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Vote makes development of Olson plot a done deal
Council voted 6-1 in favor of mixed use for historical plot
By Kelly Wilkinson
Ending the Olson family's struggle to develop its 15-acre orchard and with it, the era of family-owned orchards in Sunnyvale, City Council voted 6-1 in favor of developing the property at last week's meeting.
"We're very pleased," Deborah Olson, a fourth-generation orchardist, said of the decision. "It's been a very long process and we've worked closely with the developers and City Council for this, and we're ready to move ahead."
The plans, developed by Irvine Apartment Communities (IAC) over the past 18 months, will create a 70-30 percent split between residential and commercial acreage respectively. The residential portion includes 300 four-story apartments built over underground parking; while the 60,000 square feet of retail space will be anchored with a restaurant on the corner of Mathilda and El Camino and include additional stores and the re-designed cherry stand.
Eric Hohmann, vice president of IAC, presented the project to councilmembers with an emotional edge, saying that historical icons such as the cherry stand, fruit trees and the water tower will be preserved while providing housing and new retail.
"We're in the midst of a bittersweet transition with this property and the end of an era," he said. "We all have a significant responsibility and we have a capable, experienced team to create a new era."
According to Hohmann and other members of the development team, the architecture will be "colonial mission style" with columns, archways, plaster and tiled roofs. Landscaping will include olive trees, palm trees and a fringe of cherry trees.
Councilmembers' questions centered mostly on what Pat Vorreiter called the "ancillary details" such as landscaping and public artwork.
"I think what hasn't been said this evening speaks volumes," Vorreiter said, remarking that the focus on smaller details signified an overall approval of the more central aspects of the plan.
"I think mixed-use projects are the wave of the future," she said.
Councilmember Jack Walker has been opposed to the mixed-use project, which he again stated in his remarks.
"Although I oppose the mix, this is not a bad project, and [the developers] have done an admirable job with the landscaping," he said. "There are strong emotions in the community because they don't want to see the orchard go, but it's gone and all we can do is put on some reasonable conditions."
Councilmember Stan Kawczynski cast the only dissenting vote.
"I think it's credible for hanging out so long," he said. "But overall, it's not a landmark project. I have a sea of parking at the crossroads of my community, and it does not belong."
Councilmembers heard mostly positive input from the public, along with some concerns over the types of trees that will be used for landscaping and the exchange an old orchard for new apartment buildings.
"I'm opposed to the number of apartments," resident Edie Barrett said. "I think it's very high density on what is one of the last hallmarks of the city. You need to look this through and realize what you're dumping on the city."
Sean Kenison, a former Olson's worker and historian, came out to support the property's transition.
"I believe in preserving the cherry stand in its present design because it's very important for keeping in touch and for my generation to have an attachment to history."
The cherry stand will return to the Planning Commission before getting the final green light for it's remodeling, but will use recycled materials from the current stand in order to retain the historical feeling.
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Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
