Loading...
PC 06-27-77 CITY OF ctrPERIDlO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA 10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, CA 95014 Telephone: (408) 252-4505 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING HELD ON JUNE 27, 1977 IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, CUPERTDlO, CALIFORNIA COMMISSION CITY HALL SALUTE TO THE FLAG The meeting was called to order by Chairman Koenitzer at 7:35 PM with the Salute to the Flag. ROLL CALL Comm. present: Comm. absent: Adams, Blaine, Gatto, Markkula, Chairman Koenitzer None Staff present: Director of Planning and Development Sisk Director of Public Works Viskovich Assistant Planning Director Cowan Assistant City Attorney Kilian Assistant City Engineer \<hitten Traffic Consultant Don Goodrich APPROVAL OF MDlUTES Moved by Comm. Adams, seconded by Comm. Blaine, to continue the approval of the Minutes of June 13, 1977 until the next regular meeting. i' // Motion carried, 5-0 I POSTPONEMENTS Upon recommendation of the staff, it was moved by Comm. Gatto, seconded by Comm. Blain to postpone the Public Hearing to consider adoption of a Seismic/Safety Element, which was item 2 on this agenda. Motion carried, 5-0 \-IRITTEN COMMUNI CATIONS: None. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None. PC-257 Page 1 June 13th ~inutes postponed Seismic/Safety Element Postponed PC-257 Page 2 MINUTES OF THE JUNE 27, 1977 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING PUBLIC HEARllIGS: 1. CITY OF CUPERTINO: Public Hearing to consider a specific general plan for the area bounded by Freeway Route 85 on the east and Byrne Avenue on the west and consideration of a street plan line for Stevens Creek Blvd. between Freeway Route 85 and P~dgeway Drive (entrance into De Anza Oaks residential development). First Hearing continued. The Assistant Planning Director introduced Countylia~on Lance Braddon and Traffic Consultant Don Goodrich, who were present at this meeting to contribute to the discussions, as was Dr. Mike Hogan of Earthmetrics. The Assistant Planning Director explained the scope of this public hearing. He said the staff would be describing the action plan. They are recom- mending Stevens Creek Blvd. be four lanes from the railroad tracks to Foothill Blvd. and then become two lanes to the western city limits. Further, the staff recommended the roadway by the golf course and west of Byrne Avenue be closed off. There would be no direct access from Byrne Avenue to Stevens Creek Blvd. There must be a traffic diverter constructed. The traffic would then be split between traffic going west or east onto Granada from Byrne Avenue. From Phar Lap Drive to Janice Avenue, the staff recommended widening of Stevens Creek Blvd. to the south. Cupertino Road would be limited to one-way-in only from Stevens Creek Blvd. It was recommended that Carmen Road be closed and Scenic Blvd. have right-turn-only onto Stevens Creek Blvd. Silver Oak Way would not go through to Stevens Creek Blvd. Near the intersection of Salem, it was recommended a new street be put in which would give access to Foothill Blvd. The Assistant Planning Director said the second major element of the study is land use within Old Menta Vista. From a residential point of view, the only change recommended by the staff is in the Hahn property which is presently designated 4-10 units per acre. This should be changed to single family homes similar to the Ponderosa Hom~s development. The current general plan changes recommended by the staff are neighborhood commercial and store front industrial. Heavy industrial would not be permitted. Non-automobile-related commercial activities will be encouraged. Industrial along Imperial Ave. will be permitted to continue. Use permits will be required. Commute traffic would be decreased by 80%, due to the recommended traffic diverter system. The Assistant Planning Director then reviewed the two-page recommended approach to making a decision regarding the Stevens Creek Plan Line Study. The staff recommended the building block approach. MINUTES OF THE JUNE 27, 1977 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Comm. Gatto asked what is involved in analyzing what happens if Freeway 85 does not go through. The Director of Public Works said there would have to be an entirely new cOlItputer model, with new assignments to the other streets. Comm. Adams said whether or not we consider Freeway 85 going in, perhaps we should consider more than four lanes in the future for Stevens Creek Blvd. At this point, Chairman Koenitzer asked for comments from the audience. Mr. Wesley Williams, 10067 Byrne Avenue, aSKed in regard to the third assumption, what basis was used for this opinion. He asked if economics would dictate we switch more toward public trans- portation. The Director of Public Works said it is too convenient to use the automobile. This is based on an increase in automobile ""'penses. Mr. Mike Bullock, 