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PC 05-28-85 r('��\ I CITY OF CUPERTINO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA PC-467 10300 Torre Avenue,Cupertino,Ca. 95014 Page 1 Tel : (408) 252-4505 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION HELD ON MAY 28, 1985 SALUTE TO THE FLAG : 7: 30 P .M. ROLL CALL Commissioners Present : Com. Mackenzie Com. Adams • Com. Szabo Com. Sorensen Chr. Claudy Staff Present : Dir. of Planning and. Devel. Sisk Assistant Plannin Dir. Cowan City Attorney Kilian APPROVAL OF MINUTES The following corrections were submitted: Page 2, last line, "cheating" changed to "exiting traffic into the residential area"; Page 9, paragraph 4, "righthand" changed to "lefthand"j Page 15, penultimate paragraph, "because for the small area of the lot a much greater amount of office space is granted" added. 411 MOTION: Com. Adams, to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of May 13, 1985 as corrected. SECOND: Com. Sorensen VOTE: Passed 4-0 (Chr. Claudy abstaining because of absence) POSTPONEMENTS OR NEW AGENDA ITEMS WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS Several letters regarding Agenda Items to be considered at the time of the Public Hearings; a letter from Dr. Stoffer regarding air quality. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. Application 8-Z-85 of CITY OF CUPERTINO : REZONING all properties currently zoned General Commercial (CG) to P (Planned Development) zoning districts . The proposed zoning action also involves some properties already zoned Planned Development . The purpose of adding these properties is to ensure consistent design standards for similarly situated properties . The Planned Development zoning district provides 411 additional design and land use flexibility for the City and ' property owners consistent with the General Plan. ENVIRON- MENTAL REVIEW: The Environmental Review Committee recommends the granting of a Negative Declaration. First Hearing continued. Tentative City Council hearing date - June 17,1985. PC-1467 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, MAY 28, 1985 Page 2 Assistant Planning Director Cowan described the two components of the rezoning as (1) a series of policies for South De Anza Boulevard between Stevens Creek and Bollinger and (2) various 410 scattered sites to be zoned planned development with commercial intent . He advised that action should be taken, for the record, to exclude the Sears site, which Staff had found to have been zoned Planned Development since 1963 . Referring to (1) he said Staff recommended preserving existing commercial centers mainly, allowing service stations to be redeveloped office and residential, and the area behind De Anza Boulevard in the vicinity of Rodrigues, Scofield and Silverado to be converted to office use eventually. He advised the office activity in the overall area would probably increase substantially because of the differences in F.A.R. * requirements and the potential conversion of residential lots and service stations, and noted the boundary line had been modified to delete the houses on Blossom Lane and the duplex and adjoining lot on Bollinger, as discussed in the previous Hearing. Referring to (2) and the concerns expressed previously by the Commission on the Bubb Road 7-11 site and the gas station at Silveroaks Way, Staff felt the new Ordinance would give adequate control, he said, but if the Commission thought ultimate land use control was appropriate, Staff would make extra efforts to notify owners involved. Com. Adams submitted the idea of considering potential conversion of office to residential, should it arise. The idea was discussed and supported by the Commission, thou.gipotential landscape and related maintenance problems where residential property backed up to main streets was noted. Assistant Planning Director Cowan advised that the General Plan Housing Element gave much flexibility, but relayed Staff' s concern that housing should not be scattered in patches thoughout the area. Com. Szabo noted thatthe Planned Development zone would give the Commission good control of that situation. He did not favor real estate and insurance offices in commercial areas, he said, service station sites or office centers being better locations, since, with only a 2% potential for growth, the commercial base should be preserved as much as possible, being revenue-producing for the City. Com. Adams added that office space was available in the area. Chr. Claudy did not want to force more commercial than could be absorbed, and mentioned The Oaks, specialty center. Com. Mackenzie noted that Table II did not recommend a growth in commercial, but preserved what was already there. Assistant Planning Director Cowan quoted newspaper and maga- zine articles and reports on the shortage of non-specialty, . retail, shopping center space . Mr. Cowan established the Commission felt an outright pro- hibition of undesired uses would be best . *F.A.R. -Floor Area Ratio • PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, MAY 28, 1985 ' PC-467 Page 3 Com. Mackenzie wanted a provision that an existing commercial site could be redeveloped as office space, if the same amount of commercial space was rebuilt elsewhere in the planning area. 0 Darlene Thorne, Cupertino Chamber of Commerce, understood the need for conformity, she said, but that adding P* zoning and re- , quiring use permits would