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PC 03-15-06 CITY OF CUPERTINO 10300 Torre Avenue Cupertino, CA 95014 CITY OF CUPERTINO PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED MINUTES 6:45 P.M. MARCH 15, 2006 WEDNESDAY CUPERTINO COMMUNITY HALL The continued meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order on March 15, 2006 at 6:45 p.m. in the Cupertino Community Hall, 10350 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, California, by Chairperson Marty Miller. ROLL CALL Commissioners present: Commissioners absent: Chairperson: Commissioner: Commissioner: Commissioner: Marty Miller Cary Chien Taghi Saadati Gilbert Wong Vice Chairperson: Lisa Giefer Community Development Director: City Planner: Assistant City Attorney: Staff present: Steve Piasecki Ciddy Wordell Eileen Murray POSTPONEMENTSIREMOV AL FROM CALENDAR: 1. TM-2006-01 Roger Higdon (Jauch residence) 10760 S. Stelling Rd. Tentative Map to subdivide a 1.84-acre parcel into one .92-acre parcel and a remainder parcel. Planning Commission decision final unless appealed. Continued to the March 15, 2006 Special Planning Commission meeting. Request removal from calendar. Motion: Motion by Com. Wong, second by Com. Chien, to remove Application No. TM-2006-01 from the calendar. (Vote: 4-0-0; Vice Chair Giefer absent) 2. ASA-2006-02, M-2006-01 Steve Yang (The Stargazer Group LLC) 10062 Miller Avenue. Architectural and Site Approval for a 3,600 square foot addition to an existing office building and existing office building and exterior and site modifications. Modification to an existing use Permit (9-U-75) for a 3,600 square foot addition to an existing office building. Planning Commission decision final unless appealed. Continued to the March 15, 2006 Special Planning Commission meeting. Request postponemenf to the March 28. 2006 Planning Commission Meeting. Motion by Com. Wong, second by Com. Chien to postpone Application ASA-2006-02 and M-2006-01 to the March 28, 2006 Planning Commission meeting. (Vote: 4-0-0; Vice Chair Giefer absent). Motion: Cupertino Planning Commission 2 March 15,2006 3. DlR-2006-04 (EA-2006-05) Nelson Lui (California Water Service Co. N. Portal Ave., 100 ft. North of Drake Drive Director's Minor Modification with a referral to the Planning Commission to install a new drinking water well in an existing drinking well station. Planning Commission decision final unless appealed. Continued to the March 15. 2006 Special Planning Commission meeting. Ms. Ciddy Wordell, City Planner, presented the staff report: · Reviewed the application for a Director's Minor Modification to install a new drinking water well in an existing drinking well station, as outlined in the staff report. · Showed aerials of the area in which the well would be located. · The Environmental Review Committee discussed the environmental impacts listed in the staff report; noise, hazardous materials, and visual impacts and landscaping. · Staff recommends approval of the Environmental Impact, the Negative Declaration, Mitigated Negative Declaration, and approval of the Modification to the Use Permit. · Answered commissioners' questions about the fences. Ron Richardson, Manager of California Water Service Company for the North Cupertino area: · Explained that the proposal is to drill a new drinking water well for this location, to provide up to 1500 gallons per minute of additional drinking water to the of Cupertino community. · Said they hoped to receive approval so they can begin the construction of the new well in the second quarter of this year if they met all the permitting requirements and approvals. Ms. Wordell: · Said that there were questions asked about the project at the Environmental Review Committee, including what was involved in the construction, the length of time, what kind of equipment is used, and some of the mitigation measures that are used. · She noted that Mr. Richardson had conducted some neighborhood outreach and she received some feedback that the neighbors did not protest what he was doing. Dan Amadors, Production Superintendent California Water Service, Los Altos District: · Reported that he had conducted customer outreach to residents within 500 feet on Portal, Auburn, and Drake. He spoke to roughly 25 ofthe 50 residents and no one was opposed to the proj ect. Ms. Wordell: · Said the Fire Department has not reviewed it at this time, but would review it. Mr. Amadors answered Commissioners' questions: · Said the pumps could run continuously up to 24 hours, based on the demand and the system. As customers need more water, the pumps run longer. · The proposed pumps will run at a similar decibel to the existing pumps. · He stated that the water goes directly into the line. · The wells are in the 700 to 800 foot depth range. · During the drilling process, the well is secured and contained. Once completed, there is a cement pad 4 x 4 x 2 with a large metal