REPORT TO DEVELOPMENT REVIEW HEARING
SUBJECT
Title
Architectural Review of a multi-family development with up to 1,100 multi-family residential units, up to 2,000 square feet of amenity space and a 2.0-acre public park on a 13.3-acre site bounded by Freedom Circle to the west, Mission College Boulevard to the north, San Tomas Aquino Creek to the east and Highway 101 to the south (3905 Freedom Circle); APNs: 104-40-021 & 104-40-036
Report
File No.(s): PLN2017-12516
Location: A 13.3 gross acre site bounded by Freedom Circle to the west, Mission College Boulevard to the north, San Tomas Aquino Creek to the east and Highway 101 to the south (3905 Freedom Circle); APNs: 104-40-021 & 104-40-036
Owner/
Applicant: Freedom Circle Venture LLC/Greystar Real Estate Partners
Request: Architectural Review of a multi-family development with up to 1,100 multi-family residential units, up to 2,000 square feet of amenity space and a 2.0-acre public park on a 13.3-acre site
Project Data
The Project Data Table is included as Attachment 3.
Points for consideration
• The proposed project’s consistency with its recently approved General Plan land use designation and Planned Development rezoning for the project site.
• The conditions of approval, which include the additional conditions imposed by the City Council at the June 7, 2022 meeting approving the General Plan Amendment and Planned Development rezoning.
• A neighborhood notice was distributed within a 1,000-foot radius of the subject site for this project review, and was also published in the Santa Clara Weekly on June 22, 2022.
Findings
1) That any off-street parking area, screening strips and other facilitates 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 approved Planned Development rezoning requires one parking space for each studio and one-bedroom unit and two parking spaces for each two-bedroom and three-bedroom unit, consistent with current City of Santa Clara standards. As such, 1,379 parking spaces are required. The project provides 1,379 parking spaces.
• The Planned Development rezoning also requires one parking space per 200 square feet of retail/amenity space, or ten parking spaces for the 2,000 square foot amenity space proposed. The plan proposes ten parking spaces for the amenity area.
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 development emphasizes walkability and access to transit and existing bicycle facilities, including a direct connection to the San Tomas Aquino Creek Trail, which is the North-South spine of the City’s active transportation network. The project will also provide Class IV protected bikeways along the project’s Freedom Circle and Mission College Boulevard frontages.
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 use, scale, and design of the development, as conditioned, is consistent with the General Plan and the adopted Freedom Circle Focus Area policies and are is compatible with existing and planned uses in the surrounding area.
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 project includes conditions to be consistent with bird-safe design principles.
• The use, scale, and design of the development, as conditioned, is consistent with the General Plan and the adopted Freedom Circle Focus Area policies and are is compatible with existing and planned uses in the surrounding area.
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 development provides for an attractive, appropriately scaled and functional site arrangement of buildings and a high quality architectural and landscape design.
• The project also provides for proper access, visibility and identity within the Freedom Circle Focus Area and adds new affordable housing for low and very low-income households.
Conditions of Approval:
1. The Project Clearance Committee conditions of approval dated 8/3/2021 (File No. PLN2017-12516) and attached to this report, along with the additional conditions imposed by the City Council on June 7, 2022 form the extent of the conditions of approval on the project.
2. Permit Expiration. This Architectural Permit shall automatically be revoked and terminated if not used within two years of original grant or within the period of any authorized extensions thereof. The date of granting of this Permit is the date this Permit is approved by the Development Review Officer.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was prepared for the Freedom Circle Focus Area and Greystar General Plan Amendment in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The EIR and Notice of Availability were circulated for a 45-day period from November 5, 2021 to December 20, 2021 in accordance with CEQA requirements. The Freedom Circle Focus Area/Greystar General Plan Amendment EIR, case file PLN2017-12516, studied the subject project at a project level, and incorporates project-specific conditions into the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP).
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the City for processing the requested application other than administrative staff time and expense typically covered by processing fees paid by the applicant.
PUBLIC CONTACT
On June 23, 2022, a notice of public hearing of this item was posted within 300 feet of the project site and mailed to property owners within 1,000 feet of the project site. As of the date of this report, Planning Staff has not received public comments for this application.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Approve the Architectural Review of a multi-family development with up to 1,100 multi-family residential units, up to 2,000 square feet of amenity space and a 2.0-acre public park on a 13.3-acre site.
Staff
Prepared by: John Davidson, Principal Planner, Community Development
Approved by: Lesley Xavier, Planning Manager, Community Department
ATTACHMENTS
1. Greystar Development Plans
2. Greystar Conditions of Approval
3. Project Data for the Greystar development permit