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General Plan Sept 1989
GENERAL PLAN SEPTEMBER 1989 420.12 F `G3' :r3 H� `5 iq`s Y;s r � %a �V� • "'nH�.v t s';Q. °.r,..,,,yis �:x.,� ...A i6%ao!u,.�3.�,✓crl, w.x� PF,. x S,'.K..:f Y � ;sn biz'„r.:c of the City of Cupertino September, 1989 Prepared By Department of Planning and Community Development With Additional Assistance By Jan Ford, Public Relations Writing and Editing The Fornalski Company Illustration and Design kao, i -Z (0 The CityofCupertino 0 5, ;.gA ..0 .1, 1.- P "N L A," 0 0 0 r1 L_J • Table of Contents mp CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN I(• • • Table of Contents Section 1 Introduction 1-1 COMMUNITY SETTING 1-1 LANDFORM 1-2 BUILT FORM 1-2 GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARY OF THE PLAN 1-3 THE PLANNING PROCESS 1-3 EXTERNAL FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE PLAN 1-4 KEY ASSUMPTIONS OF THE GENERAL PLAN 1-4 Demographic Assumptions 1-4 Age Distribution 1-6 Economic Assumptions 1-6 Lifestyle Trends 1-6 Assumptions Influencing Public Services 1-7 MAJOR PROPOSALS Section 2 Land Use and Community Character 2-1 INTRODUCTION 2-1 COMMUNITY CHARACTER 2-1 Major Issues and Goals 2-2 A. Community Identity 2-2 B Regional Distribution of Jobs and Housing 2-2 C. Housing Demand 2-2 D. Traffic Management 2-2 E. Urban Fiscal Balance 2-2 F. Environmental Management 2-2 G. Human Comfort and Community Diversity CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 n LJ CJ CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Table of Contents Land Use and Community Character (Continued) 23 COMMUNITY IDENTITY 2-6 Land Use Height and Intensity Limitations 2-8 Special Planning Areas 2-8 Town Center 2$ Valico Park 2-10 North De Anza Boulevard 2-10 East Stevens Creek Boulevard 2-10 Crossroads Shopping District 2-11 Monta Vista 2-13 Catholic Church Property 2-13 Merriman and Santa Lucia Road 2-14 Balance of Commercial, Office, and Industrial Areas 2-14 Building Form and Scale 2-15 Streetscape 2-17 Gateways 2-19 Urban Scenic Corridors 2-19 Sign Control 2-20 Rural Scenic Highways 2-20 Neighborhood Entries 2-20 Traffic Intrusion 2-21 HOUSING 2-22 Housing Variety 2-23 Privacy 2-23 Neighborhood Awareness 2-24 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 2-25 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2-25 Preserving the Hillsides 2-27 Flood Plain 2-28 Energy Awareness 2-28 Sun Control 2-28 Wind Control 2-29 Heritage Resources CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 n Table of Contents Land Use and Community Character (Continued) 2-30 THE LAND USE PLAN AND GENERAL POLICIES 2-30 Land Use Categories 2-30 Residential 2-31 Commercial 2-31 Office 2-32 Industrial 2-32 Commercial/Residential 2-32 CommercialAndustrial 2-32 Quasi -Public Institutional 2-32 Private Recreation 2-32 Parks 2-32 Public Facilities 2-32 General Policies Section 3 Housing 3-1 Other General Plan Elements the Previous Element of Goals and Policies Supply of Housing INTRODUCTION 3-1 PURPOSE 3-1 CONTENTS 3-1 Relationship to 3-2 Public Participation 3-2 Effectiveness of 3 Progress in Implementation 3-33-6 Appropriateness Goals and Policies 3-6 To Expand the 3-10 To Preserv 3-13 e and Enhance Cupertino's Neighborhood To Promote Access to Housing CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • • 5-1 Table of Contents 5-1 OPEN SPACE PLANNING Section CONSERVATION PLANNING 4 Circulation .Conservation and Management of Resources 4-1 INTRODUCTION Agricultural Lands 4-1 CIRCULATION GOAL Air Quality 4-1 THE REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE Principal Pollutants of the Air Basin 4-4 THE LOCAL PERSPECTIVE Particulate Matter 4-7 Description of the Circulation Plan Carbon Monoxide 4-8 Accommodating Alternatives to the Automobile Air Quality Policies Section Wildlife and Vegetation 5 Environmental Resources 5-1 INTRODUCTION 5-1 OPEN SPACE PLANNING 5-1 CONSERVATION PLANNING 5-1 .Conservation and Management of Resources 5-1 Agricultural Lands 53 Air Quality 53 Principal Pollutants of the Air Basin 53 Particulate Matter 53 Carbon Monoxide 53 Air Quality Policies 5-5 Wildlife and Vegetation 5-5 Streamsides 5-5 Grasslands 5-5 Brushlands 5-5 Foothill Woodlands and Forests 5-6 Impacts and Mitigations 5-8 Mineral Resources 5-8 Limestone 5-8 Crushed Rock 5-8 Sand and Gravel CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN • • Table of Contents Environmental Resources (Continued) 5-9 Water Resources 5-9 Preservation of Watersheds 5-9 Ground Water Recharge Facilities 5-9 Other Water Resources 5-10 Urban Water Conservation 5-11 Energy Conservation 5-11 Regional Perspective 5-12 Residential Energy Use Mitigation Measures 5-13 Transportation Energy Conservation Practices 5-14 Open Space Resources 5-14 Public Open Space Management 5-14 MldPeninsula Regional Open Space District 5-14 Santa Clara County 5-14 Santa Clara County Parks Program 5-15 Santa Clara Valley Water District 5-16 OPEN SPACE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS 5-17 Private Open Space Resources 5-19 Neighborhood Open Space Program 5-19 Definition of Need 5-19 Implementation 5-26 Explanation of the Funding Code Descriptions in Table 5-E 5-26 Expenditure of Funds for Development/Construction of Facilities Section 6 Public Health and Safety 6-1 INTRODUCTION 6-1 SEISMIC AND GEOLOGIC HAZARD 6-2 Earthquake Probability 6-5 Geologic Hazards 6-6 Acceptable Level of Risk 6-12 Policy Recommendations CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 r1 • CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Table of Contents Public Health and Safety (Continued) 6-14 FIRE HAZARD 6-14 Fire Hazards in the Foothills and Mountains 6-14 Road Access 6-15 Water Supply on Montebello Ridge and in Stevens Canyon 6-15 Water Supply for Foothill Regions Within the Urban Service Area 6-15 Building Codes 6.15 Fire Hazards on the Urbanized Valley Floor 6-15 Relationship of Building Design and Materials to Fire Risk 6-16 Accessibility 6-16 Water Supply 6-18 Acceptable Level of Risk 6-20 Policy Recommendations 6-22 FLOOD HAZARD 6-22 Flood Hazard from Rainstorms 6-22 Flood Hazard from Failure of Water -Storage Facilities 6-22 Flood Hazard from Landslides 6-25 Acceptable Level of Risk 6-25 Policy Recommendations 6-27 NOISE POLLUTION 6-27 Effect of Noise on People 6-31 Policy Recommendations 6-31 Land Use Compatibility 6-33 Transportation Noise 6-34 Train and Aircraft Noise 6-34 Kaiser Permanente Truck Traffic 6-34 Non -Transportation Noise Sources 6-34 Adjoining Dissimilar Land Uses 6-35 Common Neighborhood Disturbances 6-38 Noise Attenuation 6-38 Barriers 6-39 Landscaping and Setbacks 6-40 Building and Site Design 6-40 Insulating Buildings from Noise CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN C, J 0 • Table of Contents Public Health and Safety (Continued) 6-41 CRIME 6-41 Park Design 6-42 Non -Residential Design for Defensible Space 6-43 DISASTER PLANNING 6-43 Cupertino Emergency Plan Section 7 Implementation Program 7-1 INTRODUCTION 7-4 LAND USE/COMMUNITY CHARACTER ELEMENT 7-6 HOUSING ELEMENT 7-8 CIRCULATION ELEMENT 7-9 ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES ELEMENT 7-11 PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY ELEMENT CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 11 0 ® Table of Contents CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • • Introduction 00 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • • Introduction INTRODUCTION The City of Cupertino's task is to develop a long-range set of goals for the Citys physi- cal and social development that best meet the needs of its residents. This is accomplished through a comprehensive General Plan that contains five sub -plans or elements. The ele- ments are Land Use/Community Character, Housing, Circulation, Environmental Resources, and Public Health and Safety. An Implementation section follows these elements. Community Setting Cupertino is located on the San Francisco Peninsula. It was incor- porated in 1955 and has seen its land use shift from agriculture to homes and industry. Cupertino was motivated to set its original boundaries by residents who were concerned that nearby cities' at- tempts to incorporate the area would submerge Cupertino's dis- tinctive qualities and diminish home -rule. In this way, "commu- nity character" has been an integral aspect of Cupertino since it was established. Land Form Most of Cupertino is on level ground that rises gently to the west. The incline increases at the chan- nel of Stevens Creek, forming a short plateau near Foothill Boule- vard. The plateau ends at the foot of the steep Montebello system of ridges, which extends along the west and south edges of Cupertino, creating a dramatic amphitheater backdrop to the valley Floor. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN • E Introduction Built Form Development in Cupertino from the late 1950s to the late 1960s generally concentrated on homes. Since the mid-1970s, construction of industry has expanded dynamically. Jobs are centered in new developments including Vallco Industrial Park, North De Anza Boulevard Industrial Park and the popular regional shopping mall, Vallco Fashion Plaza. The east and north -central areas of town have had the newest and most intensely urban develop- ment, while the southerly and westerly areas have mostly retained a moderate residential character and a greater proportion of older, well-established neighborhoods. Geographical Boundary of the Plan The boundaries are not simple. Figure 1-A shows the planning area within the City's corporate limits and pockets of land now under the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. County lands are included because Cupertino land use decisions affect their residents. Also, State legislation encourages cities to plan for all areas within their "Sphere of Influ- ence." General Plan decisions will not legally bind people who own property in County jurisdiction unless the property is annexed into Cupertino. Annexation policy is explained in the Plan's Implementation Element. Figure 1-A. Cupertino Planning Area. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN M ' The City of Cupertino UninmrporatedAreas — Urban Sennet Area Boundary �'. I. Boundary Agreemen( Line .. Figure 1-A. Cupertino Planning Area. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • • Introduction The Planning Process This Plan evolved from a land use plan adopted in 1964. Each amendment to that plan added content and implementation technique. There are four basic steps in the planning process. 1. Data collection. 2. Development of alternative goals. 3. Evaluation of alternatives. 4. Development of a plan to carry out the favored alternative. A high degree of public participation by residents, special interest groups, and offi- cials is required for the goal formulation phase. The General Plan goals were developed by a Citizens Goals Committee over two years, ending in 1972. Those goals are in this Plan. The planning process must remain Flexible to allow for social and economic changes beyond the control of local government. An annual Plan review process achieves this flexibility because it lets the Planning Commission set the Plan goals based on new infor- mation. A major overhaul of the Plan will become necessary if economic and social changes are significant. Figure 1-B. General Plan Process. External Factors That Influence the Plan O The private market dominates land use. A public goal to increase stores, housing, or industry can only be carried out if the private sector will invest in the community. Com- mercial and industrial investors will make their decisions based on factors that may or may not be under the control of cities. Here are two examples. Commercial investors want a market analysis that favors development, showing encouraging estimates of fu- ture population and household income and an acceptable level of competition from other commercial centers. The Plan may designate a parcel of land for high-density residential use that may or may not be economically possible because of public preferences for hous- ing types. These examples show that while Cupertino has a great deal of control over land use, land use decisions must relate realistically to market forces. It is especially diffi- cult for Cupertino or any other city when a desired land use pattern may be possible in the long term but not possible in the next one to five years. The difficulty comes because landowners may find immediate development more economical due to taxes and pos- sible lost income. In addition to marketplace constraints, the Plan is heavily influenced by policies of other local governments and by actions other governmental agencies. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • • Introduction Regional agencies and local special districts constrain Cupertino's planning abilities the most. MidPeninsula Regional Open Space District's policy of acquiring significant acreage in the lower foothills next to the westerly City limit has set Cupertino's growth boundary. Most Cupertino residents want more open spacebuttheideaofhavinganarrowly focused special purpose district decide Cupertino's growth limit and indirectly affect its public service planning may not be positive. The Cupertino School District Board's inde- pendent actions on school closures plays a major role in the City's park planning and af- fects the social organization of residential neighborhoods designed around neighborhood schools. Regionally, the Association of Bay Area Governments and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission have prepared a joint transportation plan for Santa Clara County. This plan influences future transportation methods and service levels in Cupertino, and, therefore, the intensity of land use permitted on properties in Cupertino's jurisdiction. The Bay Conservation and Development Commission requires counties to prepare waste water management plans that determine the location and extent of future waste disposal sites. The San Francisco Bay Area Air Pollution District determines the extent to which industry may emit pollutants into the air, therefore stopping certain industries from locat- ing in Cupertino. Key Assumptions of the General Plan The General Plan's goals, policies, and programs are based not only on the market- place and governmental constraints just described but on key demographic, economic and social trends. Any major changes in these trends may require the revision of the General Plan. The Plan must be reviewed yearly because these trends can move quickly. Demographic Assumptions The fertility rate, which is the number of children a woman will bear, is expected to decrease from about 2.1 in 1970 to about 1.8 in the year 2000 in the San Francisco Bay Area. "Baby boom" children of the post -World War II era are rapidly increasing the number of new households. These trends suggest a continuing high demand by smaller households for new, possibly smaller, dwellings. Cupertino uses the household -size factor to estimate future City population. Figure 1-C shows the household sizes for 1975 and the projected 1990 household sizes for vari- ous sub -neighborhoods. These household sizes and the population estimates will be a major factor in decisions on providing service to various areas in Cupertino. For example, neighborhood park planning depends primarily on the estimates of future population. Age Distribution There will be a dramatic shift in the percentages of age groups in Cupertino by 1990. Pre -teen and teenage populations will decline while adults and seniors will increase dra- matically. Age distribution will play a major role in allocating money to meet needs for that age group. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 1• 0 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN n U is • Introduction Economic Assumptions Economists identify two broad categories of employment when they speak of large- scale economies such as a city, county, or region. "Basic' employment refers to jobs and workers producing goods and services that go to markets outside the city. "Service" employment serves local needs only. Basic employment is often used as a key indicator of the economic system's wealth and vitality. Basic and service employment in Cupertino will increase from about 19,350 in 1977 to about 29,000 by 1990. That projection is based on multiplying current employee -per -acre figures for lands planned for basic industrial employment with lands planned for service- oriented commercial employment. It's reasonable to assume that this increase is possible, given the strong growth of the electronics industry in the county, which provides basic employment. It is unclear now whether the housing shortages and high prices and increased congestion will continue to make northern Santa Clara County attractive to industrial development. It's become a trend for electronics companies to move their manufacturing operations to areas with lower labor and housing costs. However, it seems likely that research and development depart- ments of local firms and newer sophisticated electronics industries that require skilled workers will continue to be attracted to the area. By 1900 there will be a demand for about 180,000 sq. ft. of shopping center -type retail space, consisting of department stores, clothing stores, specialty stores, fast-food restau- rants, and personal services, according to an economic study by a consultant. One acre yields about 10,000 sq. ft. of commercial area, so the demand will be limited to about 18 acres. There is room for expansion of highway -oriented specialty commercial and office development. Lifestyle Trends Cupertino residents will continue to want to live in single-family homes and drive their cars, reinforcing the suburban nature of the City. However, rapidly increasing hous- ing and land costs, decreasing fuel availability, and shrinking family sizes may require a shift to higher -density housing and mass transit. Assumptions Influencing Public Services The General Plan assumes that the westerly and southerly boundaryof the Urban Service Area will not be expanded in the foreseeable future because of ownership patterns and the intended use of the properties surrounding the City. The Plan also assumes that their will be no major economic changes that will signifi- cantly change the ability of any major service provider to fulfill its function. Finally, the Plan assumes that the City's financial mechanisms will not be limited to a point at which City government would have severe difficulty providing essential services. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • • Introduction MAJOR PROPOSALS 1. Guide land use and urban design to create a community focal point and to create a more pleasing environment, especially in shopping areas next to Stevens Creek Boule- vard and North De Anza Boulevard. 2. Reduce the harm caused by traffic on the quality of life in Cupertino, especially in the residential neighborhoods. 3. Preserve the quality of residential neighborhoods and increase dwelling unit densi- ties in the center of Cupertino so that there will be more housing opportunities for people who work in Cupertino. 4. Protect and enhance the unique scenery, plants, trees, and recreational opportunities in the City's hillsides and streambeds. 5. Regulate development to reduce risk to life and property of flooding, fire, landslides, and earthquakes. 6. Create more effective government through greater service efficiency and by encour- aging greater self-reliance. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 1] u • Introduction CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN • • • Land Use/Community Character 00 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN • • Land Use/Community Character INTRODUCTION Land use planning arranges activities within the community to achieve harmony between differing uses and protect public health. Planning must consider the effects on property values, the profit potential for business and manufacturing, and maintenance of a strong tax base for government and school operation. This Element unifies the other elements of the General Plan Hillside and is the standard by which proposed policies are tested for Residential 41% logic and consistency. It points the way for other principles of open Space public policy. Here are two examples. The Housing Element's 25% policy of increasing the supply and variety of housing is re- Industrial lated to density limits for residential land in this Element. The T% City's organizational plan for the transportation network, as Commercial outlined in the Circulation Element, must follow the principles tt% of site accessibility and scale of development intensity set forth Residential in this Element. 