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PC 08-13-2013 CITY OF CUPERTINO 1030Y Torre Avenue, Cupertino,'CA'95014 CITY OF CUPERTINO PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED MINUTES 6:45 P.M. August 13, 2013 TUESDAY CUPERTINO'COMMUNITY HALL The regular Planning Cominission meeting,of August 13, 2013 was called to order at 6`45 p.m. in the Cupertino Cotrununity Hall,,10350 Tone Avenue, Cupertino, CA. by Chair Don Sun. SALUTE TO THE FLAG ROLL CALL Convriissioners present: Chairperson: Don Sun Commissioner: Margaret Gong Coninnssioner: Winnie-Lee Conintissioner:' Alan Takahashi Commissioners absent: Vice,Cliairperson: Faul Brophy Staff present: City Planner: Gary Chao Assistani Planner: George Schroeder City Attorney,: Melissa Tronquet APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1. Minutes of the May 28„2013 --Planning Counnissiomtneeting: MOTION: Motion by Com. Gong, second by Com. Takahashi, and carried 4-0-0 Vice Chair Brophy absent; to approve the May 28, 2013 Planning Commission minutes as presented. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS: None POSTPONEMENTS/REMOVAL FROM CALENDAR: None ORAL,COMMUNICATIONS: None CONSENT CALENDAR: None PUBLIC HEARING: 2, U-2013-07 Conditional Use Pennit to convert a two-story office building into David Perng child care use. Planning Coiitntission decision final unless,appetded. Organization of Special Needs Families 21685 Granada Ave. Cupertino Planning Conumssion 2 August 13, 2013. George Schroeder,•Assistant Planner,presented the staff report: • Reviewed the,application for conditional use permit to convert a two-story office building into child care use,,as outlined in the.staffreport. The applicant is the Organization of Special Needs Families (OSF) which was, previously located at St. Jude's Church on McClellan Road. The center offers after school enrichment program, an integrated social group and enrichment program and summer day camp. The child care center will operate with a maximum of 13 children and two onsite employees. He ,reviewed the existing ""site and surroundings; proposed improvements for the outdoor play area, which will be fenced off with a fence and protected from parking stalls with a walkway; addition of two parking stalls ADA compliant; and the=addition of an ADA ramp. Parking, pick-up and drop-off were also reviewed as well as the outdoor play area„nioise considerations and past use permit requirements. • Theproposed child care,use is not anticipated to have-significant impacts to the neighborhood; staff recommends, that the Planning Conunission approve the project in accordance with the Resolut ion. PlaitrungConmission's decision is final. Staff answered Commissioners' questions about the application. Sandy James, representing the applicant: • President of the Board of Directors for OSF. • Complimented staff on their cooperation'with the project. • Explained that the facilities did not house a lot of playground equipment since the children comer to the, center in the afternoon after taking part in activities in the early part of the day; their schedule at the center comprises quiet time, crafts, painting and one-on-one time with staff. Noise or traffic is not,an'issue for the program:,The sununer'program is held at other locations including Blackberry Farm, Library and YMCA; and while the building;is used less during the summer months, the need for the program is critical and important to the community. David Wade, Co-Founder; Board Member; Designated Project Manager, OSF: • Said it was difficult finding a suitable .location for the center in Cupertino. They worked diligently to ensure that the project adhered to the city ordinances and guidelines, and they conducted outreach,to the neighbors and the coimnunity'supported the project. David Perng,Project Architect: • Explained that theretwere two onsite.and two offsite parking spaces,:including the drop off spaces which are utilized for short periods of time. hi response to Com. Gong's question aboutmove-in, Mr. Perng explained that temporary facilities will be.needed as they are not able to,move into the new location right away. ChairSun opened the public hearing. Brock Carpenter,,Member of St.Jude's: • Supported project. • Commended thecfamilies of OSF for their•dedication,to the special,needs,children and providing,a much needed facility to serve the needs'of the'children. He encouraged support of the project. Eric'Seymour,Parent:' • Supports project. Said he had two special needs children and OSF provided his family with unending,suppoit. He encouraged support of the project as it provided'an exemplary;service to the families and served the corninunity as a whole. It also allowed the childien'to be out in the community and afforded them many opportunities. Cupertino Planning Commission 3 August]3, 2013 Ming Lu: • .Support s project. • Son Kevin has had autism for 10 years and.is a member of the,OSF foundation. He said his son has made tremendous progress,in the last 10 dears, and he has seen firsthand how,much OSF has helped the families with special needs childr.,n. Having OSF in Cupertino can show the,world they have an organization that provides the valuable asset to the City of Cupertino. He asked for the-Commission's,support in moving the project forward as soon;as possible. Michael Lashen, Owner, Hobics