21831 Hermosa Avenue, Old Menta Vista, presented three copies of his comments on the traffic assumPtions. He said he has been interested in the subject of transportation for about three years. He is Past President of the Santa Clara Valley Bicycle Association. He felt this study should include: present Countywide land use, present land use, future land use, percentage of people who carpool, percentage of people who vanpool, percentag of people who walk; attitudes of the people; and the fact that 50% of the total work force at Vallco Industrial Park live within five miles of work. He contends that the only thing that generate trips is land use. He said better roads redirect traffic. Better roads produce faster and longer trips. Image, air pollution and future costs of fuels and cars must be considered. A freeway built to reduce congestion can in effect actually do the opposite. He said the Gal Trans cOlItputer model always encourages freeways. The Director of Public Works took issue with several of the statements of the previous speaker. He said there is no way we are going to achieve 30% fixed guideways. Mr. Dave McLeroy, 21920 Hermosa, asked what happens if Freeway 85 does not go through. He asked if Stevens Creek Blvd. must then go to 6 - 10 lanes. He said sixty-year-old Monta Vista does not want to becaœe a commuter throughfare. His recommendation was to eliminate the new land use in the foothills so there won't be any change needed in Stevens Creek Blvd. As to public transit, he believes the trend is to increase mass transit and reduce the use of the automobile. He wanted to know more about the qualifica- tions of the people who were making these studies. PC-257 Page 3 PC-257 Page 4 MINUTES OF THE JUNE 27, 1977 PLANNING CO~1MISSION MEETING Mr. Don Goodrich agreed that traffic speed and land use are very important factors. These are in the computer model which he developed some twenty years ago. He said he was on the team that developed the Toronto Rail System. He has been very'much interested in fostering transit ever since that time. One of our problems now is that the public does not seem to be willing to pay for public transit and prefer their individual automobiles. To simply run out of gasoline would be the most effective way of stopning them. Fuel costs twice as much now but this seems to have little effect on its use. He said he is not sure we want to justify six lanes on Stevens Creek Blvd. in any event. Mr~ Bullock said faster roads take trips away from slower streets. Mrs. Patti Brisco stated she came to Monta Vista twenty years ago when Stevens Creek Blvd. was a quiet, country road. She now has 400 trucks per day going on the freeway cloverleaf next to her bedroom windows. She said mass transit requires high density. She would like to protect the Monta Vista environment, which is unique. Narrow roads cut down the traffic and increase the safety. Mrs. Barbara Trubell, 10354 Imperial Avenue, said it is highly unlikely that things will revert to the way they were ten or twenty years ago. Presently, traffic is backed up through the entire downtown during peak hours. She would hope that people would do some serious thinking about what it will be like next year and five years from now. She asked if it is really logical that we would like to keep things the way they are now. She questioned whether people would toss away their car keys and hop on a bicycle. Mr. Rick Repett i, 21800 Almaden Avenue, Monta Vista, said he has lived there 23 of his 24 years~ It was nice while he was a kid. 'He is not in favor of closing off Orange Avenue. If it is widened, 50% of the houses will have to be mØved. The Assistant Planning Director said the primary reason for cul-te-sacing Orange Avenue is to protect the neighborhood from comm~te traffic. If Stevens Creek Blvd. remains two lanes through Mon)t Vista, this will put the traffic on other streets. Mr. Bill Turano, 2165~! Stevens Creek Blvd., said he sees no need for parking lots and wider streets. Most of the people living in Monta Vista rent their homes because they can't afford to purchase one. He is against any changes in that area. The Assistant Planning Director agreed that widening Stevens Creek Blvd. will somewhat increase traffic on it but one design objective is to obtain a B/C level of service, which means free-flow traffic at peak hour. He said the staff is recommending a plan line that will be congested even at four lanes. With two lanes it -Nill take ten minutes to get from Bubb Road to Foothill Blvd; or four minutes with four lanes. \ ) MINUTES OF THE JUNE 27, 1977 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Comm. Gatto was answered that approximacely 50% of the traffic is commute traffic. If Foothill Blvd. was a restricted road, he wondered what would happen to chat commute traffic. The Assistant Planning Director referred to the Goodrich document. It was pointed out that Stevens Creek Blvd. is a commute