Loading...
PC 09-20-73 � CITY OF CUPERTINO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA PC-126 10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, California Page 1 Telephone: 252-4505 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ADJOURNED MEETING O�F THE PLANNING COI�ZISSION HELD ON SEPTEMBER 20, 1973 IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY HALL, CUPERTTNO, Cr1LIF'ORNIA SALUTE TO THE FLAG , Chairman Buthenuth called the meeting to order at 7:32 P.M. with the Salute to the Flag. ROLL CALL Co�nm. present: Adams, Gatto, Nellis, 0'Keefe, Chairman Buthenuth Comn. absent: None • Staff present: Associate Planner Cowan Deputy City Attorney Kilian Consultant present: Steve Levy � PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. CITY OF CUPERTINO: Public Hearing to consider 1973 Comprehensive General Plan. Chairman Buthenuth said at the last meeting �ve finished up the southeast corner of Stevens Creek Boulevard and Foothill Boulevard. Tonight we will discuss the other three corners of that inter- section. The Associate Planner said the southeast corner was designated residential R1-9,000 square feet. There are 4.5 available acres at the northwest corner. Mr. John Rintala, 10101 Scenic Drive, Monte Vista, presented pre- pared packets to the Planning Commission. He said this information is to reiterate and augment the September lOth Planning Commission Public Hearing on the Comprehensive General Plan. He said his statements were regarding neighborhood commercial in general. . Ann Anger, Monte Vista, said Mr. Rintala should take this to the � City Council since the Planning Commission is through with this. She said if he wants to destroy downtown Monte Vista, he will have � a fight on his hands. . . -� 4 PC-126 MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 20, 1973 AD.TOURNED PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Page 2 • Realtor Rick Alley wanted to give his brief opinion as to commercial needs i�. � the Monte Vista area. He answered Comm. Nellis that his motivation was that he represents Alpha Beta Markets. He said they would like the southeast corner but the Planning Commission has already voted this down. In that area ' are 3600 residences now with a population of 12,000. He said he would go with the figure $15.00 per capita pex week. He said the neighborhood has an obligation to the city. Let's assume there are a lot of bad things that go along with a shopping center. He said one neighborhood should not have to service another neighborhood. It should bear its own responsibilities. The figures are in an3 they are show the neighborhood could use and support an Alpha Beta Market. This will not put Gordon's grocery store or Rifredi's Market out of business. Mr. Alley offered to purchase Mr. Rifredi's property . a while ago, but Mr. Rifredi was not interested. He said there is a faction here in the audience concerned about the wideni,ng of Stevens CrEek Boulevard. This should not enter into this discussion. The shopping center he is talking about will service chiefly that neighborhood. Mr. E. Kapel, 7603 Kerwin Lane, Cupertino, said there is a pre-zoning application for the northwest corner of this intersection. The owner is prepared to give dedications and will cooperate with �the city if granted commercial zoning. After dedication it is 3.1088 acres assuming Silver Oak Way does not go through. With Silver Oak Way not going in, it is 6.68 acres. � Marylu Bean, 10143 Amador Ct., Cupertino, said she is pleased that the � Planning Commission is concerned about the wishes of the citizens, not only the developer. She said these are small pieces of property in this area and she hoped the Planning Commission would make a decision on that . property as a whole. She said they were told when they purchased their property that they would be surrounded by duplexes. She hoped these plans . would be continued. She would like to see this intersection become an attractive intersection. She said they understand the Permanente trucks were there before they were and they must live with this, but they would like,to have this intersection made as safe as possible. � The Associate Planner answered Comm. Gatto that when Westridge was approved � the Planning Commission was considering grade separation there and intensive use of the church property. At that time Silver Oak Way was supposed to go through. Last year's work showed it will not be necessary for Silver Oak Way to go through. If the property were developed commercially this would make the traffic movement work better. There appears now to be no need for the grade separation. Mrs. Pat Brisco, Monte Vista, would like to take all four corners of that intersection into consideration. What this Planning Commission and City Council decide will effect the future of this area. She would like to see low density in the foothills. She would like to see Frank's corner kept residential. She said the schools in the area are becoming overcrocaded. They do have Westridge but they would not like to have any more high density us es up the re . � MINUTES OF TIiE SEPTEMBER 20, 1973 ADJOURNED PLANNING COMMISSION PC-126 MEETING Page 3 Mrs. Robert Brokaw, 10081 Carmen Road, Monte Vista, said she would very much like to see the corner area stay mostly sir�gle family residential. She said any commercial on these corners would cause some problems because the trucks really move along there and cut the corners. She would like to see the commercial stay doumtown Monte Vista. Mr. John Bean, Vice-President of Westridge, said something will have to be done to improve the traffic floca if this corner is developed commercially. Mrs. Lucien Hertert, San Juan Road, said the real question prob ably is �ohether you can have residential with the trucks going by here. There is a drastic opinion of the residents against commercial. If we do develop our bus transportation the could very easily have , a place to stop at the northwest corner of this intersection. 