REPORT TO DEVELOPMENT REVIEW HEARING
SUBJECT
Title
PUBLIC HEARING: Adoption of a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) and Action on Architectural Review (PLN22-00556) for Demolition of an Existing Building to Construct a New Four-Story Office Building Located at 5200 Patrick Henry Drive
Report
File No.(s): PLN22-00556
Location: 5200 Patrick Henry Drive, an approximately 5.6-acre parcel located on the northwest intersection of Patrick Henry Drive and Bunker Hill Road; APN: 104-50-011; the property is zoned Light Industrial (ML).
Applicant: LPA Design Studios
Owner: Arista Networks
Request: Adoption of a Mitigated Declaration (MND) and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) and action on Architectural Review for demolition of an existing one-story vacant building to construct a new 244,918 square foot four-story office building with an ancillary data center, one level subsurface parking and site improvements.
Project Data
The Project Data and Compliance Table is included as Attachment 2.
Points for Consideration
Summary
• The 5.6-acre project site (site) is bounded by Bunker Lane Drive to the south, Patrick Henry Drive to the east, Calabazas Creek Trail to the west, and Industrial uses to the north. See Attachment 3 for vicinity map.
• An approximately 92,580 square foot one-story vacant light industrial building currently occupies the site.
• The site has a General Plan Land Use Designation of Low-Intensity Office and Research & Development that allows the proposed office use with a 10 Mega Watt (MW) data center.
• The site is zoned Light Industrial (ML) and the project was cleared by the Project Clearance Committee (PCC) on January 9, 2024. Therefore, the regulations of the Classic Zoning Code apply to the project. The project does not propose any emergency backup generators, cogeneration facilities, or electrical substations. Per Chapter 18.48 Light Industrial Zoning District (ML), the proposed Office with an ancillary data center would be allowed use.
• Per the City’s 2022 Climate Action Plan, the data center portion of the project would be required to operate on 100 percent carbon-neutral energy, with offsets as needed.
• The closest sensitive receptors (children, elderly, asthmatics, and others whose are at a heightened risk of negative health outcomes due to exposure to air pollution)
are the residential uses located approximately 925 feet south of the project site at the Adobe Wells Mobile Home Park.
• The project requires an Architectural Review pursuant to Santa Clara City Code 18.76.020 (c)(5) (Classic code at the date of the project being deemed complete).
• It is anticipated that up to 700 employees will work in the building daily.
• The applicant has submitted a draft TDM plan prepared by Hexagon that proposes to reduce the Vehicle Miles Travelled (VMT) by 25% through active TDM Measures PER City’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2022 for large employers with over 500 employees.
• A neighborhood notice was distributed within a 1,000-foot radius of the subject site for this project review.
Building Design
• The building is situated on the property parallel with Calabazas Creek and Patrick Henry Drive. The proposed project includes modern architecture employing gray precast concrete wall panels and Low-E glazing. The glazing spanning from the base of the building to the roofline is broken up at each level by exterior decorative metal panels (Champagne metallic) that also serve as shade and rain screening. The screening accentuates the horizontal massing of the building. The rear of the building includes a notch at the third and fourth floors, breaking up the mass and creating an outdoor roof deck area overlooking the creek.
• The project includes a basement for parking and storage, and four levels above grade for the office space. The project maintains the height of the building at 70 feet with the rooftop mechanical equipment located away from the roof edge and screened behind a 12-foot metal screen.
• The building will include systems for heating and cooling, lighting, appliances, and water use, which will consume electricity., The project would be all-electric and will not use natural gas. Per the City’s 2022 Climate Action Plan, the data center portion of the project would be required to operate on 100 percent carbon-neutral energy, with offsets as needed.
Open Space and Landscaping
• The project proposes to remove 125 trees on site, and 250 replacement trees are required at a ratio of 2:1 as specified in City Code Chapter 12.35 and the City’s General Plan Policy 5.3.1‐P10. The project will plant a total of 96 trees onsite, 73 @ 36” box trees and 23 @ 48” box trees, upsizing. The planting guide plan includes Green Vase Zelkova, Coast Live Oak, Chinese Elm and Fruitless Olive tree and other native shrubs and ground covers. The remaining trees shall be replaced at an equal alternative as approved by the Director of Community Development per Chapter 12.35.090(c)(8) of the City Code.
Parking
• The project would be accessed by driveways along Patrick Henry Drive, and would install five-foot detached sidewalks along all the project frontage.
• The project will provide a total of 649 parking spaces, 426 of which are surface parking and 223 subsurface parking. This is consistent with the Zoning Code requirement. Electric vehicle parking is provided consistent with the City’s Reach Code.
