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PC 11-08-82 CITY OF CUPERTINO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA 10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, CA 95014 Telephone: (408) 252-4505 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION HELD ON NOVEMBER 8, 1982 IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY HALL CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Vice Chairperson Binneweg called the meeting to order in Council Chamber at 7:35 p.m. SALUTE TO THE FLAG ROLL CALL Commissioneres Present: Commissioners Absent: Binneweg, Blaine) Claudy, Koenitzer Adams Staff Present: Director of Planning and Development Sisk City Clerk Cornelius Assistant ?lanning Director Cowan City Attorney Kilian APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes of Regular Meeting of October 25, 1982 It was moved by Com. Blaine, seconded by Com. Claudy and passed with Com. Koenitzer abstaining and Com. Adams absent to approve the minutes of October 25, 1982 as submitted. POSTPONEMENTS OR NEW AGENDA ITEMS It was moved by Com. Blaine, seconded by Com. Koenitzer and passed with Com. Adams absent to continue Application l-GPA-80 to November 29, 1982. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS Communications were received from John Callahan and Paula N. Tice per- taining to Applications 14-Z-82 and 12-U-82. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Application l-GPA-80 of City of Cupertino: General Plan Amendment to consider a comprehensive amendment of the City of Cupertino General Plan and a Specific Plan for the Stevens Creek Boulevard Planning Area. The General Plan Amendment will concentrate on land use, traffic circulation, housing and economic issues which affect the entire community. The Stevens Creek Boulevard Specific Plan will concentrate on the development of a more detailed land use, circulation and urban design plan for properties which abut the reach of Stevens Creek Boulevard between Stelling Road on the west and Stern Avenue on the east. First hearing continued. PC-402 Page 1 October 25 minutes approved I-GPA-80 continued PC- -'2 Pat, 2 1-GPA-80 continued MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 8, 1982 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING This item was continued to the meeting of November 29, 1982 (see Post- ponements or New Agenda Items). 2. Applications 14-Z-82 and 12-U-82 of William Kelley: Rezoning approximately 1.2 gross acres from City of Cupertino CG (General Commercial) zone to City of Cupertino P (Planned Development with commercial/office intent) zone or whatever zone may be deemed appropriate by the Planning Commission; Use Permit to construct a six-story office building equaling approximately 52,000 sq. ft. and Environmental Review: The Environmental Review Committee recommends the granting of a Negative Declaration. The subject property is located on the west side of North De Anza Boulevard approximately 250 ft. north of Stevens Creek Boulevard. First Hearing. Tentative City Council hearing date - December 6, 1982. Assistant Planning Director Cowan showed an aerial view of the site of the proposed development and the surrounding area. He reviewed the application with the Commission in relationship to consistency with the current General Plan and with tentative decisions regarding the General Plan Amendment presently being heard. Issues covered were traffic mitigation, fire fighting, parking and site circulation (including redesign for better external firefighting capability), and better architectural support for a fire vehicle. Mr. Cowan stated that staff feels a six story structure is out of character with the surrounding area. The Architectural and Site Approval Committee has reviewed the application and is endorsing the structure as proposed. Mr. Robert Bernstein, architect, James Foug and Associates, Palo Alto, presented slides showing Flint Center which is approximately the same height as the building proposed (approximately 85 ft.), slides of Cali Mill (60-70 ft. high) and slides of the Sobrato project demon- strating "footprint" size. He also showed slides of the property on which the proposed building will be constructed. Mr. Bernstein described the project, reviewing the size of the building, the FAR, the parking facility which would have approximately 80% of the parking underground, and the setback. A landscaped plaza is included in the plan. He presented the Commission with a model and pictures of the project. He stated that the planned plaza avoids a canyon effect along De Anza Boulevard. He read comments from staff reports in regard to the General Plan Amendment. He also read comments from the consultant's report. In these reports, an eight story building was considered midrise. ASAC meeting notes he referred to contained comments from the ASAC members stating that the height was a positive aspect, not negative, that it does go with the buildings in the area, that views of the proposed building are usually masked by other buildings, and that it was a good site for midrise. Mr. Wm. K. Kelley, applicant, informed the Commission that when he had originally purchased the property he thought it was part of Town Center. He felt that the intersection of Stevens Creek Boulevard and De Anza Boulevard is an important intersection and this building would make a significant impact. He stated that the building would go up rather than out in order to open up ground. He is planning for small users to occupy the offices in the proposed building. MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 