PC 06-07-57
p. 0, Box 597
P LAN N I N G COM MIS S ION
CITY OF CUPERTINO, . CALIFORNIA
; Mn.'UTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
JUNE 7, 1957
Al 2-4505
Place: Collins School, Teachers Lounge
Time: 7:30 P.M.
I ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present: Bell, Leonard; quorum est~blished at
8:40 with the appearance of Commlssioner
Cali
Commiss10ners Absent: Neilsen
II THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING OF MAY 17, 1957 were read;
the following corrections were noted: Item VI-A-Line 10 add
"proposed" before warehouse. Item VI-B-L1ne 1) correct "Seaforth
to "Seyferth"; Line 15 substitute "tens" for hundreds".
III COMMUNICATIONS
A. Wr1tten
1. S. C. County Plann1ng Department
Summary of actions 5-15-57
Agenda 6-5-57
Subdivisions recorded May 1957
Belser letter on Planning Coordination
2. S. C, V.Water Conservation District - Request for Cuper-
_ tino map.
J. L, A, County - Report of Reg, PI, Comm.
B. Verbal - None
IV UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Report on freeway route developments - by Mr. Leonard
The June 4 meeting at which the Divislon of Highway's repre-
sentatives presented information on alternate freeway
routing through Cupertino also brought forth an additional
meeting between the Mayor and Messrs. Green and Hayler. The
purpose of this further meeting was to make a ground
reconnoissance of a route favored by the City Council, The
Mayor suggested a route which he believed would be less dis-
ruptive of the neighboring community. Cupertino prefers a
route either north or south of the present red line. As of
now there are three east-west arteries through the valley,
The fourth route, i, e, the projected Junipero Serra Freeway,
would seem logically to go further south, The northern
version could operate as a boundary between Sunnyvale and
Cupertino, The southern route might serve as a Cupert1no-
San Jose boundary,
According to a letter from Karl Belser, freeways should
serve as community separators. Route A should be opposed.
Route B follows the thinklng of County and other districts.
w1th modification. The Blue Route doesn't provide the traff1"
that the railroad route offers, according to Belser,
B. Report on road vT.idth for Stevens Creek Hoed
Chairman Leonard reported that the amount of traffic generate·
on Stevens Creek Road will be controlled, to a certain extent
by the proximity of the freeway. In all likelihood the
traffic on Stevens Creek Road will be reduced in proportion
to its proxlmity to this freeway. Sketches on road design
forwarded by County personnel, were exam1ned.
C, Discussion of sign ordinance þroposed by Associated Builders
The City Clerk read an ordinance of the Santa Clara County
Municipal Code describing the regulations and rules governing
the location of subdivision direct10nal signs and repealing
existing provisions. The ordinance contained provisions for
a maximum size of 96 square feet and materials of strength
not less than 5/8 inch plywood on 4" x 4" braced posts.
Mr. S~yferth said he was not too conversant with thls
part1cular ordinance but doubted that 96 square feet would
accommodate all contemplated signs. He referred to the
aesthetic aspects of billboards,
-2-
Commissioner Bell said that he was surprised that the
County Home Bu1lders Assooiation has sponsored or approved
an ordinance providing for a 96 square foot maximum. He sald
he favored use of a master use permlt as a method of control
as included ln the County ordinance. He told Mr. Seyferth
that the Stone & Sohulte slgn 1n question is 288 square feet,
12' x 24'. on 1/4 inch masonite whlch is more brittle than
5/8 inch plywood. There are no braces on this slgn.
The Outdoor Advertising Act includes a provision stating
that no advertising display shall be erected, among other
conditions, within 300' of a point of entry for a State
hlghway~ or at a point preventing olear view 500' down the
highway, Mr. Bell pointed out that the Stone & Schulte sign
is in violation of this statute on several counts. It is
about 186' from Homestead Road.
Mr, Seyferth said that Stone & Schulte will comply with
the instructions of the Planning Commisslon, He emphasized
the Company's wl1lingness to cooperate in every way posslble
with the Cupertino Planning Commission and he expressed his,
regrets at any inconvenience caused by this particular sign.
Chairman Leonard reported that the State says that this
sign is not in thelr right of way.
Attorney Anderson reported that the Council decided to
pass the matter pending action on the part of the Planning
Commission. He read a sign ordinance passed as an amendment
to the Building Code of the City of Palo Alto. This ordinance
provides that the location and construction of signs be sub-
ject to the approval of the Building Inspector, There is a
time limlt in the ordinance and also a renewal clause. Mr.
