhan
Commissioner Pistone
Commissioner Veitch
7 -
No: 0
STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES
None.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS
-Commissioner Comments
Commissioner Veitch highlighted the last FY 22/23 Sustainable Speaker Series event, An 'Electric' Dinner Party on May 30 with Chef Rachelle Boucher.
Commissioner Veitch reminded Commissioners that the County of Santa Clara is still looking for Commissioners to fill their 11-member Sustainability Commission.
Commissioner Pistone recommended the podcast Ologies.
Chair Wickham mentioned she will have a Commissioner Presentation on climate budgeting at the August meeting. She also mentioned she has been corresponding with a member of the public on the use of artificial turf and is considering submitting a Study Issue on the topic. Chair Wickham reminded Commissioners that the next Council meeting will be on approving the budget.
-Staff Comments
Ms. Raby reported that there were 36 attendees at the Sustainable Speaker Series event on May 30, and there have been over 60 views on YouTube since its posting.
She also noted that the final EV Ride & Drive event will be on June 24 at Baylands Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ms. Raby reminded the Commissioners that the next Sustainability Commission meeting is scheduled to be in the Bay Conference Room (Room 145) in the new Sunnyvale City Hall on July 17. Ms. Raby mentioned that at the July 11 City Council meeting, Council will consider adopting the Moffett Park Specific Plan as well as a number of amendments and other actions pertaining to the plan. At the July 25 City Council meeting, the General Plan is going to the City Council for adoption of Chapter 1: Introduction (Environmental Justice); Chapter 6:
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Safety and Noise, and Chapter 7: Environmental Management (Air Quality).
Ms. Khair reflected that late May tends to be a busy time for the community and event attendance is typically low. As such she recommends avoiding this time frame when scheduling the next round of Speaker Series events. She also provided more information about the upcoming EV Ride & Drive event on June 24. Ms. Khair additionally reminded Commissioners how to sponsor a member of the public's potential Study Issue topic.
Councilmember Sell thanked staff and the Commission for their hard work and for submitting Study Issues that were prioritized by the City Council.
INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS
23-0652 Updated Annual Work Plan June 2023
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Wickham adjourned the meeting at 10:30 p.m.
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