On Tues. June 14, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. Sunnyvale’s City Council will vote to allow building of a 1.7 million square-foot office complex [the approximate area of 35 and a half football fields], near Mathilda Ave. and Highway 237.
It will include five more 129-foot-tall office buildings, 4 concrete parking structures and 5,340 parking spaces. These office towers require the council to change the city Plan and the Zoning of the property to allow the developer to build nearly three times as much as normal rules allow.
5 councilmembers have taken money from the developer and/or the Political Action Committee funded by corporate real estate developers. This council majority allows developers to build beyond what normal city rules allow. Complying with building rules would reduce the developer’s profit.
Many of the more than 5000 expected vehicle trips per day generated by this development, will inch down Mathilda and Wolfe Rd. The width of these streets was built for moving a much lower volume of traffic. The significant increase in new vehicle trips will worsen congestion and emit toxic carbon monoxide, and particulate matter.
These pollutants increase asthma and other chronic respiratory illnesses among Sunnyvale residents and children. This project, and the council changes to the building rules violate Sunnyvale’s General Plan requirements to protect public health and the environment. This project breaks the City’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions.
The new office complex includes on-site facilities for the more than 9000 expected computer company workers to dine 3 times/day, gyms with shower and spas, and laundry facilities. All washing and most bathroom activities will take place at the office. During the ongoing drought Sunnyvale residents have been told not to flush their toilets. Water conserved by residents will serve workers at this new office complex.
Many of the highly-paid 9,000 workers will compete for housing in north Sunnyvale to reduce travel time to the office. The greater demand will significantly increase rents at local apartments. It will be particularly painful at the nearby mobile home parks.
These parks have provided lower-rent housing, compared to other parts of Sunnyvale, for thousands of retired and moderate-income residents for the last 5 decades. Recently, mobile home park seniors in their 80’s have seen sizable rent increases caused by a series of council approvals of high-density office towers which exceed normal city building rules. Money used for heart medication must now go to pay for spikes in rent. The elderly no longer can afford both.
This project will accelerate housing demand and rent increases. High earners will force out seniors and lower-wage workers from Sunnyvale.
Paying all the costs of the development would eliminate the developer’s profit. Thus, the city council majority transfers most of the costs to others to pay.
The office complex is being built on the shore of San Francisco Bay, in the risk zone for flooding from sea-level rise. The council majority supports levying additional property taxes on Sunnyvale residents to pay millions of dollars to construct a seawall/levee to safeguard this privately owned land/office complex.
The developers demand Sunnyvale build a $100,000,000.00, 2000-foot bridge at the north end of Mary Avenue. Taxpayers will be forced to fund this project.
Residents will pay the increased health care costs resulting from Pollution.
Sunnyvale small retailers lose shoppers discouraged by long and lengthening travel times to local stores.
Residents and businesses pay for fuel wasted while crawling along choked city streets.
Have an opinion? Express it at the city hall meeting at 456 W Olive Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94086. Or send comments to council@sunnyvale.ca.gov.
Important Information About Sunnyvale City Government Decisions 