City approves Juniper environment report
By Jana Seshadri
Beth Siebert has been a small-business owner in Moffett Park for the past 15 years. Unwilling to reveal the name or nature of her business, Siebert's concern is that big corporations might soon jeopardize her very existence. Siebert's concern might soon become a reality.
On May 14, the Sunnyvale City Council unanimously certified an environmental impact report to consider the development of an almost 80-acre corporate campus by Juniper Networks at 1111 Lockheed Martin Way in Moffett Park.
"What we're proposing here tonight will be the heartbeat of Juniper," President and CEO Scott Kriens said at the meeting.
The proposal is to develop an almost 2.4 million-square-foot office and research and development campus in Moffett Park, divided into three mini campuses, which would include four eight-story office buildings, six five-story office buildings, four parking structures ranging from four to seven levels, an additional 60,000-square-foot special-use building and a site for a future 200- to 350-room hotel.
According to Juniper's plan, this major development will not only house offices but also several other onsite amenities that Juniper employees and visitors could use, including a fully equipped gym/spa facility, large plazas for gatherings, dining courtyards, intimate courtyards for small groups, and recreational open spaces.
Approximately 35 percent of the site area, or 28 acres, will be landscaped. An on-site 650-seat grass amphitheater has also been designed.
"Today nobody makes any money in technology," Kriens said. "So it's important to have a high quality of life where people spend their time--building a quality environment is central to the business."
Juniper Networks first moved to Sunnyvale as a start-up company in 2000 and rented office space from Menlo Equities, said Mike Bangs, director of real estate for Juniper. The company went public two years ago and has a successful record. However, Bangs said, the company's lack of expertise in land development led to Juniper's partnership with Menlo to develop the land purchased from them.
Jane Vaughan, a partner with Menlo Equities, submitted a detailed report and plan to the council about the Juniper project.
"In the last 12-16 months we've worked with city staff and the planning commission and addressed your major concerns--land use, traffic issues," Bangs said. "I believe this is the right thing to do; this is right for Juniper and right for Sunnyvale."
After the applicant's testimony and a public hearing, Sunnyvale planning commissioners approved the project by a 6-1 vote on April 29 with several amendments.
"People are very much in support of the Juniper project," said Yolanda Brown, chair of the planning commission.
A major concern identified at the May 14 council meeting was the traffic congestion that already exists in the Moffett Park area around the Mathilda Avenue/Route 237 interchange. With several companies like Ariba, Intervowen and Lockheed Martin already located in the park, and with Yahoo! across the street, the new Juniper project would increase congestion and delays.
"Sometimes we have to wait through four or five light changes at that intersection before we can even cross it," Siebert said. "Even then, we can't get through because it is already backed up."
Siebert conceded that traffic has reduced in the last year due to a "tremendous drop" in the number of employees in the Moffett Park area. However, traffic issues would only resurface with the addition of this new campus, she added.
City staff have conducted a comprehensive study of traffic impacts that this project would cause throughout the city streets and intersections. The city's General Plan includes an extension of Mary Avenue from Almanor Avenue over Hwy 101 and Route 237 into the Moffett Park area, which would facilitate access into the area.
In addition, Juniper has proposed a 30 percent trip reduction by its company employees in a draft Traffic Demand Management (TDM) project, submitted to the city along with the proposed project. The proposal ensures that Juniper employees will reduce their morning peak period trips by 20 percent by using alternative modes of transportation, like light rail, car or vanpool and bicycles, and move an additional 10 percent of trips out of the morning peak hour. Juniper is at 20 percent TDM at their current facility, up from their goal of 18 percent, according to Wendy Hoyt of the Hoyt Company.
"It is the most aggressive TDM in Sunnyvale today," Hoyt said. "They walk their talk."
The TDM proposal is performance-based, Hoyt added, so Juniper would be slapped with financial penalties if the company does not maintain the 30 percent rate. Regular program surveys and consistent monitoring by the city's public works, community development and public safety departments will be conducted on an ongoing basis, the staff report says.
Several residents have voiced their concerns about traffic congestion and the environmental impact of this project. Thom Mayer, a resident of Lakewood Village, suggested that although there are thousands of reasons for this project to be approved, traffic issues would be the main deterrent. Moving trips around doesn't help, he said, and they should be eliminated.
"The Borregas bike bridges have to be built and sidewalks need to be built," Mayer said to the council. "You guys got to step up if you're going to approve this."
"The company is very unique in that it is very active in the community," Sanchez said.
Council members had several questions and concerns about traffic mitigation.
Vaughan suggested that the city reduce Juniper's trip elimination to 25 percent over a period of 10 years from 30 percent.
Among other suggestions, Howe proposed that Juniper include more park-and-ride spots in their parking lots.
"We have to get the trips down," Councilman Jack Walker said.
Walker also recommended that Juniper return to the planning commission with their architectural designs.
"This project is going to benefit Sunnyvale in the long run," Walker said.
Siebert does not agree with the council's decision, however.
"This is ridiculous, " Siebert said after the meeting. "They're just glossing over the issues."
Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