discourage strip commercial instead of attracting it. Chr. Claudy established there would be certain blanket approved uses, though he agreed with Ms. Thorne that it was one more level for the Applicant to go through. Com. Mackenzie was concerned with the word "revisions" on Page 2, paragraph 1 of the South De Anza Boulevard Conceptual Zoning Plan, and wondered where the line would be drawn between major and minor modifications. Assistant Planning Director Cowan advised that most modifications would be brought before the commission, since this area was left vague deliberately, and if the Applicant was opposed, he could come before the Commission for an interpretation. Page 2, paragraph 1: "resulting design" was substituted for "revision". Page 2, paragraph 1: "Street and sidewalk standards embodied herein take precedence over existing use permit conditions" was IIIsubstituted. Com. Mackenzie felt Condition 16 of the South De Anza Blvd. Conceptual Plan was ambiguous. Condition 16, South De Anza Blvd. Conceptual Plan: The Assistant Planning Director undertook to prepare a new Exhibit, incorporating . parcel numbers also. Mr. Cowan wondered if the Commission wished to include banks in the list of disallowed uses. Ms. Thorne advised that a new trend in banking involved Versatellers • in shopping centers, and did not want Cupertino to be one of the only cities excluding them. After some discussion, it was decided only to list real estate . and insurance offices as disallowed uses. Other modifications to the South DeAnza.. Boulevard Conceptual Zoning I Plan were made as follows. Condition 17 (a) : Sentence added as follows. "Insurance and Real Estate offices and those uses listed in Section 5, Paragraph B of the General Commercial Zoning Ordinance are excluded from 110 occupying space in existing retail commercial centers, except as they exist_ there now. Condition 17 (b) : To be added to the first sentence; "except as is replaced by the same amount of new commercial construction within the planning area. "; second sentence deleted. • *P - Planned Development -467 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, MAY 28, 1985 • age 4 Condition 17(c) : Modified to read; "Service stations may be redeveloped into office, commercial or residential develop- ments to be compatible with the neighborhood. " Condition 19 (b) : Sixth line, penultimate word "does" to be changed to "do" . Condition 20(b) : Modified to read; "The landscaping/sidewalk section shall be consistent with the long-term design shown in Fig. 1" . (It was noted the short-term design,' which was also going to be done, was a separate project . ) Condition 21: Third line "to" to be inserted before the last word. Exhibit B, paragraph 3, two words at the end of the first line "was set" to be changed to "sets" . MOTION: Com. Adams, to close the Public Hearing SECOND: Com. Sorensen VOTE: Passed 5-0 MOTION: Com. Szabo, to recommend the granting of a Negative Declaration SECOND: Com. Mackenzie VOTE: Passed 5-0 MOTION: Com. Mackenzie, to recommend approval of Applicaton 8-Z-85 as it pertains to the adoption of the South De Anza Boulevard Conceptual Plan Resolution, subject to the Findings of the Staff Report, the Sub- conclusions of the Hearing, with modifications made in. the Hearing; Conditions 1-15; Condition 16, modified; Condition 17 (a) modified, (b) modified (c) inodified, (d) , (e) ; Condition 18; Condition 19 (a) , (b) modified, (c) ;Condition 20 (a) , (b)modified, (c) , (d) , (e) ; Condition 21, modified. Exhibit B, modified. SECOND : Com. Sorensen VOTE: Passed 5-0 MOTION: Com. Mackenzie, to recommend approval of Application 8-Z-85 as it pertains to the adoption of Change in Zone for Specified Properties from General Commercial to P (Planned Development with Commercial Intent) Resolution, subject to the Findings of the • Staff Report, the Subconclusions of the Hearing, with modifications made in the Hearing; Conditions 1-15; Condition 16; Condition 17 modified to allow residential uses if compatible with the neighborhood;Conditions 18;19;20 . SECOND: Com. Sorensen • VOTE: Passed 5-0 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, MAY 28, 1985 PC-467 Page -5:, 2. Application 10-U-85 of WDT DEVELOPMENT COMPANY: USE 410 PERMIT to construct a 17,300 sq. ft . two-story office buil- ding and ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The Environmental Review Committee recommends the granting of a Negative Declaration. The property is located at the northwest corner of Randy Lane and Stevens Creek Boulevard in a P (Planned Development with Office, Commercial and Residential intent) zoning district . First Hearing continued.