PC 08-10-92 )
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CITY OF CUPERTINO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
10300 Torre Avenue
Cupertino, CA. 95014
(408) 252-4505 •
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
HELD ON AUGUST 10, 1992
SALUTE TO THE FLAG:
ROLL CALL:
Commissioners Present: Chairman Fazekas
Vice Chairperson Mann
Commissioner Mackenzie
Commissioner Mahoney
Cammissioner Austin
Staff Present: Robert Cowan, Director of
Community Development
Carmen Lynaugh, Senior Engineer
POSTPONEMENTS OR NEW AGENDA ITEMS:
1. AAOlication 5-U-92: Applicant requests continuance to the
meeting of August 24, 1992.
3. A�plication 4-V-92: Continued to the Planning Commission
meeting of September 14, 1992.
4. AAplication 5-U-90 (Modified): Continued to the Planning
Commission meeting of August 24, 1992.
5. ApAlication 3-TM-92: Continued to the Planning Commission
Meeting of August 24, 1992.
MOTION: Com. Mahoney moved to approve the postponements as listed
above.
SECOND: Com. Austin
VOTE: Passed 5-0 �
WRITTEN COMIKUNICATIONS:
Letter regarding the Forum
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
Mr. Floyd Meyers addressed the Planning Commission expressing
concern regarding a large nuclear bomb buried under Kuwait.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
- None
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
Regular Meeting of August 10, 1992
Page 2
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
2. Application No(s): 10-EA-92
Applicant: City of Cupertino
Location: Citywide
FIVE YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM: Request for
environrnental assessment and finding of consistency with the
City of Cupertino General Plan.
Staff Presentation: Planning Director Cowan introduced Carmen
Lynaugh, Senior Engineer. Mr. Cowan presented the staff report.
He noted the programs are a continuation of last year's programs.
He noted there is an on-going fund for minor street improvements.
Mr. Cowan noted, because of the budget, the Capital Improvements
Plan has decreased from previous years. He stated staff recommends
that the Planning Comrnission recommend granting a Negative
Declaration and adopt the resolution with the finding that the
Capital Improvements Plan is consistent with the General Plan.
Ms. Lynaugh reviewed the chart which explained the programs
scheduled for the next few years. She noted there are only seven
projects this year. �
In response to Com. Mahoney's question, Mr. Cowan stated money has
been set aside for Civic Center extension.
MOTION: Com. Mackenzie moved to recommend granting a Negative
Declaration
SECOND: Com. Austin
VOTE: Passed 5-0
MOTION: Com. Mackenzie moved to find that the Capital
Improvements Plan is in conformance with the General Plan
subject to the findings and subconclusions of the
hearing. •
SECOND: Com. Mann
VOTE: Passed 5-0
6. Application No(s): 11-E-92 & 81,130
Applicant: City of Cupertino
Property Owner: Same
Project Location City Wide
Amendment to Ordinance 802 Establishing Procedures Regulating
Adult-Oriented Commercial Activities and creating an Ordinance
Establishing Procedures Regulating Massage Establishments and
Services.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
Regular Meetinq of August 10, 1992
Page 3
Staff Presentation: Planning Director Cowan presented the staff
report and outlined the proposed changes. He noted the key point
of the new ordinance is to set up a licensing procedure for
Professional Massage Therapists. The new ordinance allows for
qualified massage therapists to work without a Use Permit. The
arnendrnent to Ordinance 802 rnore precisely defines a massage parlor
and a massage.
The public hearing was opened.
Mr. Michael Murphy, Massage Therapist, Palo Alto, noted he has
given input to both Palo Alto and Sunnyvale regarding Massage
Ordinances. He noted he supports the idea of a separate category
for professional rnassage therapists. He noted there is no State
license for this field.
In response to Com. Mann's concerns regarding licensing, Mr. Murphy
stated in the terms of the Ordinance the individual practitioner
would have to demonstrate educational and professional background
to the City.
Mr. Cowan stated the primary purpose of the licensing is to look at
the character of the individual.
The public hearing was closed.
No comments on the Health and Safety Ordinance. The consensus of
the Planning Commission was to support it.
MOTION: Com. Austin moved to recommend granting a Negative
Declaration
SECOND: Com. Mackenzie
VOTE: Passed 5-0
MOTION: Com. Austin moved to approve the amendment to Ordinance
802 subject to the findings and subconclusions of the .
hearing.
SECOND: Com. Mackenzie
VOTE: Passed �-�
7. Application No(s): 14-EA-92 & 81,129
Applicant: City of Cupertino
Property Owner: Same
Project Location: City Wide
Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to create an Open Space
Zoning District.
Staff Presentation: Planning Director Cowan presented the staff
report. He noted the amendment will establish regulations on
properties that were set aside for natural open space. He noted
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
Reqular Meeting of August 10, 1992
Page 4
the Ordinance will codify the policy adopted by the Planning
Commission. He stated the Ordinance allows the property owner to
voluntarily put property into the private open space category. The
City can also impose this in conjunction with a development. Mr.
Cowan outlined the permitted uses as well as the conditional uses
of the Ordinance as written in the staff report.
Com. Mann stated she would be abstaining from this item as she
lives in one of the areas involved.
In response to Chr. Fazekas' question, Mr. Cowan stated the
Ordinance was generated frorn problerns which occurred at Voss Pond.