16% COMMUNITY CHARACTER Cupertino has a special community character, a physical setting and visual image that makes the City stand apart from its neighbors and contributes to the quality of life and sense of place enjoyed by people who live and work here. Residents often appreciate cit- ies for their appearance and the way they are organized for use and enjoyment. The goal of this Element is to help public and private efforts to keep and Land Use/ Community Character Land Available For Develop- ment. (Source: July 1977 Land Use Survey, Cu- pertino Planning Department) CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN • • ® Land Use/Community Character the character and density of established neighborhoods. Local concerns and County and regional urbanization will continue to influence decision making. This Element and its recommendations and policies are based on seven issues, each of which will be discussed at length later in this Element. A. Community Identity Cupertino is located in a broader urban area, the Santa Clara Valley. City bounda- ries blur unless distinguished by unusual land forms or built features. The geographi- cal and historical center of Cupertino, the Town Center/Crossroads area, is only par- tially developed and represents an opportunity to create an identifiable downtown at the very heart of the City. B. Regional Distribution of Jobs and Housing Jobs are concentrated in northern Santa Clara County; most homes are in South Santa County. Commute traffic congests major streets and is starting to spill over into local streets and divide neighborhoods. C. Housing Demand Cupertino wants to house residents of all income levels. Expensive single-family houses on large lots have been built by the private market at the cost of other forms of housing. Rental or cluster housing may serve people whose households and life- styles don't fit into big, expensive houses. D. Traffic Management This Element must balance the need to control development so it won't overwhelm the road system against the need for a sound economic base. E. Urban Fiscal Balance The land use mix must support public service by generating enough revenue and the development must be arranged for efficient servicing. Fiscal zoning priorities may clash with other community goals including providing housing for all income levels and supplying non -emergency City services such as parks, recreation, and library. F. Environmental Management Land that can be developed is in high demand. Unless there are fair but firm restrictions to protect the public interest, health, and safety, this demand threatens the natural and visual resources of Cupertino. There are several features that are essential elements of the character of Cupertino and must be protected and preserved. Views of the wooded hillsides of the Montebello Ridge of the Santa Cruz Mountains give the City a green backdrop. The streamside environment of the Stevens Creek Flood Plain and significant mature specimen trees must be considered carefully in the urban context. G. Human Comfort and Community Diversification CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN As traffic congestion gets worse and neighborhoods become more crowded, it's more important for government to protect the physical and mental health of residents from these intrusive effects of urbanization. Social interaction and personal privacy in living spaces and in the City at large must be balanced. The City must also offer a variety of educational, entertainment, and cultural experiences throughout the day for continuous community vitality. 11 U Land Use/Community Character COMMUNITY IDENTITY Cupertino is located in western Santa Clara County, bordered by Los Altos, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, San Jose, and Saratoga and by the green Santa Cruz Mountains to the west. Goal A: Create a sense of place In Cupertino by encouraging a development pattern that promotes the urban environment with unique land forms and features that satisfy the economic, social, and esthetic needs of Its residents. This can be accomplished by creating land use controls that enhance Cupertino's natu- ral hillside setting and shape the built environment. Figure 2-A is an urban design overlay that establishes the fundamental direction for this element. It defines the appearance and dominant activities of the desired land use "Crossroads Area" N. DeAnza Blvd. Light Vallco Light Community Shopping District Industrial and R&D Corridor Industrial R&D Commercial So. Saratoga -Sunnyvale Rd. Commercial Corridor, Low - Intensity Commercial Ott ice Legend: Major Arterials and Collector Streets Freeways/Expressways 0 High Activity Centers Stream Corridor l6tlVl%piAl Hillside Backdrop Figure 2-A. Urban Design Overlay. Notes: High activity commercial/entertainment uses are encouraged in Valloo Park, Town Center, and Cross- roads Center. These uses shall be limited in areas outside of the above centers. Building heights of 4-8 stories permitted in Vallco Park and Town Center - height for the Vallco Park hotel is unspecified. Landscaped parkways required in the corridors leading to the center of town - retain views of the hillsides. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 1 DeAnza College - s:; Educational/ Conference Area `1 `k'^ s Monte Vista 1 "Valtco" \\ "TownRegional EE Center" Shopping, Retain Op n \\ Office, Office, Space Rural \\ Shops, Hotel Hotel/ Conference f Transition ♦ %�`` Stevens Crook Office CorrldorBlvd. Office and Low -Intensity Commercial So. Saratoga -Sunnyvale Rd. Commercial Corridor, Low - Intensity Commercial Ott ice Legend: Major Arterials and Collector Streets Freeways/Expressways 0 High Activity Centers Stream Corridor l6tlVl%piAl Hillside Backdrop Figure 2-A. Urban Design Overlay. Notes: High activity commercial/entertainment uses are encouraged in Valloo Park, Town Center, and Cross- roads Center. These uses shall be limited in areas outside of the above centers. Building heights of 4-8 stories permitted in Vallco Park and Town Center - height for the Vallco Park hotel is unspecified. Landscaped parkways required in the corridors leading to the center of town - retain views of the hillsides. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 41 • • Land Use/Community Character pattern. The diagram defines high-intensity nodes in Town Center and Vallco Park con- nected by lower -intensity heavily landscaped suburban office and commercial centers. The outdoor private recreation and De Anza College campus form a green edge on the west side of Stelling Road to define the extent of office and commercial development and tran- sition to less intense land uses in the western half of the City. The diagram also describes the hillside backdrop and Stevens Creek stream corridor, both of which establish the char- acter of the city. The design concepts are refined in the design policy section. Vallco Park and the industrial complex on North De Anza Boulevard are already in- tensely urban. Town Center has potential for new urban activity. All three of these areas have the potential for highly sophisticated building forms to enhance Cupertino's natural skyline; this will advance the long sought-after goal of breaking up the current pattern of commercial strip development. Housing near major boulevards offers an opportunity to increase streetside landscap- ing and experiment with interesting juxtapositions of architecture. Reserving space near major streets for housing or open space says that Cupertino wants to diminish the auto- mobile's claim on disappearing vacant urban land and that the community identity de- pends on an around-the-clock population for a vital downtown. Policy 2-1: Diversity of Land Use CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN The Comprehensive Plan shall provide adequate land area for employ- ment, shopping, entertainment, cultural, health care, and personal service. 0 • s Land Use/Community Character Policy 2-2: Urban Focal Points Intensify the focus of urban development in Vallco Park, North De Anza Boulevard, and Town Center planning areas, subject to design and transportation network controls. Cupertino is unusual in that it has no identifiable downtown and that most of its available commercial property is in the center of town. This is an opportunity to create a large-scale focal point that reflects Cupertino's character in a uniformly planned mixture of stores, housing, and public facilities. Policy 2-3: Town Center Coordinate efforts of private property owners in Town Center to plan and create a community focal point that expresses the character of Cupertino through a diversity of uses, serving City residents and scaled for pedestri- ans. More specific policies for Town Center am described in the Planning Area Policy Section of this Element. Vallco Park is the second high -activity urban area. Vallco Fashion Park, the multiple - story financial center, and the high-rise corporate office building will create a high-inten- sity activity center with a regional focus rather than a local focus. Controls on intensity and height will shape Town Center and Vallco Park in Cupertino's suburban setting. The controls will ensure that the suburban feeling is maintained so that it preserves the integrity of residential districts and contrasts with the high -activity cen- ters. SEE POLICY 2-1, POLICY 4-8 (STRATEGIES), POLICY 2-53 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN LJ • • Land Use/Community Character Land Use Height and Intensity Limitations Figure 2-A schematically defines the desired land use pattern. The land use diagram, which is attached in the rear jacket gives a more specific description of permitted land use including intensity of use for residential areas. The intensity of use, including height and building area for industrial and commercial activities, is defined by the area plans described below and by other policies contained in this document. Although development intensity is controlled by height and setback requirements,the most direct means to control intensity is by regulating the amount of building area al- lowed on a specific site. The Cupertino land use element directly regulates this in two ways: SEE Floor Area Ratios (FARs): This determines buildable floor space by multiplying a specific DEVELOPMENT value (.25, .33, ...) times lot area. In the upper portion of Figure 2-13, a conceptual one story INTENSITY building is shown based on a series of FAR values. The lower portion of the figure illus - MANUAL trates that FARs limit only the total building area, but do not necessarily dictate the shape or height of the structure. �I 4 0.33 F.A.R. 1.0 F.A.R. �' .50 F.A.R. 1.0 F.A.R. 100% Lot Coverage 50% Lot Coverage Figure 2-13. Floor Area Ratios. 1.0 F.A.R. 49!sJ 1.0 F.A.R. 25% Lot Coverage SEE POLIcY 2-31 I Traffic Intensity Performance Standard (TIPS): This regulates land use intensity in a manner which prohibits a development from exceeding a specific vehicular trip rate. The standard limits activities to those that do not exceed16 one-way trips per acre. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 11 Land Use/Community Character The TIPS policy is generally applied to the North De Anza Blvd and East Stevens Creek Boulevard areas. Shopping centers that existed before December, 1973, when the "Core Area" General Plan amendment was passed, are exempted from the TIPS policy. The FAR policy applies to those properties. Land -use intensity in the Town Center area is regulated by a specific traffic genera- tion accounting system described in the Town Center planning area description. Commercial, office, and industrial land uses in the rest of the community are regu- lated by a FAR. The specific FAR standards are identified in the area plans and general intensity policies described below. Policy 2-4: FAR Credit Transfer In Core Area: Allow Core Area properties designated for commercial, office, industrial land, or any combination of these to transfer Floor Area Ratio Intensity Credit from one owner to another. In this case, a Core Area property is one that fronts De Anza Boulevard from from Bollinger Road to Home- stead Road and Stevens Creek Boulevard from Stelling Road to the eastern Cupertino limits. Apply this policy to properties that do not adjoin to these streets but are part of a shopping center or planned industrial and office center that does adjoin these streets. Ensure that properties involved in the transfer are zoned Planned Devel- opment and that the degree of transfer is determined based on the permit- ted land use intensity of the transferring site. SEE POLICY 2-30 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Land Use/Community Character Special Planning Areas Town Center ?` Function: A large-scale focal point for Cupertino in the Citys i \\\ s.«• .. 04 geographical and historical center. Location The southeast quadrant at the intersection of DeAnza and Stevens Creek Boulevards £" Development Activities: Offices, stores, entertainment busi- Town nesses, and restaurants will be contained in buildings with Center varied form, combined with generous plazas. The Cali Mill could be replaced by landmark multiple -story buildings with a variety of shapes if traffic studies find this to be feasible. SEE POLICY 2-53 Building Heights: Maximum of eight stories. SEE 4-U-86 2-Z-83 Development Intensity: Regulated by the trip end distribution described in Table 2-A. SEE POLICY 2-1 Vallco Park r\" Function: Mixed use, highly urbanized regional commercial s� a..k a.a and employment center. s ; ^ j Location: Area bounded by Wolfe Road, Stevens Creek Boule- vard, City Limit line. • _» - vard, Homestead Road and the easterl Ci Development Activities: Vallco Fashion Park, the multiple- Vallco story financial center, and the high-rise corporate office build - Park ing are in place. A hotel complex, with a maximum of 1,000 �,4�°n�as �s»maxe'iai rooms,a conference/convention center and related shops/serv- Ices and additional office, industrial, residential, and other ancillary uses maybe located in the Vallco Park Planning Area. SEE 1-Z-83 Building Heights: Generally not to exceed eight stories with the exception of the hotel, SEE PoLicv 2-1 which is unspecified. Buildings may exceed normal height limits to emphasize Vallco Park's role as a major center. Final approved heights of all buildings, including the hotel, will be determined along with development applications. Development Intensity: Intensity is regulated by the following floor area ratios: Commercial .25 FAR Office .37 FAR Industrial .33 FAR The "Lester" property located in the northeast quadrant of Tantau Ave and Stevens Creek Blvd. and the "Old Hotel Site" located in the southeast quadrant of Pruneridge Ave and Wolfe Road have no development credits because development intensity was trans- ferred to other sites. Vallco Park Ltd. is allocated 300,000 sq. ft. of additional commercial space and 450,000 sq. ft. of additional office and industrial space over and above the building areas allowed . by designated FARs. The additional building area may be allocated to areas located east of Wolfe Road, south of Pruneridge Ave, and north of Stevens Creek Boulevard. Vallco Park Ltd. is encouraged to seek agreement from non-Vallco Park owners regarding the allocation of the additional space. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • i1 U Land Use/Community Character Table 2-A. Tann Center Planning Area Trip Accounting By Major Ownership 10=9 SITE A — Prometheus Development Co. Trip Credit: 26.11 ac. @ 16/ac. = 418 Trips Trip Generation: UaE FACTOR TRIPS Office "339,000 s.f." 1/1K s.f. = 339 Trips Residential 158 DU .5/DU = 79 Trips TOTAL = 418 Trips SITE B — De Anza & Town Center Properties Trip Credit: 14.11 ac. @ 16/ac. = 226 Trips Council Resolution 6136 = 3 Trips TOTAL = 229 Trips Trip Generation: Alternative 1 15E FACTOR TRIPS Office "45,000 s.f." 1/1 K s.f. = 45 Trips Residential 366 DU .5/DU = 183 Trips Elderly 0 DU .18/1)U = 0 Trips TOTAL = 228 Trips Alternative 2 1lICiE FACTOR TRIPS Office "90,000 s.f." 1/1K s.f. = 90 Trips Residential 276 DU .5/DU = 138 Trips Elderly 220 DU .18/DU = 40 Trips TOTAL = 268 Trips SITE C — Lincoln Properties/Pinn Bros. Trip Credit: 7.0 ac. @ 16/ac. = 112 Trips Trip Generation: UaE FACTOR TRIPS Office "91,000 s.f." 1/1K s.f. = 91 Trips Residential 42 DU .5/DU = 21 Trips TOTAL = 112 Trips Total Trips Credited 47.26 ac. @ 16 trips/ac. = 756 Trips 1rl E Site A � *41 sne B 0 Site C 8 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 1 Land Use/Community Character •4 do North De Anza Boulevard Function: Business office and research and development ac- tivity with some stores. Location: Properties between Stevens Creek Boulevard and 16 d / Interstate 280 on North De Anza Boulevard. Development Activities: Mixed use commercial, office, Indus . � North trial, and residential. De Anza SEEBoulevard Building Heights: Maximum of four stories. NORTH DEANZA PLAN Development Intensity: Regulated by the 16 one-way TIP SEE POLICY 4-2 standard. (STRATEGY) East Stevens Creek Boulevard Function: Mix of commercial retail centers and general office buildings. .jca.Location: Stevens Creek Boulevard east of De Anza Bottle - I t' y vard and west of Stern Avenue on the cast City limit line. Development Activities: Offices are preferred but retail is East allowed. Regulated by the 16 one-way TIP standard. Stevens • ;g; Creak Building Heights: One or two stories in the Stevens Creek office Boulevard corridor cast of De Anza Boulevard with some buildings as SEE SCB PLAN high as three stories, if the additional height can be found to SEE POLICY 4-2 add diversity and interest to the structure and do not hurt (STRATEGY) surrounding land uses, especially residential districts. is Crossroads Shopping District ?\ Function: Original shopping district in Cupertino. \ § eb Location: Properties fronting Stevens Creek Boulevard between s: De Anza Boulevard and Stelling Road. < Development Activities: Retail is preferred but offices are .0 allowed. Crossroads Shopping Building Heights: One or two stories, with some parts of District buildings as high as three stories, if the additional height can be found to add diversity and interest to the structure and do SEE POLICY 2-30 not hurt surrounding land uses, especially residential districts. Development Intensity: Regulated by a Floor Area Ratio of .25 for commercial and .37 for offices. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN i • • Land Use/Community Character Monta Vista Function: Monta Vista is the commercial and residential district that predates Cupertino's incorporation. The commer- cial district should serve as a commercial center for Monta Vista and its adjoining neighborhoods. Residential use ar- eas should be retained and enhanced. Location: The commercial area includes the north and south sides of Stevens Creek Boulevard from the Southern Pacific right-of- way to Byrne Avenue and from Stevens Creek Boulevard south to Granada Avenue and from Orange Avenue to the Southern Pacific Railroad right- of-way. Monts Vista The residential areas south of Stevens Creek Boulevard am bounded by Granada Avenue SEE MONTA to the north, Byrne Avenue to the west, Imperial Avenue to the east, and McClellan Road VISTA DESIGN to the south. The residential area north of Stevens Creek Boulevard is bounded by Uni- GUIDELINES versity Avenue to the north, Peninsula Avenue to the west, Alhambra Avenue to the east ,and Stevens Creek Boulevard to the south. Development Activities: Building Heights: Two-story buildings with some three-story elements. Development Intensity: Pollcy 2-5: Land Use Intensity Regulation by FAR Regulate land use intensity for properties described in Figure 2-C by a .33 SEE PoLicr 2-31 Floor Area Ratio for both commercial and office activities. Regulate development intensity for other non-residential use areas by the FARs for the rest of the community. Policy 2-6: Commercial Blight and Noise Intrusion Work to ensure that blight and noise from commercial and industrial uses SEE POLICY 2-22 do not intrude upon residential neighborhoods. PoLtcY 4-5 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 0 ® Land Use/Community Character Figure 2-C. Manta Vista Land Use Intensity. SEE Poucy 44 Policy 2-7. Interconnected Access, Shared Parking of Individual Properties Ensure that individual properties developed independently of surround- ing sites have interconnected pedestrian and vehicle access and shared parking. Policy 2-8: Housing Units Removed Under Eminent Domain Require that housing units removed under eminent domain proceedings be replaced on a one-for-one basis within the same geographical area and that the people who were displaced can afford the units. Policy 2-9: Architectural Barriers • Eliminate architectural barriers to pedestrian mobility. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • Land Use/Community Character Pollcy2-10: Residential Street Improvements Maintain a semi -rural appearance with residential street improvements. Policy 2-11: Neighborhood Landscaping Preserve existing neighborhood landscaping features during redevelop- ment. Emphasize on-site parking instead of street frontage parking. Policy 2-12: Mixed -Use Development Allow mixed-use development within the area bounded by Granada Avenue, Stevens Creek Blvd., Orange avenue and the SP right of way to rely on public parking on Pasadena And Imperial Avenues to meet the off-street parking needs for the commercial part of the project. Policy 2-13: Storefront Appearances Require commercial and office structures to exhibit a traditional store- front appearance to the public street. Require buildings intended for initial office use to be designed to accommodate future entrances from the sidewalk for retail shops. Do not permit the building to be separated from the public sidewalk by extensive landscaping or changes in eleva- tion. Catholic Church Property Function: The 735 -plus acre property is designated for housing. Location: South of 280 freeway and west of Foothill Boule- vard. The planning area is served by Cristo Rey Drive and is contiguous to and northerly of Stevens Creek Boulevard. Development Activities: The extent of the surplus land that is suitable for development is not known, so the development area on the land use map is general. ASAC REso. 1097 Catholic Church Property Development Intensity: Land use intensity is based on the 1/2 acre foot- hill modified slope density formula described on the land use map. In no case shall more SEE POLICY 2-34 than 400 dwelling units be built. Merriman and Santa Lucia Roads Function: The area, subdivided in 1917, has duplexes and single-family homes. To recognize standing viable duplexes, legally constructed duplexes may remain in the section of the planning area that is planned for up to five units and will be rezoned to a duplex zoning district. • Location: Bounded by Santa Lucia Road, Alcalde Road, and 71 N Merriman and Foothill Boulevard. &fi Santa Lucia ....,..«...F......_, z< Roads CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN • U • Land Use/Community Character Development Activities: Balance of commercial, office, and industrial areas Building Heights: Two stories, with some parts of buildings as high as three stories, if the additional height can be found to add diversity and interest to the structure and do not hurt surrounding land uses, especially residential districts. Development Intensity: Regulated by Floor Area Ratios of .25 for commercial, .33 for of- fice, and .33 for industrial. Goal B: Encourage a development pattern for the community which will promote a variety of scale and formality in building form and which will facilitate access to all pans of the community by all segments of the population. Building Form and Scale Cupertino encourages variation in form, scale, and intensity of building activity. Areas of high-intensity development offer the greatest opportunity for innovations in construc- SEE POLICY 4-8 tion and the City encourages creative approaches to large-scale site planning. (STRATEGY) The size, color, materials, and design of buildings and the placement on their sites SEE POLICY 2-1 result in a cumulative design statement that shapes the image of the City. Figure 2-A de- scribes the two high-intensity nodes at Town Center and Vallco Park. The linkages be- tween Town Center and Vallco and other activity centers in the City must be weighed along with a consideration of the design relationship between various use types. The City does not impose a specific architectural style; it sinks a varietyof building forms and materials. Cupertino stresses the need to establish design harmony between differing uses, for ex- ample, between commercial and residential. Policy 2-14: On -Site Environments SEE PoLicY 6-29 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Emphasize attractive on-site environments during the development review process by giving careful attention to building scale, landscaping, placement, screening of equipment and loading areas, and related design considerations. eeve = (tpUnderground • Parking �3 do • • Land Use/Community Character Generally, abrupt changes in building scale should be avoided. A more gradual tran- sition between buildings of one and two stories and low-rise to mid -rise buildings should be achieved by using three-story and four-story buildings at the edge of the project site. Provide Transition Between Low Buildings and Mid- and High- Rise Structures TTE�!! Preferred Policy 2-15: Public Open Space Development Avoid Encourage development of residential and public open spaces on lands next to major streets to give a balanced variety of land uses, to increase the housing supply, and to break current or potential strip development patterns. Streetscape Cupertino's streets heavily influence the City's form and the lifestyles of people who live here. Streets can form neighborhood boundaries and add to the sense of community, but they can also compartmentalize and cut off other areas, causing isolation. Streets become barriers when they are difficult to cross and close one re- gion off from another. According to studies, speed, even more than the vol- ume of traffic, greatly influences the activities of people who live nearby. Families with young children want to live somewhere else and people who do live near major streets often decide not to have pets because of traffic dangers. Because of past decisions and the growth of neighboring cities, Cupertino is cross -divided by a grid of major streets with a high-volume carrying capacity to accommodate through commute traf- fic. The roadway network is probably the most serious threat to the integrity of Cupertino's community character. Traffic danger, odor, noise, and the stacking effect of cars at peak times SEE POLICY 3-2 POLICY 3-3 Accent Neighborhood "Gateway" Reduce Reduce Bldg. Large Scale Street Width Scale Near Pavement At Pedestrian Minor Streets Treatment Crossing QL � ---- Major Bikes _ Thoroughfare Overcoming the Barrier Effect Intensity Landscaping CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN n U r1 L_J • Land Use/Community Character disrupt activities along the streets. Taken to extremes, the major streets could turn Cu- pertino into a random collection of individual neighborhoods. A city designed around automobiles works and looks entirely differently from one built for a variety of transportation. People who live in a city designed for cars don't have much opportunity to use other forms of transportation. Street improvement design is guided by these standards. SEE POLICY 2-19 a. Ensure that the three corridors leading to the center of Cupertino remain park -like through 50 -foot landscaped parkways, landscaped medians, and abundant on-site landscaping. SEE POLIcY 2-16 b. Limit entrances and exits to properties to avoid disrupting landscaped continuity and traffic flow. c. Provide on-site coordination of driveways and parking aisles to allow access to secondary streets and traffic signals and to keep disruption of traffic flow to a minimum. d. Hide off-street parking from public view as much as possible. Determine the re- quired number of off-street parking spaces for multiple -story projects in the Core Area along with specific development proposals. People notice the when they are in a different city by looking at streets. Cupertino can distinguish itself from the outlying fringes of Sunnyvale and San Jose by avoiding copy- ing the development form of those cities: the strip development—an unbroken continuity of commercial and office buildings with intense daytime activity where the automobile is king. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Land Use/Community Character Gateways Gateways are important in creating a memorable impres- sion of a city. There are formal elements—arches, fountains, banners, or landscaping. Gateways may also be dramatic without constructed devices. Gateways are not always found at the city limits. For example, the street overcrossing at Lawrence Expressway and Stevens Creek Boulevard are a definite gateway to the east edge of Cupertino, even though the overcrossing is not in Cupertino. Policy 2-16: Community Gateways Review properties next to community entry points when they are developed or redeveloped to reflect the gateway concept. Large numbers of curb cuts can impede traffic flow on busy streets as drivers enter travel lanes indiscrimi- nately. Landscaping themes along the street frontage main- tain a stronger visual continuity with fewer curb cuts. Policy 2-17: Curb Cuts Minimize the number of driveway openings, or curb cuts, in each Bevel- • opmcnt. • Site A Site B 2 -Frontage Site d Access From Secondary Street n u 1111 �1t1u Only Major Street SEE POLICY 4-4 0 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN E • • Land Use/Community Character Policy 2-18: Street Improvement Planning See POLICY 4-2 Plan street improvements such as curb cuts, sidewalks, bus stop turnouts, (STRATEGY) bus shelters, light poles, benches, and trash containers as an integral part POLICY 4-3 of a project to be ensure safe movement of people and vehicles with the least possible disruption to the streetscape. Policy 2-19: Parking Area Layout CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Include clearly defined spaces for pedestrians in parking lots so that foot traffic is separated from the hazards of car traffic and people are directed from their cars to building entries. Store Shade Along Path Entry rM , r2 IIIIWNIIIIIIA110tIMlllllllll3.e�st��eauunn�! ltll! .Pedestrian Path - 0 • • Land Use/Community Character Urban Scenic Corridors Hoping to lessen the visual disruption of Cupertino's image caused by the City's two major boulevards, the City Council requires an extensive landscape setback next to De Anza Boulevard from Stevens Creek Boulevard to Route 280 and on Stevens Creek Boulevard east to the City limits. This will lead the observer to or from the pedestrian -scale shopping environment of Town Center through an intensively planted parkway that people who are driving cars can enjoy. Policy 2-20: Boulevard Landscaping Setback Require properties fronting on De Anza Boulevard and Stevens Creek Boulevard east of Town Center to provide a landscaped front setback of 50 feet from the face of the curb, excluding parking lots. Policy 2-21: Roadway Design to Offset Barriers Encourage the use of design techniques and development controls that will offset the divisive barrier effects of major roadways. Sign Control In order to keep its streets attractive, Cupertino rejects the modern merchandising technique of directing business signs at drivers frequently and from as far away as pos- sible. The City is also de-emphasizing commercial strip development. So, business signs visible from the streets are limited to those necessary to identify a business site, rather than to advertise from afar. This sign control also enhances the linkage of the Vallco-North De Anza Boulevard -Town Center areas along the City's major streets by keeping sign disruption to a minimum. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN • • Land Use/Community Character Rural Scenic Highways Most of the significant rural roads are outside City ju- risdiction and are covered by the County Scenic Highway Preservation Policy. Montebello and Stevens Canyon Roads in the western foothills and the upper segment of Regnart Road at the south edge of the City are among these streets. The scenic integrity of these rural roads can be protected by significant frontage setbacks, reduced right-of-way, and reduced carrying capacity while still permitting adequate public access to their unique beauties. Neighborhood Entries Well-defined entrances are essential to neighborhoods. They aid public safety because drivers are likely to slow down and pay closer attention when they know they are enter- ing a residential area. A gateway that is appropriately styled and in keeping with neigh- borhood scale can help residents feel part of the neighborhood. Policy 2-22: Neighborhood Gateways Define neighborhood entries through architecture, landscaping, or land forms appropriate to the formal or rural character of the neighborhood. Discourage electronic security gates, walls, and fences because these isolate individual developments. Traffic Intrusion Cars intrude into local neighborhood streets at peak traffic hours from Cupertino's many major boulevards and streets. There are several ways to minimize this intrusion, including building streets so that they connect circuitously, rather than directly, to major streets; using street "diverters" that direct or eliminate turns; and variation in pavement width to discourage speeding and emphasize crosswalks. SEE POLICY 4-6 1 Policy 2-23: Neighborhood Traffic Pattern Investigation CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Investigate neighborhood traffic patterns comprehensively and find solutions to protect neighborhood streets from through -traffic spill-over. 0 • • Land Use/Community Character HOUSING Goal C: Enhance and protect the Integrity of residential neighborhoods. The private housing market is now geared to big, expensive homes on large lots to the exclusion of higher -density housing. Since the type of household attracted to live in a city is dictated by the available housing, this trend will discourage households with other inter- esting lifestyles from living in Cupertino and adding to its vitality. Policy 2-24: Full Range of Housing Opportunities Provide for a full range of ownership and rental housing unit densities, including apartments and other high-density housing. Policy 2-25: Housing with Other Development Consider housing along with non-residential development, permitting it in addition to the floor area ratio established for non-residential develop- ment. Cupertino, like most cities, is organized into neighborhoods. Some neighborhoods have a large variety of activities and others have fewer. Any neighborhood must be planned carefully to be sure that its residents live safely and comfortably and that their property investment is protected to a reasonable degree. The choice of a home is as much an emotional as a financial investment. When people feel themselves to be a part of their neighborhoods, and responsible to their neighbors, cooperative relationships can flourish. Neighbors can help watch children at play and help protect property against burglary and other crime. Property owners may also be encouraged to continue to maintain their homes to a high standard. SEE PoucY 3-1 Poucy 3-2 SEE POLICY 3-3 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 r 1 LJ Land Use/Community Character Policy 2-26: Scale of Residential Development Ensure that the scale and density of new residential development and remodeling is reasonably compatible with the City's predominant single- family residential pattern. Housing Variety Cupertino encourages a variety of housing types. People with low or moderate in- comes can be excluded from living in Cupertino when there is no suitable housing. These include the elderly, the handicapped, newly formed households, and students. Current zoning regulations perpetuate the single-family detached house. However, skilled designers can fit more intense residential buildings into scattered empty lots with- out harming the single-family neighborhood appearance. SEE Poucr 3-2 I Policy 2-27: Housing Variation in the Urban Core CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Encourage variations from the regulations of the zoning district for properties in the urban core area in housing type and increased density, making sure that the development is consistent with the visual character of surrounding buildings. • • • Land Use/Community Character Privacy A successful residential environment should give people a chance to socialize when they choose to and space to be alone, both inside and outside the home. City attention to privacy consideration during the development approval process can go a long way to set homesites apart from each other. Complete privacy is not possible in a city and people must balance the need for isolation and the need to live within an urbanized area. Greater Separation Lesser Separation 1 ---.t 6'e 6' Dense Plantin£ Wing Neighborhood Awareness Policy 2-28: Privacy in Site Design Ensure that the site design for a residential project has private indoor and outdoor spaces for each unit and com- mon outdoor recreation space. Policy 2-29: Minimizing Privacy Intrusion Keep the sights and sounds of the neighbors from intruding on residents. Techniques can include greater building setbacks, wing walls, window shutters, and non -transparent glass. ml V�lew . Fixed Shutters ViewJ Fixed Shutters Privacy Controls Burglary, vandalism, and other crimes occur in all neighborhoods. Investigating and solving crimes is the job of the police; crime prevention is everyone's job. Design of new buildings must include security measures, so that the people living or working there will feel safe and so police won't have to respond to so many calls. Building design and place- ment should let neighbors watch each other's properties and children's play areas. Policy 2-30: Designing for Security Use design techniques in new development and rehabilitation to increase SEE POLICY 6-29 security and personal safety and to increase neighborhood awareness. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 6' r� 6' E ^'3ku,: s F«uo?i'S':wu13�3�<:s''w�t.� r ai>a<tn.:a��•'�v''��'`''''�'M'`'� Lesser Separation 1 ---.t 6'e 6' Dense Plantin£ Wing Neighborhood Awareness Policy 2-28: Privacy in Site Design Ensure that the site design for a residential project has private indoor and outdoor spaces for each unit and com- mon outdoor recreation space. Policy 2-29: Minimizing Privacy Intrusion Keep the sights and sounds of the neighbors from intruding on residents. Techniques can include greater building setbacks, wing walls, window shutters, and non -transparent glass. ml V�lew . Fixed Shutters ViewJ Fixed Shutters Privacy Controls Burglary, vandalism, and other crimes occur in all neighborhoods. Investigating and solving crimes is the job of the police; crime prevention is everyone's job. Design of new buildings must include security measures, so that the people living or working there will feel safe and so police won't have to respond to so many calls. Building design and place- ment should let neighbors watch each other's properties and children's play areas. Policy 2-30: Designing for Security Use design techniques in new development and rehabilitation to increase SEE POLICY 6-29 security and personal safety and to increase neighborhood awareness. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN • • Land Use/Community Character ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Balancing land use intensity against the traffic -carrying capacity of the street network is a major emphasis of the City's land use policy. The policy must also consider the economic health of the community and find ways to encourage redevelopment of older retail centers. Policy 2-31: Shopping Center Rehabilitation To make the rehabilitation of shopping centers built before the "Core Area Plan" was adopted in 1973 easier, the City Council may allow a center being considered for rehabilitation to increase its building area above the basic floor area ratio constraint. The increase may add as much as 5,000 sq. ft. of additional gross Floor space over the existing Floor area. The amount of additional floor space will be proportional to the extent to which a development plan incorporates new landscaping and other site improvements, architectural revisions consistent with the General Plan design standards, space for new activities more consistent with land use policies or other General Plan policies, or other benefits consistent with General Plan policies. Policy 2-32: Development of Substandard Areas Allow the Floor Area Ratio to be increased to make development or redevelopment of substandard areas easier. The maximum increase is .40 FAR and 1,000 sq. ft. above the building space normally allowed. Policy 2-33: Monitoring for Over -Saturation Continue to monitor development activity, fiscal effects, and development rates to avoid short-term over -saturation of the market. Policy 2-34: Grandlathered Development Clarify that land use activities or buildings consistent with the General Plan or Zoning as of July 18,1983 and development activities approved before that date are still valid even though the activity or building is inconsistent with this General Plan. Cupertino's Procedural Ordinance defines the terms by which various types of applications remain valid. The City's goal to achieve a balanced community is enhanced by the development and operation of a Convention Center to be located in a core area business and office cen- ter. A Convention Center would: 1. Provide a meeting and gathering space for official functions that would otherwise be held outside Cupertino. 2. Provide meeting and support services for corporations which are headquartered in the City. 3. Strengthen the viability of a full service hotel which in turn would provide fiscal benefits to the City. The City may enter into a relationship with a hotel/convention center developer to encourage such a center. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 11 • Land Use/Community Character ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT GOAL D: Protect the environment and the personal safety of the City's residents. It is necessary to respect irreplaceable natural assets to maintain community charac- ter. Sometimes, careful design controls can cause built forms to complement and enhance the natural terrain. For example, the landmark Mary Knoll Seminary is situated on a prominent ridgeline and accents the wooded setting. In other cases, such as in the Ste- vens Creek Flood Plain, the land's natural plants should be left undisturbed as a break in the urban pattern. Preserving the Hillsides Cupertino's hillsides are an irreplaceable resource shared by the entire Santa Clara Valley. Building a low -intensity residential development in the foothills would give the owners of these houses an interest in preserving the natural environment. This kind of development would be limited to high-income households, this is in compliance with the broad goal of providing housing opportunities to all economic segments of the commu- nity. Cupertino is trading off housing opportunity for low-income and moderate -income households for the preservation of a natural resource that benefits the region. Policy 2-35: Foothill Development Apply a slope -density formula to low -intensity residential development in the foothills. Permit limited commercial and professional offices in a Hillside Planned Development if they directly serve the residents. There will be some scarring from hillside development as roads, housing sites, and public and private subdivision improvements are graded. So, improvement standards must balance the need to furnish adequate utility and emergency services against the need to protect the hillside land form, vegetation, and animals. Roads should be narrowed to avoid harming trees and streambeds. Grading should be kept to a minimum by prohibit- ing mass grading for building sites and by allowing narrow driveways, instead of public streets, to serve more than one lot. SEE DEVELOPMENT INTENSITY MANUAL SEE CMC 1608 SEE POLICY 6-12 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 r 1 L • SEE POLICY 5-8 POLICY 5-9 Land Use/Community Character Policy 2-36: Rural Improvement Standards In the Foothills Require rural improvement standards in the residential hillside zoning ordinance and the hillside subdivision regulations to preserve the rural character of the hillside. The Montebello foothills at the south and west boundaries of the valley floor are a scenic backdrop to the City, adding to its sense of scale and variety of color. It's impos- sible to guarantee an unobstructed view of the hills from any vantage point, but people should be able to see the foothills from public gathering places. Policy 2-37: Views for Public Facilities Design and lay out public facilities, particularly public open spaces, so they include views of the foothills or other nearby natural features. When highly sensitive natural areas such as those subject to Floods, brush fires, earth- quakes, and landslides become part of a city, human life must be protected. Policy 2-38: Hillside Development Proposal Analysis SEE Subject proposals for hillside development to prior investigation by DEVELOPMENT professional consultants to find environmental dangers and to suggest INTENsrrY solutions to lessen their effects. MANUAL SEE POLICY 6-8 Policy 2-39 Land Disturbance During Development Be sure that natural land forms and significant plants and trees are disturbed as little as possible during development. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • 11 Land Use/Community Character Flood Plain Stevens Creek and its streamside are among the natural elements that have the most influence on Cupertino's character. The creek strongly defines the boundary between the urban and rural parts of the City, extends a note of unspoiled beauty into the heart of the developed valley floor, and gives many residents and visitors a space for play, relaxation, or study of the creek's plant and animal life. At times, however, floods can pose a risk to the City. Land uses in the flood plain should allow the public to get to the creek but should prohibit materials that would restrict the free flow of creek waters or significantly disturb the streamside environment. Policy 2-40: Existing Uses In the Flood Plain Allow commercial and recreational uses now exclusively within the flood plain to remain in their present use or to be used for agriculture. Policy 2-41: Non -Recreational Property to Residential Designate non -recreational properties to become residential with up to five units allowed with these conditions: a. Forbid structures designed for forced human habitation, such as dwelling units, in the natural flood plain. The natural flood plain is defined by the General Plan based on data from the Santa Clara Valley Water District. Unfenced volleyball courts, picnic tables, and similar recreational uses may be constructed within the natural flood plain. b. Base the maximum number of dwelling units allowed on each prop- erty or group of properties on the numerical designation range on the General Plan Map. Land in the flood plain can be credited in an amount not to exceed one dwelling unit per gross acre to determine the number of dwelling units on each property or group of properties consolidated into one development plan. If part of the parcel is outside the flood plain, the maximum density will be six dwelling units for each gross acre. This policy makes it impossible for a relatively small parcel to get a high density status as a result of one dwelling unit per acre density credit from a relatively large area within the flood plain. The total number of units allowed will be based on the ability of the applicant and designer to integrate the development into the natural environment of Stevens Creek and the adjacent residential neighbor- hoods. c. Require residential development plans to incorporate the Stevens Creek trail described in the public parks section of the General Plan. Policy 2-42: Land In Natural Flood Plain Allow public and quasi -public land in the natural flood plain after review of a specific zoning or use permit application. SEE POLICY 6-10 SEE CMC 16.52 SEE POLICY 5-22 SEE POLICY 5-19 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • Land Use/Community Character Energy Awareness Site and building design can save energy by using the benefits of the seasonal climate and controlling its disadvantages. This section discusses a few of the many different ways to make homes more comfortable and reduce energy needed for heat and cooling. Sun Control California requires cities to consider solar access when reviewing subdivision design. To increase the daily number of hours of sunlight, builders are encouraged to orient pri- vate outdoor spaces to the south, east, or west sides of a site, preferably with two unob- structed views. Private outdoor spaces also need to be sheltered from the sun. Trellises, awnings, landscaping, and the height and position of neighboring buildings should be studied to protect against excessive shadow on yards, assuring equitable access to sun- light's benefits. SEE POLIcY 3-28 1 Policy 2-43: Sun Access and Protection Ensure that all homes have an acceptable balance of access to the sun and protection from it, as well as control of prevailing winds. North Wind Plant Mass & Garage & 4 1 Blank Walls On North To `� Break Cold Breezes ok "Sun Pockets" For Outdoor Deciduous Trees Allow Winter Trellis Sun Living Sun To Warm Interior and Filter Provide Summer Shade Wind Control Cupertino's prevail- ing winds blow from the northwest across San Francisco Bay. Winds mach their peak in the af- ternoon; the Citys low buildings and relatively Flat ground do not slow them down. The breezes give relief from warm temperatures, but high winds discourage the use of outdoor areas. So, careful site design can break up wind patterns and reduce their speed to produce gentler, more refreshing breezes. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN iii �,� �� �•�' K1MW .��-� Prune Lower Vegetation To Promote Circulation Wall and Vegetation Windbreak Turn Buildings 450 To Prevailing Wind and Arrange In Clusters To Reduce Velocity and Chan- nel Summer Breezes 0 • • Land Use/Community Character Heritage Resources Heritage properties show Cupertino's history. These sites remind residents of the colorful people who built and occupied them, creating stronger ties between today�s Cupertino residents and yesterday's. Most of the historically significant properties are in private ownership, so pressure to remove them or change sites in a way that obscures historic character is not controlled by public policy. Where feasible, private owners and City government can work together to find creative alternatives to the destruction of heritage properties. A successful example of this cooperation is the rehabilitation of the De La Vega stable in the Rancho Deep Cliff residential subdivision. The "Tack House' was refurbished ex- tensively inside but its exterior remains much the same. It is the 61 -home community's recreation center and meeting hall. The City of Cupertino Community Landmarks: Historic Sites: A. De Anza Industrial Park 1. Mary Noll Seminary 10. Petite Trianan B. Vailoo Industrial Park 2. Cupertino Del Oro Club 11. Cupertino Union Church C. Kaiser Permanente 3. Manta Vista Train Station 12. Blacksmith McClellan Ranch D. Downtown Monta Vista 4. Gazebo, Memorial Park 13. Doyle Site E. Memorial Park 5. St. Joseph's Church 14. De Laveaga Horse Barn F. Valloo Fashion Park 6. Baer House 15. Ridge Viveyards G. Cali Mill 7. Oak Dell Ranch 16. Picchetti Ranch H. De Anza College 8. Lewis Stocklmeir Ranch 17. Monte Bello School I. Cupertino Civic Center 9. Woelffel Cannery Figure 2-D. Cupertino's Heritage Resources CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 C� U CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 11 • • Land Use/Community Character Very Low Density: Intensity is based on applying one of three slope -density for- SEE DEvecor- mulas—Foothill Modified, Foothill Modified 1/2 Acre, or Semi -Rural 5 Acre. This clas- MENT IN ENsrrr sification is intended to protect environmentally sensitive areas from extensive devel- MANUAL opment and to protect human life from hazards related to flood, fire, and unstable SEE ORD. 1450 terrain. Low Density: 1-5 units on each gross acre. This category is intended to promote a SEE ORD. 1449 suburban lifestyle of detached single-family homes. Planned residential communi- ties can be incorporated into this category if the development form is compatible with adjoining residential development. Medium Low Density: 5-10 units per gross acre. This category accommodates SEE ORD. 575 more intensive forms of residential development while still being compatible with the ORD. 664 predominant single-family detached residential neighborhood. This development can be successfully incorporated into a single-family environment. Medium High Density: 10-20 units per gross acre. This category provides greater opportunity for multiple -family residential developments in a planned environment. This range usually results in traffic volumes and buildings that are not compatible with single-family residential neighborhoods. These developments should be located on the edges of single-family residential communities where utility services and street SEE ORD. 779 networks are adequate to serve increased densities. High Density: 20-35 units per gross acre. This promotes a wide range of housing choices in multiple -family dwellings. The intensity requires that the categorybeused only at locations with adequate utility services or transit or both. The development may result in structures with three or four levels and underground parking. Thiscategory offers maximum opportunity for housing choice, especially for people who want a city environment. Commercial This designation is directed to retail sales, businesses, professional offices, and serv- SEE ORD. 1344 ice establishments with direct contact with customers. This applies to commercial activi- ties ranging from neighborhood convenience stores to regionally oriented specialty stores. Retail stores that would be a nuisance for adjoining neighborhoods or hurt the commu- nity identity would be regulated by the commercial zoning ordinance and use permit procedure. Office This designation includes all office uses referenced in the City's Administrative and SEE ORD. 002(X) Professional Office Zone including administrative, professional, and research and devel- ORD. 002(Y) opment activities. Prototype research and development is permitted if it is conducted along with the office functions of a business. Prototype R&D is defined as research and development activities that lead to the development of a new product or a new manufacturing and assembly process. Products developed, manufactured, or assembled here are not intended to be mass produced for sale at this location. Guidelines for Prototype Research and Development: The type, use, and storage of hazardous material for prototype R&D or assembly is regulated by the Uniform Building Code, the Uniform Fire Code, and any new ordinance or other regulation that controls hazardous materials. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 11 L J ® Land Use/Community Character The building must not present the appearance that a prototype R&D or assembly process is in place. There will be no exterior storage and receiving facilities will be small. Generally, no more than 25 percent of the total space occupied by the firm will be devoted to this activity. Industrial This designation is applied to manufacturing, assembly, and research and develop- ment. Administrative offices that support manufacturing and wholesaling are included. Commercial/Residential This designation is applied to lands located on major boulevards and suitable for commercial or residential activities or a combination. Commercial/Industrial This designation is applied to lands suitable for either commercial or industrial activi- ties or a combination. Quasi -Public Institutional This designation is applied to privately owned land involving activities such as a pri- vate utility, a profit or non-profit facility giving continuous patient care, an educational facility, or a religious facility. Private Recreation This designation is applied to privately owned land use for recreation oriented to the outdoors. Parks This designation is applied to land owned by the public and used for recreation. Public Facilities This designation is applied to land used or planned to be used by a governmental entity for a public purpose. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • Land Use/Community Character General Policies The loose format of the General Plan Map makes it necessary to enact general land use policies to guide City officials and others in formulating private and public land use decisions. Policy 2-45: Boundaries Between Land Uses Base boundaries between land use classifications generally upon lot lines of established land use activities, public streets, and constructed or natural physical barriers or a combination of any of these. Show the precise boundary on the zoning map. Policy 2-46: Residential Density Ranges on the Map Recognize that residential density ranges on the General Plan Map and its legend show the desired development intensity for a general area. Also recognize that the actual gross dwelling unit density may be slightly different if the properties reflect the general development character of neighboring properties. Policy 2-47: Minimum Lot Size for Single -Family House Allow owners of existing legally created residential lots of at least 5,000 sq. ft. to use it for a residential purpose. The minimum lot size for a con- ventional single-family residential zoned parcel is 6,000 sq. ft. The owner of a legally created parcel less than 5,000 sq. ft. may also develop it for single-family residential use if it can be shown that the property was not under the same ownership as any contiguous property on the same street frontage on or after the effective date of this amendment. Owners of contiguous substandard residential lots of record which do not conform with the density requirements of the Plan may redraw the lots when it results in a more logical development pattern and is generally consistent with the character of the surrounding neighborhood. Consoli- dation or redrawing should not result in more lots or more potential dwelling units than the number of legal lots of record. Policy 2-48: Public and Ouasi-Public Activities and Land Allow public and quasi -public activities to be located within any land use designation in the General Plan upon zoning review approval to ensure compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood and the street and utility system capacity. Allow residential land uses in areas designated for quasi -public uses with appropriate zoning changes. Policy 2-49: Closed School Site Use Designate all public school sites for public use provided that school that are closed may be used for quasi -public or institutional activities or both, or for housing. The dwelling unit intensity and development pattern shall reflect the character of the surrounding residential districts. The future of unused school sites shall also reflect the park acquisition pro- gram in the Environmental Resources Element. SEE PLANNING Comm. REso. 2616 SEE Poucr 5-24 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN KIM 10 Land Use/Community Character JIII 0 0 o•. 