PC 01-31-62
10321 So. Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road
C I T Y 0 F C U PER TIN 0
Cupertino, ~lifornia
AL 2-4505
MINUTES
JANUARY
OF THE ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CUPERTINO PLANNING
31, 1962
8: 00 P. M .
10321 So. Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road
COMMISSION -
Time:
Place:
ROLL CALL:
Commissioners Present:
Adamo, Fitzgerald, Frolich,
Leonard, Rampy, Small, Snyder
None
City Manager, City Clerk
Commissioners Absent:
Staff Present-
The Chairman called the meeting to order and introduced Mr. Fenley
from the school board.
Mr. Fenley summed up the growth of the school district. There
were five schools 6i years ago, 4500 students with 2500 on half-day
sessions. The problem was twofold: 1) to have a full day for all
students, and 2) to prepare for projectlon. Growth was from 600 to
800 per year. At present, growth is 2,000 per year, with 2,500 during
the past year.
When Mr. Fenley came into the district, Gi yrs ago, school sltes
could not be purchased until there was a project. 55 sq. ft is allowed
per K-6 student, 65 sq. ft. per 7th and 8th grade student. At present,
the dlstrict is permitted to project enrollment three years in advance.
In the past, the distrlct had to try to get into an area before the
subdividers to build upon ellgibility. It took two years from the time
of eligibility until school operated. The five schools averaged the
students, keeping the enrollment in each close, but often it happened
that children within the same family, in the same type of school, were
going to schools in dlfferent locations.
Mr. Fenley's first plan was to move out wlth small units, to get
sites tied down and to get as close to student's homes as possible.
In answer to a question asked by Commissioner Leonard at the
last meeting on why the district dldn't let the cities do the planning
for schools as well, Mr. Penley replied that at the time their planning
program started, there was not one Planning Corrnllssion that had
coordinating powers. The district's planning department went from
attendance zones, or service zones, to plannlng zones. Mr. Fenley
pointed out that decisions from bodies such as the Planning Commission
greatly affected their efforts. POl' instance, plans made for 10,000
sq. ft. lots, become obsolete when the Cities drop to 8,000, then 7,500
and then 6,000 sq. ft.
Mr. Fenley referred to the Duc & Elliott site, and said they
had planned a K-6 school there, but had dropped it.
Regarding the Mariani parcel, Mr. Fenley stated that he would be
only too happy to pullout of there provlded another school would not
be needed due to the development of that land.
Mr. Fenley feels unlfication belongs to a community, that a
professional person might weild some influence which would not be
along the lines of the district. He said that he has felt from the
beginning that unification is not as much of a problem as boundaries
are.
Chairman asked if the school district hadn't established the
boundaries. Mr. Fenley replied that land grants had established
boundaries. He also said that if two dintrlcts could agree, there was
no reason school districts and boundaries couldn't be coordinated.
Mr. Mariani, from the audience offered a suggestion. He is a
member of Past Grand Jurors Association, and stated that he wo~ld be
happy to present the boundary-school district problem to the association.
Commissioner Leonard
or seniority problems with
arranged, and trades made.
asked if there would
teachers, provided a
Mr. Fenley felt the
be any major employment
meeting could be
chief concern would be
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the service provided, and ~ould see no major employment problems.
Chairman Snyder asked Mr. Fenley if he felt any major good could
come from a meeting of this type between two districts.
Mr. Penley: I do. Someone to talce the leadership in this
boundary business would take priority over uniflcation. There have
been more problems about boundary lines than anything else.
Mr. Mariani outlined the procedure. A presentation is made to
the full body, and recommendations for correcting problems. It is
preferred to have someone from both sides present also to present pros
and cons at the same time. Mr. Mariani will check .time and place of
the next meeting.
Chairman Snyder appointed Commissloner Leonard in charge of
arranging a meeting between Jefferson and Cupertino distrlcts and
Mr. Mariani.
Commissioner Fitzgerald: I thinlc the boundary thing will take a
good long while to solve, and we do have this immediate problem of
Mariani property. It was rezoned R-3 in November and the district was
notified. The High School that had planned use of the site backed off.