'There could also be a landscaped bus stop at the southwest corner. She said they do not need a big shopping center in that area. Mr. Bob Brokaw, 10081 Carmen Road, Monte Vista, asked if trucks with trailers and hence extra wheels were taken into consideration � on the traffic matters. The Associate Planner said he thought so. Mr. Brokaw asked if Permanente is going to stay. Chairman Buthenuth sai.d we have to assume so. Mr. Brokaw said he can then see dis- advantages to residential here. He can also see disadvantages to commercial for all four corners. Mr. Noor Billawalla, 20252 Hill Avenue, Saratoga, said he is one of the small property owners of one of the.corners here. He.said if you look at the 1964 General Plan map west of Highway 85 there are no red dots. For balance, we do have need for a neighborhood center This would decrease the traffic and pollution with shorter trips. He does not believe people should be living at these busy inter- sections. It is not healthful. Comm. Nellis was answered by the Associate Planner that west of � Permanente Road there are single family, approximately 10,000 square foot lots. Westridge is 12 units per acre. It was esrablished at the last meeting to more or less adopt the present commercial areas in Monte Vista. They are basically strip commercial along Stevens Creek Boulevard and relatively narrow in depth. The citizens have sai� they would like to maintain the small town atmosphere. They would like to see improvements of downtown Monte Vista b ut not at any great expense. If that is the case there is not sufficient commercial area for expansion, according to Mr. Levy. Most of the people do their bulk shopping outside the area. PC-126 MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 20, 1973 ADJOURNED PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Page 4 F.rom a planning standpoint, �the question is whether or not we introduce neighborhood commercial west of Highway 85 or continue to have these � people go outside their neighborhood to shop. He believes the area west . of Highway 85, particularly if Highway 85 goes through, will be isolated and without a neighborhood shopping center. Comm. Nellis feels that you can make a case that an Alpha Beta or any similar market could make it here. But it is her oum feeling that as we move toward the foothills from Highway 85, she would like to see a quietening down of the community. She feels, according to the inp ut from residents in the area, that this is their wish also. They would prefer to drive to a shopping center. She does not want to see downtown Monte Vista expanded but rather improved. Comm. Adams said at the last session he expressed his feelings to have old Monte Vista area rehabilitated in a Planned Development. He does not see why it can't be done with the cooperation of the property owners. He said our growth will double in the next twenty years. He can see the need for some additional neighborhood shopping in that area. He could go alon� with the northwest quadrant of Stevens Creek Boulevard and Foothill Boulevard in commercial, but the rest he would like to see remain residential. Comm. 0`Keefe said there are enough examples around to tell us that the statistics do�not lie. He believes the character of the Monte Vista area should be maintained. We should allow the little man to remain little. The economics of this area necessitate the preservation of the character of the area. He does not think the people would change their shopping habits and do all their shopping in one spot. Chairman Buthenuth said if we widen Stevens Creek Boulevard a lot of downtown rlonte Vista would be wiped out. One of the problems with Monte Vista now is there is no p arking. Mr. Levy said if the Planning Commission makes the decis�on to go neighbor- hood commercial here, then last week's discussion should be reopened. The Alpha Beta representative said he was talking about a concept: , agglom.erated commercial serving neighborhood needs and nothing e1se. He could not get regional ac�ivity in there. The boutique idea belongs in downtown Monte Vista. He said you could not put a market in downtown Monte Vista because the property is worth too much. He said it is most � important to h ave very good access to the market. He feels there is an obligation for a neighborhood to take care of itself, in these respects. Comm. 0'Keefe said that line of thinking does not take the behavioral attitude of the residents into consideration. It would