Restaurant: • Supports the project. • 'OSF fillfills if special need for the children. Said the•new location fits theneed in the'commercial area, and he.hoped they would beable to move to the new location as:soon as possible. Rev. Wilma.Jakobsen, St..Jude's Church: • Supports the project. • Explained that OSF had to vacate the St. Jude's facility as St. Jude's needed the space for expansion of their,own programs and'growth. The noise is not a factor and there don't appear,to be any significant traffic impacts from the ficilityas parents are coming and,going for pick-ups and drop-offs. • Said she supports theworkdone by OSF,and was hopeful that the project would be approved. Om Talalia, resident: • Said there is a critical need for the type'of facility since the church needs the entire facility for their use. Finding a suitable facility.to meet the children's needs has been difficult. He requested favorable'input on the project. Chair Sun closed the public hearing. Corn. Lee: • Asked staff to explain,in.terms of the parking code; the difference between a specialty school vs. daycare. George Schroeder: • The parking requirement for specialty'schools is one space for every four students,,plus one for each staff member, or one for every 250 square feet whichever is more restrictive or requires more parking. Specialized school is generally in increments under 1-1/2 hours. • Daycares usually have extended periods of care; parking requirement is one for every 6.5 students. Gary Chao: • Specialized schools'such as karate; dance studios and certain language and education based have different:sessions where parents are dropping off and picking up children throughout the day. In theoryit is more intense as opposed to daycare which is a completely different category under the Conmmnity Licensing Care Department which is the agency that,govem"some thiings in terms of facility as well as licensing. He said relative io daycare, they do notdifferentiate between special needs children,or regular'daycarei Cupertino Planning Conmiission 4 August 13, 2013 Chair Sun: • Thanked staff for their hard work and Sandy James for her leadership and support of the special needs children. He said it was evident that conununity support was high and some neighborhood outreach has been done. I-Ie said his only concern was the traffic;,and dropping off of children; but he felt it had been addressed. • He urged:approval of the project so4hat the children would have a new'home to go to. Com. Takahashi: • After reviewing the staff report and a'tremendous conununity-support for the center, providing'a key service,for the community and keeping that service in Cupertino is a significant positive element. Staff did a,good job of addressing the typical hot points that people�are most eoncemad about. Herdid not feel that noise impact of the play area was an issue; and there-will only be 13 children which would not create'a parking impact. • The organization is engaged in the community which is a key step toward gaining acceptance. Said it-was agood project and he supported the conditional use permit. Com. Gong: • Expressed concern that they were limiting the applicant's .ability to serve an important conununity need, going from 19 to 13 and potentially 30 at the other facility. She commended the applicant for their efforts and the program:. Cam. Lee: • Said it was an excellent organization:and.an integral part ofahe,community that has done;amazing work the last 1,0 years. In tens+of planning they look to see if it is a;good place, look at the surrounding uses to,see if;it.compatible with surrounding uses. There.is.a specialty school close by, and there haven''t been many operational complaints; day care for I,3 children is not an intensive use, which is a'positive aspect. • Staff and the applicant have put in a:lot of time and effort with neighborhood outreach, and did not receive any concerns or entails objecting to the project. Looking at it from a planning perspective she did not feel it:was completely incompatible with the surrounding uses. She said she,supported the project., Motion: Motion by Com. Takahashi, second by Com. Lee, and unanimously carried 4-0-0, Vice Chair Brophy absent; to agree with staff findings in terms of Items 1 and 2, and grant approval of the,conditional use permit Application U-2013-07. OLD BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: None REPORT OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION Environmental Review Committee: No report Housing Commission: No meeting Mayor's Monthly Meeting: No,report. Economic Development Committee: No meeting Cupertino Planning Commission 5 August 13, 2013 REPORT OF THE.DIRECTOR OFCOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: • Gary Chao reported that on July 18,the first of three community workshops was held,facilitating conversations:on General Plan amendment process. Staff will summarize and present materials, input and recommendations received from the community, and post on the city's website. Next community meeting will take place,in late October. • The,Planning Commissioners' dinner will take place August 28'h. ADJOURNMENT: • The meeting was adjourned to the August 27, 2013 meeting,at 6:45 p.m. 0 y r �(� y< v Respectfully Submitted: �✓ cLV t.� r Elizabeth f�, Recording Secretary Approved as presented. October 1,2013