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P&R 08-03-95CITY OF CUPERTINO~ STATE OF CALIFORNIA 10300 Torte Avenue, Cupertino, CA 95014 Telephone (408) 777-3200 MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION City Hall August 3, 1995 CALL TO ORDER 1. Adjourned regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission called to order at 7:02 p.m. SALUTE TO THE FLAG 2. ROLL CALL 3. Commissioners present: Commissioners absent: Staff present: Quinlan, Buhler, Hopkins, Lohmiller Hendrickson Stephen Dowling, Director of Parks and Recreation Linda Lagergren, Recording Secretary Michele Bjurman, Community Development Department - Planner II INTRODUCTIONS 4. Director Dowling introduced to Commission city staff member, Michele Bjurman, Planner II with the Community Development Department. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS 5. None UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6. None NEW BUSINESS 7. Director Dowling stated "the issue before the Commission this evening is to review a park area for a new development in the area that is commonly referred to as "the triangle." At this time Mr. Dowling introduced once again Michele Bjurman for a brief presentation. Michele at first oriented staff to the site. "As Steve had mentioned, it is commonly referred to as the "triangle parcel" and it is located on Torre Avenue just south of Stevens Creek Boulevard, and north of Rodrigues. This is about a two-and-one-half acre parcel and the proposal is a combination of proposals which includes zoning the parcel to allow low and medium density residential and a conditional use permit to construct 24 single family residential homes. We have about five models of single family homes ranging in size between 1,800 and 2,300 square feet, with a price range between $225,000 and $419,000. The parcel sizes are between 2,000 and 5,000 square feet. We have 15 homes on the back side of the parcel that front on to a private roadway and then we have nine homes facing what we call the "private park." The park is about 9,000 square feet and all of the garages for these homes Would be facing onto the private roadway and the fronts of the homes would be facing the park." At this point, Michele turned it back to Steve. PRC#168 Approved 9/7/95 Call to order salute to Flag Roll Call Introductions City Center development regarding ~ark issue Director Dowling said, "Staff's position on this park area is that obviously it is going to be very attractively landscaped and it will be a beautiful amenity however, in terms of recreational benefit there is none. Staff would view this area as very passive in nature. Because there is nothing to draw the public into that space and there is a decorative masonry wall separating that space from the walkway, staff's position is that it does not have a public benefit and therefore should remain in private ownership." Director turned it back to the Chair. There were no questions of staff. Scott Ward, Classic Communities - project applicant. "We wanted to give you a little bit of additional background. This property comes with a bit of a history and we are attempting in designing this project to respond to the perception on the part of some neighbors that there is an obligation to provide some form of open space on this site. We indicated in our project application that we were open, subject to this committee as well as City Council, to designating this as a public park area in part, in order to respond to the desire of some to see a portion of this area reserved for that use. At the same time we believe that it would function appropriately as a private park area for the benefit primarily of the residents of this project, although it will have a secondary public benefit with respect to the rest of the City Center area. That is the rationale for the application and we understand and respect your judgment." Chairman Quinlan asked, "That area seems extremely small to consider it for park purposes and that is something we tried to stay away from in the city because they are very difficult and expensive to maintain. Do you have any kind of a covenant that would go with these lots that would require that they be maintained? How would that get maintained if it was private?" Mr. Ward said, "There would be a set of codes, covenants and restrictions on these properties which would obligate the owners of those homes to maintain that property. That would be considered common property. We recognize that the notion ora pocket park is inconsistent with current city policy. In some respects we are ambivalent as to the outcome of this issue. We are attempting to demonstrate that we are responding to what some perceive as a need with respect to this site." Commissioner Lohmitler asked, "Do the larger homes have lawn in front of them?" Scott Ward said, "Lots 1-15, yes." Commissioner Lohmiller asked if there was any greenery on the garage side on the other side of the street. Mr. Ward replied that "there is a three foot apron that gives us the opportunity to plant in front of the fence." Commissioner Lohmiller stated, "then the only grass available to those people, lots 16-24, is the private area." Scott Ward said, "the fronts of homes 16-24 are oriented to the park area and to Torre and the units are sided such that they are single aspect units, what some think of as zero lot-line homes, one side of the home is closed down, the other side is opened up and you relate only to one side yard." Commissioner Hopkins stated, "There is no recreational value; it is such a small lot. We have a basic understanding that we like our parks to be at least 3½ acres in size, but I think that is good to see that the developer has provided some open space instead of wall-to-wall housing. But I would concur with staff recommendation. Commissioner Buhler said, "I just want to clarify that if we follow the staff recommendation, that remains as open space, it is under private control and therefore maintained and paid for privately but it still has a certain amount of public access allowed." Director said, "No, not if it's private. I think what Michele is saying is because of its location, adjacency to the street, people may stop in there and sit and chat, but technically my interpretation is that if it is privately held then therefore they do not have to make it available to the public." Page 2 City Center development regarding park issue Scott Ward