123 U, I q'ic, C-3 Hypothetical Dwellings Constrained Areas Property Ownership Boundary Proposed Roads Existing Dwellings Figure 2-E. Hypothetical Development Plan for Inspiration Heights. UPERTINO GENERAL PLAN r� U 0 • Land Use/Community Character Policy 2-50: Very Low Density Residential Allow lots of record legally created by the County or City subdivision process before June 22, 1976, and located on land designated for very low density residential use to be used as a single-family building site even though the application of current slope -density formulas would prohibit development. Do not allow substantially vacant, non -improved small lot subdivisions that were recorded many years ago without adequate field investigations and improvement plans to be used as a single-family build- ing site. In such subdivisions, lots can be used for single-family housing even though the application of slope -density formulas would forbid de- velopment under any of two circumstances: 1. Where the owner of the lot either owns or buys contiguous land that can SEE CMC 18-1.10 be combined with the lot, by filing a new map, to create a new lot or lots (MERCER LAW) to conform to the slope -density formulas. 2. Where a lot was under ownership by June 22,1976, and the owner has not owned or bought any contiguous land since the approval of this document which would allow him or her to meet the requirements of the first instance. Figure 2-E explains this policy for Inspiration Heights. Flint Center — De Anza College Policy 2-51: De Anza College Allow land uses not traditionally considered part of a college such as lodging or conference facilities and institutional office and research facilities to be built at De Anza College. Final determination of the intensity, character, and ultimate desirability will be evaluated with regard to the effects on traffic and the consistency with the college's educational nature. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 is • Land Use/Community Character Policy 2-52: Take -Out Restaurants Actively discourage more freestanding take-out restaurants unless they are part of an overall planned center. Policy 2-53: New Drive -Up Services SEE DRIvE-UP Permit new drive -up service facilities for commercial, industrial, or FACILITIES institutional use only when adequate circulation, parking, noise control, GUIDELINES architectural, and landscaping compatible with the visual character of the surrounding uses are provided and residential areas are adequately buffered. Further evaluate any proposed site for conformance with other goals and policies of the Plan. Policy 2-54: Late -Evening Entertainment Activities CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Discourage late -evening entertainment activities such as cocktail lounges, recreational facilities, and theaters in the relatively narrow depth of Stevens Creek Boulevard properties but encourage them in Town Center, Vallco Park, and other large properties that are isolated from residential districts and can provide their own security. Cl r� U • Housing CUPERTMO GENERAL PLAN 0 0 L� CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • Housing regulate the design and location of residential development projects. The Land Use/Com- munity Character Element and the Circulation Element define City form, densities, and the location and movement of people, describing where housing is to be placed and what density is to be permitted. The Environmental Resources Element discusses preserving open space essential to maintaining community quality of life. Open space preservation is part of the development approval process for both residential and non-residential proj- ects. The Public Health and Safety Element regulates residential development in seismi- cally sensitive areas and emphasizes safety features in residential projects. Public Participation The Housing Element was amended in 1983 when the General Plan was amended. There were 17 public hearings, presenting opinions and information from the entire com- munity. The public also commented at meetings of an ad hoc committee on below -mar- ket -rate housing. A 25 -member community Goals Committee held meetings during the two years before the Plan was amended, reviewing land use, transportation, and housing policies. Local newspapers and publications from special interest groups such as the Santa Clara Valley Manufacturers' Association and the Midpeninsula Citizens for Fair Housing covered the amendment process. This update includes additional 1980 U.S. Census data, housing need figures from the Association of Bay Area Governments, and program changes. Cupertino actively encourages citizen participation to help insure the success of the hous- ing program. Effectiveness of the Previous Element The previous Housing Element's program did not meet its goals for new construction of very low-income, low-income, and moderate -income housing because there were no available state and federal subsidies. Twenty-seven units for the handicapped were constructed as planned. The City con- tinues to have households assisted through the federal rental subsidy program and Proj- ect Match, a private, non-profit group. Only about 10 percent of the need for very low- income and low-income housing was met from 1980 to 1985. There are eight moderate -income units available through the Below Market Rate (BMR) Program, well under the projected 100 units. About 20 percent of the moderate -income housing need was met through private development and the BMR Program. Private development met about 50 percent of the housing needs projected for households earning above moderate incomes from 1980 to 1985. High interest rates in the early 1980s made the situation worse. The City's fast-track processing, reduced fees, and land available for high-density residential development did not add to the restrictions on developing below -market -rate units. The Condominium Conversion Ordinance preserved existing rental units, while the City rehabilitated about eight owner -occupied low-income units per year through the use of federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, which met the 1980 Housing Element projections. Rehabilitation funds for rental units were unavailable; this goal was not met. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN C� • • Housing Progress In Implementation Cupertino's housing program has been expanded to include mortgage revenue bond financing for rental construction as planned in the 1983 element. There are about 280 rental units in the planning stage. Fifty-six of these could be for low-income households if mort- gage revenue bonds are used. A voluntary mediation program for income property owners and tenants was established and CDBG funds have been set aside for low-income senior housing. The City dropped its BMR Program for moderate -income households to focus efforts on low-income households and to spread the burden of this development among all de- velopers instead of concentrating it on developers of high-density residential projects. In its place, the City is considering charging a construction tax on all residential, commer- cial, and industrial development and using general funds to supply housing for both very low-income and low-income households. Cupertino will contract with a non-profit de- veloper or find another way to operate this housing. The existing below -market -rate units will be maintained. Current lower interest rates should help in building affordable hous- ing. Appropriateness of Goals and Policies The goals and policies remain generally the same, except for the deletion of the BMR Program. The City is taking a more activist role in developing low-income housing by using its general fund. Development of below -market -rate housing should be helped by the availability of mortgage revenue bond financing. Goals also include programs that require federal subsidies, although it is unlikely that these funds will be available. If they do become available, the City is willing to use them for new construction. There is more information on the City's programs and goals in the Program Description section of the Housing Element Background Report. Overview Cupertino, set in the northwest section of Santa Clara County, was incorporated in 1955 with fewer than 2,500 residents. From the 1950s until the mid-1970s, the City grew rapidly as the county evolved from an agricultural center to a capital of light industry. Northern Santa Clara County became nationally known as Silicon Valley, center of semi- conductor research, development, and production. This development has affected cur- rent and future land use and circulation patterns. 'a 40 9 C 30 0 C 20 0 a a 10 0 IL Z 20 0 FWArug:zesty::.cfiig:qn;:WWW'�oi:iifr'e'%"t<o ££ n'E 1955 1960 1965 1970 19751980 `1985`1990 Year Figure 3-A. City of Cupertino's Population Growth History and Projections e 15 4 10 7 a 5 0 3 0 0 1975 1980 1985 1990 Year Figure 3-B. Cupertino's Dwelling Unit Projections -1975 - 1990 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • • Housing Cupertino's population nearly doubled from 1970 to 1980 through growth and land annexations, rising from 19,500 to 34,015. This is one of the largest increases in Santa Clara County. Population in 1985 was estimated to be 38,000. If Cupertino were entirely built up, holding capacity would be about 49,000. Between 1970 and 1980, the number of hous- ing units in Cupertino more than doubled, growing from 5,598 to 12,554. There were 12284 households in 1980 and 13,980 estimated in 1985. Housing preferences have changed since 1970, as the number of housing units increased and the number of persons per household decreased. Following a California trend to- ward smaller households, Cupertino's figures declined from 3.1 persons in 1970 to 2.7 in 1980. This figure is expected to remain the same or increase slightly before 1990. The trend reflects lifestyle changes, a postponement of childbearing, and a tendency for people to establish households at a younger age. The median age of Cu- pertino's population is ris- ing, also changing housing needs. It was 26 years in 1970 and had risen to 32 by 1980. Household income and housing cost also affect > housing need. Compared to other Santa Clara County cities, Cupertino is rela- tively affluent. The 1980 U.S. Census reported me- dian household income to be $30,312 countywide. In 1985, median income for Cupertino households that had at least one worker em- ployed in Cupertino was $54,000. $170,000 $160,000 $150,000 $140,000 $130,000 $120,000 $110,000 $100,000 65r 20-64 10.19 0-9 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Percentage Figure 3-C. Cupertino Age Distributions June June June 1980 1983 1984 Figure 3-D. Median Selling Prices CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN June July 1985 1995 0 0 CJ Housing Rising household incomes have not kept up with skyrocketing housing costs. The median price for a home in Santa Clara County jumped 244 percent from 1971 to 1979 while the median household income went up only 69 percent. These figures are about the same for Cupertino. The prices have not risen as steeply in the 1980s as in the previous decade. These fig- ures are from the San Jose Real Estate Board for the Cupertino Zone. More than half of Cupertino's housing is single family. About two-thirds of the City's units are occupied by owners and one-third by renters. In 1981, 56 percent of all housing units were single family; 12 percent were cluster; six percent were duplex, three percent were triplex; 20 percent were R4 apartments; three percent were group quarters, and .01 percent were mobile homes. Housing choices are limited; the Federal Home Loan Bank reported a 1.7 percent vacancy rate for March, 1985. Cupertino's housing stock is relatively new and in good condition. According to the 1983-86 federal Housing Assistance Plan, 383 housing units are suitable for rehabilitation; 151 are owner -occupied and 232 are occupied by renters. Cupertino is a major employment center in Santa Clara County with a large number of employees commuting from other areas. In 1980, Cupertino had approximately 27,800 employees. By 1985, this figure had increased to 35,000, and is projected to reach 41,460 by 1990. Consequently, the jobs and housing ratio for the City is over -balanced 1 to 1.3 in favor of jobs. Cupertino needs to produce more housing to balance this ratio and meet the housing needs of its employees, where possible. Single Cluster Duplex Triplex Apartment Group Family Quarters Figure 3-E. Cupertino's Dwelling Unit Types -1981 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 11 • Housing GOALS AND POLICIES: TO EXPAND THE SUPPLY OF HOUSING Goal A: Expand the supply of residential units for all economic segments to achieve greater housing opportunities. Housing stock can be expanded by making more land available for housing and by increasing allowable density levels for new dwellings. The 1978 Plan amendment increased the potential number of units by 1,060 over the previous Plan. Cupertino's land use regu- lations allow for densities as high as 20-35 units per acre. High-density development has averaged 22 units per acre. By using these density allocations and planned development permits, residential developers have more Flexibility in design and can build more units. Cupertino's Second Unit Ordinance allows some additional housing on developed lots. Mortgage revenue bonds reduce the cost of units. Figure 3-F. Expand Housing Stock SEE PoucY 2-23 1 Pollcy 3-1 Density Increase on Social -Goal Projects Exceed General Plan density levels on projects found to satisfy a commu- nity social goal. Make density increase dependent on the City finding that the project will be in harmony with adjacent land uses and will not overburden public services, utilities, and the road system. SEE POLICY 2-23 Policy 3-2 Innovative Plan Design in Mixed -Use Developments POLICY 2-25 Encourage developers to follow innovative design concepts that integrate residential and non-residential uses in one project. SEE POLICY 2-24 1 Policy 3-3 Unit Addition In Mixed -Use Developments CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Permit commercial and industrial developers to add residential units to build mixed-use projects without penalty in terms of the Floor area ratios established in the Land Use Element. Subject all development proposals to the standard reviews of the Planning Commission and City Council. n U • • Housing Policy 3-4 Review of Vacant Land for Rezoning Review all vacant and uncommitted commercial and industrial lands every three years to determine if there is a potential to rezone them for housing. Determine if surplus school sites would be available for housing. Policy 3-5 Accessory Housing Units Allow an accessory housing unit on certain lots in single-family districts. Cupertino recognizes the need to provide housing for all economic segments of the community. Supplying affordable housing for low-income and moderate -income house- holds requires local powers combined with state or federal assistance or both. Cupertino's powers include include residential site identification, priority processing, waiver of fees for below -market -rate units, and using a Below Market Rate Program or City funds to finance affordable housing. The City participates in various state, county, and federal programs that provide below -market -rate housing. i AffortlS418 s. HOUSitig Priority Processing 4A u HCD Funds Site Identification CDBG Mortgage Revenue Bonds City Funds Cooperate with Non -Profit Developers Maintain Existing Below Market Rate Units Figure3-G. Provide Affordable Housing Policy 3-6 Site Identification for Housing Cooperate with the county, private developers, and non-profit housing corporations to identify sites for very low-income, low-income, and moderate -income housing. Policy 3-7 Attracting Other Housing Programs Promote a helpful atmosphere for attracting low-income and moderate - income housing programs financed by other levels of government. Encourage mortgage revenue bond programs. Be sure all such develop- ments meet the City's design and service criteria. SEE ORD. 1449, SEc.14 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN U C� Housing Policy 3-8 Participating in Other Housing Programs Participate in county, state, and federal programs that promote or supply housing. Policy 3-9 HCD Funds in BMR Housing Continue to make federal Housing and Community Development funds available to developers to help pay costs of meeting or exceeding the requirements for supplying below -market -rate housing. Policy 3-10 Sites for Low -Income Housing Make available federal HIED or general City funds to buy sites for very low-income and low-income housing. Make these parcels available to private developers or a non-profit housing corporation capable of con- structing this housing. Pollcy 3-11 City Funds for Rental Housing Use City money to fund programs that help supply affordable rental housing to very low-income and low-income households, particularly senior citizens and disabled persons who are on a fixed income, identify- ing need through Census and other data and giving priority to Cupertino residents. Contract with a non-profit organization or find another way to supply this housing. Policy 3-12 Priority Processing for Some Developments Give priority processing to applications that provide very low-income, low-income, and moderate -income housing to reduce development costs caused by delays. Policy 3-13 Affordable Housing on the Ballot Place the issue of affordable housing on the state ballot if this becomes necessary to provide for affordable housing. Policy 3-14 Mobile Homes and Pre -Fabricated Housing CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Permit the construction of mobile homes and pre -fabricated houses on permanent foundations, subject to compliance with zoning regulations, building code, and other applicable City regulations. C1 • E Housing Apartments are the primary source of moderate -cost shelter in Cupertino. They are starter housing for young families and singles, temporary housing for students, and an al- ternative, less expensive form of housing for the middle-aged and elderly who no longer want to own a home or cannot afford home ownership. Apartments offer housing afford- able to the skilled production and manufacturing employees who are vital to the local electronics industry. Many local companies have been leaving Santa Clara County to find more housing these employees can afford. Ignoring this need may seriously hurt the local economy. Uncontrolled conversion of apartments to condominiums may severely endanger the City's goals of promoting and maintaining a fully var- ied range of housing. It may lessen the number of people in Cupertino's population from the groups that typically rent apartments. Cupertino's con- dominium conversion ordinance recognizes and addresses these issues. Policy 3-15 Condominium Conversion Ratios Deny condominium -conversion applica- tions if the proposal significantly dimin- ishes the number of rental units in """ `'' """""""" "'""' "";' Cupertino or substantially reduces the Figure 3-H. Preserve the Existing ratio of ownership -to -rental units at the Supply of Rental Housing time of the requested conversion. Gener- ally, forbid conversion to condominiums when the rental vacancy rate within the Cupertino Housing Market Area is less than five percent when the application is made and has averaged five percent over the previous six months. Determine the vacancy rate by surveys conducted by the City of Cupertino's Planning Department. Polley 3-16 Condominiums and Housing Stock Ensure that a significant portion of the converted units remain part of the low-income and moderate -income housing stock before approving any condominium conversions. Policy 3-17 Condominium Upgrade Before Conversion Ensure that the project has been upgraded to eliminate any health and safety hazards and to meet current development standards before approv- ing any condominium conversions. Reasonably demonstrate that compa- rable replacement rental housing exists in Cupertino to accommodate the displaced residents. SEE CONDOMINIUM CONVERSION ORDINANCE CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN • • Housing GOALS AND POLICIES TO PRESERVE AND ENHANCE CUPERTINO'S NEIGHBORHOODS Goal B: Establish and enforce effective guidelines and regulations for the construction of safe, high-quality housing, and for the maintenance and Improvement of existing housing. Cupertino maintains streets, sidewalks, signs, waterlines, utilities, and street trees through its public works program to protect the public's investment and to enhance neighbor- hood appearance. City ordinances prohibit storing garbage and non -working vehicles in private yards to safeguard the public health and to protect neighborhoods from visual deg- radation. The City's weed abatement ordinance reduces fire risk and eliminates unsightly conditions. Figure 3-1. Pollcy 3-18 City Maintenance Maintain Existing Continue the high quality of maintenance of public streets, rights of way, and Housing recreational areas. Continue the semi-annual trash pick-up program through- out the City and encourage the unincorporated districts within Cupertino's planning area to start a similar program. Policy 3-19 Energy Commission Continue the Energy Commission's promotion of conservation measures through its workshops and recommendations to the City Council. Policy 3-20 Code Enforcement Continue City code enforcement efforts and encourage the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors to increase code enforcement in county islands and lands within the City's planning area. Policy 3-21 Improvement Districts Support local neighborhood improvement districts and homeowner associa- tions. Use a neighborhood approach in upgrading residential property, allowing as much local participation as possible and offering services as in- centives for rehabilitation. Cupertino has no improvement districts but has worked closely with several homeo% associations to decide on appropriate improvements and to sponsor the Rehabilitation gram. This approach has been particularly successful in Monta Vista. Policy 3-22 Property Maintenance Encourage residents to maintain residential property. Policy 3-23 Pre -Sale Code Inspection Consider developing a pre -sale code inspection program for residential structures, linking the program to rehabilitation loan programs to offset costs. