PC 06-27-73 .
. CITY OF CUPERTINO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA PC-112
10300 Torze Avenue, Cupertino, Ca1i.�ornia Page 1
Telephone: 252--4505 -
MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING Ok' THE PLANNING COMMISSIO
HELD ON JUNE 27, 1973, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY F�ALL
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA
SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Vice-Chairman 0'Keefe called the meeting to order at 7:48 P.M. wit
the Salute to the Flag.
ROLL CALL
Comm. present: Adams, Gatto, Nellis, Vice-Chairman 0'Keefe
Chairman Buthenuth (10:10 P.M.) �
Comm. absent: None
Staff present: Director of Planning and Development Sisk
Assistant City Attorney 1'erry
Associate Planner Cowan
Traffic Engineer �'rigg
Economic Corisultants present: Arnold, Levy
PUBLIC HEARING
1. CITY OF CUPERTINO: Public Hearing to consider 1973
ComprPhensive General Plan. -
Mr. Levy suggested the Ccc�aission begin by discussing and deciding
upon the remainder of Vallco Park uses, and alternative uses for
Mariani property and the core area. .
' Comm. Adams felt they should first determine how much acreage
should be considered for commercial because rhis factor should be
woven into the decision on the Mariani property and the property
west of Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road.
Comm. Gatto wanted to start with the "overall puzz].e" and then
work with it and fit the pieces into the puzzle,
Mr. Levy said it is important to consider the criteria for allotain
any more high density use in the City of Cupertino. The Commissio
will have to decide why "here" and not any place else, as each
property is co:�sidered.
PC-112 MINUTES OF THE JUNE 27, 1973 ADJOURNED PLANNING COMt�ISSION MEETING
Page 2
The Traffic Engineer answered Comm. Gatto that the existing plan line
for Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road shows 8 lanes, within the City's right-of-
way. At the present tiMe, most of that roadway between Stevens Creek
Blvd. and Highway 280 is 50'. At the present time, we do not have
sufficient right-of-way for 6 lanes on Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road.
Mr. Levy answered Comm. Nellis that if another 70 acres there were
developed commercial we would need an additional three lanes along
Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road.
Comm. Adams asked what the difference in traffic generation would be r
between the various possible uses. The Traffic Engineer said residential
at 4 dwelling units per acre generates three one-way trips per acre;
residential at 16 dwelling units per ac.re generates 11 one-way trips
per acre; industrial generaCes 25 one-way trips per acre; regional
shopping center generates 4Q one-way trips per acre; and office with
parking structure generates 100 one-way trips per acre.
Comm. Nellis asked what the market is for professional office space in
this area. Mr. Arnold said there i� a high vacancy at the present time,
but he could not at this time project a long-range need.
Vice-Chairman 0'Keefe asked for comments from the audience.
Attorney Harry W, Falk, Los Altos, submitted a letter dated June 26, 1973,
addressed to the Plannir.g Commission; regarding Falk-Barnhart Property,
West Side of Highway ��9, Assessor's Parcel Nos. 326-10-025, 026, 029.
Comm. Gatto asked the staf.f to what extent of this man's property does
the use permit apply. The Planning Director said it applied to Valley
Green Drive.
Mr. Falk read his letter into the record. He said it was his understanding
that the use permit extended over Che entire property. The Planning�
Director showed the exl�ibit attached to the use permit, which indica�ed
the use permit only pertained to that portion that has been developed.
The Assistant City Attorney answered Comm. Gatto that this situation does
not fall within the category of vested rights.
Mr. �alk noted that they gave 1.5 acres of land and spent about $200,000 on �
improvements. It is his feeling that they are proceeding as rapidly as
possible on the developmenC. They have working drawings approved by the
City and have building permits for the restaurant. Then the moraturium
hit.
