Planning Commission approves tree removal appeal | Community Development | Sunnyvale | The Common News

Summary

Planning Commission approves tree removal appeal

SunnyvaleOct 28, 20253 min read

At a glance

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The Planning Commission granted an appeal allowing removal of a protected 21-inch Fruitless Pear tree at 385 Redondo Terrace, with a requirement to plant one 36-inch box replacement tree within 90 days and no in-lieu fee option.

Projects mentioned

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Planned Development Community Development Neighborhood Business/Planned Development Residential/Medium Density Residential/Planned Development In-Fill Development

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Planning Commission

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What this means

The Commission approved the tree removal appeal after finding the request met the required standards under Sunnyvale Municipal Code. If the tree is removed, the owner must replace it with one 36-inch box tree in the front yard within 90 days. The decision is final, so there is no further local appeal listed in these minutes.

Key decisions

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Approved the October 13, 2025 Planning Commission meeting minutes.
Continued the discussion on the proposed 101-townhome project at 1119-1163 Lawrence Expressway, 1037 Lakehaven Drive, and 1051 Lakehaven Drive to a date uncertain; the neighborhood will be re-noticed.
Granted the appeal to remove the protected Fruitless Pear tree at 385 Redondo Terrace.
Required one 36-inch box replacement tree in the front yard within 90 days of removal, with no in-lieu fee option.

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Meeting information

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Planning Commission

Oct 28, 2025, 1:00 AMOnline and Council Chambers, City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086completed

Special Meeting: Study Session - 6:00 PM | Public Hearing - 7:00 PM

Agenda

Public Participation
6 P.M. SPECIAL PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING (Study Session)
Call to Order
Roll Call
Study Session
Proposed Project: Planning Commission Study Session for discussion and comment only for related applications on a 1.17-acre site: SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT (SDP): to consider the redevelopment of a commercial site into four 3-story residential buildings with 28 townhome-style condominium units. VESTING TENTATIVE MAP (VTM): to create 28 condominium units. Location: 845 Stewart Drive. (APN: 205-21-010) File #: PLNG-2025-0080 Zoning: MS/ITR/R3/PD (Industrial and Service with Industrial to Residential/Medium Density Residential/Planned Development Combining District). Applicant / Owner: Julia Koppman Norton, City Ventures (applicant) / Jenab Family Ventures (owner). Environmental Review: The project is anticipated to qualify for a Class 32 (In-Fill Development Projects) exemption per California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines section 15332. Project Planner: Wendy Lao, (408) 730-7408, WLao@sunnyvale.ca.gov
Adjourn Special Meeting
7 P.M. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
SALUTE TO THE FLAG
ROLL CALL
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
CONSENT CALENDAR
Approve Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of October 13, 2025
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
Proposed Project: Appeal of a decision by the Director of Community Development denying a TREE REMOVAL PERMIT for a 21-inch diameter Fruitless Pear tree in the front yard. Location: 385 Redondo Terrace (APN: 165-46-025) File #: PLNG-2025-0521 Zoning: R1.7/PD (Low-Medium Density Residential Zoning District with a Planned Development Combining District) Applicant/Appellant/Owner: Kaye Suyama (applicant/appellant)/Kamayatsu-Peterson Erika L Trustee (owner) Environmental Review: Categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301 (Class 1) and 15304 (Class 4). Project Planner: Cindy Hom, (408) 730-7411, chom@sunnyvale.ca.gov
Proposed Project: Related applications on a 5.28-acre site: SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT: Redevelop three non-contiguous lots with: 1) A new two-story commercial building totaling 23,104 square feet on the commercial lot; and, 2) 101 new market-rate townhouse units, distributed among 15 three-story buildings on the residential lots. VESTING TENTATIVE MAP: Subdivide one existing lot into 26 lots and 101 residential condominium spaces, and merge two existing commercial lots into one. Location: 1119-1163 Lawrence Expressway (APN 110-23-110);1037 Lakehaven Drive (APN 110-23-109); and 1051 Lakehaven Drive (APN 110-23-108) File #: PLNG-2023-0302 Zoning: VCMU-22 (Village Center Mixed-Use) and VCC (Village Center Commercial) [formerly C-1/PD (Neighborhood Business/Planned Development)] Applicant / Owner: The True Life Companies (TTLC; applicant)/Dick’s Lakewood Corporation (owner) Environmental Review: No additional review required per CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 - environmental impacts are addressed in the Land Use and Transportation Element (LUTE) Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Project Planner: Jeffrey Cucinotta, (408) 730-7424, jcucinotta@sunnyvale.ca.gov
STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES
NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS
-Commissioner Comments
-Staff Comments
INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS
Planning Commission Proposed Study Issues, Calendar Year: 2026 (Information Only)
ADJOURNMENT
Public Participation Options
In person public comment:
Online participation:
Online public comment:
Written public comment:
Public review of items:
Planning a presentation for a Planning Commission meeting?
Planning to provide materials to the Commission?
Request Language Translation
Accessibility/Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Notice
LEGAL NOTICES
Proposed Project: Related applications on a 5.28-acre site: SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT: Redevelop three non-contiguous lots with: 1) A new two-story commercial building totaling 23,104 square feet on the commercial lot; and, 2) 101 new market-rate townhouse units, distributed among 15 three-story buildings on the residential lots. VESTING TENTATIVE MAP: Subdivide one existing lot into 26 lots and 101 residential condominium spaces, and merge two existing commercial lots into one. Location: 1119-1163 Lawrence Expressway (APN 110-23-110);1037 Lakehaven Drive (APN 110-23-109); and 1051 Lakehaven Drive (APN 110-23-108) File #: PLNG-2023-0302 Zoning: VCMU-22 (Village Center Mixed-Use) and VCC (Village Center Commercial) [formerly C-1/PD (Neighborhood Business/Planned Development)] Applicant / Owner: The True Life Companies (TTLC; applicant)/Dick’s Lakewood Corporation (owner) Environmental Review: No additional review required per CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 - environmental impacts are addressed in the Land Use and Transportation Element (LUTE) Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Project Planner: Jeffrey Cucinotta, (408) 730-7424, jcucinotta@sunnyvale.ca.gov
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