corridor. Comm. Gatto said we have the option of allowing this corridor to end at Freeway 85 or at Foothill Blvd. He said this Planning Commission should look at the nature of chis traffic that this wider street would carry. Chairman Koenitzer said it is apparent that at least 50% of the traffic on Stevens Creek Blvd. will be commute traffic. Unfortunately. we have no control over this. It is going to be controlled by the alternate routes available. In addition to contending with this traffic, we must also consider whether or not we want to do anything about the other problems associated with it. Comm. Blaine said no matter what traffic congestion to cope with. as to the level of congestion we decision is made, we will have The decision has to be made are willing to live with. Traffic Consultant Goodrich said the congestion level would be less with four lanes than with two. This would provide less inconvenience to the people living in the area. It has to be looked at as a system. It is like water reaching its own level. If Stevens Creek Blvd. is not widened, McClellan Road will get more traffic. Comm. Blaine is concerned that people are going to be sitting on those freeways, as they are in Los Angeles. The Director of Public Works said the entire area has to be based on certain criteria. Mr. Goodrich said the distribution óf that ten minutes can be split between Foothill Blvd. and Stevens Creek Blvd., as introduced by Comm. Gatto. Mr. Goodrich answered congestion is greater with commute traffic. Comm. Blaine that in general, the evening because shopping traffic is included along This is not the case in the morning. Chairman Koenitzer called a recess at 9:35 PM. The meeting reconvened at 9:50 PM. PC-257 Page 5 PC-257 Page 6 MINUTES OF THE JUNE 27, 1977 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING ,Chairman Koenitzer announced that there are no plans for this widening 'of Stevens Creek Blvd. to take place immediately. We must, however, set plan lines in order to plan for the future. The plan line would be adhered to as development takes place. Chairman Koenitzer said discussion of this road width and alignment would go to 10:30 or 10:45 PM. At that time, this public hearing would be continued to July 25th, and the balance of the agenda would be taken up. Camm. Adams said that, based upon the assumptions presented by the staff, he could not add to Ul under the list of individual decisions. Comm. Gatto said one important function of this 'Body is to delve into these alternatives. This would make the political decisions easier for the City Council to make. He believes the building block ,approach is wrong at the Planning Commission level. The Assistant Planning Director said the staff needs to know whether or not they are on the right track. 'Road width and alignment were discussed. One alternative would be two lanes from Freeway 85 to foothill Blvd., which would be status quo. Another option is 4 lanes with minimal change in the commercial area, moving the curb 5' on the existing property line, and the existing grade being maintained at Phar Lap Drive to the crest of the hill. The staff says the 13% grade is unsafe; 7% is not necessary; we can manage with 10%. This will involve the taking of three homes on Carmen Road, and ,Carmen Road will be cul-de-sac. Scenic Drive would be right-turn-out only. Cupertino Road would be open to right-turn-in only. Another option is 4 lanes with 3-lane mid-reach option. This is not good because the 3-lane stretch is not long enough to actually do any good. Still another consideration would be keeping Stevens Creek Rlvd. at two lanes and providing a bypass road at Scenic and constructing a new bridge. This would take some of the pressure off Stevens Creek Blvd. This would destroy parking for the golf course and restaurant'. It would also introduce commute traffic into residential neighborhoods. Widening on the north side of Stevens Creek Blvd. would take five homes. Mr. Dave McLeroy wanted to address Figure 13 in the report. He also submitted a survey that was conducted by the merchants in Monta Vista, which indicated 396 against and 13 in favor of the widening òf Stevens Creek Blvd. He said that basically, we would be widening a road to augment three hours' traffic per day. If we create a diverter we will have an increase in air pollution. This '411 increase the incidence of cancer. The noise factor must also be taken into consideration. Flood risk would be worse with the wider street. Neighborhood identity would be affected; those people living north of Stevens Creek Blvd. would be severed from those living to the south of it. MINUTES OF THE JUNE 27, 1977 PI..ANNING COMMISSION MEETING Mr. H. E. Dunbar, 10578 East Estates Drive, Cupertino, said he has heard no discussion about the flood plain in regard to raising part of the roadway next to the golf course. He asked about the confidence placed in the traffic models. He would like to know the inputs. He would like to know what the deviations are. He would like answers to these questions at the next public hearing. Moved by Comm. Blaine, seconded by Comm. Adams to continue the public hearing on Stevens Creek Blvd. plan line to July 25, 1977. Motion car.ied, 5-0 The Assistant Planning Director stated that on July 7th the staff would like to attend the wo.kshop at the County level. It has been suggested some of the Planning Commissioners also attend, but, it is during the day so it may present problems. Comm. Blaine said she would be available. The Assistant City Attorney stated that in regard to the Brown Act, as long as this is a public, not private meeting, it is all right for Planning Commissioners to attend. 