M:LNUTES OF THE .�UNE 27, 1973 ADJOURNED FLANNING COMMISSION MEETING PC-112
Page 3
Comm. Nellis asked the Planning Director his opinion on w�ether
this i� Planned Development with cQmrnercial intent or General
Commercial. After some discussion, it was brought out that wilat
is not yet constructed are the restaurant and the motel. Approval
date is June 24, 1968.
The City Attorney was asked what commitment on the part of the Cit
is constituted by the fact that the gentic:man h«s donated Z.5 acre
for the roadway and has constructed the road. The Assistant City
Attorney stated that you have to look at the development of the
roadway and look at th,e position of the City at thaC time. It mus
be considered whether that requirement is unique in that it couZd
not be used for any other purpose. Does this roadway campletely
� destr.oy the possibility of alternate uses? He added that there ar
no guarantees that propert� retain the same zoning. You are
taking a chance, just as you would with the stock market. Perhaps
the original zoning was inappropriate.
Attorney Falk felt that the question of commitment on the part of
the City should include the fact that the o�wner has donated some •
pr�nerty to the City, and that because o£ the request of the City
he has huilt a very expensive building.
In response to the question of rahether a street ulti.mately would
have been required in this particular quadrant, thQ Planning
Directar said that the I�odrigues property no lon�er had access to
Freeway 280, and this is one reason they were talking abaut a raad.
It would be a valid assumpticn that this street would have been
required in any case.
Comm. Nellis asked the staff why this property bore the total brun
of the e�uen�P of Lhe xoaaw�.y . The Traff i � Fn�ir_�er. said that
°� „
part o�` r rc�a�t��:�y �� anly 75/o c�nstrucCed. Wtien L"t�e cther
property owner comes in with dEVelopment plans they will have to
put in the balance. Mr. Falk said he was required to underground
the utilities and put in the fire hydrant system on both s:tdes.
, The City was not prepared to conLribute.
Mr. Jim LeDeit said he wanted to clarify one pcint as to that
street. He said Mr. & Mrs. Rodr�,�ues. have fully cooperated wa.th
that street and with the City. They donated 1/3 acre so that the
street could go in. They woul.d cooperate wi.th the Ci.ty in ordex
that the PD could go in. He noted that all commercial does not
generate the same amount of traffic. A regional furniture store
would generate very little traffic.
Vice-Chairman 0'Keefe analogized that consa.dering di.��exent con-
cepts of commerci.al square footage is like measura.ng jellyfish
with rubber bands; you have to see the specific plans.
PC-112 MINUTES OF THE JU�E 27, 1973 ADJOURNED PLANNING COr�IISSION MEETING
Page 4
Mr. Robert Whittet, 19991 Braemar Drzve, Saratoga, Vice-President ot
Newman Properties, explained their town center plan. The buildings are
broken up with vistas, landscaping, patios, etc. Ttiey plan to create
a 500,000 sq. ft. village-type town center. There is a void of_ the
Neiman-Marcus type shopping. He believes his concept would be appro-
priate in either. location. They are talking about high fashion-type
stores for the 80,000 to 100,000 sq. ft. buildings. In addition, they
are planning specialty shops, theaters -- an "Old Town" type development.
He is not convi.�ced that Cupertino wants or needs the type of csnter
offered by either Vallco Park or Mariani Mall. He requested the City
leave the Town Center's 47.5 acres intact_.
Mr. Whittet answered that aC the present time, they have options on the
Torre and Chuk properties and they ar� negotiating with Cali. They are �
��s: talking with Northern California Savings and Loan.
!
Mr. Whittet explained that the cars in the parking lot will be shielded
by a 30' to 70' wide perimeter berm. He believes his proposal is much
more appropriate for this type community than the regional shopping
center. He would like to see this development go in, whether or n ot
the regional shopping center goes in.
Mr. Whittet answered Comm. Adams that it wauld take about four years to
develop this type center. He thinks this type center is supportable
in this conununity at this time. He.said his proposal is similar to the
best of Stanford Plaza and the PruneYard. At the present time, this
type shopping choice to the West �'alley resident is very limited.
