The Sunnyvale Sun

News

Planners like Walgreens so far, but they'd prefer better design

By Jason Goldman-Hall

Sand Hill Properties representative John Tze brought several residents to show support for the new Walgreens project slated for 782 and 820 El Camino Real, but it was the lack of creative architecture that caught the Sunnyvale Planning Commission's attention.

In particular, the simple "boxy" design of the project--next door to Sand Hill's controversial Best Buy and PetSmart buildings--did not meet the standards of "outstanding quality architecture." As a result, the hearing was continued until Dec. 11, to give the developer more time to bring forward a better project.

"I get the feeling that we're being asked to approve a project that is not fully designed yet," said Commissioner Laura Babcock.

The end result of the project is supposed to be a main Walgreens store and a smaller retail building that cover slightly more than 20,000 square feet of space.

Without the architectural issues and some traffic-mitigation concerns, the project seemed to appeal to the commission, and the residents who spoke at the meeting had nothing but praise for Tze and Sand Hill, a far cry from the resentment heard when Best Buy and PetSmart were built.

"It's been a long struggle, and I appreciate the efforts of the planning staff and I appreciate their patience in dealing with us," said Chopin Drive resident Ray Strong.

Resident concerns such as traffic running between the buildings and their fence line and light and sound from the building were dealt with by the developers in the months since the project was first put up for discussion.

The Walgreens driveway, which many residents feared was going to make cars run by their homes at all hours, was moved to run between the two buildings to cut down on traffic, and a 32-foot deep landscape buffer of trees is proposed to shield the neighbors.

But even Strong was critical of the design, calling the buildings "ticky-tacky boxes" at one point.

Commissioner Harriet Rowe said breaking up the monotony of right angles and straight lines would go far in pleasing the commission and presenting a better image to drivers on El Camino at what is considered one of the gateways into Sunnyvale.

Tze said Sand Hill would work to do whatever it could, as long as it was feasible, to improve the design of the project by Dec. 11.

The next discussion on the item will take place at the Dec. 11 planning commission meeting at 8 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 456 W. Olive Ave.