Then two years later, the elementary district comes in and takes the
site. One plan for the property was a joint venture for a retirement
home, WhiCh would yield no children.
Mr. Fenley said that the Mariani property was the only slte
available to fit the expected needs. However, if this area will pro-
duce no children, he felt the school district could pullout.
Commissioner Rampy: It has been my feellng that this is more of
a commercial or industrial area and would not be the best place in
that quadrant to place another school.
Cownissioner Frolich: This is baslcally true. This is on the
edge of the attendance zone, which was pointed out not to be too good.
Commissioner Adamo agreed that the area is basically commercial.
Commissioner Small felt the R-l should be removed and the area
go commercial. He also felt the school slte should go.
Commissioner Fitzgerald couldn't see where a school on the
Mariani property would be within walking distance of any children.
Mr. Fenley stated that the district wasn't pleased with the
location either, but that was all that was left in the area. He
planned to present his recommendation for dropping the site to the
State February 8, 1963.
Mr. Bill Burt, Ross Enterprises, asked about
He holds property in Planning Zone 6, and is about
acre area next to a K6 site. He aslced Mr. Fenley:
to play checl<ers, where do we stand?"
changing sites.
to develop a 15
"If you are going
Mr. Fenley replied that the only checlcers the district plays is
if it is more beneficial to all involved, especially the property
owners.
Commissioner Frolich asked Mr. Fenley if he could provide:
1. Total assessed evaluation per student
2. Number of K6 and Jr. high schools in each of 6 city and
county jurisdictlons
Mr. ·Fe111ey agreed to prov:Jde the information requested, also
the number of chl1dre n being educated in Cupertino and parents working
in other cities.
Commissioner Frolich asked about the possibility of dislodging
the State on acreage requirements.
Mr. Fenley replied that the most pressure can be brought to bear
by legislators in the district. If anything can be done it is by the
Allocation Board, the Department of Finance. He felt that the VOlce of
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the Planning Commission would be more ~n~luentlal than his own. He
agreed that the development of the area makes it important that land be
used to the be&t ~d~ntage.
Commissioner Frolich: It seems to me ~Ie have a lower density on
school sites than on residential sites.
Mr. Fenley felt that the Department of Finance, as concerned with
the proposal, would go along with it, that the bottle neck would be with
the Department of Education. He said he would get the names of members
of the Allocation Board for the Commission to contact, and would also
discuss it at his meeting on February 8 in Sacramento.
Commissioner Adamo brought up the questionniire on recreation that
was sent out some time ago. Results showed that the public felt too
much land was being used for schools and not for public use such as
recreation. Maybe a bond issue would be justified if the school sites
were put to recreation use. The Commissloner asked about the Faria
school site, which has been idle for two years.
Mr. Fenley answered that building the school would be justified
upon loading of Garden Gate and JOllyman Schools. Construction is not
planned for the immediate future. It is felt the area would support
another school, and in the case the area was further developed, another
school would be necessa~y.
Chairman asked what school site the district had just dropped?
Mr. Fenley replied that they had just dropped part of the Davis ranch.
Commissioner Small expressed surprise that a City the siz~ of
CUDertino has five high schoal_~ites, but· the' city of Berlce¡ey has one
high school and is about to build another. The West Valley has 235
acres in schools.
The Commission expressed regrets that the City and the school
district hadn't tried to get together six years ago. Commissioner
Leonard said that it was tried, but the district wasn't interested.
Mr. Fenley said that he wasn't contacted at that time.
Chairman Snyder asked Mr. Fenley if he or a member of his staff
would care to be present at the r~.ster Plan hearings. Mr. Fenley said
the district would be represented.
RECESS:
RECONVENE:
9:55
10:00
The City Manager reported on his meeting of the January 31st
with the Division of Highways, !4r. Hayler and Mr. Black. The City
Manager presented his facts regarding proposed use of land adjacent
to the freeway and the necessity of a cloverleaf to handle the traffic.
He was told that every facet had been considered, and that the design
at present is adequate to take care of, traf'f¿.c f\:'l' n~y years to come.
Also, the diamond approach has been found to move traffic more safely.
