Arsenic, Vanadium and Petroleum Hydrocarbon Exceed Residential Levels in East Weddell Projects DEIR

It is inadvisable and unconscionable, at this time, to rezone the Sares Regis and Raintree Partners Sites, located at 520-592 E. Weddell Ave. and 610 – 630 E. Weddell Ave, Sunnyvale, from commercial to high density residential, given the existing contaminated soil conditions located in a Geological Liquefaction and FEMA Flood Hazard Zone Area that was not disclosed in the East Weddell Projects DEIR. Additionally, there has been limited notification and inadequate disclosure to the nearby residents to warn them of the following significant hazardous impacts. 

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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

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.

Seismic Hazard Liquefaction and FEMA Flood Hazard Zones Omitted from East Weddell DEIR

Oh . . . oopsy! just a little omission from the East Weddell Projects Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR)  proposed for 670 apartments- not only is the ground contaminated with hazardous carcinogens, but the whole area is in a Seismic Hazard Liquefaction and FEMA Flood Hazard Zones conveniently omitted from  disclosure on the report.

Proposed Sunnyvale East Weddell Project Illustration EIR

You wonder how these big developmental projects get approved? It starts in the City of Sunnyvale Planning Department. In fact, the “lead agency” for the is the City Planning Staff, so they get to decide how to direct the EIR report.

The lead agency must analyze project impacts to 18 different environmental resource factors detailed in Appendix G during their CEQA review, yet some very important items have been omitted by direction of the City of Sunnyvale Staff.

The East Weddell Projects DEIR identifies hazardous contaminants – Arsenic, VOC, tetrachloroethylene (PCE), vanadium, groundwater containing petroleum hydrocarbons in the diesel and motor oil, to name a few, which place residents at high risk for adverse health known to cause cancer. Analog Devices, at 610 East Weddell Drive, was listed as a registered hazardous waste generator and identified as responsible for the release of 100 gallons of liquid hydrogen during an incident in 2006. The failure to disclosure liquefaction and FEMA Flood Hazard Zone proximity is a disservice to the Sunnyvale residents and this report.

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.

Concerned Citizens – comments received until Oct 23rd. Please email your comments to Sunnyvale Planner Trudi Ryan tryan@sunnyvale.ca.gov, Community Director Hanson Hom at hhom@sunnyvale.ca.gov, Ryan Kuchenig rkuchenig@sunnyvale.ca.gov, Heidi Kirk hkirk@sunnyvale.ca.gov

And if you would like a Natural Hazards Report of these natural hazards conditions, please email eyesunnyvale@gmail.com and we will forward to you.

Peery Park and Moffett Park Public Comments Needed_Draft SEIR Hearing Oct 14

The City of Sunnyvale Staff has included the October 14  Planning Commission Hearing as an additional method for the public to comment on the (Item 2) Draft SEIR for the Moffett Place Project, (1152 Bordeaux Drive). Also on the agenda is (Item 1.B) 433 North Mathilda – Peery Park. 

PAMF Sutter Health Exhaust Vents Called “Substantive Disregard of Human Health” for 80-Year-Old Woman

To me, the most disturbing and distasteful feature of the Sunnyvale Palo Alto Medical Foundation, designed by Hawley Peterson Snyder, is the nonchalant placement of the Parking Garage Exhaust Vent adjacent to an 80-year-old woman’s home which was omitted from study in the PAMF DEIR/FEIR.

PAMF Parking Garage Vents

During the June 23, 2009 Council Hearing, a compelling speaker, Trustee Robert Varesio, implored “The Planning Commission would not address or answer my questions about persistent proximate exposure.”      

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.

PAMF’s Bounteous Sunnyvale, CA Residential Purchases Planned for Waste/Storage

Wowowowow! PAMF was a high bidder for 448 Kenny Court! Palo Alto Medical Foundation, a subsidiary of Sutter Health, generously purchased this modest residential property for $1,250,000.00 on 11/13/2008 to be developed into a 3,250 s.f. Storage and Waste Management Area for PAMF in Sunnyvale!

To compare apples with apples, a similar home in the neighborhood~ 389 S Pastoria Ave, SOLD for $621,000 just one month prior! Now, that’s STEEP APPRECIATION !

PAMF pays $1.25M for 448 Kenny Court!

(Click on image to enlarge)