High-density housing unsuitable for West Weddell Projects

The East Weddell Projects Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) has failed to include two critical, and common, CEQA Categories from this report to adequately describe the environmental setting of the Sares Regis and Raintree Sites affected by hazardous contaminants (520-592 E. Weddell Ave. and 610 – 630 E. Weddell Ave, Sunnyvale) that could potentially pose a significant threat to human health or the environment:

1. Geology and Soils
2. Hydrology and Water Quality

Additionally, the East Weddell Projects DEIR also fails to report that the State of California and the Santa Clara County map the East Weddell Projects is the Seismic Hazard Zones:

1. Liquefaction Hazard Zone
2. FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area (northwest project area close to/or in)

Since liquefaction can occur when loose, water saturated, fine-grained soils (such as sands and silt) are shaken during an earthquake, what is the impact of the hazardous ground contaminants and proper mitigation, if any? Soil can temporarily become liquid like and structures may settle unevenly. If present, these weak materials can fail during an earthquake and, unless proper precautions are taken during grading and construction, can cause damage to structures

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E Weddell Seismic Hazard Zone Liquefaction and FEMA Flood Hazard

E Weddell Seismic Hazard Zone Liquefaction

California Public Resources Code Section 2696 requires the delineation and mapping of “Seismic Hazard Zones” in California. Affected cities and counties must regulate certain development projects within these zones. Construction or development including additions, on affected properties may be subject to the findings of a geological report prepared by a registered California geologist.

This illustration is a screen capture from a JCP Natural Hazards Report mapping Seismic Hazard liquefaction and FEMA Special Flood Hazard area at the Fair Oaks/101/East Weddell/Tasman location.

California Public Resources Code Section 2696 requires the delineation and mapping of “Seismic Hazard Zones” in California. Affected cities and counties must regulate certain development projects within these zones. Construction or development including additions,on affected properties may be subject to the findings of a geological report prepared by a registered California geologist.  Seismic Hazard Zones are regulatory zones that encompass areas prone to liquefaction (failure of water saturated soil) and earthquake induced landslides.

For extensive information about these zones, please visit http://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/shzp/SHMPrealdis.htm

on the internet.

“Hold Your Laughter But What Can $25,000 Get Us?” Writes Sunnyvale Planner Steve Lynch

“Please hold your laughter but  . . . . what can $25,000  get us?” writes Sunnyvale Principal Planner Gerri Caruso’s replacement, Steve Lynch, in an email to city transportation staff Heba El-Guendy and Jack Witthaus.

So . . . while the Sunnyvale Heritage District Neighborhood was earnestly advocating for safe and calm streets, the paltry $25,000 initially required of PAMF for traffic calming devices was considered laughable?

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“Hold your Laughter” Mocks Steve Lynch 4_27

FREE 28 Months of Thunderous Pile-Driver “Hammer-Rap” for the Neighbors, Courtesy of PAMF

Get ready to party to agitating, pile driver, hammering noise, and lots of it! The Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) did not seem to bat an eye at imposing 28 months of loud, 6 day work-week, intense construction noise to their neighbors despite numerous comments and complaints from community members during the June 23, 2009 hearing.

Palo Alto Medical Foundation Giant Excavator Digging feet away from residential homes on Jarvis Court, Sunnyvale

Before the neighbors are told, “Tough luck, there are overriding considerations as to why you must expect over 2 years of construction noise exceeding the City of Sunnyvale Noise Standards,” CEQA requires there be a thorough analysis of alternatives that could reduce this significant adverse unavoidable environmental impact to a less than significant level.

And . . there wasn’t. This is so despite the numerous comments on the noise problem, noise mitigation or lack thereof.

Sunnyvale PAMF EIR Traffic Study A Morse Code to “The Boss”

The PAMF FEIR Traffic Analysis, apparently a Morse code to Sunnyvale Planning Officer Trudi Ryan, as well,  emails the Environmental Preparers David J Powers at the last-minute for HELP.

With only 4 DAYS until the June 23, 2009 Council Hearing, Ryan emails a request, “Karli and John, can you ask Fehr and Peers to provide an estimate of the percent of traffic on Bayview and Carroll that are associated with PAMF.”    