Developer Commissioner Lohmiller said, "This would be a nice amenity to that area for the people that would walk by there. But I certainly don't think it is proper for the city to take it on. The only advantage I could see to this area would be to the benefit it would bring to the residents that live there. I like the layout of the lot, this is a great way to do it and I complement that, but as far as the city maintaining that "common area", I don't think it is a prudent thing for us to do. I do see the advantage it would have for the residents of the Forum." Commissioner Quinlan said, "I agree. I think that we have already determined that we didn't need another park facility in this area. To think in terms of this small piece of property, it double reinforces my position, and that is, that it should be in private space." Commissioner Lohmiller moved to accept staff's recommendation that the park space identified has limited public benefit and therefore should remain in private ownership. Commissioner Hopkins seconded the motion. All in favor. Motion passed. Director stated, "As requested by Commission what I have presented to you in your packet is a snapshot of this year's operating budget and a little history prior to that. The Department is divided into six divisions. There is a very important number that doesn't appear on these pages and that has to do with maintenance. This budget includes the recreation programs and operations only. Public Works has responsibility for facility maintenance. Also in each of the five divisions there are enterprise funds. Those enterprise funds are programs that are structured to be self-supporting and/or generate revenue." At this time Director described in more detail each of the five facilities budgets and then took questions from Commission. After discussion Commissioner Quinlan mentioned, "one of the seven items we had for commission discussion and consideration this next year was the Capital Improvements budget. When will we discuss that?" Director Dowling said, "At our January meeting we will look at the current five year CIP program, talk about what we see that needs to be done, staff will take those suggestions back because we start working on the CIP program at the end of January. After staff has done their work on it, we will bring it back to you and then it will go forward to City Council in late February." Chairman Quinlan asked if there was any way you could move the discussion up because terms are over in January. Director Dowling said we could start talking about it in December or earlier if the Commission requested. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING 9. Chairman Quinlan requested an addition be made to the minutes on page 5. He requested to see the seven items listed from agenda item #8 (Review and discuss commission goals and issues). Commissioner Buhler had a correction to page 3, paragraph 5, first line - change the word "action" to "reaction" and in that same paragraph, line 4, - change the word "is" to "are." Commissioner Lohmiller moved and Commissioner Buhler seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the June 1, 1995 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting as amended. All in favor. Motion approved. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS 10, 11, 12. Three letters were included in Commissions packets: letter from Jenny M. Bianchi regarding the great asset that Joan Spitsen is as the Travel Coordinator for the Senior Center, letter from Cupertino Union School District complementing Blackberry Farm staff on their exceptional service, and a letter from Alice J. Ramsauer again complementing Joan Spitsen on planning and execution of her great trips. Page 3 City Center development regarding park issue Motion Review of the '95-'96 Dept. Operating budget Motion MONTHLY REPORTS 13. Director reported that the final event of the summer for the youth programs is called "Almost Anything Goes" and it will be held next Thursday at Memorial Park. Commissioner Quinlan commented that at De Anza Days, the Parks and Recreation Depm'hnent booth had the longest line of the event. 14. Commissioner Hopkins reported that he attended the "Fourth on a Friday" celebration at the Senior Center. The 4th of July pancake breakfast served about 400 people. It was smaller than in the past years. MISCELLANEOUS 15. There was no legislative update. 16. Chairman Quinlan did not attend the Mayor's breakfast meeting. 17. Director reported, "I wanted to discuss with you the action taken by City Council this week with regard to the Diocese property. On a 3-2 vote, City Council accepted the General Plan amendment that would allow 178 homes with a dedication of about 130+ acres of open space. There was an article today published that said that based upon the current strategy, if it is developed and if there is an offer of open space, the parcels that we would be interested in are the knoll and the marsh area adjacent to the knoll where the red legged frog lives and that more than likely the County would assume title of the southern portion of about 70 acres and possibly the other eight acres over by the seminary. The intent of that acceptance and acquisition is that it would essentially be open space. We are not looking to put formal recreational facilities up there." 18. Director reported that a portion of the Creekside Park Master Plan committee was formed for the purpose of selecting a landscape architect. We had nine architectural firms in the bay area respond to our RFP. We narrowed that number down to 4 candidates. Commissioner Lohmiller served on that selection committee. We interviewed the four candidates (Beals Landscape Architecture, Peter Callender and Associates, Royston Hanamoto Alley and Abey, and Robert Tanaka Design) a week ago. They are all high caliber firms. After discussion we ranked and selected Beals Landscape Architecture to enter into negotiation for a contract. ADJOURNMENT 19. Commissioner Hopkins moved and Commissioner Buhler seconded the motion to adjourn at 8:30 p.m. to the regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission on Thursday, September 7 1995, 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers. All in favor. Motion passed. Respectfully submitted, Linda M. Lagergren} Re~di~gg Secretary ATTEST: City Clerk ~ ~e.~ Chairperson Page 4 Monthly reports Community contacts StaffOral Reports Creekside Park Master Plan Committee