PC 09-20-57
p. O. Box 597
P LAN N I N G
CITY OF
COM MIS S ION
CUPERTINO
Al 2-4505
Minutes of the Regular meeting of the Planning Commission
September 20, 1957
Plaoe:
Time:
Collins School, Teachers Lounge
8: 00 P, !~,
I
ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present:
Commissioners Absent:
Bell, Leonard, Myers, Neilsen
Cali
Minutes of the Previous meeting of September 6, 1957 were read;
the following corrections were noted: Item IV-B, delete "The
agricultural housing for the flower growers to be located on
Blaney s0uth ~f Lucille", Item IV-D, strike "defer to", add
"£"to.._~e&· With".
II CO¡¡I1UNICATIONS
A. Written
1, Tri-County Planning Council:,nnounclng a seminar on the
legal aspects of planning, October 26, 1957,
2, Santa Clara County Planning Commission: Mailing of
agendas wll1 henceforth be considered sufflcient notice
of business before it;. Mèe17ings are still held on the
first and third Wednesdays of each month.
B, Verbal
None
III UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Monta Vista Assembly of God: Continued discussion of propose
small lot subdivision near NE corner of Stevens Creek Road
and Stelling Road. Nothing new presented.
B. Bud Boyd for Watson Electrical Company of Riverside: Inquiry
regarding a use permit or rezoning to permit operation of
contracting business from the Guiffrida boat shop property
on Stevens Creek Road near Blaney, Contlnued.
No one present in connection with this matter.
C. Sign Ordinance Discussion
Commission waiting for lnitial draft from the City Attorney.
D. Master Plan Discussion - ~uestionnaire
Postponed,
E. Miscellaneous
None
IV NEW BUSINESS
A. Harry Chow. Expected a'[lication for chrysanthemum beds, sout
side of Rodrigues.
A few facts were developed by reference to the proposed
aster field on the west side of Miller. Two and one half
acres is necessary to qualify for the agricultural exemptions.
There are in addition six conditions prerequisite.
The Chairman stated that agriculture is perm1tted in an
R-l:B-2 zone. One of the questions to be decided is whether
the proposal at hand is agriculture. A later reading of
zoning regulations revealed that uses permitted in R-l
districts include nurseries and greenhouses used for the
propagating and cultivating of plants, also accessory buildinf
and accessory uses, There is a continuing attempt to prevent
sub-standard housing which might start as strawberry farming,
for example. Mr. Leonard said that building inspection is
evidently waived on structures defined as accessory. The
waiver is predicated on several conditions.
Mr. Leonard referred to the objections rais~ at the last
meetlng of the City Council and observed that a difference of
opinion exists with respect.to what is good and what is
beautiful,
No official arplication had as yet been filed and no
illegal act has been committed,
Mr, Spalding, representing Harry Chow, distributed ads
showing the plywood, pre-fabricated, government houses he
expects to move to the property, He explained that Mr. Chow
intends to develop the property residentially after flve years
or so. The engineering firm of MoKay and Sompts is surveying
Chows 7i acres for future quarter-aore lots, with the neces-
sary street and oul-de-sao pattern.
-2-
B.
Mr, Leonard said that future widening Of Rodrlgues Ave.
may encounter complications involving a water utillty line
owned by Harold Denton and running east-west along Rodrigues
Ave. He estimated that sanitary sewers should be available
within a year. Septic tanks are a dim possibility. The
Storm drainafe is poor on this parcel and the solution to
this and the immediately surrounding area would cost over
$100,000. At the moment a 12 and 16 inch storm sewer runs
down Stevnes Creek Road to the Calabayas Creek. Another line.
follows McClellan and crosses Blaney,
Mr. Harriman, at the meeting to protest the chrysanthemum
field, stated that financing difficulties would not prevent
residential development of this property. He also said the
agricultural use ended with the bulldozing of the fruit trees.
Another protest was made, not because the trees were
removed, but on the basis that the proposed operation is not
compatible with the immedi?te environment and its locatlon
tn the City, The projected use was described as filthy and
unpleasant. He failed to see how proper controls could be
exercised.
Mr. Spalding, Speaking for Chow, offered to show anyone
Chow's present and similar operation on Alpine Road behind
Stanford University.
Mrs, Atkinson cited County zoning regulations to the
extent that no adverse effect need be permitted, She consl-
dered the plan in question as such.
T~ spectat.ors_l~ ge~oral dwelt on the interpretation
~nat could or should be given to the R-l:B-2 zoning.
The Chairman reiterated that no official or specific
applic~tion was before the Planning Com~ission,
Mr. Chow said he planned to plant J/4 of an acre in
chrysanthemums, that he had cleared J acres and that he
would plant trees on the spot indic9ted by the survey to be
the south line of Rodrigues Avenue.
Mr. Hard, residing on Sunrise Drive, questioned the
flower growing with respect to fertilizers and sp~ys.
Commissioner Bell said he felt the Planning Commission
should consider two things. First, is the operation detri-
mental to the City? Second, can agriculture exlst in an
R-IB-2 district? He said the matter of precedent is importan1
Chairman Leonard said the Commission will probably be
faced with similar problems in the future, Interim uses of
land can be expected to develop in the transition from agri-
culture. He said the community should face the fact that it
must tolerate less than optimum use. In summary it was said
that an engineers map will be forthcoming which will permit
Mr, Chow to describe where the flowers, buildings, and
buffer planting will be located.
~joved by Commissioner Bell that the matter be held and the.,
applicant be informed of the naturp of the permit necessary.
if any; seconded by Commissioner Myers and carried 4 - O.
Steve Balas: Request for sign permit at real estate office,
corner of Kirwin and South Highway 9.
Moved b'l Commissioner Bell that a permit be granted;
seconded by Commissioner Myers, carried 4 _ o.
V ADJOURNMENT - 10:JO P,M.
Respectfully submitted,
/S/ Lawrence K, Martin
LM,RENCE K, MARTIN
City Administrator-Clerk