There are big plans in store for Lawrence Caltrain Station that could see a variety of uses come near the site.
The Sunnyvale City Council held a study session on Feb. 24 to discuss the plans for the Lawrence Caltrain Station that were released in mid-February.
The latest station plan proposes developing the surrounding land for mixed-use purposes. This includes building apartment homes and business space within a half-mile radius of the station.
According to the online report at lawrencestationinsunnyvale.org, the Lawrence Station plan was put into effect “to establish a framework for the future development of the area, facilitated by a partnership between local residents, businesses, property owners and the city, in order to improve the relationship between transit availability and land use for the long-term development of an economically, environmentally and socially vibrant mixed-use district in Sunnyvale.”
Andy Miner, a Sunnyvale planner and spokesperson for the project, explained to the council that the four key goals of the project are to increase ridership, improve circulation, provide transit-oriented development and ensure quality development.
Most of the plan involves improving access to the station with bicycle and walking paths. In addition, apartments, which may be for rent or ownership, will be designed to give residents easy access to the station.
Commercial spaces will also be added to increase foot traffic in the area. The Lawrence Station planning committee hopes to have a balance of commercial and residential space so to effectively draw residents and other community members to the station.
The boundaries of the project would be from Central Expressway in the north down to the Corn Palace on the south end.
Issues discussed by the council on Feb. 24 centered on Lawrence Caltrain ridership, residential and commercial density, parking challenges and future plans and timeline for the area. The council asked questions and expressed concerns about nearby business, park use and the actual amount of non-vehicle traffic making its way through the area.
The station is a location of concern, coming in at number 17 of 29 Caltrain stations in the region for average total boardings. The project plan estimates that traffic in the area will derive 90 percent from automobiles, 7 percent from bicylists and pedestrians and 3 percent from public transit. These numbers concerned council members as a large portion of the Lawrence Station plan is dedicated to making the area more bicycle-, pedestrian- and transit-friendly. Miner clarified that those are average numbers and that the actual results will be quite different, with more emphasis on appealing to alternative forms of transportation.
Council member Pat Meyering pointed out that Caltrain ridership is already at capacity and said adding residential and commercial buildings near the Lawrence Station would only add to the problem.
Adina Levin, a community member, added that Caltrain plans to add new trains this year to accommodate 20 percent more riders.
A community informational meeting about the station plan is set for March 10 at 6:30 p.m. in Sunnyvale City Hall’s west conference room, 456 W. Olive Ave. Residents will receive an overview of the plan and be able to ask questions and comment.
A revised station plan is set to go to the Sunnyvale City Council for approval in July. A draft environmental impact report is being prepared and could be released in the spring.
For more information including the station plan, maps and contact information, visit lawrencestationinsunnyvale.org.