He noted this Ordinance is to make it clear to future developers
that there are open space areas.
The public hearing was opened.
The public hearing was closed.
MOTION: Com. Austin moved to recommend granting a Negative
Declaration
SECOND: Com. Mahoney
VOTE: Passed 5-0
MOTION: Com. Austin moved to approve application 14-EA-92 and
81,128 subject to the findings and subconclusions of the
hearing.
SECOND: Com. Mahoney
VOTE: Passed 5-0
8. APPLICATION 3-GPA�90 - CITY OF CUPERTINO: ADJOURNED PUBLIC
HEARING to continue discussion of the General Plan. SUBJECT:
Free-standing takeout restaurant policy, housing.
Staff Presentation: Planning Director Cowan presented the staff
report. He noted the wording of Policy 2-52 allows the Planning
Commission and Council to make a choice. He suggested looking at •
this policy after studying the area plan for the City. Mr. Cowan
noted that some areas rnay be appropriate for free-standing
operations and other areas may not be.
The public hearing was opened.
The public hearing was closed.
Com. Mackenzie stated this policy is not clear and he would be in
support of deleting it or modifying it. He noted that this policy
takes discussion away frorn the more important issues.
Com. Austin stated that the City should actively discourage free-
standing restaurants. She stated these restaurants cater to the
motoring public and the City should be trying to get away from
this.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
Regular Meeting of August 10, 1992
Page 5
Chr. Fazekas feels that this policy was written when free-standinq
restaurants were not aesthetically pleasing. He feels this policy
gets in the way of the more important issues. He noted he would
like to see the policy deleted or modified.
Com. Mahoney spoke in favor of deleting or modifying the policy.
He noted it should be dealt with on a case by case basis.
Com. Mann spoke in support of modifying the policy. She stated
restaurants should be judged on their own merits. She also
suggested looking at areas in the City where free-standing
restaurants may be appropriate.
Com. Mackenzie stated free-standing restaurants make Cupertino a
convenient City to live in and for that reason he would like to see
the policy removed.
Chr. Fazekas stated free-standing restaurants on transit corridors
would cater to commuters. He concurred with Com. Mann that some
areas may be appropriate for such a restaurant, but cannot
discriminate against which type.
Mr. Cowan stated that the proposed new area plans and the design
guidelines would provide protection.
MOTION: Com. Mackenzie moved to recommend deleting Policy 2-52 in
its entirety with the finding that other policies provide
adequate regulations for such applications and there is
no need for a specific policy.
SECOND: Com. Mann
VOTE: Passed 4-1
NOES: Com. Austin
MOTION: Com. Mann moved to continue General Plan discussions to
the meeting of August 24, 1992
SECOND: Com. Austin '
VOTE: Passed 5-0
NEW BUSINESS:
9. Request to consider retention of service stations
I
Staff Presentation: Planning Director Cowan noted citizens did
request that the Planning Commission create a policy to preserve
existing service stations within the City. He noted staff does not
recommend this policy as it is a private sector issue. He pointed
out that because of a policy freezing the square footage on retail
sites, very little retail square footage could be built on a gas
station site because of the low FAR. He noted this could be an
incentive to retain the existing use or build residential.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
Regular Meeting of August 10, 1992
Page 6
Com. Mann noted there is a concern that people have to travel
several miles to get to a gas station.
In response to Com. Mann's question, Mr. Cowan noted he is not
aware of any similar policies in other cities.
In response to Chr. Fazekas' question, Mr. Cowan stated sites could
be zoned for gas stations.
The public hearing was opened.
The public hearing was closed.
Com. Mackenzie stated that gas stations are coming down and office
buildings going up. He stated gas stations make a City convenient
to live in. He spoke in support of a policy to actively retain
service stations, where appropriate.
Com. Mann spoke in support of discouraging the conversion of gas
stations to other uses.
Com. Austin spoke in support of staff recommendation. She noted if
it is not economically feasible for a gas station to remain open,
it should not have to.
Com. Mann stated if the property owner of a gas station wishes to
convert, it should be in the best interest of the general public.
Mr. Cowan noted that staff could follow up on recommendation 3 to
do more research if the Planning Commission would like more
information.
Com. Mahoney stated a policy should not be created at this time.
Chr. Fazekas recommended no action at this time. He did express
concern regarding tax roles and asked staff to look into this.
Com. Mann and Com. Mackenzie spoke in favor of actively
discouraging the conversion of gas stations to other uses.
Chr. Fazekas, Com. Mahoney and Com. Austin did not recommend any
action at this time.
REPORT OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION:
- None
REPORT OF DIREC'i'OR OF COI�IIKiJNITY DEVELOP1�iT :
- None
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
Regular Meeting of August 10, 1992
Page 7
DISCUSSION OF NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS:
The Commissioners discussed the newspaper clipping regarding
Kaiser's proposal for a hospital on the Marchese site in the City
of Santa Clara.
ADJOURNMENT: The Planning Commission adjourned at 8:10 P.M. to
the next Regular Meeting of August 24, 1992 at 6:45
p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Catherine M. Robillard,
Recording Secretary
Approved by the Planning Commission
at the Regular Meeting of August 24, 1992
/s/ Daryl Fazekas
Daryl Fazekas, Chairman
Attest:
/s/ Doroth Cornelius
Dorot y Cornelius, City C erk
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