2. CITY OF CUPERTINO: Public Hearing to consider the adoption of a Seismic/Safety Element to be incorpo.ated in the City's General Plan. CONTINUED TO JULY 25, 1977. 3. CITY OF CUPERTINO: Public Hearing to cons ide. an amendment to Land Use Element of the Gene.al Plan regarding the install-, ation of sanitary sewer improvements and/or other improvements' in the hillside areas regulated by a slope-density formula, ' except in the Regnart Canyon area. First Hearing continued. Resolution No. 1705 was introduced by the Director of Planning and Development. Mr. Richard Childress, 22025 Regnart Road, said the enti.e issue is septic tanks and their acceptability. He has learned of many innovations and would like to be able to consider them as alter- natives to dumping sewage into the Bay. He does not understand why it is necessary to change the General Plan when they can be reviewed individually by the Health Department. PC-257 Page 7 SCB plan line continued to July 25th. Seismic/Safety Element cont' d to July 25th. PC-257 Page 8 MINUTES OF THE JUNE 27, 1977 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Comm. Blaine said she understands the Health Department is not going Ito approve anything without very specific details. If something very I efficient ~omes up it can be ~eviewed at that time. ¡Chairman Koenitzer said the reason he supports septic tanks in the Regnart Canyon is be~ause a large number of them already exist there. I Since there were no further coœments from the audience, it was moved by !Comm. Gatto, se~onded by Comm. Blaine to close the public hearing. Res. 1705 adop ted I IMoved by COmm. Blaine, seconded by Comm. Markkula to adopt Resolution ¡No. 1705, amending Exhibit C-2 of the Hillside General Plan. ì , !AYES: ¡NOES: i i ¡ Motion carried, 5-0 Comm. Adams, Blaine, Markkula, Chairman Koenitzer Comm. Gatto Motion carried, 4-1 ! 14. CITY OF CUPERTINO: Publi~ Hearing to consider an ordinance ¡ regulating the installation of septic tanks and drain fields I for individual sewage disposal systems. First Hearing continued. , , [The Director of Planning and Development said this ordinance is the I result of past Planning Commission discussions. It also ~ontains the , ¡latest thinking of the Heàlth Department. He apologized for not having fa member of the Health Department present to dis~uss this ordinance, land offered to answer any questions. Icomm. Markkula asked if 200 feet could be changed to 350 feet in Section I 115.20.030. The AsSistant Citr Attorney said this is possiBle, although 200 Ifeet is more or less standard in the Countv. I . Comm. Gatto said we should make the point that this is within the Urban Service Area. Moved by Comm. Gatto, seconded by Comm. Markkula to delete "B" of Se~tion 15.20.030. ~~tion carried, 5-0 ì I I Chairman Koenitzer was con~erned about how new owners would be alerted I to F. Inspections, noted on page 3. There was discussion of several ¡of the other sections of the ordinan~e. ! MlNU!ES OF THE JU~~ Z7 1977 P~¡NI~G COMMISSION ~EII~G }~. Childress took issue with several of the statements in the ordinance. Moved by Comm. Gatto, seconded by Comm. Blaine to continue to the July 11, 1977 meeting the ordinance regulating septic tanks and drain fields for individual sewage disposal systems. Motion carried, 5-0 UNFINISHED BUSDŒSS: None. NE''/ BUSINESS Chairman Koenitzer said that with the construction of Varian Park, he recommended the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Public Safety Commission consider a sidewalk for some 100 feet near Old Cupertino Road. REPORT OF PLA.~ING COMMISSION. Comm. Blaine asked when the moratorium on condominium conversion was due to end. She was told it would end in ~~rch or April. REPORT OF PWTNING DIRECTOR The Director of Plannin; and Development and the Assistant City Attorney introduced discussion on a new application for a "health club", and how it shall be defined. Right now, we don't have an ordinance that specifically addresses this type activity. This will be discussed at length at a future meeting. ADJ OUR."IMENT Chairman Koenitzer adjourned this meeting at 11:48 PM. APPROVED: ATTEST: ~ Wm. E. Ry r, City Clerk PC-25ì Page 9 Septic tank ordinance continued to July 11th.