-- Tentative City Council hearing date - June 3, 1985. Chr. Claudy confirmed that he had listened to the tape of the last Hearing, _. had also been present for the first Hearing and would now give his input to break the tie vote. Referring to the Exhibit used at the last Hearing, he thought the righthand drawing. showed superior architecture, and something similar was preferable, though he was aware of the problem of financial viability, he said. Referring to the lefthand drawings circulation pattern, he suggested an entrance only on Stevens Creek, angling the parking to discourage backing out and also allowing setting back the building more, so that architectural work could be done. He said he had rejected the idea of no entrance off Stevens Creek because of confusion to visitors, who might then make U turns or circle the area, causing a bad traffic situation. He suggested keeping minimal landscaping next to the Fire Station to allow a viable reciprocal driveway later, should • the situation there change. Com. Szabo wondered if there was extra parking, since angling would deplete the number of spaces. Assistant Planning Director Cowan advised there would be one surplus space in the present design. The Commissioners liked Chr. Claudy ' s suggestion from the point of view of_ circulation and forcing traffic to the main arterial. Ken Neumeister, .Architect, 'felt this was a good solution traffic-wise and advised the angled parking would not present a problem, but that jogging the building would, since there was not enough room, even with angled parking, and the buil- ding would be adjacent to the driveway and would be obtrusive. He added that a large landscaping median as shown on the righthand drawing would be hazardous on such a narrow street. Chr. Claudy explained that he was thinking of a smaller, simpler device, maybe even a curb, and that the traffic circulation, not the jogging of the building, was his primary interest . However, something, such as adding landscaping, could be done with the space to make the building more " interesting on such a visual corner, he felt . Com. Mackenzie felt that cut-out corners would make the • building more interesting, so that the building wold not necessarily have to be jogged. 'C-467 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, MAY 28, 1985 • 'age 6 Chr. Claudy and Com. Szabo suggested the building could be narrowed front to back and lengthened a little in order that the corner could be cut out, and that any loss could then be offset by the longer building. The Architect brought up the question of timing, since this was the third Meeting. He suggested a landscaping solution. Com. Adams did not want to see another building there similar to the one across the street from the Fire. Station and suggested Staff could give final approval, to save time. Assistant Planning Director Cowan suggested the Applicant present a sketch to City Council on, June 3, 1985 for their approval, rather than Staff' s. MOTION: Com. Szabo, to close the Public Hearing SECOND: Com. Sorensen VOTE : Passed 5-0 MOTION: Corn. Sorensen, to recommend the granting of a Negative Declaration. SECOND: Com. Szabo VOTE: Passed 5-0 MOTION: Com. Mackenzie, to recommend approval of Application 10-U-85, subject to Standard Conditions 1-15; Conditions 16;17;18; Condition 19 modified to delete the word "landscape" from the first sentence and the second sentence to be deleted entirely; Conditions 20;21; 22; 23; 24; 25;26;27;28; Condition 29 modified to indicate that any trellis shall not be located in the public right of way; Conditions 30;31;32; Addit- ional Condition 33 to indicate that the circulation plan is to include an entrance only from Stevens Creek Boulevard and an exit only with right turn, only from Randy Lane, with angled parking on the west side of the building. Also indicating that'the building design is to reflect a jog or a cut-out corner to provide architectural interest at the corner of Stevens Creek Boulevard and Randy Lane, with final buil- ding design subject to City Council approval. Subject to the Findings of the Staff Report and Subconclusins of the Hearing. SECOND: Com. Sorensen VOTE: Passed 5-0 3 . Amendment of Exhibit C of City of Cupertino Ordinance No. 360 to include a technical college on the list of permitted land uses in the West Valley Industrial Park. Chr. Claudy noted a letter from Cogswell College, received May 24, 1985, regarding parking needs and enrollment figures . PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, MAY 28, 1985 PG-467 • • Page 7 Assistant Planning Director Cowan briefly explained the use of Ordinance 360 to cover the whole West Valley Business ® Park and that it was to be considered whether the use of a technical college could be added to Exhibit C. The only issue Staff had raised was traffic, he said, and explained the 70% north and 30% south factor used was related to De Anza College, since data on a private technical college was unobtainable, and was conservative, since more than 70% might go north because the job bases were there. He advised that growth would be controlled by parking limits, and mentioned that the proposed Resolution for approval contained a clause to make it known that there were some parking restraints. He referred to figures given in the Cogswell letter regarding numbers and hours of arrivals and departures, and suggested there be some wording that classes not be scheduled in a manner that generated more than 220 students in peak or late evening hours, since the building, if used industrially, would generate that many employees. Chr. Claudy established 'there were presently 209 parking spaces on site. Com. Adams established there would be laboratories and wondered if chip development would be involved, since his concern was chemicals on site. Lloyd Strobel, representing the owner of the building, said the laboratories would be mainly electrical and engineering, not ® chemical. Chris Brandmeir, Director of College Relations, Cogswell College, advised that only Chemistry I and II was taught and was combined in the Physics laboratory, and thatthe extent of chip development would not be that of the previous use of the building. Questioned