be taking for granted that al1 neighborhoods are homogeneous. Externalities must be taken into consideration. Mr. Alley said there is a peti.tion and a ratio of ten to one in the neighborhood was in favor of a shopping center. Comm. Nellis said that be£ore we continue with last week's discussion it should be remembered that a decision was made. MINUTES OF THE SEPTENIBER 20, 1973 ADJOURNID PLANNING CON��ISSION MEETING PC-126 ' Page 5 It was moved by Comm. 0'Keefe, seconded by Comm. Nellis, not to reopen the discussion on the southeast corner of Stevens Creek Boulevard and Foothill Boulevard. AYES: Comm. Adams, Nellis and 0'Keefe NOES: Comm. Gatto and Chairman Buthenuth Motion carried, 3-2 Mrs. Bean said she does a lot of her shopping at the Safeway on Home- stead Raad j_n another jurisdiction. She would prefer to do her • shopping in the City of Cup�rtino in a way that does not impose on the character of her neighborhood. She asked what the potential is for having a neighborhood comnlercial in the area of Mary Knoll. Comm. Gatto said that fr�m a planning standpoint it ma3e sense to locate a neighborhood coaunercial. in close proximity to the neighborhood. Moved by Comm. Nellis, seconded by Comm. Adams, that the southwest SW corner corner of Stever.s Creek Boulevard and Foothill Boulevard be designated single on the General Plan as single family residential with the range of family 1 to 4 units per acre. 1-4/Acre AYES: Comm. Adams, Gatto, Nell�.s, 0'Keefe and Chairman Buthenuth NOES: None Motion carried, 5-0 Comm. Nellis said the northwest corner is too smali for neighborhood commercial. The only reason she would go for office use here is because of truck traff ic, but for the same reason that would not be a�ood use eith�r. She was considering 9,000 square foot residential l.ots but then W�estridge must also be considered. Comm. Adams said if we needed a larger commercial area, he wondered if it would be feasible to extend beyond that northwest corner. The Associate Planner said it is 4.5 acres including the service station. Mrs. Hertert said she had spoken tio a staff inember one day who expressed the wish to keep that entire corner resiuential. She would like to keep a green landscaped corner here. P.esidential at the north�,rest and southwest corners would be appropriate with a wall to keep the noise Qut. Mrs. Brisco said they have 60 trucks per hour. She said the two townhouse developments could probably use a neighborhood commercial west of Foothill Boulevard. PC-126 MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 20, 1973 ADJOURNED PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Page 6 � Mr. Kapel said we have an excellent opportunity here to keep the couunercial center with the similar acreage. Comm. Gatto moved th at areas under discussion be provided with a neighborhood shopping area within the boundaries of Stevens Creek Boulevard, water area and I-280 southerly. This would be stores that would service the immediate neighborhood, somewhere around 5 acres, which would consist primarily of a supermarket and supporting stores. This motion died for lack of a second. It was then moved by Comm. Gatto, seconded by Comm. 0'Keefe, that this area does not h ave a neighborhood shopping center. AYES: Comms. Nellis and 0'Keefe . NOES : Comms . Adams , Gatto and Chairman Buthenuth Motion failed, 2-3 Comm. 0'Keefe said those citizens east of FoothilZ seem content with the present shopping patterns. The people west of Foothill may think otherwise. Comm. Adams asked how we will dress up this intersection. He is suggesting within the next fifteen years the need for neighborhood commercial will be greater. Comm. Adams said if you try to put residential in there, there will probably be a problem in trying.to keep tenants in the units. He doubts that there is a developer who would be willing to build single family dwellings � there . Comn. Nellis agreed with Comm. Adams that the highest decible rating due to the trucks would be at the northwest corner. A recess was called at 9:35 p.m. The meeting reconvened aC 9:45 p.m. Assuming no commercial on the northwest corner, Comm. Nellis asked Couun. Gatto what kind of residential he could envision there. Comm. Gatto said the noise problem is most severe at the northwest corner and a sound barrier to combat this could be done, but it is dif.ficult. Some type of clustered unit might work. He was not so sure professional offices could not exist on that corner. It should take some kind �f low key usage, and no night usage. Commercial here would be difficult because it is not large � enough due to the fact that it would need substantial landscaping aiid buffering. Comm. Adams asked what four acres would support here including the required parking. Comm. Gatto answered about 40,000 square feet. This would be about 40 doctor/dental type offices, but he said at this location it would probably mean 30,000 square feet because of the extra buffering, etc. that would be needed. MIPdUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 20, 1973 ADJOURNED PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING PC-126 Page 7 Chairman Buthenuth said you really would not want left turns into this property. � Conm. Nellis would like to