pipe out the top. Cupertino Planning Commission 3 March 15,2006 · Relative to potential vandalism of the shed, he said that they had not previously experienced any tampering with the well heads or structures; although there has been some graffiti on the higher tanks. He added that there was no frontage to a street, hence the equipment is not in clear view from pedestrian traffic. · He said that they would abide by the City ordinance relative to construction hours. · Relative to the noise decibels, he clarified that it is not an impact noise or a pile driving sound, but the sound of a motor running. Ms. Wordell: · Noted that the city did not receive feedback directly from the residents. A regular noticing was done, however, there were no responses to the noticing. Mr. Amador received feedback as a result of his talking with the residents. Chair Miller: · Asked for clarification on the digging activities. · Stated that there were a lot of sources of ground contamination in the area from gas stations, etc. He asked if the contamination would get down to the level they are drilling? Mr. Richardson: · He explained that there was an exposed area where from time to time they will store some dirt that has been excavated from a public right of way usually in Cupertino, rather than hauling it to Los Altos. It will be stored there temporarily. · He said they had not experienced any contamination from a foreign source in the wells that they own and operate in the City of Cupertino. He stated that their water quality is very good and they have been fortunate that it has not tested positive for contaminates such as MTBE that could leach into the groundwater table. · The pipe size they are installing is 12 or 16 inches in diameter. Com. Saadati: · Stated that they are going to be generating a lot of soil that needs to be disposed of and there would be a truck, loader, and other heavy equipment used. He questioned the noise that would be associated with the heavy equipment and loading. Mr. Amadors: · Explained that the cuttings are left to dry and then would be hauled away once they are dried. · Said that in an attempt to mitigate noise during the drilling process, they construct temporary walls 20 feet or higher, made of an acoustical material, which surrounds the work area and mitigates the majority of the noise. It has been successful in prior projects. · Said they would be getting a permit from the Santa Clara Valley Water District and there will be an inspection conducted. Chair Miller: · Asked staff why there was a concern for the landscaping and planting of new trees that they may take down. Ms. Wordell: · Relative to the three large trees on the south side, she said that the ERC was concerned about the tree with the large canopy. Even though the residences in there will not be able to see the equipment because of the tall wood fence they are accustomed to having a very large tree canopy. The ERC was concerned if the residences were concerned about maintaining a large tree canopy. The trees along the Cupertino Planning Commission 4 March 15,2006 west property line are also to mitigate the visual impacts. Chair Miller opened the public hearing Jennifer Griffin, Rancho Rinconada resident: · Said she hoped the trees on the property would be protected; as neighbors are sensitive to having the trees there. · She asked that the trees be retained since they did not have to be removed because of the well placement. · She said the information about well drilling was informative; and said the project appeared to be a good project. Chair Miller closed the public hearing. Motion: Motion by Com. Wong, second by Com. Saadati, to approve Application EA-2006-05 and Dffi-2006-04. (Vote: 4-0-0; Vice Chair Giefer absent). 6. Selection of Planning Commission Alternates to: o Environmental Review Committee alternate. Meets 2"d and 4'. Wed. at 4:30 p.m. o Design Review Committee alternate. Meets 1" and 3'"" Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. o Housing Commission representative. Meets 2"d Thursday at 6: 30 p.m. o Economic Development Committee alternate. Meets 3'"" Wed. Quarterly at 9 a.m. Chair Miller: · Said he would serve on the Economic Development Committee. Com. Woug: · Said he would serve as the alternate for the Design Review Committee. Com. Chien: · Said he would serve as the alternate on the Housing Commission. Com. Saadati: · Said that he would not be able to attend the Environmental Review Committee as it begins at 4:30 p.m. Com. Wong: · Stated that the alternate for the Environmental Review Committee is the Vice Chairperson of the Planning Commission. Chair Miller: · Said that an alternate for Vice Chair Giefer was needed for the ERC. Discussion ensued regarding topics for the upcoming Planning Commission meetings. REPORTOFTHEPLANNINGCOMMIS~ON Environmental Review Committee · Topics included the Vallco Fashion Park and Toll Brothers projects.