Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
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City approves modfied downtown plaza Water 'key element' to the project By Jana Seshadri Sunnyvale residents will be able to stroll through their very own downtown plaza in the near future if everything goes according to plan. The Sunnyvale City Council on June 4 unanimously approved the conceptual design of a 1.6-acre plaza in the downtown area, with amendments to reprioritize certain infrastructure requirements. One noticeable design flaw, with which council members and many residents were in agreement, was the absence of restrooms in the plaza design plan. It will be a great hindrance to the businesses in the area if the public requests use of their restrooms, several speakers said. "We need a restroom in the plaza," said Werner Gans, a resident of Sunnyvale. Joe Antuzzi, owner of Il Postale Restaurant and the chairman of the Downtown Stakeholders Association, agreed with Gans and requested that the council move ahead with the plaza design so the downtown project will proceed. In February 2001, the city selected Amphion Environmental Inc. as the plaza conceptual design consultants. As per input from a March 23 workshop, feedback from the community and from boards and commissions regarding the preferred plaza design option and Amphion Environmental Inc.'s preliminary concepts, the new design plan features a combination of three different concepts. The basic design includes a central shade structure, sun terrace, performance stage, orchard planting and seating, fountain courtyard and plaza lighting. Several other features, like artwork, more landscaping, restrooms, flagpoles and additional water features, were not included in the basic design due to budgetary reasons. Vice Mayor Julia Miller stated her opinion that the plaza should have a bigger water fountain and suggested that the council add that to the basic design. Councilman Jack Walker agreed with Miller, saying, "the water element is a key component to this project." He added that the size of the fountain should be proportionate to the size of the plaza. Councilman Manuel Valerio suggested the council approve the restrooms and a labyrinth walk also to the basic design. The council eventually unanimously approved the basic design plan with the additions of the restrooms, labyrinth walk and larger fountain to the design. The council also directed staff to explore other funding sources and options and to evaluate options to shorten the schedule. The $5.1 million construction and design budget for the downtown plaza could be culled from different funding sources, said planning officer Trudi Ryan. The funding sources would include $2.7 million from unused downtown plaza capital projects funds, $695,000 from park in-lieu fees, $487,000 from Proposition 40 and $1.2 million from rent from Fair Oaks Industrial Park. According to the current schedule, the plaza will be ready for public use in August 2003. |
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