The highway engineers added that the concept of a loop interchange
is becoming obsolete. Any redesign would mean a one year delay, and
bids are to be let, therefore the design stands.
Mr. Mariani: They have gone ahead on the existing zoning and come
up with the diamond interchange. The City would be far better off with
the latest best design for traffic movemcnt if it meant a tWQ- years'
delay. He added that the City is not without political pressure, and if
given reason, there can be changes. At this point, Mr. Mariani wanted
to point out that at no time had landowners requested intensive zoning
on land that the State intended to take as a right of way.
The Chairman said that the Commission realized this. This is
always a condition made by the Planning Cc~~ission.
Commissioner Small added that the former mayor was fighting for
this same thing, but got nowhere.
Mr. Mariani wanted to clear the air on his statements of January
28, as reported in the newspapers. At no time had he proposed LWO
acres for rezoning. At one time he made a study of 300 acres. Secondly,
the map is not a pressing situation, but the cloverleaf is. Nor had
he cut his proposal at each meeting, as reported. He did not say
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there was too much commercial land undeveloped and sitting idle, but
said "there is too much strip commercial laying idle".
It was also reported that the Commission had denied the applica-'
tion. This was in error.
Mr. Mariani reported that a firm pla.nning to employ 1,100 people
is interested in 20 acres for an office building. Average income for
the firm is $10,000, which would be an$ll,OOO,OOO payroll, and this
wouldn't hurt the City a bit. Mr. ~~riani respectfully requested C-l,
professional or M-l with H Control, adding that there would be consider-
able control by the City as to what goes in there. When asked if the
professio~al office building was definite, Mr. ~~riani told the
Commission the firm had sent a representative from the East to see the
land, and to meet with him. Also, the firm is interested in the
property adjacent to their area, and would like a properly located gas
station, not necessarily on the corner, a motel nearby, a restaurant, and
a bank. Theywant a signed dòcument so they know what will be going in
across the street from them.
Commissioner Frolich mentioned that Mr. ~~riani had indicated
that the firm had the lower location as their first choice. There was
some discussion about tieing it in with the part on the north side of
the freeway, the objection to that being the school, which there may
be a possibility of changing.
Mr. Mariani did not think that section should be tied in, as it
would not be compatible with a large department store, but rather a bank
or a motel.
Commissioner Frolich: Carrying an industrial park on over, this
has a stumbling bloclc. The Sunnyvale subdivision is presently stirred
up. Probably the only thing that keeps them from coming down on us is
the realization that we don't intend to run industrial things right up
against their fences. Mr. Mariani pointed out that they are up against
PG&E now.
Chairman Snyder:
an overall program. I
on this.
You want zoning and a Iso u.se. Can you give us
Don't think we should be writing a free ticket
Mr. Mariani:
ment, and a natural
ercial use. We are
stands. Something
good planning.
Commissioner Small asked if PC-H might be a better plan.
Planned Community Ordinance was explained in some detail to Mr.
who stated that no department store the size of the Emporium or
Fifth Avenue would go for an ordinance of that type.
Basically, we have a natural for regional develop-
for a combination professional with compatible comm-
llOt tallcing about discount houses or hamburger
that upgrad~ an area with a payroll of this type is
The
Mariani
Saks
Chairman Snyder asked if it was thought that a store of that type
could be developed on the location. Mr. Mariani replied that if they
couldn't, they are wasting a lot of money.
Commissioner Leonard explained that part of the intent of the
Planned Community Ordinance is to make it possible to put things to-
gether to mix goods and services, things which are different but work
ve~J well together.
Mr. Mariani pointed out that things might change five years from
now, and the things allowed by a PC-H might be subject to the Commission
as it is then, perhaps with different members.
Commissioner Frolich: The worst the Commission could do would
be to stick by the zoning requested.
Mr. ~~ariani asked the Commission if they thought the PC-H
should be used. The Commission felt it would be satisfactory.
Mr. Mariani said the property owners would certainly be willing to
give it a try if it doesn't present any problems.
Commissioner Small: If you had PC. zoning, all of the uses
you mentioned are allowed.
_I~-