Cotnm. Gatto asked, in light of the traffic concern at Sarato�a-Sunnyvale
Road and Stevens Creek Blvd. intersection, if they could achieve their
goal if they were allowed to develop half the center.
Mr. 0'Donald, representirg the Cali interests, said they are working
with Newman Properties on McClellan Square. They are in very serious
discussions with them now. If the Town Center properties ara to be
developed, it will be done all at once. It is difficult to get the
property owners together. He said they are advocating that type develop-
ment, a�though not nearly that large. He said you have to get down to
about 35 acres to achieve what he wants for the Town Centez.
It would appear to Mr. 0'Donald that if the General Plan were adopted
with that property residential, it will sit there for a long time and
then somebody will come in and ask ta have it reconsidered. He asked
far some cansideration sa the Cali property can be developed.
Vice-Chairman �'Keefe noCed that the Commiss�on has to consider the
entire community, particularly w�iexe the tra��ic is concerned. �
Mr. 0'Donald said he does not like strip commercial, per se, but he
quzstioned the wisdom u� putting residential, with living human beings,
on the Calt property at Stevens Creek Blvd.and Wol�e Road, across frnm
the financial center.
MIIIUTES OF ZHE JUNE 27, 1973 ADJOURNED PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING PC-112
� Page 5
A recess was called at 9:32 P.M. The meet.ing reconvened at 9:58.
Messrs. Arnold and Levy gave a summation of other commerciai uses
in the core area and the actual amount of acreage that will be
involved, other than the regional shopping center.
Mr. Arnold said that in talking about strip commercial, every piec
could eventu.ally be filled in. There was the new piece of infor-
mation brought in, that you could have fzeeway oriented co�mercial
activity such as motels, furniture stores, etc. His analysis
centered on the thinking that if Cu�ertino wants to go al� agglo-
merate - they should survey community centers, which they did. At
a work session with Stu Clark it was determined that a regional
• shopping center would be in balance now. '2hey worked with a
popula�ion fzgure oL 45,000 people. They came up with the figure
o� SOO,U00 sq. ft. buildin� �or retail sales, or 50 acres includi g
parking, etc. He does not think this area could support more
than SOO,�OG sq. ft. He suggested priorities be set, and to stop
any thoughts of fragmenting. Thought must be given to tiThether or
not we can prohibit development in one center until another ia
implemented. � �
Mr. Levy said consideration must be given as to whether h3gh
intensity uses could go in the Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road area. Also
with cornmercial.west o� Highway 9 and south of Freeway 230, would
the uses conflict witr those in the regional center..
Chairman Buthenuth arrived at the meeting at this point.
A recap of the proceedings of the meeting thus far was g�ven.
The core area includes that property fallzng between Stevens
Creek Blvd.from Wolfe Road tc� Stellir.g Road, and Saratoga-Sunnyval
n n n �+' �-" rt�:i t+ � i _ 1.
i.��u �_, "� -��:�r.a�V Gou i:U �u�s:�.�uey [�vexiuG. tr:e ra�-� �ito���±.i:y t��.5
put in street improvemt:_t:� in 1968-b9 with the idea tha* the land
was zoned conunercial and they now want to develop ccmmercial. If
the City determines the zoning should be changed, the owner will
seek some compensation. The Town Center �,ras also discussed (see
� page 4 of these minutes).
Comm. Adams wa.nted to take the consultants' recommendations that
approximaCely SO acres continue to have commerciai zoning Co
provide a b�lanced community, and he would be in favor of such a
r.ecommendati.on to the City Council. Comm. Nellis wanted to tie in
the 500,OOQ sq. ft. o� building to the approximate 50 acres. She
said that if we are tr.uly committed to agglomeration, it does not
appear that we could support more than 50 acres o� commerciaZ.
'C-112 MINUTES OF THE JUNE 27, 1973 ADJOURNED PLANNIIIG COMMISSION riEETING
'age 6
Chairman Buthenuth said he agrees with agglomerate over strip commercial.