Can 75% of PAMF GARAGE Vehicle Emissions Vent Through the Ramps?

Why wasn’t the Illingworth & Rodkin, Inc Vehicle Exhaust Emissions Air Quality Report for the Palo Alto Medical Foundation PAMF Sunnyvale Underground Parking Structure, designed by Hawley Peterson Synder Architects, provided in the PAMF DEIR/FEIR for disclosure and review?

LATE for the party and PRESENTED for the first time ON THE EVE of the COUNCIL VOTE, the Air Quality report estimates 75% of the expelled carbon monoxide emissions to vent independently through these narrow ramps leading to the underground parking structure for PAMF to be located at 301 Old San Francisco Road.

PAMF Sunnyvale Ramp Illustration Leading to Underground Parking Structure

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Is the $120M PAMF BUILDING a FIT in the Neighborhood?

Former Sunnyvale City Manager, Amy Chan, described Palo Alto Medical Foundation, a subsidiary of Sutter Health, PAMF’s 301 Old San Francisco Road location as both “at the edge of and within a residential neighborhood.” 

Palo Alto Medical Foundation, a subsidiary of Sutter Health, proposed PAMF $120M,  270,000 square foot, 5-level structure, designed by Hawley Peterson Synder Architects , is ambitious, to say the least. Is it a “FIT” with the quiet Heritage Neighborhood District?

WHY Did The City of Sunnyvale REQUIRE PAMF to Prepare an EIR?

A Public Agency, or Lead Agency, determines whether a “project,” such as The Sunnyvale Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF), under The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA),  has potential for a direct physical change or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.

CEQA is a statute that requires state and local agencies to identify the significant environmental impacts of their actions and to avoid or mitigate those impacts, if feasible.

The lead agency determines if an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will be required.

The Lead Agency for the PAMF Project, coincidently, was the City of Sunnyvale Planning Staff: Principal Planner Gerri Caruso and Planning Officer Trudi Ryan. The Environmental Consultants and Planners were David J. Powers & Associates.

Shortly before the Commission/Council Vote on June 23, 2009, Sunnyvale Planner Steve Lynch replaced Principal Planner Gerri Caruso. On an email dated 4/13/2009, Caruso wrote that she was resigning to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. PAMF004718

It’s important to NOTE: If the responsible agency believes that the environmental analyses in the CEQA document is incorrect or inadequate, CEQA Guidelines section 15096(e)(1) provides that a responsible agency may “…take the issue to court within 30 days after the lead agency files a NOD, or within 180 days of the commitment to go ahead or approve the project where a NOD is not filed.”

The PAMF Project was approved during the June 8, 2009 City of Sunnyvale Commission Hearing. The PAMF Project and EIR was approved and certified during the June 23,2009 Sunnyvale Council Hearing.

Copies of the PAMF DEIR/FEIR are available at the City of Sunnyvale Library and Planning Dept for review.

Will the PAMF Vents Exhaust Cross Property Lines?

Sunnyvale is a windy city. The wind does not always blow south. In fact, the wind blows from the southeast to the north 25%  of the time!

Information needed within hours, Caruso’s replacement Planner, Steve Lynch requests details regarding the Palo Alto Medical Foundation PAMF Parking Garage Exhaust Vents.

Lynch emphasizes to Mahlstedt urgency of the answers needed by the end of the same day to meet the PAMF project report deadline and advises him to “assume southward exhaust direction since it cannot vent across property lines.”

Why did Lynch advise the architect to “assume south” when the wind blows toward the north as well?

And why was an Air Quality Impact Analysis omitted from request? Is the air healthy?

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Steve Lynch requests Parking Exhaust Vent Stats on May 5, 2009

“Center Bull Pen” Staff Seating Arrangement is a Strategic Art

It appears that careful, strategic seating arrangement is about as important and skillful as choosing the right jurors to win a trial.

Sunnyvale Planner Trudi Ryan writes to the Director of Community Development, Hanson Hom, discussing various center bull pen seating arrangement options for staff during both the Palo Alto Medical Foundation PAMF EIR, a subsidiary of Sutter Health, Project Commission and Council Hearings.