by Chr. Claudy, Mr.. Strobelconfirmed that a de- ionizing water system had been removed and would add to the parking or storage area. Com. Adams felt the use would be less intensive, though it would add to the student traffic, but Staff had alleviated his concerns. Com. Mackenzie agreed and suggested rephrasing the new Condition to relate the number of students to treamount of space occupied, since it would apply to the whole industrial park. The Commission discussed this idea briefly. Mr. Strobel advised they owned only the particular building and the 209 parking spaces, plus any they could add, would be the control. Chr. Claudy established that, while the student body would be predominantly working adults who would be taking evening courses, day students would also be moved from San Francisco, and all Cogswell facilities would'be combined on this site. , Com. Sorensen expressed her pleasure at having a technical college so close to De Anza. PC-467 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, MAY 28, 1985 • Page 8 Assistant Planning Director Cowan accepted Com. Mackenzie ' s suggestion that the Condition should relate to the entire West Valley Industrial Park, so that if the College wanted to take over another building, they could do so if their traffic generation factor was alright; he suggested alternate wording. MOTION: Com. Sorensen, to add Condition 30 to Ordinance 360 to read; "A technical college with class. : schedules which do not exceed the traffic generation rate normally experienced by a light industrial/administrative office development during the periods 7-9 a.m. , 4-6 p.m. , and 7-10 p.m. The class schedules must not exceed the supply of on-site parking. " SECOND: Com. Mackenzie VOTE: Passed 5-0 4 . Application 13-U-84 - DON L. BECK ASSOCIATES - Request for Minor Modification. Director of Planning and Development Sisk explained that the approved office building had been changed in the final design stages enough to come before. A. S.A. C. * and the Commission for approval and resolution. He described the additional height and habitable space, elimination of one parking space and addition of textured paving, which Staff did not perceive to be a problem. However, the french doors which had been consolidated across the front, and which projected three and • a half feet into the setback, Staff was unsure of and A.S.A.C. * had been unable to make a recommendation because of a tie vote, he advised. Staff was also concerned about the 1600 sq. ft . mezannine, he said, but suggested a letter be signed by the Applicant that this was to be used for mechanical equipment only. Mr. Sisk confirmed for Com. Adams that, including the new square footage, the building would be deficient one parking space. Don Beck, 10011 N. Foothill Boulevard, owner/occupier, that the paving adjacent to the easterly neighbor was turf block,, and would allow that neighbor camper access to his yard. The other textured paving was his choize if Mr. Jones, the adjacent 'vetinarian, concurred; otherwise the area could remain grass, as previously planned, he said. He concurrejwith Staff' s recommendations, except for the french door bay window treatment on the front, since previously the Commission, Staff and A. S.A. C. * had felt the building frontage was bland, and these changes accomplished with his architect had echoed the adjacent vetinary building in terms of setback, and, in any case, he could not accomplish the treatment without at least thirty inches of encroachment, he advised. Referring to the height change, he explained that this was necessary to completely hide the mechanical equipment on the roof. Chr. Claudy established with Mr. Beck that there was a well for 111 mechanical equipment on the roof. Director of Planning and Development Sisk advised that the vetinary building and the Beck building would be almost equi- distant from their front roperty lines,and would seem to be h the same eight, viewed from the street . PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, MAY 28, 1985 PC-467 Com. Adams established with Mr. Beck that they had no Page 9 intention of parking on Foothill Boulevard- (this was 411 discovered to be illegal ) and that they could remove two apple trees they were preserving, to provide another parking space, should there be any unforeseen problems. The Commission saw the changes as an improvement, the architectural value offsetting the encroachment problem. MOTION: Com. Szabo, to approve the Minor Modifications to Application 13-U-84 per the Staff Report, with further modification that the bay window not encroach on the 18 ft . setback by more than three and a half feet . SECOND: Com. Mackenzie VOTE: Passed 5-0 REPORT OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION Com. Sorensen drew attention once again to the traffic situation in the Vista area near Collins Junior High School and Lazaneo Drive and described the situation at 8 : 00 a.m. outside the Donut Wheel, with the potential for accidents. Director of Planning and Development Sisk undertook to advise the Staff traffic specialists of her concern.. Com. Mackenzie reported that the 7-11 store on Bubb Road had ceased picking up litter since they had obtained their use 411 permit . He also reported briefly on the Mayor' s Lunch. REPORT OF THE PLANNING DIRECTOR Adjournment : 10: 00 P.M. ATTEST: _ APPROVE: /s/Dorothy Cornelius /s/John Claudy City Clerk - - Chairperson