He thinks the Planiling Commission should look into how to treat the
partially developed conunercial on Stevens Creek Blvd., east of Highway 9
to Vista Dxive.
Comm. Gatto`s definition of "agglonierated": A consolidation of varied
functions under single, planned development.
Comm. Gatto thinks agglomeration is appropriate `or the City, but it
might be too exclusive. There might be functions that mi�ht be
�
appropriate for the City tha�: miglit not fit into an agglomeration.
Chairman Buthenuth agreed that a.long with agglomeration Chere should
be some provision for some strip commercial. Comm. Nellis suggested
there coul.d be da.fferent types of agg?omerated commercial. Vice-Chairman
0'Keefe said there has to be an allowance for an assemb2age of separate
parcel.s because there are some uses that don`t mix t�rith others.
The question arose whether the core area cou.ld handle ttao "PruneYards".
Comm. Gatto felt tha� pertiaps it could handle one today and one maybe
20 years from �oday. He t,tould like to incorporate ilexibility Co all.ow
for this. He suggested the 500,000 sq. ft, figure be raised co 700,000
and �his amount of aVgl.omerate� area be broken into three areas;. do it
in steps. Vice-Ch�.irman 0'Keefe was concerned that the property owners
might then be required to hold treir land longer than tliey intended
before 3evelopment.
.
Comm. Gatto proposed we have t�ro "PruneYards" and one commercial park
type center. Mr. Arnold suggested they set a"PruneYard" and a
commercial park area and investigate thoroughly whether we ne2d another
"PruneYard". Comm. Nellis said she taas having Crouble visualizing two
"PruneXards". Chairnian �uthenuth was not sure that we have to include
heavy types of uses wi.thin the City. He was not even sure that the City
can support one "PruneYard".
The staff was requesLed to come up with a defxnirion of "Sub-Kegional
Center".
Chairman Buthenuth asked the Commission if we want any and all types of
uses within the City. Comm. Gatto said if �we limit the development to a
shopping center and one other use we would be providing a place for
commercial. to occur that would be beneficial to the City. A determination
of wha� level of residential can be put on those properties must also be
made.
r •
M�NUTES OF THE JUNE 27, 1973 AL�JOURNEU PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING PC-112
Page 7
S�veral thoughts were thrown out: Comm. Gatto said we need a
de£inition of "other comm?xciaZ". .Coirun. Adams believes 500,000 sq.
ft. for the 'rown Center property is toa high. Chairman Buthenuth
asked what provisions tor parkin� are needed for the 500,000 sq.
ft. (or 50 acres). Comm. Nellis commented that �Iie problem with
. over 500,000 sq. ft. would be traffic and the fact that we wuuld
• get beyond the low-medium intensity use. She was look�_ng for
entertainment services and other services not yet offered in
Cupertino.
Moved by Comm. Adams, seconded by Vice-Chairman 0'Keefe to recom-
' mend that the General Plan reflect aggio�nerated type of com�
mercial areas i_n the core area to permit appro�iin�tely 500,OQ0
sq. ft. toCal commerci_al f" �- space, to he distributed with the
center of this distribution being the cro�sroads at Stevens Cr.eek
Blvd. and Saratoga-SunnyvalF Road.
Chaixman Buthenuth felt that 5�0,000 sq. £t. is not ri.ght. He
felt that they.should_pick acreage to get a planned development. �
Comm. Iv'ellis fe].t that it was imnortant to tie acreage to intensit
of development. ,
Comm. Gatto wanted to delete the allocation in the above motion.
That �uotian was abandoned and a new one made.
