Design Review Commission Meeting – May 7, 2025

The Design Review Commission (DRC) held a public hearing on May 7, 2025, to review the design and site plan for a proposed 4,320–4,500 square‑foot single‑story Taiwanese Community Center and afterschool program at 1755 Sunnyvale Avenue (APN 170‑270‑087). The project also includes legalizing an existing church use and requires three Conditional Use Permits and final Design Review approval by the Planning Commission. The DRC provided broad feedback and reached consensus on a set of recommendations for the applicant to incorporate before the Planning Commission hearing.

Consent Calendar

• No items were placed on the consent calendar. Staff recommended moving no items to consent.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public provided oral testimony. One written public comment (primarily about parking and special events) was received and addressed by staff.

Discussion Items

Item 4a – Taiwanese Community Center and Afterschool Program (Application Y24‑077)

Staff Presentation (Simar Gill, Senior Planner):

• The 4,320‑square‑foot building (agenda description) / 4,500 square feet (staff presentation) will be built on a merged three‑parcel site zoned R‑8 (single‑family residential). The site currently houses an East Bay United Methodist Church that operates only on Sundays.
• Proposed uses: Taiwanese cultural classes for adults (9 a.m.–noon, Monday–Friday) and an afterschool program for kindergarten–8th grade students (cap of 33 students; anticipated 20 students and 40 teachers daily). The church will continue on Sundays.
• Parking: 50 total stalls (including ADA), confirmed sufficient by the city traffic administrator because church and community center operate at separate times.
• Building design: Modern, one‑story with a sloped roof, gray/white stucco, standing‑seam metal roof, glulam columns at the south entrance. The main entrance faces south (away from the street) to maintain a low profile toward neighboring residences.
• Staff highlighted several design standards that were not fully met: a 45‑foot blank wall on the north elevation (exceeds the 30‑foot maximum along pedestrian walks), pedestrian‑scale lighting not detailed, outdoor lighting not shown as downward‑directed, and landscape screening using a 15‑gallon tree instead of the required 24‑inch box size.

Applicant Presentation (Dr. Ko, President of TACEB; Cyril Chong, Architect):

• Dr. Ko presented the mission: to preserve and share Taiwanese American heritage, foster community relationships, and create a permanent home for the East Bay Taiwanese Association.
• Cyril Chong explained the design logic: the long blank white wall on the north side was intentional to provide a clean backdrop, drawing inspiration from traditional Taiwanese garden walls. The massing aims to relate to the existing church spire. The south side features glass and wood to create an active, welcoming entrance.
• Materials: white and dark gray stucco, medium‑gray metal roof, light wood (glulam) for columns and interior.
• The landscape plan is preliminary; a more detailed plan will be developed for the Planning Commission.

Commissioner Questions and Comments:

• Commissioners asked about pedestrian safety (crosswalk material changes), the 45‑foot blank wall (whether design elements like transom windows, art, or additional landscaping could break it up), compatibility with the existing church, and the size of trees in the landscape plan.
• Concerns were raised about the HVAC unit located in the east side yard (noise, screening, fence height), the need for a noise study, and the drop‑off/pick‑up area for the afterschool program (operational plan needs more detail).
• Commissioners encouraged celebrating Taiwanese culture through architecture, public art, or design features (e.g., ceramic tiles originally proposed but removed; commissioners supported their inclusion).
• Lighting, solar panels (to be placed on flat roofs), and control joints in stucco were also discussed.

Key Outcomes

The DRC reached consensus on the following recommendations to be forwarded to the Planning Commission (no formal vote was taken as this was a study session):

1. Landscape Plan: Enhance the ornamental garden with 24‑inch box trees; reconsider species (avoid maple and dogwood for heat tolerance); use landscape design (both hardscape and softscape) to create visual connectivity between the new building and the existing church; landscape the area around the removed mulberry tree.
2. Blank Wall (North Elevation): Address the design standard by incorporating architectural elements, public art, landscaping, or a combination (e.g., transom windows, opaque glass, or a mural) to break up the 45‑foot wall. The commission upheld the standard; the planning commission may waive it if deemed unnecessary.
3. East Side Yard (HVAC area): Conduct a noise study for the HVAC unit; mitigate noise as needed; install a solid wood fence (redwood or cedar) at least 7 feet tall to screen equipment and maintain neighbor relations; coordinate with adjacent neighbors on fence height and screening.
4. Lighting: Provide a complete lighting plan showing downward‑directed, shielded fixtures and pedestrian‑scale lighting along walkways.
5. Solar: Solar panels (if required) should be located on the flat roof areas only.
6. Operational Plan: Include further detail on student drop‑off and pick‑up procedures to ensure safe and efficient traffic flow.
7. Architectural Details: Provide control joints in stucco; ensure glulam columns are exterior‑grade, sealed, and elevated slightly above grade to prevent rot.
8. Neighborhood Outreach: Engage with nearby residents (especially the adjacent neighbor) to discuss the project and address concerns.
9. Cultural Expression: Incorporate elements that celebrate Taiwanese culture, such as the previously proposed ceramic tiles, public art, or symbolic design features.

The DRC’s input will be presented to the Planning Commission, which will conduct the final Design Review and rule on the three Conditional Use Permits.