PC 12-14-2021 Minutes (Approved)
APPROVED MINUTES
CUPERTINO PLANNING COMMISSION
Tuesday, December 14, 2021
REGULAR MEETING
At 6:45 p.m. Chair Wang called the Regular Planning Commission meeting to order. This was a
teleconference meeting with no physical location.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair R Wang, Vice Chair Steven Scharf (6:54 p.m.), Commissioners Muni Madhdhipatla,
Vikram Saxena. Absent: Commissioner Sanjiv Kapil. All Commissioners teleconferenced for the
meeting.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Subject: Approve the November 23 Planning Commission minutes
Recommended Action: Approve the November 23 Planning Commission minutes
Commissioner Saxena moved and Commissioner Madhdhipatla seconded to approve the
November 23 Planning Commission minutes. Ayes: Wang, Madhdhipatla, Saxena. Noes:
None. Abstain: None. Absent: Scharf, Kapil.
POSTPONEMENTS – None
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Jennifer Griffin thanked Planning Manager Piu Ghosh for recognizing staff and acknowledged
staff who have resigned and/or retired from the City of Cupertino.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS – None
CONSENT CALENDAR – None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Planning Commission Minutes December 14, 2021
2. Subject: Consider Development and Architectural and Site Approval permits that would
allow the replacement of seven (7) storage buildings, with three (3) new buildings between
one (1) and three (3) stories in height to allow for a 166,845 sq. ft. storage facility; Consider
a Fence Exception request to allow electronic vehicular gates and a Tree Removal Permit
request to allow the removal and replacement of eight (8) protected trees. (Application
No(s): DP-2019-05, ASA-2019-05, EXC-2019-04, TR-2019-048; Applicant(s): Emilia Samudio
(Jordan Architects); Location: 10655 Mary Ave.; APN: 326-06-050)
Recommended Action: Staff recommends that the Planning Commission, in accordance
with draft resolutions (Attachments 1-4), recommends that the City Council:
1. Find the project exempt from CEQA;
2. Approve the Development Permit (DP-2019-05);
3. Approve the Architectural and Site Approval (ASA-2019-05);
4. Approve the Fence Exception (EXC-2019-04); and
5. Approve the Tree Removal Permit (TR-2019-048).
Senior Planner Gian Martire gave a presentation on the development proposal from Jordan
Architects requesting permits to allow for a partial demolition of the current storage facility
and allow for construction of a new storage facility. This would include an easement to the
City that would allow for a future multi-use trail facility along the east side of the property,
and to provide an access point to a future Junipero Serra trail along I-280. Parking spaces
intended for this facility will be clearly marked for the sole use of the facility and will not
be for trail and public usage. None of the 8 protected trees proposed for removal are
heritage trees and will be replaced with other trees.
Mr. Martire, developers Curtis Leigh, Bruce Jordan, and Todd Trekell, and City Attorney
Chris Jensen answered questions from the Commission.
Chair Wang opened the public comment period and the following people spoke:
Thom Buchanan
Jennifer Griffin
Chair Wang closed the public comment period.
Vice Chair Scharf moved and Commissioner Saxena seconded to approve the Resolutions.
Ayes: Wang, Scharf, Madhdhipatla, Saxena. Noes: None. Abstain: None. Absent: Kapil.
OLD BUSINESS – None
NEW BUSINESS
Planning Commission Minutes December 14, 2021
3. Subject: Discuss potential City Work Program proposals for Fiscal Year 2022-2023
Recommended Action: Recommend potential City Work Program proposals for Fiscal
Year 2022-2023 and identifying the top three proposals, limited to no more than five.
Planning Manager Piu Ghosh led a discussion on items the Planning Commission would
like to see considered by Council for the FY 2022-2023 City Work Program.
Among the items discussed were:
1. 5G facilities ordinance based on aesthetics;
2. Outreach to renters to explain their rights to them;
3. Clarified guidance or ordinance update on second-story balconies;
4. Study on how planning policy decisions impact schools by obtaining raw data on
student generation for past 25 years, including a study on positive and negative impact
of developments on school services; and
5. Adopt regulations requiring homes to be designed to maximize solar exposure for solar
energy generation, including requiring roofs to be free of vents or other impediments
to solar panel installation.
Chair Wang opened the public comment period and the following people spoke:
Jennifer Griffin
Chair Wang closed the public comment period.
The Commission further identified the Planning Commission’s top three priorities for the
FY 2022-2023 City Work Program would be: studying how planning decisions impact
schools, 5G cell facilities ordinance based on aesthetics, objective standards in the
Municipal Code and General Plan, and second-story balcony design standards, in addition
to all existing work program items.
Chair Wang moved and Commissioner Saxena seconded to recommend to Council the
recommendations. Ayes: Wang, Scharf, Kapil, Madhdhipatla, Saxena. Noes: None.
Abstain: None. Absent: Kapil.
STAFF AND COMMISSION REPORTS
Vice Chair Scharf reported that ABAG has approved the final RHNA Plan, with no change to the
number of housing units allocated to Santa Clara County.
Mr. Jensen introduced Senior Assistant City Attorney Michael Woo to the Planning Commission.
Planning Commission Minutes December 14, 2021
Ms. Ghosh recognized former employees for their contributions to the Community Development
Department during 2021: Senior Planner Erick Serrano, Assistant Planners Lauren Ninkovich and
Victoria Ortiz, and Deputy Board Clerk Beth Ebben. Ms. Ghosh also recognized new hires to the
Planning Division during 2021: Senior Planner Luke Connolly, Associate Planner Brianne
Harkousha, and Assistant Planner AJ Haase.
Commissioners were encouraged to review previous year’s Housing Element report in
preparation for the 2022 General Plan annual report and housing element.
FUTURE AGENDA SETTING
ADJOURNMENT
At 8:26 p.m., Chair Wang adjourned the meeting.
_/s/Cyrah Caburian____________________
Cyrah Caburian, Administrative Assistant