• The proposed project would provide 62 Class one (long-term) bicycle parking spaces onsite in the basement level and four Class two (short-term) bicycle parking spaces.
Findings Supporting Staff’s Recommendation
Granting the Architectural Review approval requires the following findings consistent with City Code Section 18.76.020(d):
1) That any off-street parking area, screening strips and other facilities and improvements necessary to secure the purpose and intent of this title and the general plan of the City area a part of the proposed development, in that;
• The development provides a total of 649 on-site parking spaces and provides adequate circulation for vehicular access.
• The existing bus and shuttle service in the project vicinity is provided by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA). The project is served by five VTA bus or shuttle routes within walking distance (a half mile) of the project site. There is a shuttle stop for the ACE Green Shuttle adjacent to the project site on Patrick Henry Drive.
2) That the design and location of the proposed development and its relation to neighboring developments and traffic is such that it will not impair the desirability of investment or occupation in the neighborhood, will not unreasonably interfere with the use and enjoyment of neighboring developments, and will not create traffic congestion or hazard, in that;
• The proposed project would not generate an increase in vehicle trips to the level of a significant impact as determined in the Initial Study prepared for the project.
• The project provides on-site and off-site infrastructure mitigations and improvements that will benefit the project site and neighboring properties.
• The project includes pedestrian and traffic improvements with development of the site to improve pedestrian and traffic safety in the area.
3) That the design and location of the proposed development is such that it is in keeping with the character of the neighborhood and is such as not to be detrimental to the harmonious development contemplated by this title and the general plan of the City, in that;
• The development includes commercial structures and other on-site improvements including landscaping that is compatible with the existing residential uses in the area.
• The building design has a modern aesthetic that compliments existing land uses in the surrounding neighborhood in scale and intensity.
4) That the granting of such approval will not, under the circumstances of the particular case, materially affect adversely the health, comfort or general welfare of persons residing or working in the neighborhood of said development, and will not be materially detrimental to the public welfare or injuries to property or improvements in said neighborhood, in that;
• The project is subject to the California Building Code and City Code requirements, which serve to regulate new construction to protect public health, safety, and general welfare.
• The use, scale, and design of the development, as conditioned, are consistent with the General Plan and is designed to be compatible with the uses in the surrounding area.
• An approved Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program accompanies the project and shall be implemented throughout project development to reduce any potential impacts to less than significant.
5) That the proposed development, as set forth in the plans and drawings, are consistent with the set of more detailed policies and criteria for architectural review as approved and updated from time to time by the City Council, which set shall be maintained in the planning division office. The policies and criteria so approved shall be fully effective and operative to the same extent as if written into and made a part of this title, in that;
• The proposed design and form of the building is consistent with the City’s Commercial Design Guidelines and General Plan policies.
• The project provides for an attractive and functional site arrangement of the buildings and other improvements on a commercial site providing a high-quality architectural and landscape design.
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
Conditions of Approval are available as Attachment 4.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered considers the potential environmental impacts of the project addressed in a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The MND and Notice of Intent to Adopt were posted on the City’s website and were circulated for 30-day review on May 10, 2024, and closed on June 10, 2024, in accordance with CEQA.
The MND analyzed the project’s impact in the various environmental topics covered by CEQA. Most topics were found to have less than significant impact or no impact. The following topics were found to have potential impacts that could be reduced to less than significant with mitigation: air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, geology and soils, hazards and hazardous materials, and tribal cultural resources. The mitigations and responsible parties for mitigation are included in the mitigation monitoring and reporting program (MMRP) (Attachment 1).
Findings
There is no substantial evidence that the project will have a significant effect on the environment and that the mitigated negative declaration reflects the lead agency’s independent judgment and analysis.
There were public comments received on the MND and a Response to Comments has been prepared available as Attachment 6. None of the comments required a recirculation of the environmental document.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Development Review Hearing agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
On July 5, 2024, a notice of public hearing of this item was mailed to property owners within 1,000 feet of the project site.
No public comments were received on the project, other than the comments received on the MND at the time of writing this staff report.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt the Mitigated Declaration (MND) and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) and action on Architectural Review for demolition of an existing one-story vacant building to Construct a new 244,918 square foot four-story Office building with an ancillary data center, one level subsurface parking and site improvements located at 5200 Patrick Henry Drive, subject to findings and conditions of approval.
Staff
Prepared by: Nimisha Agrawal, Senior Planner, Community Development
Approved by: Lesley Xavier, Planning Manager, Community Development
Attachments:
1. Link to the Draft MND and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP)
2. Project Data and Compliance Table
3. Vicinity Map
4. Conditions of Approval
5. Development Plans
6. Response to Comments received on the IS/MND