Commission reviews Freddy's hamburger proposal for MPD O2 development site

The Sunnyvale Planning and Zoning Commission convened on April 16, 2025, to discuss several key developments within the community, focusing primarily on the proposed amendment to the concept plan for the MPD O2 district.

The meeting began with a presentation detailing the current state of the MPD O2 area, which has seen the establishment of various restaurants, including Chick-fil-A and Starbucks. The discussion centered on a proposed amendment to allow the construction of a Freddy's hamburger restaurant, which would include a drive-through component. This amendment is necessary to align the site plan for Freddy's with the original MPD O2 concept plan, which initially limited the number of drive-through restaurants to two and aimed to promote sit-down dining options.

Staff reported that notifications were sent to property owners within 200 feet of the proposed site, and while no formal objections were received, several emails expressing support for the Freddy's restaurant were sent to the town manager's office. The presentation concluded with an overview of the site layout, indicating where the new restaurant would be situated among existing establishments.

Commission members raised questions regarding the proposed height of the pylon sign for Freddy's, which is suggested to be 40 feet tall, compared to the existing 30-foot signs for other businesses in the area. The commission noted that they could recommend adjustments to the sign height during their motion.

The developer's representative, Victoria Morris, addressed the commission, explaining the selection process for Freddy's and confirming that various other dining options were considered but ultimately deemed unfeasible due to market restrictions and existing site limitations.

Public comments were invited, with Gene Swank, president of the Stone Canyon Homeowners Association, requesting additional speaking time to address concerns on behalf of his community. He emphasized the importance of community input and expressed a desire for more engagement in the planning process.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to further discuss the sign height and other details during the upcoming site plan application review. The commission's next steps will involve evaluating the proposed amendments and considering community feedback as they move forward with the development plans.