Moved by Comm. Adams, seconded by Comm. Ga�to to recomrnend our. Agglomerated
General Plan re�lect a quality of commercial development in an cummercial
agglomerated arrangement of approximately 500,000 sq. �t., or 500,000 sq. ft
50 acres. , y or 50 acres
AYE�: ��:..�:. A�1�.ms, Gai:LO, i�7e11is, O�Keefe
NOES: Chairman �uthenuth
� � Motion carried, 4-1
The Commission indicated rhey were reaciy Lo•speak to the sPecif�.c
areas at this tim�. Cemm. Adams felt that ?.50,000 sq. ft. should
� be located on the community center s�tie that the Conunission has
talked abouY. £or the past several k�eeks -- southeast corner of
Higliway 9. He tzad no second choice at this time; it would work
itseli' up to the northc�est quadrant o£' Stevens Creek Blvd. and
Hi.ghway 9. Comm. Gatto asked what he could �oresee xor the rest
o� Highway 9 Gnd whether he could 3.nclude lumbF�r yards, nurseries,
etc., for these areas. Comn7. Adams ar►swered in the negative. ,
PC-112 MINUTES OF THE JUNE 27, 1973 ADJOURNED PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
Page 8
Chairman Buthenuth agreed with the 250,OOQ sq. ft. to he included in
the entire Town Center, together w�th residential. He said he would •
also go along with commercial park property on the northwest quadrant
of Highway 9 and Stevens Creek Blvd. •
Mr. John Torre wanted it clari�zed that the Torre property was included
in the Town Center plan, not just Cali property. He was reassured on
this point. rir. Torre said they formed the 104 acres into a Town Center
in 1962. They have been trying to sell this property for a long time
because of the high taxes. They have been urged by the CiCy to get together, .
which they are doing at this time. ,
Ms. Juanita McLaren, 2�101 Lindy I,ane, said that for 9 years she has �
been deligently trying to put together this propertq. It was her belief
s�� _..v 1"a uj� �C Vi=c +ti�?�';`.i:aiii.0 t0 C�lOOSe ��181r location .5�1� believes
these important decisions should not he made ar_ one or two o'Clock in
the morning when everybody is tired.
Comm. Gatto said the Town Center includes those 52 acres, regardless
of ownership. As to the market dictating schedules, absorption rates,
etc., he said you could zone everything cammercial and see what you
end up with. Ms. McLaren said she believes consideratiori should be
given to *_hese anchor tenants. She does not believe you should strangle
a community by resisting commercial. .
Comm. Nellis noted the Planning Commission has made a decision on the
size of ttie �commercial other than regional shopping cente�r. The problem
ar_ hand is the location(s). Somew;�ere between 250,OOU and 350,000 sq.
i't. in the '�o?sn Center would be the first choice, as a mix with
residential use on the entire 52 acres. Going,directly to the norrh
and *.�est of Highway 9, adjacent ta Crossroads Assessment ��1, would be
an area to devote itself to uses other than those uses considered
for the Town Center area. �
Chairman Buthenuth agreed. On Highway 9, fram Stevens Creek Blvd. to
wherP k'argo intersection�, there cr�tild be some uses foz a commercial
park area. .
Moved by Chairman BuChenuth, seconded by Comm. Adams that approximately
250,000 sq. ft. of ottler commercial be incorporated inro the Town Center
comp.lex and the other designatecl conu�iercial would be in the area bounded
by Stevens Creek Blvd., Highwa.y 9, Fargo Drive, and rhe existing residential
to the clesr .
AXES: Comm. Adams, Gatto, Nellis, 0'Kee�a, Chairman Buthenuth
NOES:. None
Motion car.ried, 5-0
p �
MINUTES OF TH� JUNE 27 1973 f�DJOURIrED YL�1I�'NING CO:L'`fISSION MEETING PC-112
Page 9
ADJOURI�`� 1ENT �
Moved by Com.m. ;velZis, seconded by Co�. GarCa to continue the
Public Nearin�; on the 1973 Co�r�pxehensive General Plan to 7:30
P. ri ., Thursday, June 28, 1973. .`.eeting adjourned at 12:20 A.M,
Motian carried, 5 -0
APPROVID :
/ s/ John W. Buthenuth
Chairman
ATTEST:
,
/s/ Wm. E. Ryder
. City Clerk