On Monday evening, the Sunnyvale Planning Commission will review the Lawrence Station Area Plan for final recommendation to City Council. The goal of the plan is to evolve the underutilized area near the Caltrain station into a mixed-use neighborhood that takes advantage of the Caltrain station and is more walkable and bikeable.
The staff report incorporates several substantive changes based on public feedback since releasing the draft plan and environmental impact report. The staff report recommends:
* a “Residential Alternative” that would enable more housing than the initial draft
* temporary caps on office and residential to foster a balance between jobs and housing
* making the plan’s reductions optional.
Residential Alternative. Staff is recommending forwarding to Council both Alternative 1 (the No Project Alternative, which does not fulfill the goals of the Plan), and Alternative 2, the Residential Emphasis Alternative. This would allow residential development North of the tracks.
According to the staff report, “densities would range from 19 dwelling units (du) per acre (townhouses) to 78 du per acre in multi-story buildings in new development areas, resulting in 2,237 more residential units than the proposed project. It would also result in 2.91 million square feet less industrial/office/commercial space.”
However, accepting this alternative as described would entail turning down an application from Intuitive Surgical, a medical equipment manufacturer already headquartered at the Lawrence Station Area, to expand at its current location. Perhaps there is a modified Residential Alternative that would allow the exiting business to expand while relatively reducing other office developments in favor of housing.
Temporary caps to ensure jobs/housing balance. Â In order to assure there is a balance of uses developed in the LSAP, temporary caps on development types will be established and reviewed periodically to allow the Planning Commission and City Council to consider allowing more of one type of use or another to develop if a balance is not being met. Staff recommends establishing this temporary cap at the onset of the LSAP and to revisit the amount periodically as significant development occurs.
Reduced parking is optional, not required. Â Â The draft plan recommends lower parking standards than the default for the city. Staff recommends that these lower parking standards be optional rather than required. Â In response to questions, Staff noted that a preliminary housing proposal for the area anticipated adhering to the lower parking levels, but the office project wanted more parking.
Given the demonstrated ability of businesses to reduce drivealone rates with good transportation programs, keeping the parking requirements seems like a good idea.
What do you think? If you can make it, come to Sunnyvale Planning Commission tonight at Sunnyvale City Hall, 456 W Olive Ave. The agenda item will likely come up after 7pm.
Or send a quick note to the Planning Commission, attention Andy Miner. aminer@sunnyvale.ca.gov
The most important thing you can do encourage good transit-oriented development in the Lawrence Station area is to come or write to City Council, Tuesday December 6th, 7:00 pm at Sunnyvale City Hall, or write to Council. Â We’ll keep you posted on what happens at Planning Commission tonight.Â
Update:
