The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper

Hotel project riles nearby residents

Council to decide fate of 100-room development

By Natasha Collins

Although it was turned down by the Planning Commission and criticized by residents, a four-story hotel on El Camino Real may be in the works next year.

De Anza Properties has proposed the 100-room luxury hotel at 851 El Camino Real, near Pastoria and Olive avenues. The development would include the hotel near the front of the lot and several two-story buildings toward the back.

The fate of the project is now in the hands of the City Council, which was set to hear arguments for and against the proposal Sept. 16.

If approved, the hotel will have a granite facing with flowers and planters lining the front and sides of the building.

"It is going to be the most luxurious hotel in Sunnyvale and will compete with the Fairbanks Hotel in San Jose," said John Vidovich of De Anza Properties. "This is the type of development that should be on El Camino Real. It is a top-quality development that will benefit the community."

While the Planning Commission agreed that the hotel was a quality project and needed in the community, it voted 4-3 against the project at its Aug. 11 meeting.

"It is an intrusion into the neighborhood," said Commissioner Nancy Walker.

Commissioner Creighton Bricker said that although the area is zoned for the hotel, he was against the development.

"It is a quality development, but the scale is not right for the property," he said.

Commissioners Vicki Piazza and Mark O'Connor voted in favor of the project, saying it was something the city could use and would add to El Camino Real, according to the minutes.

"It is a balance between the neighborhood and the city," O'Connor said. "It should be approved."

More than a dozen residents voiced their concern about the development at the Aug. 11 meeting, saying the hotel would ruin their quality of life. Residents also fear the hotel will block their view of the hills and allow hotel guests to look into their homes and yards.

Vidovich has appealed the Planning Commission's denial to the council.

The city will get 8.5 percent of the cost of each room rented in the form of hotel tax, said David Vossbrink, community relations officer for the city. The hotel tax is a large contributor to the city's revenue and is increasing as the cost of rooms goes up and occupancy rates rise.

"This will not be the determining factor in the city's decision," Vossbrink said. "The council will look at the quality of the development, the appropriateness of the development, the safety and traffic impacts. Anytime there is a land-use issue, the city must weigh the tradeoffs."

Whenever there is change, people become concerned, Vossbrink said. The proposed site has a small pizza parlor built on it and a majority of the lot up to Olive Avenue is vacant.

"The area has been undeveloped and underdeveloped for so long, this is a huge change for people," he said.

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, September 17, 1997.
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