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PC 06-16-82 CITY OF CUPERTINO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA 10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, CA 95014 Telephone: (408) 252-4505 PC - 388 Page 1 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION HELD ON JUNE 16, 1982 IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY HALL CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Chairperson Claudy called the meeting to order in Council Chamber at 7:34 p.m. SALUTE TO THE FLAG ROLL CALL Commissioners Present: Commissioners Absent: Adams, Binneweg, Blaine, Chairperson Claudy Koenitzer Staff Present: Director of Planning and Development Sisk City Clerk Cornelius Director of Public Works Viskovich (8:15 p.m.) Assistant Planning Director Cowan Associate Planner Piasecki WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS - None ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - None PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Application I-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. MAJOR DISCUSSION OUTLINE 1. Formal presentations from property owners/citizens a. De Anza Boulevard area b. Other property owners and citizen groups presentations 2. The effect of traffic on residential neighborhoods 3. Initiate discussion regarding financing options for the four alternative transportation plans. PC-_ 388 F 2 MINUTES OF THE JUNE 16, 1982 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Formal presentations from property owners/citizens a. De Anza Boulevard area Brad Kronskup, representing Carl N. Swenson Co., reviewed a proposed development to be built on the Cupertino Nursery site near Ski Any Mountain. He stated that the design of the building was prepared specifically to harmonize with the buildings presently developed in the area. A designer for Carl N. Swenson Co. presented the Commission with slides showing the site plan and drawings of the proposed building. He stated it would be a three story building, approximately 42 feet high, with a "penthouse" five to six feet high to house mechanical equ ipmen t . Itsuo Uneaka, property owner, Cupertino Nursery, stated that he did like the concept that the building presented and felt that it was quite compatible with surrounding buildings. ~ ~ I ¡ , ~ ¡ ¡. , ¡ . " ~ , I ¡ , ! I I ¡ I I , f ! ¡ ! Mr. Chuck Toeniskoetter,Vice President, Carl Swenson Co., stated that there was a strong and active market for office buildings in Cupertino. The building recently completed by his company at 5300 Stevens Creek Boulevard near Highway 280 and Lawrence Express- way was a six story building with surface parking. He stated he felt that underground parking would be more acceptable in this area when the cost of land and scarcity of land make surface parking prohibitive. Chairperson Claudy asked if anyone from the general public were in the audience and would like to speak. b. Other property owners and citizen groups presentations Mr. Bill Lewis, 7573 Bollinger Road, stated that he would like to reserve comments for later in the evening. Joe Brown, 20985 Pepper Tree Lane, requested that the Commission keep the community character as demonstrated by Four Phase. He felt this entails going up in the air. A Los Altos resident addressed the Commission regarding the orchard in the Town Center area. She spoke in favor of keeping the orchard and not building on it just because it was no longer productive. She stated that she felt that big office buildings are soulless and lifeless and asked if this were the kind of world we should be planning. She requested that some land be saved in its natural state. The effect of traffic on residential neighborhoods Assistant Planning Director Cowan stated that all four proposed intensity alternatives can work if the City is willing and able MINUTES OF THE JUNE 16, 1982 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING PC-388 Page 3 to fund the necessary improvements and the community is willing to accept a level of service D on major streets, some of which have residences fronting on them. He presented a slide showing the intrusion of traffic impacts and adaptive responses. He recommended that the Commission take a close look at the existing street situation and look at existing goals in terms of protecting residential neighbor- hoods. ! Discussion followed regarding methods of forcing traffic onto Creek and De Anza Boulevards to reduce neighborhood traffic. pointed out that it was not just a matter of shifting traffic improvements, but cost was also a factor. Stevens Staff through The Commission stated that it could be anticipated that increased intensity would bring additional revenues to the City. The Commission felt that people must be made aware of various options and their trade-offs. The Commission would like to see traffic on local and minor collectors reduced or at least not increased, and the level of service on major arterials improved. They approved the concept of integral neighborhoods. It was suggested that staff pick an area around the Town Center, list various options and trade-offs, hold a local meeting showing each option and its effects, and get input from the public. Neighborhood meetings could be held along with implementation of the General Plan. , ¡ RECESS: 9:45-10:00 p.m. Initiate discussion transporation plans financin options for the four alternativ I Staff informed the Commission that the report regarding financing op- tions was not ready to present at this time. Bill Lewis, 7573 Bollinger, stated that he would like to help in any way he could. He stated that the report may wish to address socio- logical impact of the compounding of traffic because of infilling, redevelopment and development taking place to the south of us. He stated that Miller, Stelling, Bollinger and Blaney are all basically residential streets. He felt that traffic problems were more of a north/south problem and expressed concern regarding complete dependence on De Anza Boulevard. He stated that he was surprised that the City did not take traffic counts more frequently. He felt that the 1973 Bollinger count of 15,400 cars was above the "intolerable level". He suggested that Highway 85 not be included in plans unless the City is going to build it. He stated that the City spends more money on planning than it collects in property taxes. Roy Shannon, 1157 Yorkshire Drive, spoke regarding the slide showing l1adapting" in cases of traffic intrusion. He stated that he was not sure of the concept for showing this slide, and that rats adapt to adverse situations. He stated he was interested in the quality of life. He said that he felt it was not unfair for Cupertino to pay rê-388 P~ge 4 MINUTES OF THE JUNE 16, 1982 'PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING for a stretch of 85 as the money comes from a wide base of people who shop at Vallco. He expressed the opinion that people will not accept a D level of service and stated that his wife is þresently passing a petition pertaining to that concept. He stated that he cares about the amount of traffic and not just the level of service and that proponents of the petition are not just from West Cupertino but from allover the City. He felt it was a good idea to educate the public and suggested the use of the Cupertino Courier as it would reach more peple. The Commission suggested that he contact the Courier. Assistant Planning Director Cowan stated that the purpose of showing the adaptation slide was merely to present one researcher's idea of how intrusion affects residential areas. He was not advocating such a position. Paul Sonnenblick, Upland Way, addressed Commission regarding newspaper coverage. He commended Mary Schmich of the Valley Journal and stated that she does some coverage on her own time. He suggested making major arterials attractive and placing barriers elsewhere so traffic would not intrude on residential or minor collector streets. He stated that he did not want staff to spend time looking at alternatives that were not viable. Adelaide Lewis, Cupertino, spoke in support of the maintenance of the quality of life for the citizens of Cupertino. She stated that when she is in a car she is a driver, not a commuter. She felt there should be a driver's quality of life which would include no need for fear of accidents. She felt there was also a quality of convenience and traffic safety. She urged the Commission that as they create the Circulation Element, they try to achieve certain quality for drivers as well as quality of life for residents. . Bill Lewis stated that when walking on Bubb Road he found that at Hyannis- port and Bubb where a stop sign is located, there is a very high level of noise from cars stopping and starting. He also stated that traffic along De Anza Boulevard is becoming worse during the noon hour than in the morning or evening. l-GPA-80 continued It was moved by Com. Adams, seconded By Com. Blaine and passed unanimously to continue the public hearing on Application I-GPA-80 of the City of Cupertino to June 28, 1982. At that meeting financial options as well as additional traffic information will be presented. The meeting was adjourned at 10:40 p.m. ATTEST: APPROVED: City Clerk Chairperson