PC 05-19-75CITY OF CUPERTINO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA PC-190
10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, California 95014 Page 1
Telephone: 252-4505
MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION'
HELD ON MAY 193 1975, IN,THE- COUNCIL 'CHAMBER, CITY HALL
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA
SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Chairman Gatto called the meeting to order at 7.37 p.m. with the
Salute to the Flags
ROLL CALL
Comm.: present Cooper, O'Keefe, Woodward, Chairman Gatto
:Comm. absent: Adams
Staff present: Director of Planning and Development Sisk
Director of _Public Works Viskovich
Assistant Director of Planning Cowan.
Associate Planner Laurin
Traffic Consultant Don Goodrich
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. CITY OF CUPERTINO: Public Hearing, to consider 1973
Comprehensive'General Plana
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Consultant.Goodrich stated that the main thing we aretryingto
achieve is the relationship of the densities in the hillsides to
the traffic lanes required for these densities. He then proceed° ,
to xeview Tables 11 and 13 of the City of Cupertino General Plan;
(Hillside Area) Addenda and Review, dated May 19, 1975. He
explained.what the various service levels mean. Service level ,A
design would yield more pavement than desired. Levels E and F
represent undesirable- levels of traffic congestion. . It ,has been
established that Level C is the most desirable level of traffic.
Mrs Goodrich next described, ways of discouraging through traffic°
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MINUTES OF THE MAY 191 1975 ADJOURNED PLANNING COMMISSION MTG.
Comm. Cooper asked what data Mr. Goodrich was using. The Consul
ant said traffic estimates are based on a model which has a seri
of mathematical formulae.
Comm. O'Keefe observed that the residents in the area of Bubb
south of McClellan and east of Bubb on McClellan are penalized
in order to discourage through traffic. He noted that schools
are traffic generators, with parents dropping off and picking up
students. He is against lack of street improvements in order to
maintain a certain level of service and discouraging through
traffic because the safety factor enters in here.
Chairman Gatto requested Consultant Goodrich establish the level
of service of Stevens Creek Blvd.west of Stevens Canyon Road
because this is a potential_ access to the Church property.
Comm. Woodward asked if three lanes with the center lane being
reversible had been considered. Mr. Goodrich said it has been
considered and, unless it is on a bridge or something like that,
it is found to be economically unfeasible to maintain. He did
not believe this would amortize out very well with the streets
in Cupertino.
Mr. Goodrich answered Comm. Cooper that to factor in transit at
this point is almost philosophi-cal. Over the long range, it is
difficult to say what is happening to energy sources. This will
have the biggest impact on transit. It will take a regional
effort to make it turn around.
Mr. Bob Brokaw, 10081 Carmen Road, Monta Vista, asked if the
Permanente trucks would be allowed to flourish if Bubb Road is
widened to 4 lanes. Mr. Goodrich said if it is widened the
service level would go up, but speEds will go up and more traffic
will occur. He added that the purpose of this study is to help
determine how much development is to be allowed in the foothills.
Mr. Brokaw wondered just what is going to happen to the undevelop}
foothill lands. Chairman Gatto said the City is considering I
alternatives. Public input is invited.
Mr. Harold Ashton,'of Kaiser Pacific, asked if Mr. Goodrich's
studies include only the lower foothills. He was told this is
true.
Mr. Lawrence Hill, Big Basin Way, Saratoga, said the main access
from the Church property now is Monte Cristo coming out to
Foothill Blvd. Other accesses are available to Los Altos and to
Stevens Creek Blvd. IIe wondered if the secondary access on the
Foothill Blvd. property isn't a poor one if it comes out almost i
the middle between #280 and Stevens Creek Blvd.
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MINUTES OF THE MAY 199 1975 ADJOURNED PLANNING COMMISSION MTG.
Mr. Hill said there is a use permit for a cemetery on 235 acres c
the Church property. He took issue with .the 9-lane requirement
in the future on Foothill Blvd. He compared this street with the
heavily traveled 4 lanes on Saratoga -Sunnyvale Road.
Mrs, Lucien Hertert, San Juan Road,.asked if it is a policy.
question to decide, whether or not to widen the road for the
benefit of morning.and night peak hours even though it is not
needed through .the remainder of the day. Chairman Gatto said the
was true.. Mr. Goodrich answered Mrs. Hertert that an exclusive
lane for busses is a very good idea but it would have to be done
on a regional level to be effective. Mrs. Hertert suggested a
local bus might be in order because it has been decided a high
percentage of our traffic is our, cars going 5 miles or so.