continue w*ith the large lots in this area as in the other three, b ut she sees some real problems with this. She does not see these problems solved with single family homes. There are ° two town house developments up there and she does not particularly want to see all one type of housing. Moved�by Comm. Nellis, seconded by Comm. 0'Keefe, that the northwest NW Corner corner be shown on the General Plan with a density of 4 to 7.6 units 4-7.6/acre per acre. AYES: Comms. Gatto, NeTlis, 0'Keefe and Chairman Buthenuth NOES : Comm. Adams ' Motion carried, 4-1 I-2 8�J and Mr. Harry Falk, 11452 Mora Drive, Los Altos Hills, said in 1968 he Highway 9 beca�ne interested in this entirely undeveloped area. The map now shows a street going through the area. He said they were interested in pur- chasing this property if it was commercial. They are not speculator type developers or promoters. He is a retired attorney with a few dollars to invest. The City told them they could probably get their commercial zoning, if they dedicated and improved the street. He said they gave the City $200,000.00 and got the commercial zoning. The Arco service station went in. The planners emphasized they did not war.t'that station to stand alone there and they wanted a commercial b uilding that would be a credit t� the city. Mr. Falk's intention was to put in a motel but inst�ad he put his equity into the commercial building. Mr. Levy said this discussion would just be a repeat in the future. W�uld be more difficult to rationalize a neighborhood commer.cial here than in the foothills. If you put in r�sidential all a].ong here, if you put in the higher range of residential, there may be some need for neighborhood comr.iercial. You have here five neighborhood commErcial situations within one mile or so. Chairman Buthenuth feels there is enough commercial to serve the neighb or hood needs and it should be left.as residential on the General Plan. He � told Mr. Falk that his existing uses would stay in as non-confornung use. Mr. Levy said the only other major addition of residential growth is the Seven Springs area. He thinks the Planning Commission will find there ar less compelling reasons there for neighborhood commercials than in the f.00thills . PC-126 MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 20, 1973 ADJOURNED PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Page 8 � Comm. Gatto not�d we have now eliminated any neighborhood commercial west of Highway 85. MINUTE ORDER TO STAFF: Moved by Comm. Gatto, seconded by Comm. Nellis, that coffee is needed at . these meetings. Motion carried, S-0 Discussion moved on to IV of the General Plan Discussion Outline which is Public Service and Neighborhood Commercial Needs for Entire Urban Service Area. A. Park Needs Mr. Levy said the City Council agreed with the Planning Commission that the property at Stelling and Stevens Creek Boulevard shall be an extension of Aiemorial Park. One of the adopted standards is that t�.ere will be 3 acres of park land per 1,000 population. He pointed out the existing neighborhood park areas, most of them adjacent to schools. School sit Motion by Comm. Gatto, seconded by Comm. Adams, that the existing developed as park school sites be counted as park land. lar�d � Motion carried, 5-0 • Comm. 0'Keefe said there were a few elementary schools in Los Altos *hat were closed because of reduced neighborhood. This is somethin g that should be considered for Cupertino in the future. Comm. 0'Keefe said Collins school has a minimum of space. Kennedy Junior High has almost twice the open space as Collins. � Comm. Nellis asked for tlie definition of neighborhood park. On a survey we all agree that schools provide area for recreation. Portal, Wilson and Stevens Creek school sites should be included because they adjoin park sites. Comm. Nellis noted that women in increasing numbers are playing tennis and this could not be done where there was interference with school activities. At this point the Associate Planner read the definition of neighborhood parks. Comm. Gatto agreed with Mr. Levy that each should be judged on its own merits. Mr. Levy said he understands the plans about future parks is that they will be paid for and maintained by future developers. Seven Springs Ranch and the church property and east and west sides of Highway 9 will probably be included in this policy. We seem to be fairly well set up for future park needs. The Associate Planner said at the next Planning Commission meeting the Commission will be talking about flood plains and a representative of the District will be here, Mr. John Richardson. It is understanding that much of this f lood plain can be considered'park site. - MINUTES OF THE SEPTE�•iBEft 20, 1973 AATOURIVED PLANNING CG:LLIISSION 2�ETING PC-126 Page 9 Co�n. Ada� said Northpoint for instance had several hundred people, Cupertino residents, who use their cwn recreation areas. chiefly. Perhaps thi.s could be figured in. � ADJ OUR�IMENT . Moved by Comm. Gatto, seconded by Comm. 0'Keefe, to continue the . General Plan Discussion to the following i�londay night, September 24, 1973. This meeting adjourned at 10:48 P.M. APPROVED: /s/ Daiziel P. 0'I�eefe Chairman ATTEST: /s/ Wm. E. Ryder City Clerk . � ; . .