.02 new business topic
CITY OF CUPERTINO
10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, California 95014
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT FORM
Agenda Date: May 13, 2008
Item Summary:
Discussion of the R-1 Ordinance first floor to second floor ratio requirements
RECOMMENDATION:
Discuss this item, then note and file this report.
BACKGROUND:
On Tuesday May 6, 2008, the City Council amended the Planning Commission work program
to include a review of the R-1 Ordinance first floor to second floor ratio requirement. The
Council directed that the Planning Commission wrap up your work in September and present
the recommendation to the City Council in October 2008.
DISCUSSION:
The Council direction limited the amendment to considering if the second floor to first floor
ratio should be changed. The Commission is not authorized to evaluate changing second
story setbacks or other elements of the ordinance such as the overall floor area ratio. Council
members voiced concern that the 45% second floor to first floor ratio inadvertently encourages
homeowners to increase the size of the first floor to ensure the second floor proportion is large
enough to accommodate the desired number of bedrooms. Also, concern was expressed that
the current formula results in a repetitive style of "wedding cake" architecture. For example a
"Victorian" or "Queen Anne" style of architecture is difficult to design with the current rule.
Staff anticipates that the Commission will need to address the amount of exposed second floor
wall plane as this rule directly relates to the issue of potentially allowing the first and second
floor walls to align. The Commission will need to assess if some alternate method of breaking
up the wall plane should be considered such as awning or trellis elements. Finally, the
Commission may need to consider alternate review procedures for applicants taking
advantage of any amendments.
Staff will send out a city-wide mailer and attempt to provide articles in the Cupertino Scene
and on the web site to keep the public informed of this review. Staff anticipates the item will
be ready for the Planning Commission in July 2008. In the meantime staff will evaluate if this
change will potentially delay any other work program items.
Submitted by: Steve Piasecki, Director of Community Developme~
~J~