EXC-2023-001 - PC PresentationPlanning Commission
March 11, 2025
EXC-2023-001 – Hillside Exception
Project Site
Address
22346 Regnart Road
Land Use
Residential Hillside Very low density
(5 -20 acre slope density formula)
Zoning District
RHS-120
Request
Hillside Exception for grading more
than 500 square feet on slopes
exceeding 30%
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Proposal Details
Project Data Required Proposed
Maximum Allowable
Development (sq. ft.)6,500 max.6,436
Building Height 30’ max.29’
Setbacks 1st Floor 2nd Floor 1st Floor 2nd Floor
Front 10’25’26’-6”26’-6”
Sides 10’15’68’74’
Rear 20’25’335’340’
Grading Quantity
(in cubic yards)
2,500 max.
(excluding basements)1,254
Total Flat Yard Area
(in square feet)
2,500 max.
(excluding driveways)2,351
Parking (spaces)6 min.6
Project
Site
Plan
Hillside Exception
Hillside Exception required for grading more
than 500 square feet on slopes exceeding
30%
No additional exceptions requested
Grading
Total Grading: 1,254 cubic yards (cut and fill)
Allowed: 2,500 cubic yards
1,231 cubic yards of cut
843 cubic yards for foundation of home
365 cubic yards for septic system and driveway etc.
23 cubic yards of fill
Geologic Review
Project is located within Slope Instability Geologic
Hazard area
Geologic and Geotechnical report prepared and
peer reviewed
No evidence of landslides within building area
Geologic and geotechnical report conditions
included in resolution
Fire Review
Project reviewed by County Fire Department
Fire Department requires:
Two-foot expansion of roadway onto the project
parcel
Expansion and improvement of fire truck turn
around at end of private road (on neighboring
property. Neighbor agrees with proposal)
Hillside
Design
Trees and Landscaping
Two non-
protected trees
are proposed for
removal
Replanting of
graded areas
(~14,500 s.f.)
Recommended Actions
That the Planning Commission adopt the proposed
draft resolution (Attachment 1) to:
1.Find the project exempt from CEQA; and
2.Approve the Hillside Exception (EXC-2023-001)
22557 Cristo Rey Drive
Gate of Heaven Cemetery
M-2024-002, ASA-2024-002, & TR-2024-023
Subject
●Use Permit Modification, Architectural and
Site Approval, and Tree Removal Permit
for the construction of a 275-crypt garden
Mausoleum and removal and
replacement of 5 development trees.
●Applicant: Gate of Heaven Cemetery
Background
Gate of Heaven
Cemetery
●58-acres.
●Approved in1962.
●Annexed into City
1986.
●Memorial park
with flat horizontal
markers.
Oak Valley
Rancho San
Antonio
PG&E
Application Request
•A 3,400 square-foot, 275
crypt Garden Mausoleum.
•Replacement of 5
development trees.
•Adjacent to existing
approximately 37,000
square foot mausolea
and chapel.
Application Request
Application Request
Environmental Review
This project is categorically exempt from the requirements of
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per Sections
15303: New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures.
Recommended Action
That the Planning Commission adopt the proposed draft
resolutions to:
1.Find the project exempt from CEQA and approve the Use
Permit Modification (M -2024-002);
2.Approve the Architectural and Site Approval Permit (ASA -
2024-002);and
3.Approve the Tree Removal Permit (TR-2024-023).
Previous Approvals
Planning Permit Description
12-U-94 Construction of a 3,500 square foot mausoleum crypt. Approved January 9, 1995.
U-2005-04 Approved statuary, Veterans markers and landscaping. Denied the request for upright markers. Approved January 17, 2005.
DIR-2005-33 Minor modifications to landscaping in the Veteran’s Section of the cemetery. Approved December 20, 2005.
M-2011-01, ASA-2011-01 Detailed 14-year plan broken up into Four Phases. These include modifications to the interior road network, additional inground
burial plots, terraced burial grounds, and a limited number of upright marker plots. Approved March 22, 2011.
DIR-2012-17 Installation of Phase I of a manufactured columbarium unit. Approved June 14, 2012.
DIR-2020-006 New pergola with above-ground cremains in the Veteran’s Memorial section. Approved August 4, 2020.
M-2022-002 Modification of an existing Use Permit to allow above ground crypts on a portion of the Gates of Heaven Cemetery (Code
Enforcement). Planning Commission denied on September 13, 2022.
DIR-2023-008 Installation of Phase II of a manufactured columbarium unit. Approved June 27, 2023.
M-2011-01, ASA-2011-01
Use Permit Findings
●The proposed development and/or use, at the proposed location, will not be
detrimental or injurious to property or improvements in the vicinity, and will not be
detrimental to the public health, safety, general welfare, or convenience.
The proposed 275 garden crypt mausoleum will not cause any further traffic,
noise, or visual impacts to the existing uses onsite. Surrounding residential uses will
be over 750 feet from the nearest residences, and for those visiting the cemetery,
the crypts will be visually mitigated by being adjacent to the other mausolea
onsite.
●The proposed development and/or use will be located and conducted in a manner
in accord with the Cupertino Comprehensive General Plan, underlying zoning
regulations, and the purpose of this title and complies with the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
The proposed project is consistent with and will be conducted in a manner in
accordance with, the General Plan, Zoning Ordinance and is consistent with
previous approvals. Furthermore, the use is categorically exempt under CEQA in
that the proposed project involves minor changes to an existing facility.
Architectural & Site Approval
Findings
1.The proposal, at the proposed location, will not be detrimental or injurious to property or improvements
in the vicinity, and will not be detrimental to the public health, safety, general welfare, or convenience;
2.The proposal is consistent with the purposes of Chapter 19.168, the General Plan, any specific plan,
zoning ordinances, applicable planned development permit, conditional use permits, variances,
subdivision maps or other entitlements to use which regulate the subject property including, but not
limited to, adherence to the following specific criteria:
a)Abrupt changes in building scale should be avoided. A gradual transition related to height and bulk
should be achieved between new and existing buildings.
b)In order to preserve design harmony between new and existing building and in order to preserve and
enhance property values, the materials, textures and colors of new building should harmonize with
adjacent development by being consistent or compatible with design and color schemes with the
future character of the neighborhoods and purposes of the zone in which they are situated. The
location, height and materials of walls, fencing, hedges and screen planting should harmonize with
adjacent development. Unsightly storage areas, utility installations and unsightly elements of parking
lots should be concealed. The planting of ground cover or various types of pavements should be used
to prevent dust and erosion, and the unnecessary destruction of existing healthy trees should be
avoided. Lighting for development should be adequate to meet safety requirements as specified by
the engineering and building departments and provide shielding to prevent spill -over light to adjoining
property owners.
Architectural & Site Approval
Findings (cont.)
c) The number, location, color, size, height, lighting and landscaping of outdoor advertising signs
and structures shall minimize traffic hazards and shall positively affect the general appearance of the
neighborhood and harmonize with adjacent development; and
d) With respect to new projects within existing residential neighborhoods, new development should be
designed to protect residents from noise, traffic, light and visually intrusive effects by use of buffering,
setbacks, landscaping, walls and other appropriate design measures.
Tree Removal Permit Findings
That the location of the trees restricts the economic
enjoyment of the property by severely limiting the use of
property in a manner not typically experienced by owners of
similarly zoned and situated property,and the applicant has
demonstrated to the satisfaction of the approval authority
that there are no reasonable alternatives to preserve the
tree(s).