8, 1982 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING PC-402 ~ag~ 3 Romona Ganske, 10164 Randy Lane, stated that she is concerned that res- idents would no longer see the mountains. She said the City has taken away a lot of the sleepy rural feeling that was here when she first arrived 12 years ago. She stated that staff and Council should keep this feeling in mind. She said that the neighborhood has fought agains apartments and people are concerned regarding how the City will grow. She felt it is growing too high and too fast and that traffic problems have not yet been solved. She stated that the Cali mill was the flavor of the Cupertino she moved into. Mr. Steven Hays, 22681 San Juan Road, stated that he pretty much agreed with staff. He felt a terrace concept would be more appropriate. He felt a lower building would allow an open feeling at the intersection. He said that in 1981 the Commission had opposed heights greater than 50 feet, and then in early General Plan hearings this year, the Com- mission had said they would prefer 2-3 stories on No. De Anza Boule- vard. He did favor the underground parking. He felt that the traffic effect would be cumulative. Ann Anger, Monta Vista, said that the City Council has asked the people what they want in Cupertino. Tradeoffs must be made. She stated that she did not have any particular problem with height as long as the buildings were not as close to each other as in San Francisco. She felt this proposed development would give open space which she liked. She also liked the underground parking. In regard to improving traffic within the City, she felt a compromise must be reached. Mr. Ray Rooker, 10366 Vicksburg Drive, stated that he felt the proposed development was an imaginative, qualitative project which showed good use of space. The Commissioners made the following general comments: Com. Koenitzer stated that he was against the proposed height and against the 1.0 FAR. He would prefer four stories with a .6 FAR. A building 60 ft. in height would be all right if it were essentially the same design as now proposed. Com. Blaine stated that she found it to be a good building but it was a question of proper site. She would like to address the height of the building and configuration after receiving direction in regard to the General Plan from the City Council. She stated that she could see no problem regarding changing the present zoning to something else. Com. Claudy stated that at this moment he did have trouble with chang- ing the zoning. To him, the commercial/office intent implies a stronger office orientation than what the Commission previously recom- mended to Council. He expressed willingness to go to planned develop- ment but did not wish to stress office if, in fact, the ultimate de- cision is that this area would go to commercial (sales, services orientation as opposed to office orientation). In regard to the build- ing, he stated he did not feel this was highrise but was low-midrise and was attractive. He felt the proposed location would be all right. However, the Commission had recommended to Council an FAR of .37, commercial intent, a three story limit. He suggested the hearing be continued until receiving direction from Council regarding the General Plan. PC_M\2 Pal .. p", ~c hearing on 14-Z-82 closed Negative Dec. on 14-Z-82 14-Z-82 recommended £0 approval 12-U-82 con- tinued MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 8, 1982 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Assistant Planning Director Cowan informed the Commission that they could act on the zoning and state what particular floors they requested to be commercial. Vice Chairperson Binneweg felt the architecture of the proposed building was good and liked the design with the open plaza. She felt that the problem was that setting the 1.0 FAR ratio was precedent setting. She also felt that this should be continued for further direction from City Council. Mr. Herb Ganske, 10164 Randy Lane, asked how many people would be expected to work in this building with that particular square footage. He was informed that for general office, approximately 220 people would be employed. He also inquired regarding parking. He was informed that the City uses a standard of one space for 285 sq. ft. which is usually adequate. He was also informed that in this particular project, most of the parking was underground. Steven Hays, San Juan Road, requested to view the models that the architect had submitted to the Commission. Upon being asked if he were wIling to have this hearing continued, Mr. Kelley, applicant, stated that he was willing to abide by the majority decision. It was moved by Com. Claudy, seconded by Com. Koenitzer and passed unanimously to close the public hearing on Application 14-Z-82. It was moved by Com. Claudy, seconded by Com. Koenitzer and passed unanimously to recommend the granting of a Negative Declaration of Application 14-Z-82. It was moved by Com. Claudy, seconded by Com. Blaine and passed unanimously to approve Application 14-2-82 per Planning Commission Resolution No. 2353. It was moved by Com. Claudy, seconàed by Com. Blaine and passed unanimously to continue Application 12-U-82 to the regular meeting of the Planning Commission on December 13, 1982. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: None REPORT OF PLANNING COMMISSION Upon inquiring regarding the present status of the Buck building, the Commission was informed that Council is presently considering a public hearing to determine whether to find the building is an abandoned building.