Mrs. Hertert suggested that if Cupertino were to use the,#85
right -,of -way, with 2 lanes from Stevens Creek Blvd. to Saratoga -
.Sunnyvale Road, this would be of much benefit to the citizens of
;Cupertino. Mr, Goodrich agreed that this would .be very advan-
tageous to the City .of Cupertino in.getting traffic off Bubb and
Stelling.Y The City is pursuing this with Cal -Trans.
Comm. Woodward noted that the major traffic is north and west
in the morning and south and east in -he after -noon. He would
like to keep the lane demand as low as possible.
There followed a discussion of "squeezing the bag";i.e., dis-
douraging the traffic in one area by forcing it into another'
area.
Chairman Gatto called a recess at 9:0_6 p.m., with the meeting,
reconvening at 9:20 p.m.
Comm. Woodward requested additional information on directional
traffic flow on Stevens Creek Blvd. for the next public hearing
on this matter.
Associate Planner Laurin said that, in regard, to the policy on
our,local road system, there should be loop streets for fire
safety and convenience. The use of cul-de-sacs and flag lots
should be limited. When you get up around 20 dwelling units
there_should.be two access roads., One has to consider the
intermediate stage as well as future development°One problem
to. be considered is where one property owner is"located behind
another and his road ;system will be more expensive. We :need an
overall plan for a road system.
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MINUTES OF THE MAY 19, 1975 ADJOURNED PLANNING COMMISSION MTG.
Two proposals of road systems in the hill areas were placed on
the bulletin board; one for clustering of developments and one
for individual developments. It was felt the road system for
individual developments would be economically unfeasible. It may
be that only property owners with access to existing roads will
be able to afford to develop unless they get together and cluster
Chairman Gatto asked the staff to indicate on the exhibits which
are existing roads and which are "paper" streets.
Associate Planner Laurin next reviewed the slope density formula
as it applies to the Regnart Canyon area. There is the question
of whether the ridge tops shall have homes or horse trails.
There are many factors here for which there is no.precedent.
The Planning Director said the goa_'_ is to provide access to all
undeveloped properties. The Lamont Williams property proposal
was introduced.
The Director of Public Works said three alternatives are open as
to establishing of plan lines: 1) Require the developer of any
parcel to install all streets within that subdivision from
property line to property line; 2) Require.each developer ro
put in only the improvements required by that development; or
3) Develop a precise plan line and a formula to establish the
benefit to be derived by each development. An LID would be
established and each property owner would be required to'contri-
bute as he develops his property. Chairman Gatto suggested a
4th alternative whereby the City would put in the streets and
would collect from the properties as they develop.
The exhibit on the bulletin board showed the road system that
would provide access to properties with the least disturbance
to the environment.
Comm. O'Keefe said he would support_ a road system in the hills
to minimize damage to the hills.
Comm. Woodward would like thought given to what use would be
made of the ridge. tops.
The Director of Public Works said 50% participation is required
to initiate a local assessment district. It would be very
difficult at this point.
Chairman Gatto would like to see where the knowns occur, in ord
to be as precise as possible on the exhibit, and the unknowns
can remain more vague.
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MINUTES OF THE MAY 192 1975 ADJOURNED PLANNING COMMISSION MTG> PC--190
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Chairman Gatto believes development will occur slowly in the'
upper hills. He would be reluctant to install any roads at the•
present time, until they are needed; They would be expensive and
may not be used at a later date. Changes in materials, design an
modes of living can change in the next twenty years or so. He
would like to prohibit- development along the ridge lines.
Before the next public hearing on.this matter, -Comm. Cooper
would like to have -outlined the property owners' areas on the
map.
Mr. . Lamont Williams stated he is interested in developing his
property in this area. He said there would be 2000' of roads at
a cost of $100 per foot for him to put in to develop his 13.4
acres. He would like the Planning Commission to consider the
differences between flat land and property,in the hills, as tar
as roads are concerned.
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Comm, O'Keefe, seconded by Comm Woodward to continue
this' -public hearing to May 29, 1975, at 'which time it is to be
"rescheduled for another date.
Motion carried, 4-0
Chairman Gatto asked the staff to develop a work schedule for
completion of this project, to be introduced at the next meeting;
APPROVED.
/s/ .John Ma Gatto
Chairman
ATTEST
/s/ Wmo Eo Ryder
City.Clerk
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