CHC 08-11-05MINiJTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CUPERTINO HOUSING COMMISSION
August 11, 2005
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting of the Cupertino Housing Commission was called to order at 6:35 p.m. by
Vice-Chair Kim Mosleh
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Housing Commissioners Richard Abdalah, Sarah Hathaway-Feit, Kim Mosleh
and Frances Seward
Absent: Chairperson Mahesh Nihalani
3. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None
4. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. May 5, 2005 and June 15, 2005
Action: Approved 4-0, Motion made by Commissioner Hathaway-Feit, seconded
by Commissioner Abdalah
6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
7. NEW BUSINESS
Toll Brothers, Inc., Calabasas Place development review.
Associate Planner Gary Chao reviewed the proposed development plans with the
Commission. The proposed development would include 322 for-sale condominium units,
80 senior apartments and 112,000 in retail square footage. The senior apartments, located
on the northeastern portion of the property, near Interstate 280, will be constructed by
BRIDGE Housing Corporation. BRIDGE Housing is anon-profit housing developer
who creates affordable housing throughout California.
Senior Planner Vera Gil discussed the Housing Division's concerns with the location of
the senior units near the freeway. This creates a sense of isolation for the seniors and
segregates them from the rest of the community and the shopping center. Also a concern
is the fact that the BMR program requires the BMR units to be comparable in size to the
market rate units and dispersed throughout the development rather than clustered in one
area. This proposal does not meet the requirements of the BMR program. If the total
square footage of the market rate units (717,000 sq. ft.) is multiplied by the 15%
requirement, the size of the senior building should be closer to 107,655 sq. feet instead of
the proposed 73,000.
The Housing Commission discussed the development and requested feedback from the
developer, Toll Brothers. Kelli Snider, representing Toll Brothers, explained that Toll
Brothers believes the senior units are located in a quiet area near the freeway where noise
will not be an issue. She explained that she believes if the senior units were located
closer to the park or retail, it would be harder to control the teenage drinkers in the park
and the deliveries to the retail stores. Staff explained that there are Municipal Code
Ordinances prohibiting deliveries during the early morning and late night hours and
prohibiting drinking and other illegal behavior in parks.
The Housing Commission discussed the location of the senior units and expressed
interest in having the units relocated closer to Vallco Fashion Park. Relocation would
provide easier access to shopping and the public transit system. Commissioner Seward
expressed interest in having a shuttle provide free service to the senior units.
Commissioner Hathaway-Feit had concerns about the small size of the units as compared
to the larger market rate units. She expressed interest in the developer providing more
BMR units in the market rate component for teacher housing.
The Commission agreed that they had four concerns that needed to be addressed by the
developer before they could recommend approval of the project to the Planning
Commission. The four concerns are as follows:
1. The square footage of the BMR units should be comparable to the square footage of
the market rate units. If the developer does not wish to increase the size of the senior
units, then they may provide a greater number of senior units to achieve close to the
107,655 sq. ft. (15% of the total market rate square footage).
2. The senior units should be relocated closer to the park and the Rose Bowl site so that
the seniors have better access to public transit and retail.
3. Higher residential density should be considered to produce more BMR units.
4. The developer should consider including housing units for teachers in the
development.
After these items are addressed, the Commission will review the project once more prior
to making a recommendation to the Planning Commission.
Motion: Request Developer address the four concerns of the Housing Commission and
bring back the project for review prior to the Planning Commission meeting. Motion
made by Commissioner Hathaway-Feit, seconded by Commissioner Abdalah.
Vote: 4-0,
8. COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS
None
9. ANNOUNCEMENTS
None
10. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. to regular meeting of the Cupertino Housing Commission
on September 8, 2005.
SUBMITTED BY:
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Staff liaison to the Cupertino Housing Commission