Anderson pointed out that the City of Cupertino is littered
with signs directing traffic to homes in vlrtually all the
surrounding towns, This requires policing of advertlslng
whlch should fall to the responsibility of neighboring clties.
The Monte Sereno ordinance allows three months leeway for
illegal signs.
Commissioner Bell observed that the matter has another
side. Local subdividers may sometime wish to advertise
Cupertino homes with a sign on the outskirts, say in Saratoga.
He also said that it was better to allow a larger sign than
create a traffic hazard by prohibiting lettering large enough
to read safely,
Commissioner Cali said thät he favored a prompt dec~ãlon
on ~his Stone & Schulte sign, especially ln view of the fact
that the Company's representative was not argulng with the
Commlsslon. Mr. Bell said he would like to see the permit
whlch the State is supposed to have issued to Stone & Schulte,
Mr. Seyferth requested the appointment of a pommlttee with
whom his advertislng director can compromise. At thls point,
Mr., Seyferth offered to remove the sign and requested Com-
mittee actlon by Tuesday. Chairman Leonard appointed Mr.
Bell as a commlttee of one to handle the matter.
IV S~COND HEARINGS
A. General Petroleum Company - Requesting rezoning and use permlt
to allow a service station on SE corner of Blaney and Stevens
Creek Road,
Commissioner Bell said he would like to review the size
of the lot and the placement of the building, Reference was
made to the Texaco Statlon at Homestead Road and Hlghway 9.,
Mr. Rukan, representing General Petroleum, said that his
company considered the distance between the pump islands on
this Texaco station as bad pollcy. He said it makes the
station difficult to handle by the personnel.
Commissioner Bell suggested, as one alternative. that the
Commission deny the application. Mr. Maggio might then
reconsider the sale of the balanoe of hls property thus
enlarglng the lot to what might be a more desirable size,
Another possibility would be to approve subject to compliance
with Cupertino's dedication requirements.
In connection with urban developmer+: and the e"entl'?l
posslb111 ty of oondemning gas station :< >~ ':". !"H"'::' ", ..... ..:''';-''~
that General Petroleum's policy was n0~ to ¡¡;"':1',':,',' ',"è '118 la:.:-ge
oondemnatlon awards, He said that his 011 comp::::"Ul deed
at the tlme of street wldenlng.
-J-
In view o~ the bare quorum present, Commissioner Cali
moved that tfte hearin~ b~ contlnued at the ~ext meetin~j
seconded by Commissioner Bell, carrled J - 0, Mr, Rukan
sald that he would like to create new drawings for this
property.
B, Rezonlng óf Aronsen property near Homestead and the dell.
Commissioner Bell suggested M-l-H zoning combined with a
use permit for specific nonoonforming uses. This was the
consensus. Moved by Commissioner Bell that the hearing be
continued at the next meetin~; seconded by Commissioner Cali,
carried J - o.
V FIRST HEARINGS
A. Steve Balas: Request for rezoning of a single family resi-
dence at corner of Kirwin and South Highway 9 to allow a
commercial use (real estate office).
Mr. Balas said that the property, as a residence alone,
is laoking in terms of quiet and seclusion. The highway
makes this reasonable as C-l~H location. Commercial zoning
exists nearby, he sald, and he bought the property with a
dual purpose in mind. .
Chairman Leonard suggested the possibillty of a use
permit, He said he is oonoerned with the sewage faoilitles
as well as storm drain easements. He also referred to the
possibility that this oorner may be engulfed in a freeway
oloverleaf. Commissioner Bell moved that the hearing be
closed and that conditions surrounding use permits be inves-
tigated in the interval before next meeting; seconded by
Commissioner Call, oarried 3 - o.
VI MISCELLANEOUS
Mr. Merritt presented a proposal for a ~1edical-Dental
Building on South Highway 9 to be occupied by Drs. Kelly
and Salera, both presently praotioing in Cupertino. The
projeot is to be constructed ln two stages, the first stage
to consist of three units totaling approximately 2200
square feet and the second stage to consist of two unlts
totaling approximately 2300 square feet. In the event the
proposed sewer line for the area ls not completed in tlme to
serve the project) interim sanitary faoilities will be instF~
led by the owners. Chairman Leonard advised Mr. Merritt to
refer the plans to the County planning staff for H oontrol,
in additlon to clearanoe by County Health and Engineering
and to file application with the City for a building permlt.
VII ADJOURNMENT 10:20 P.M.
Respeotfully submitted,
f{).l.tr~ I( ~
¿~ENCE K. MARTI]
City Clerk