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 11 11 Housing Cupertino's housing stock is relatively new; 62 percent was constructed after 1959. The newer housing is generally in uniformly good repair because of high development standards and enforcement of strict building codes by the City. Most of the physically de- teriorating units in town are found in older neighborhoods built under county jurisdic- tion before Cupertino was incorporated in 1955. These older neighborhoods have a vari- ety of housing types and quality; some have begun to decline, but they retain a distinct character that the City wishes to keep. Cupertino has used more than half of its HCD Block Grant rehabilitation funds primarily in the unincorporated areas. The three neighborhoods most in need of rehabilitation are Monta Vista, Garden Gate, and Rancho Rinconada, in unincorporated pockets in Cupertino's planning area. o,`�'.x �z.:G'a.w::�;�•>_w.;:pM;m.,,.M:dmkrok<m<.xx,:>,xaun,.... ,. k :::kkkkk :: ::1i.:.:'G.:::G.�`.`�`W.k:::`�`.`:L.."�•YG y9 ••: f n e �`:``.`� 9 dp HonaYwd Road , 3x b< \� m Garden f g es 3 Gate 'o 280 \ 1 ; a Slavere CIaW Bhtl a 900r s 4N Monta a / ♦ Vista " ♦ \\ MoCk,1Wd a'I, x H.11IN < ;w ,w I \\ Road 8 .i• £i eoIIInO"I Rtl Ifi Rancho:: Rmconada I_ Rainbow`• The City of Cupertino �€ Urban Service Area Boundary PmePyly ♦ ■ _ RWd SLa mC,�k ` ♦� Raemoir 1 Rehabilitation Target Areas �, Figure 3-1. City of Cupertino's Rehabilitation Target Areas Policy 3-24 HCD Rehabilitation Loans Continue participating in the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program financed through the Urban County HCD Block Grant Program. This program makes low-interest rate loans and small grants to very low- income and low-income homeowners to correct building code violations and housing deficiencies. Policy 3-25 Other Rehabilitation Programs Investigate and pursue other rehabilitation programs funded by federal, state, and county government to expand rehabilitation in Cupertino. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 r� U • Housing Policy 3-26 Upgrading of Substandard Housing Encourage the upgrading and rehabilitation of substandard housing within the City's planning area. Policy 3-27 Information on Rehabilitation Provide information on loan programs, fix -up techniques, and labor services. Encourage feature stories in the local media. The past decade's rising energy costs and uncertain supplies have forced cities to look at energy conservation in residential development. For example, active and passive solar techniques can be incorporated into designing, orienting, and constructing new houses; existing housing can be fitted with energy sav- ing devices. State energy standards increase fyy/iiy v4 Y� ,iiif ilrw i3 budding efficiency, but additional efforts can riS jli��fvl��Sn�f;.l.'yH /'%• Sy ra �� make buildings even more energy efficient. Cities can take an active role by encouraging more at- tention to energy conservation in planning, zon- ing, and building construction requirements. En- ergy efficiency can be attained without increas- ing housing costs; this should be taken into ac- count when an energy program is set up. Figure 3-K. Promote Energy Conservation SEE POLICY 3-19 1 Policy 3-28 Energy Conservation Techniques Actively promote energy conservation techniques and energy efficiency in building design, orientation, and construction. Do not allow the cost of energy conservation in any particular project to reduce the supply of affordable housing. Policy 3-29 Solar Energy Re-examine the residential zoning ordinance to ensure that use limitations on mechanical apparatus do not unduly inhibit solar energy use. Policy 3-30 Other Energy Conservation Efforts CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Investigate and pursue information about energy conservation programs or policies in effect in other California cities. Housing PROMOTE ACCESS TO HOUSING Goal C: Establish a community In which all people have an equal opportunity to obtain housing regardless of their race, age, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, ancestry, Income, or physical handicap. Promote the fair solution of problems between Income property owners and tenants. Discrimination against homeseekers on the basis of ram, age, religion, national ori- gin, sex, marital status, or ancestry is prohibited by law. While discrimination exists, it is uncertain how much there is. Local service organizations, such as Midpeninsula Citizens for Fair Housing, which is supported in part by County HCD Block Grant funds, and the Housing Service Center have been effective in eliminating Flagrant violations of the law. More subtle practices are difficult to detect and require support from local governments to produce action. Figure 3-L. Promote Equal Opportunity for Housing Policy 3-31 Eliminating Discrimination Support efforts of organizations working towards eliminating discrimina- tion in Cupertino. Rental property conflicts center on claims by tenants regarding rent increases and lack of building maintenance and claims by owners about non-payment of rent and property destruction. Cupertino is working through its rental property subcommittee and outside agencies to address these issues. Policy 3-32 Rental Property Mediation Refer rental property complaints to a voluntary mediation board established by the City and operated by Operation Sentinel. • CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN to • Housing Units Conserved., (Housing units preserved as affordable because of Conversion Ordnance or through existing programs). Approximately 3,900 duplexes, triplexes and apartments can be preserved if no conversions occur. Should conversions occur, a percentage of the units will be dedicated to below market rate households. — Maintain the 27 family and elderly affordable units for the handicapped and the 14 existing BMR units — 20 very low and low income households can be assisted through the Section 8 Existing Program and 75 households can be assisted through Project Match. Rehabilitation 25-50 low income owner units. SUB -TOTAL: 4,016.4,086 Units Conserved Moderate Income: = Approximately 20 family ownership units could be provided by the Mortgage Revenue Bond program. — 120 market rate units (family) could be provided with developer participation in the Mortgage Revenue Bond program for rental construction — 20 family units through mixed use developments. SUB -TOTAL: 160 Moderate Income Units Above Moderate Income: — Over 1,000 units can be constructed in the above moderate income range. SUB -TOTAL: 1,000 Above Moderate Income Units rssuming the housing market Improves and subsidies are available. Actual development ay be less due to the condition of the housing market and the availability of subsidies. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Very Low d Low Income: MAXIMUM NUMBER OF UNITS TO BE — 80-130 units of subsidized family and elderly housing (10-20 elderly and 70.110 family CONSTRUCTED OR units) if Section 8 new construction or other subsidies are available, CONSERVED OVER A 5 YEAR PERIOD IN CUPERTINO(-) — 100 units could be developed as second units, generally for the elderly. — 60 family units through participation in the Mortgage Revenue Bond program for rental construction. (More market rate rentals would also be built through this program). — 60 family, elderly, and disabled units can be developed through the use of City funds in cooperation with a non-profit developer. SUB-TOTAL:300-350 New Construction Very Low 8 Low Income Units Units Conserved., (Housing units preserved as affordable because of Conversion Ordnance or through existing programs). Approximately 3,900 duplexes, triplexes and apartments can be preserved if no conversions occur. Should conversions occur, a percentage of the units will be dedicated to below market rate households. — Maintain the 27 family and elderly affordable units for the handicapped and the 14 existing BMR units — 20 very low and low income households can be assisted through the Section 8 Existing Program and 75 households can be assisted through Project Match. Rehabilitation 25-50 low income owner units. SUB -TOTAL: 4,016.4,086 Units Conserved Moderate Income: = Approximately 20 family ownership units could be provided by the Mortgage Revenue Bond program. — 120 market rate units (family) could be provided with developer participation in the Mortgage Revenue Bond program for rental construction — 20 family units through mixed use developments. SUB -TOTAL: 160 Moderate Income Units Above Moderate Income: — Over 1,000 units can be constructed in the above moderate income range. SUB -TOTAL: 1,000 Above Moderate Income Units rssuming the housing market Improves and subsidies are available. Actual development ay be less due to the condition of the housing market and the availability of subsidies. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • 0 Circulation mp CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 iI L Circulation Element INTRODUCTION People travel in Cupertino by a wide range of methods, from driving on the freeway to taking a bus or a car on a street to walking along a hiking trail. This element's pur- poseis to integratethe travelwaysand the transit service into a single system that fits in with the ways in which Cupertino residents have chosen to live. CIRCULATION GOAL The goal is to promote a balanced circulation system that is integrated with the re- gional system, offering flexibility for the future by allowing for a variety of forms of trans- portation and keeping negative environmental and social effects on the community to a minimum. This requires a commitment of political will to achieve intergovernmental cooperation and economic resources to fund transportation. THE REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE Cupertino does not plan its circulation system in a vacuum; it participates in regional and sub -regional planning and supports the Santa Clara Valley Transit District bus system by installing new bus improvements. The City mquires bus turn -outs to be built at key intersections and makes sure that new development encourages bus patrons to walk home from the bus stop. A new bus transfer station will be built in Vallco Park when new devel- Circulation CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 11 i Circulation Element housing supply by 1100 dwellings, Cupertino may not be able to balance new jobs with new housing. It would have to rezone industrial parcels located in built-up industrial areas to high-density residential to achieve thisbalance. This is not practical because most of that land is planned for the expansion of existing firms and most of the remaining par- cels are too small for housing. Cupertino encourages mixed-use development to increase housing supply. There is a policy later in this element that shows a way to create new housing in commercial, office, and industrial areas without the loss of development cred- its for the primary, non-residential, use. Policy 4-1: City Participation /n Regional Transportation CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Participate actively in developing regional approaches to meeting the transportation needs of residents of the Santa Clara Valley. 0 Circulation Element Homestead r Road The City of Cupertino WSW Primary Routes (M Feeder Routes ' Express Routes 0 Bonus Bus Routes • ••-••••--••--•••--- Scheduled Trips Only — — — — — Urban Service Area Boundary ------- Boundary Agreement Line Figure 4-A. Existing and Planned Bus Lines. Table 4-A. Traffic Service Levels. v Technical Definition Short Definition m A Free Flow (Relative) Good, no congestion o Stable Flow (Slight Delay) Some congestion a Stable Flow (Acceptable Delay) Ina $ 1 Stevens (!OaK ISNd i Approaching Unstable Flow (Tolerable Delay) High congestion E Unstable Flow (High Delay) Near breakdown //,.......... ........._... Forced Flow (Jammed) Breakdown Park&, g' Ride Lot , % \ e % S: 1 McClelland City j .I !� Road ndl a% m' g Park & The City of Cupertino WSW Primary Routes (M Feeder Routes ' Express Routes 0 Bonus Bus Routes • ••-••••--••--•••--- Scheduled Trips Only — — — — — Urban Service Area Boundary ------- Boundary Agreement Line Figure 4-A. Existing and Planned Bus Lines. Table 4-A. Traffic Service Levels. I 1 U I Rd CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Level of Service Technical Definition Short Definition A Free Flow (Relative) Good, no congestion B Stable Flow (Slight Delay) Some congestion C Stable Flow (Acceptable Delay) Congestion D Approaching Unstable Flow (Tolerable Delay) High congestion E Unstable Flow (High Delay) Near breakdown F Forced Flow (Jammed) Breakdown I 1 U I Rd CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 11 • • CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN F - -I L 0 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN n U n U CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Circulation Element Table4-B. Street Hierarchy Street Street Function Typical Catagory Number of Lanes and Access Characteristics FREEWAYS Inter State/Inter City 4lanes or greater AND EXPRESSWAYS Highways carrying inter -city, inter county and inter -state (No access to traffic. Freeways and expressways do not provide direct ac- adjoining property) cess to abutting lands. ARTERIAL Inter City 4lanes or greater Streets and highways serving major metropolitan activity (Limited access to centers, the highest traffic volume corridors. The longest trip adjoining property) desires, and a high proportion of total urban area travel on a minimum of mileage. Service to abutting land should be sub- ordinate to the provision of travel service to major traffic move- ments. This system carries the major portion of trips entering and leaving an urban area, and normally will carry important intra -urban as well as inter -city bus routes. MAJOR Inter Citylinter Neighborhood 2 - 4 lanes COLLECTOR Streets and highways interconnecting with and augment- (Directand indirect ing the arterial system and providing service to trips of moder- access to adjoining ate length at a somewhat lower level of travel mobility. The property) system places more emphasis on land access and distributes travel to geographic areas smaller than those identified with the higher system. MINOR InterClty/Inter Neighborhood 2-4lanes COLLECTOR Streets penetrating neighborhoods, collecting traffic from (Direct access to local streets in the neighborhoods and channeling it into the adjoining property) arterial system. A minor amount of through traffic may be carried on collector streets, but the system primarily provides land access service and carries local traffic movements within residential neighborhoods, commercial and industrial areas. It may also serve local bus routes. LOCAL Intra Neighborhood 2 lanes Streets not classified in a higher system, primarily provid- (Direct access to ing direct access to abutting land and access to the higher sys- adjoining property) tems. The offer the lowest level of mobility and usually carry no bus routes. Service to through traffic is deliberately discour- aged. Local streets may function to "collect" traffic from the immediate neighborhood and provide access to the above named street categories. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • • Circulation Element Cupertino uses a traffic model that assigns future commute, work, shopping, and non - shopping trips to find how much new development can occur without exceeding the road- way limits imposed by Level D and road width criteria. The county traffic model in- cluded future buildout levels in surrounding communities based on their general plans. It also includes significant future road improvements such as the Interstate 280 widening project but does not include pending improvements in the Highway 85 corridor. The model converts surplus roadway capacity to land use capacity. The land use capacity is expressed in terms of available peak hour trips which in turn can be converted into future building space of various types of land use catagorics. The amount of allocated space is based upon the traffic generation rate. The higher the traffic generation rate, the less building area allowed. For example, an office buildinggenerates less traffic than an equally sized retail establishment. An allocation of 10 trips to a site may result in a 10,000 sq. ft. office building or a 5,000 sq. ft. retail building or a 3,000 sq. ft. restaurant. The land use plan allocates available development credits and establishes land use intensity controls in the form of Traffic Intensity Performance credits and establishes Floor area ratios for each area of Cupertino. Excess development credits are allocated to the Vallco Park and Town Center planning areas. This mechanism is fully explained in the Land Use/Community Character Element. Each time a new development application is reviewed, the level of service and maxi- mum lane width criteria are considered so that the traffic carrying capacity of the road remains in line with now development. Policy 4-3: Coordination of Street Improvements Develop the street construction plan that makes sure that critical street improvements are finished before or at the same time as major develop- ments. The plan should be based on the principle of equity, ensuring that land developers help pay for street improvements. Strategy 1.Traffic Evaluations With New Development. Require a traffic evaluation when the final development plans for any. mapr, development are filed. The five-year Capital Improvements Program outlines improvements for the entire network. The timing of improvements will be adjusted depending on land development projects. Description of the Circulation Plan Figure 4-C describes Cupertino's Circulation Plan for City streets except for residen- tial streets, which are not shown. It locates the freeways, expressways, arterials, and major and minor collectors. Table 4-I3 defines the function of each street type and its typical lane design. The street hierarchy is designed to concentrate traffic on freeways and arterials that serve commercial and industrial areas and to shift traffic away from residential areas to the network of freeways and arterials. The plan is put into effect in stages by the five-year Capital Improvements Program and by improvements built along with new development. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN F_ 1 L -A • Circulation Element Cupertino uses site planning criteria to control development to obtain a more efficient street system. The area plans controlling development next to major arterials have design standards that strictly limit the number of access points to the property. Curb breaks are typically shared by adjoining properties and developers are required to record reciprocal circulation easements to let adjoining properties share roads and gain access to secondary streets that intersect with major arterials. The North De Anja Boulevard plan requires property owners to participate in the construction of a new access road that parallels De Anza Blvd. A system of private driveway connections is re- quired to link adjoining parking lots. As a result, De Anza Blvd. has few curb breaks and few side restrictions to slow traffic. The policy's secondary benefit is that the lack of curb breaks has re- sulted in an attractive streetscape. Interconnecting Driveways to Reduce Curb Breaks. m m Access From h Secondary Street IIIIIIII1''',,II1'1'111, 2 �+ LULW I co Only • 0 Major Street 2 -Frontage Site SEE POLICY 2-16 1 Policy 4-4: Driveway Interconnection CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Discourage direct access from adjoining properties to major arterial streets. Require access by interconnecting private driveway networks to connecting side streets or other major entrance points unless this is unsafe or impractical because of the established development pattern. n U • • Circulation Element Cupertino uses a computerized traffic signal interconnect system to increase the capacity of arterial streets to carry traffic. The system controls the flow at intersections to favor commute traffic. Green lights are longer on ma- jor arterials to encourage shoppers, com- muters, and employees to use those streets. These policies encourage travelers to use the arterial system. Cupertino discourages drivers from other cities from using local streets and, where appropriate, local collector streets, by means of stop signs, speed bumps, raised medians, diverters, and intensified enforcement of speed limits. Policy 4-5: Protection From Effects of Transportation System Work to protect the community from noise, fumes, and hazards caused by the City's transportation system. Policy 4-6: Neighborhood Traffic Management Develop traffic management plans for neighborhoods affected by unac- ceptable levels of through traffic. Design these plans based on the concept that commute or through traffic should be redirected from local residen- tial streets and minor collectors to the freeway, expressway, and arterial and major collector streets. Policy 4-7: Abusive Driving Continue to study and carry out techniques that discourage abusive driving on local neighborhood streets, including intensified enforcement of speed laws, enforcement of State muffler laws, and review of traffic management strategies. Accommodating Alternatives to the Automobile Development of travel routes and methods that are al- tematives to the automobile will increase the efficiency of the system. However, until alternatives are widely accepted locally, Cupertino cannot rely on them to reduce traffic lev- els noticeably. The City will encourage alternatives to the automobile to offer choices in improving the quality of life for people wiling to use them. Bike lanes must be safe and conveniently located. Buses must be frequent and be able to use preferential lanes where possible. Policy 4-8: Reliance on Usage of Private Cars Promote a general decrease in reliance on private cars by accommodating and encouraging attractive alternatives. SEE POLICY 2-22 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 r1 U r1 U 5 1i Circulation Element Sec PO61cy 2-17 Alternative transportation can enhance recreational opportunities. Figure 4-D shows a plan for bikeways. It coordinates directly with bikeways planning by the County and the MidPeninsula Regional Open Space District. SEE POLIcy 2-24 1 Policy 4-9: Regional Trail Development CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Continue to plan and provide for a comprehensive system of trails and pathways consistent with regional systems. LI Circulation Element Figure 4-E. Bike Lanes. I The City of Cupertino Existing Bike Lanes i\�f �••�••� Proposed County Trunk Routes — — Proposed Bike Lanes ....... Other Other City Routes --- Urban Service Area Boundary ---- Boundary Agreement Line Bollinger Rd CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 n U 11 rsi►� Circulation Element CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN n U n U • Environmental Resources 00 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Environmental Resources ��i■ 0 INTRODUCTION Land used to be thought of solely as a commodity to be bought, sold, and developed for the largest private profit with little regard for public cost or environmental harm. The unchecked growth caused by this attitude made urban lands scarce, clogged the streets, polluted the air and water, and made it necessary for cities to increase taxes to supply services for inefficiently planned communities. This attitude has changed; people are more aware that the quality of life depends on the community setting. The General Plan is a tool for making day -today judgments on public poli- cies dealing with stewardship of the land. OPEN SPACE PLANNING Open space planning includes buying and developing land for parks, protect- ing watersheds and reservoirs, allowing for farming in or next to urban areas, and creating opportunity for privately owned recreational sites. CONSERVATION PLANNING Conservation means responsible human coexistence with plants and animals, responsible mineral extraction, and preservation of ground water recharge areas. Conservation and Management of Resources • Environmental Resources CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN • 0 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN n LJ • • Environmental Resources Cupertino's demonstration farm and orchard will continue to serve schools and youth service organizations as a field trip site. Cupertino will set aside community vegetable gardens in parks that have a rural flavor and will offer gardening classes through the Recreation Department. Pollcy 5-3 Farming and Grazing Encourage farming and grazing on the hillsides to preserve open space and monitor to prevent erosion. Air Quality Cupertino's air is often full of particles that reduce visibility and harm human health. This section describes the most common air pollutants and their sources and outlines policies to improve air quality. The federal Clean Air Act is the primary regulator of air quality but day-to-day re- sponsibilities fall under the regional Bay Area Air Pollution Control District. The air quality analysis here is from the district's Air Quality Management Plan for the Bay Area. Principal Pollutants of the Air Basin Particulate Matter Particles enter the air when the wind erodes the earth, when minerals are quarried, and from automobile engines, tires, and brake linings. Larger particles are rapidly expelled by the natural defenses of the human body but very small particles can remain deep in the lungs for weeks or years. Some airborne particles are toxic in themselves or become toxic when they combine with other air products. Organic compounds from inefficient burn- ing of solid waste or diesel fuel have been found to cause cancer over time. Carbon Monoxide About 90 percent of carbon monoxide pollution comes from motor vehicles. Carbon monoxide, a product of incomplete combustion, displaces oxygen in human blood, di- minishing people's ability to perform mentally and physically. Higher concentrations follow highway patterns and are related to traffic speed and congestion. Air Quality Policies The Plans Circulation Element encourages alternative modes of transportation to reduce traffic on major streets, making commuter trips more efficient; and encourages protection of residential neighborhoods from through commute traffic. Increasing the efficiency of traffic flow will decrease congestion and air pollution. Using traffic management devices such as diverters, circuitous road systems, and stop signs to discourage commute traffic in residential neighborhoods will hurt air quality by making trips longer. The Stevens Creek Boulevard Plan Line/General Plan Study demonstrated that improving the boulevard would decrease congestion and pollutants. It also showed that a diverter system on Byrne Avenue and Orange Avenue would make trips longer, increasing neighborhood air pollution. SEE 1 -GPA -80 AIR QUALITY TECHNICAL APPENDIX CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 U • Environmental Resources The traffic signal interconnect system on Stevens Creek Boulevard and De Anza Boule- vard will save about 400,000 gallons of gasoline yearly. If this gas were burned, it would worsen air pollution for the neighborhood and for cities downwind. Installation of boule- vard stop signs on Blaney Avenue will increase gas consumption between Merritt Drive and John Drive. About 140,000 gallons will be used over a year as a result of installation of five new stop signs. Cupertino discourages drive -up windows. On a small scale, this does not improve air quality much. But, depending on the design of the window, customers waiting in line with their engines idling could be exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide and other pollution, endangering people who have cardiovascular or lung disease. Handicapped people and parents who do not want to take children into a bank or restaurant will be inconvenienced, but the City's policy of removing barriers to the handicapped and en- couraging walk-up windows should help. SEE POL1cY 4-5 1 Policy 54 Air Pollution Effects Continue to assess air pollution effects of future land use and circulation planning. Policy 5-5 Fuel -Efficient Vehicles Look into buying more fuel-efficient vehicles for City use. Policy 5-6 Jogging and Bicycling Warnings Use the Cupertino Scene and other publications to tell residents about the danger of inhaling pollutants while jogging and bicycling near busy streets. Expand the par course and jogging trails to meet demand. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 Environmental Resources Wildlife and Vegetation Wild animals live mostly in the western foothills, not on the urbanized valley floor. This is because the valley is heavily populated, buildings are under construction, animal food and nesting materials have been removed for fire and weed control, and dogs and cats kill native birds and mammals that inhabit open fields in the City. Birds, fish, and mammals live in the foothills in abundant variety, especially in the streambed habitat of Stevens Creek. Streamsldes Streamside vegetation follows the banks of Stevens Creek, a stream that flows year- round, and along the intermittently flowing banks of Regnart Creek and Heney Creek on the valley floor. There are trees, shrubs, vines, and plants of many kinds that provide a habitat for many varieties of birds and animals not found nearby. Willow, sycamore, live oak, toyon, blackberry cattail, and spike rush are characteristic. The yellow warbler and Wilson's warbler as well as the fox squirrel are streamside inhabitants declining in popu- lation. Grasslands There are grasslands on the lower slopes of the western foothills and at some of the peaks of the Montebello Ridge system. Dominant plants include yellow star thistle, yel- low mustard, wild oats, and rye grass. Much of the land was formerly used for pasture. Many of the species were introduced by humans and have adapted well to the climate, to grazing, and to development of nearby orchards. The western meadowlark, not considered a rare species, depends on grasslands. It is a permanent grassland resident and is declining in population. Brushlands Dominant species are coyote bush, poison oak, and varieties of ceanothus and wild rose. Brushlands are generally on steeper slopes or in areas between streamside and wood- land habitats in dry locations. There are no threatened animal species here. Foothill Woodlands and Forests Characteristic are scattered trees with an undergrowth, in some areas, of plants and low shrubs. Higher elevations in the Montebello Foothills include mixed hardwood trees and evergreens, including redwoods. Woodlands benefit wildlife as a food source, and as shelter, nesting, orcover; they help control erosion from foothill drainingbasins; they reduce wind speeds, increasing the oxygen in the atmosphere and neutralizing certain air pollut- ants. Woodlands provide visual relief from the urbanized valley floor. The Montebello Ridge system's extensive tree cover gives seasonal color variation, variety of shape, and defini- tion of hillside contours. Endangered wildlife species are the San Francisco garter snake and Cooper's hawk. Both are declining in population. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 11 • • Environmental Resources Z r XxRiparian 11; r'InieiTrlitant ,'G sslan 3 a. So itwet 111 � .Quarry ••:: 3I Riparian �. 1.1 o11; f; c Flowing qm F`ooth-11 - �7AMumnrna woodland •ir rrrra�•• rr Grassland .Deciduous; � / s '-, � Chaparrals Z Riparian Intermi'tant r* ' "Ri af` '„G�assla`n`d, � + Mixed :,Grassland; er '. „ i + J :.:... Pennanerit_ . Foothill% - Evergreen Forest: r.: kip 0 Coniferous7rS]l' '. 5]' f:,,.;= ' Grassland, Forest` tf 40 Yk 0 00..00#t«..:...C7: d, j ovo 40V ot IV* *04 o1�:.tr� 0 0 Figure 5-C. Vegetation Resources. Impacts and Mitigation Human activity, particularly urban development and resource extraction, is the most destructive influence on plants and animals in Cupertino. Urbanization of mountain lands and construction of new housing next to streambeds will likely destroy vegetation. Grad- ing for roads and building sites and leveling for septic tank drain fields also destroys vegetation and creates potential for soil erosion. Fire also threatens vegetation and the animals that depend on it for food and shelter. Fire suppression is a mixed blessing to the natural environment. It maintains the scenic beauty of the wildlands, protects life and property, and, at least on the surface, enhances wildlife habitat.But, wildfires are a natural phenomenon. Some local mountain plant species rely on periodic low -intensity fires to germinate seeds and cut down competing plants. Wildlife forced out by fire maybe able to survive if there is a suitable environment nearby. But if development and other human changes of the environment make a new home for wildlife impossible, certain animals ma} be forced out of the urban fringe or out of Cu- pertino's planning area altogether. These policies will protect animal and plant life in Cupertino's planning area. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN • r -I L Environmental Resources Policy 5-8 Development Near Streambeds and In Foothills Design development in the foothills or near streambeds to disturb the natural vegetative cover as little as possible and to minimize removal of specimen trees. Policy 5-9 Landscaping Near Natural Vegetation Emphasize native plants and ground covers when landscaping properties near natural vegetation, particularly for control of erosion from distur- bance to natural terrain. Policy 5-10 Hillside Property Fencing Confine fencing on hillside property to the area around a building, rather than around an entire site, to allow for migration of wild animals. Policy 5-11 Recreation In Natural Areas Limit recreation in natural areas to activities compatible with preserving natural vegetation, such as hiking, horseback riding, and camping. Policy 5-12 Public Access Provide public access to wildlife observation and fishing sites consistent with preserving important wildlife habitat. SEE ORD. 1450, SEC. 12 SEE ORD. 1484 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN • is Environmental Resources Mineral Resources There are several commercially significant deposits of limestone and crushed rock and the potential for quarrying gravel and sand in Cupertino's western foothills. Much of the knowledge of the mineral significance of the Montebello Ridge comes from a study by the California State Division of Mines and Geology. Excerpts from that study will be discussed here. Mineral resource areas are outlined on the Plan land use map. Limestone Kaiser Cement and Gypsum Corporation's quarry of high-grade limestone is the most prominent mineral extraction operation in Cupertino's planning area. The quarry opened in 1939 to supply cement for Shasta Dam. Quarry reserves are difficult to estimate be- cause of the uneven terrain but recent investment in expanding the plant capacity will sustain output for many years. Crushed Rock Crushed rock is used for many purposes, including concrete aggregate, asphalt ag- gregate, roadway base, and fill. The by-product of Kaiser's operations is the highest -qual- ity crushed rock in Cupertino. The Stevens Creek Quarry northwest of Stevens Creek Reservoir produces crushed rock from time to time. Regional population growth will continue to support demand for this product. The Montebello Ridge has many potential quarrying sites for crushed rock. The sites will be quarried when it is profitable to investors and operators. Cupertino should consider setting up a mineral resource area to provide enough space for quarrying and a suitable buffer zone. Sand and Gravel Sand and gravel are extracted intermittently from the former Voss Quarry at the north- west edge of Stevens Creek Reservoir. More extraction can be expected as it becomes prof- itable. Policy 5-13 Mineral Resource Area Establish a mineral resource area designation to allow extraction. Policy 5-14 Mineral Extraction Controls Control scenic restoration and noise pollution as well as air and water pollution in mineral extraction quarrying, processing, and transportation. Policy 5-15 Recreation at Old Ouarries CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Look into the desirability of designating abandoned quarries for passive recreation to rehabilitate the land. 0 E • Environmental Resources �7 Water Resources Water conservation has been fragmented and sometimes ineffectual despite the in- creased attention it has received over the past few years. Preservation of Watersheds Cupertino has 16 square miles of very productive watershed—hillside land with abun- dant vegetation and heavy rainfall. This watershed is important to the City and to the county. Grading plans for developments must be prepared to prevent erosion, protecting water quality in the City's drainage basin. Erosion control eliminates siltation, which makes the water cloudy and reduces wildlife populations and stream bed ground water recharge ability. Ground Water Recharge Facilities The ground water basin is the largest supply of water in Santa Clara County. It has an estimated storage capacity of 1,770,000 acre feet, compared to reservoir capacity of only 160,000 acre feet. The Santa Clara Valley Water District prevents too much water being drawn out by wells by placing recharge sites, sometimes called percolation ponds, through- out the valley where the geological composition of the soil is suitable. Two of these are located in Cupertino. Policy 5-16 Ground Water Recharge Sites Continue to support the Santa Clara Valley Water District to find and SEE PAGE 5-24 develop ground water recharge sites within Cupertino's planning area and provide for public recreation at the site where possible. Other Water Resources Cupertino has three major water suppliers: California Water Service, Cupertino Water Utility, and San Jose Water Company. A private water service cooperative, the Reglin Mutual Water Company, serves part of Regnart Canyon. Water comes from three main sources: wells fed by ground water, surface runoff into Stevens Creek Reservoir, contributing to ground water recharge; and imported water from the Rinconada Treatment Plant. Cupertino gets about 1.6 million gallons a day from the ground water and about 1.2 million gallons a day from the Rinconada plant. Stevens Creek Reservoir yields about 2,500 acre feet per year to the seasonal run-off from ground water recharge. The Water District projects the total demand for Cupertino will be about 6.85 million gallons a day by 1990, double the current demand. Conservation could reduce the demands. The San Felipe Water Importation Project has been supplying water since June, 1987. The Water District has studied the possibility of reclaiming waste waters for use in some farming and industry. The district has found that putting the San Felipe Project into effect and using reclaimed water at the same time would overfill projected demands by about 40 percent. Agricultural irrigation in the North County will drop to almost nothing by 1990. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • • 1® Environmental Resources Urban Water Conservation Cupertino's industries are overwhelmingly oriented to new semiconductor technolo- gies. This industry, concentrated in a small space in Cupertino, demands huge amounts of high-quality water for manufacturing and discharges vast quantities of industrial waste into the sanitary sewer system. Cupertino should continue to work with the Cupertino Sanitary District and other agencies involved in conservation and waste water management to implement these poli- cies. Reglin Mutual NONE ■ ■■ i ✓w ❑ ■ sly ■■■■■■ ■■■■- McClelland Hall m i Road ... ..:.:,� a a e m Bollinger Rd Prospect ■„■� The City of Cupertino ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Water Utility System Service Boundary • — — — Urban Service Area Boundary — - - — Boundary Agreement Line Figure 5-C. Water Utility Service Area Boundaries. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 11 • Environmental Resources Policy 5-17 Water Rates and Conservation Refine the water rate schedule to give economic incentives for conservation. Policy 5-18 Industrial Water Recycling Encourage industrial projects, especially at the building permit pr� approval stage, to include long-term conservation measurespriva including recycling equipment for manufacturing and pooling water supplies in the plant. Work with the Cupertino Sanitary District to carry out this policy. Policy 5-19 Natural Creek Beds Retain creek beds in their natural state to assist ground water percolation. Energy Conservation Escalating energy costs and decreasing availability of fuel sources reinforce the need for energy efficiency. Energy conservation is an individual responsibility to some extent and personal efforts may work better and cost less than a complex system of government regulations. This section discusses the energy use problem and gives local conservation policy options. Regional Perspective In 1972, 19.5 percent of the nation's energy was used for residential and commercial applications, transportation used 24 percent, industry 31 percent, and electrical utilities 24.5 percent. About half of the energy used by households is wasted. Home heating is the largest cause of waste; it uses 65 percent of the residential energy budget and makes up 80 percent of the wasted energy. Water heating takes about 13 percent of the budget, light- ing about 10 percent, and cooking and air conditioning five percent each. In California, 96 percent of homes are heated by gas, the rest by electricity. Very little coal, oil, or wood are used for home heating. In 1972, the Bay Area energy was used this way: homes, 17.1 percent; commercial, 6.5 percent; refineries, 18.4 percent; utilities, 15.4 percent, industrial, 10.6 percent; transportation 30.5 percent, and miscellaneous, 1.6 per- cent. During 1972, 2.8 million cars and light-duty trucks consumed 6,000,000 gallons of gasoline while driving about 76,000,000 miles, taking up about one quarter of the daily energy budget. In the Santa Clara Valley, the average daily household use is about 15 kilowatts of electricity and about 3.3 therms of natural gas. In Cupertino, a considerable amount of energy could be saved by making home heat- ing and water heating more efficient or finding alternatives to current processes; making lighting, cooling, and cooking more efficient; and reducing unnecessary use of automo- biles. The Cupertino Planning Department found that people who live in the flatlands use only about 15 percent of the total energy demand for transportation because they are near major roads, while people who live on hillsides use twice that amount. Energy usage could be reduced by at least a third if these suggestions are followed. SEE COUNTY HAZARDOUS WASTE MCMI PLAN SEE POLICY 2-39 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN C� • • ® Environmental Resources Residential Energy Use Mitigation Measures 1. Types of Construction Single-family detached houses lose more heat per square foot of Floor area than indi- vidual dwellings in multiple -family buildings. Less exterior wall area compared to floor area also reduces energy loss. So, a rectangular or L-shaped one-story house loses the same amount of heat as a two-story square house when both have insulated walls and ceilings. Floor plans with an H -shape or T-shape lose even more heat compared to the square layout. 2. InsulationlHeat Loss Protection Floor, wall, and ceiling insulation reduces interior heat loss. A well -insulated house in the Bay Area has little need for air conditioning on most warm days. Insulation desig- nated R-19 in ceilings and walls and R41 in floors cuts heating and air conditioning costs considerably. These designations are higher than those required under California law. If the building has perimeter heating ducts under the slab, it will lose even less heat if there is edge insulation. Insulated thermal windows, storm doors, and sealed fireplace Flues further reduce energy loss from inside the building. Light-colored exterior paint makes the indoors cooler. In multiple -family buildings, a heat pump system can provide home heat, water heat- ing, and air conditioning using less than half the energy needed to do the same thing with conventional heaters and coolers. Solar heat collection panels can augment the usual pool heating system. See POLICY 2-42 1 3. Orientation of Buildings Buildings built on hills will need an eave overhang of 24 to 32 inches to shade ex- posed walls windows from direct summer sunshine. In the winter, the sun's lower path through the sky allows some rays to penetrate under the eaves to supply some heat. It is best to use more windows in walls that face southeast, south, and southwest and to shade them with trees, shrubs, awnings, or eaves to reduce summer heat gain. Planting evergreen trees near north -facing walls reduces wind. Leafy trees shade the south walls in the summer and allow solar heat gain when they shed their leaves in winter. Shrubs, trellises, and hedges should provide natural wind breaks for building entrances. Air conditioner condensers must be shaded and have plenty of natural ventilation to increase compressor efficiency and reduce energy use. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • I� Environmental Resources Transportation Energy Conservation Practices People rely on their cars in the Santa Clara Valley, and these cars are a principal source of pollution. They inefficiently consume vast amounts of gasoline, the materials needed to build them, and the roads they run on. Cupertino provides incentives to use alternative transportation. Major industrial development approvals have required experimental employee van -pooling. A major bus system transfer facility is planned for Vallco Shopping Center to encourage commute trips. Recognizing that people will probably prefer to use their cars for transportation for many years to come, the City Council approved construction of an electronic traffic signal interconnect system for the major commute boulevards. This system will ease traffic and reduce the number of stops by making it possible to control signals flexibly and sensi- tively over a longer portion of the commute path. If this system functions correctly, air quality, gasoline economy, and vehicle operation cost will improve. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 r 1 LJ Environmental Resources Open Space Resources Public Open Space Management Several public agencies share the task of acquiring, maintaining, accessing, and de- veloping open space lands for the enjoyment of residents of Cupertino and its neighbor- ing cities. Some of these public open space lands provide intensive or low -intensity rec- reation; some emphasize scenic beauty; others preserve vegetation or wildlife habitats; still others help control urban sprawl. MldPeninsula Regional Open Space District The District, created in 1972 by the County electorate, has as its major goal preserv- ing, undisturbed, unique and sensitive wildland habitat by carefully controlling access. District lands in Cupertino are designated for low -intensity use to give long-term protec- tion from encroaching urbanization. These lands were acquired according to three princi- pal criteria: scenic preservation, preservation of unique sites, and the guidance of urban form. Guidance of urban form is probably the District's most controversial acquisition strategy. The District has purchased key properties in Cupertino's planning area. The effect of the purchases is to restrict further extension of streets and utilities into the foot- hills and to contain future growth within Cupertino's urbanized valley floor. This de facto growth management policy could be considered a preemption of local use planning pre- rogatives. The Cupertino City Council and the District Board agreed to a review proce- dure in 1976 of District purchases in Cupertino's planning area. The informal agreement provides for City review of potential purchases within the planning area and no review of all acquisitions outside the planning area. Santa Clara County Most of the hillsides in Cupertino's planning area are unincorporated and undevel- oped, so County policies dictate their final land use. The Montebello Ridge Plan, adopted by the County Board of Supervisors in 1974, has as its main goal preserving and retaining the natural open space character of the Montebello Ridge and of Stevens Canyon. The Plan achieves this goal primarily through a restrictive slope -density formula that controls the number of houses built. Restrictions were tightened to require a 20 -acre minimum for flat land up to 160 acres per lot for a slope over 45 percent. This dramatically reduced the theoretical maximum number of houses from 830 to a range of 115 to 190. The Montebello Ridge Plan is shown on the Plan land use map and is adopted as a part of the Plan by reference. Cupertino expects that the Board of Supervisors will amend the plan to reflect the more restrictive limitations and the City Plan will be amended ac- cordingly. Policy 5-20 Montebello Ridge Plan Encourage the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors to amend its Comprehensive General Plan to reflect the RHS -20 zoning restrictions. Santa Clara County Parks Program This program operates on a tax over -ride to acquire and develop a regional park sys- tem. It emphasizes completing Upper Stevens Creek Park and its connection to Stevens Creek. Because the upper portions of Stevens Canyon are environmentally sensitive, the County Parks and Recreation Department should be asked to re-evaluate its commitment to development and determine whether acquisition should be given higher priority for CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN • • • Environmental Resources those two parks. Parks Department representatives have said that the County is becom- ing more aware of long-term maintenance costs and that the new Capital Improvements Program may place more emphasis on acquisition. Policy 5-21 Stevens Creek Park Recommend that the County Board of Supervisors reaffirm the goal of connecting Upper and Lower Stevens Creek Park. Ask the Board to consider whether the heavy emphasis on development will create traffic that will harm the pristine sections of the hillside, examining whether funds are better spent on acquisition. Table 5-A. Santa Clara County Charter Parks Amendment. 1982 1972 -1978 Lower Stevens Creek 400,000 259,500 Stevens Creek Connection 2,000,000 400,000 55,000 Upper Stevens Creek 900,000 5,500 Skyline Recreation Route(1) 2,600,000 Rancho San Antonio (2) 2,838,000 TOTAL 4,600,000 1,700,000 2,893,000 265,000 Skyline Recreation Route Involves scenic easements and lineal parks for a geographical area from San Benito County to San Mateo County on the north The County plan concentrates on parcels located in the Cupertino Sphere of Influence. 2) The 132 -acre Rancho San Antonio was not considered in the initial 1972 plan. Santa Clara Valley Water District The District can continue to help Cupertino carry out its open space policies. It helped Cupertino prepare its natural flood plain policy for the reach of Stevens Creek between Stevens Creek Boulevard and the reservoir and directly helped to buy open space lands within McClelland Ranch Park. It also created a Flood Protection Program for that reach of Stevens Creek next to the Creston and Oakdell Ranch neighborhoods. The District is studying the ability of Stevens Creek Reservoir to withstand earthquake damage. The preliminary report shows that the reservoir may sustain damage if an 8.3 magnitude earthquake occurs on the San Andreas fault. If further studies show that the reservoir is unsafe, one option is to abandon it, declare it as surplus, and sell it privately. Policy 5-22 Stevens Creek Reservoir Work to keep the watershed and storage basin properties of Stevens Creek Reservoir in public ownership if the Santa Clara Valley Water District decides to abandon it. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • • Environmental Resources OPEN SPACE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS Cupertino's main role in open space planning is in developing neighborhood parks. The City has policies that encourage the MidPeninsula Regional Open Space District and the County Park System to complete phases of their programs and to buy certain proper- ties it feels need to be owned by the public but still kept undisturbed. Figure 5-D indentifies these properties. Cupertino intends to create a continuous open space green belt next to its planning area. Policy 5-23 Continuous Open Space Encourage inter -agency cooperation in buying properties near the west- ern planning area limit to complete a continuous open space green belt along the lower foothills. Figure 5-1). Existing and Proposed Public Open Space. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN ® Existing County Parks 4`l1 Im �\ lj Refer to next figure for ! detailed'descrlption of _ r ..}:Stevens.Cieek:;,;;;g::::� L 0 floodplain: •1.. - • _%--' .M[4Yd j: - Us Vista ` City. Park 1 j Public Access To Open Space Preserves Proposed Open Space Linkage -- \j --- _ Fremont0Ider Figure 5-1). Existing and Proposed Public Open Space. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN ® Existing County Parks 7p: Existing Mid -Peninsula Regional Open Space Preserve L 0 Proposed City Open Space ------- Proposed Expansion of Regional _%--' Open Space Lands U e Public Access To Open Space Preserves Proposed Open Space Linkage -- Urban Service Area Boundary --- Boundary Agreement Line • 0 11 Environmental Resources The Stevens Creek Flood Plain is Cupertino's most prominent urban open space re- source The land is designated for recreation and farming, with adjoining properties set aside for low-density residential use. Since the late 1950s, many jurisdictions have advocated a formal urban trail following Stevens Creek, extending from the San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean. Cupertino's 1964 and 1972 plans proposed an ambitious plan to buy lands for this purpose. The barrier caused by Interstate 280 along with the encroachment of residential de- velopment breaks the continuity of the ocean -to -bay trail system. So, there will most proba- bly be urban links connecting the trail from Homestead Road to Lower Stevens Canyon Park by way of Foothill Boulevard and Stevens Canyon Road. The Plan retains the open spam character of the Stevens Creek Flood Plain between the reservoir and Stevens Creek Boulevard, but the intent is not to build an urban trail system with an asphalt hiking and bicycling path. Several land purchases should be made to preserve the open space of the Flood plain. To allow for flexible future use, the Plan includes a list of uses ranging from very passive extension of the City's Naturalist Program to active use involving expansion of the two golf courses. The Stocklmeir property is uniquely suited to be a joint open space and historic pres- ervation site. A decision on buying the property will be triggered either by the owner's request to develop the property or to dedicate it for open space or by a direct request of the community. If the community found that it would be too expensive to buy the prop- erty or cost too much to maintain it over a long period, the property would remain in private hands. Since most of the property is in the natural flood plain, its residential development potential is limited to a small area around the existing homesite that is out- side the natural flood plain. The rest of the properties proposed for purchase will be listed in the City's Capital Improvements Program. The open space acquisition and public trail casement through the 150 -acre Kaiser Property south of Linda Vista Park will come about when the prop- erty is proposed for development and City review begins. Policy 5-24 Open Space and Trail Linkages Work to acquire the open space lands and trail linkages described in Figure 5-E. Private Open Space Resources There are several private open space and recreational activity businesses in Cupertino's planning area, including golf courses, riding stables, and clubs offering tennis and swim- ming. They are valuable to the community because they provide services that are too expensive and too specialized to be supported by the City. Land use controls and incen- tives should be incorporated into public policy so these operations can continue. Policy 5-25 Private Open Space and Recreational Facilities Encourage the continued existence and profitability of private open space and recreation facilities through incentive and development controls. Utility system power line corridors in the City's foothills are another category of pri- vately controlled open space. Deer and other animals use these as migration paths. SEE POLICY 4-9 SEE ORD. 1484 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • C� J Environmental Resources Creek �Blv�d n• tt �r 1 Ir[ .0 �. .i. MMcClellan•Road � II ' a McClellaRarict ,,,,,,Raw J� 101 `,'•° --..� Elf. ,,,,� , 1 /) j' � ....�.. �,J Linda VistaILI KLt37SS�:i67� j� '� \ City Park�". FR `\� r Proposed`, \ Open Space `Expansion III 1 Acquisitions Fremont- of OldegOpen © 1 Existing Public Open Space I Preserve�� i i� 0 Proposed Open Space Linkage Figure 5-E. Public Open Space in theStevens Creek Flood Plain. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN • E 11 Environmental Resources Neighborhood Open Space Program Cupertino's neighborhood parks system serves the active recreation needs of its resi- dents. The park system will be developed based on these policies. Policy 5-26 Park Acreage Provide space equal to three acres for each 1,000 residents. Policy 5-27 Park Walking Distance Ensure that each household is within a half mile walk of the park and that the route is reasonably free of physical barriers including streets with heavy traffic. Policy 5-28 Park Minimum Acreage Plan parks to be at least 3.5 acres for Flexibility of use. Policy 5-29 Park Design Design parks informally to make use flexible and long-term maintenance costs low. Policy 5-30 Park Street Access Ensure that parks are bounded by public streets. When possible, re- evaluate parks that meet minimum size requirements to see if it is feasible to install a perimeter road. Policy 5-31 Memorial Park Development Limit the community parks program to the continued development of Memorial Park with the exception of a possible acquisition of part of a surplus high school site. Definition of Need Some sub -neighborhoods are isolated by physical barriers, including land forms, rail- road tracks, or streets with heavy traffic. Accessibility is a major consideration in neighborhood parks. Figure 5-G shows the half -mile service area radius for neighborhood parks. The shaded service areas show physical barriers, such as freeways, railroad tracks, or stream beds. The diagram does not show streets with heavy traffic. These busy streets may discourage some people, espe- cially young children, from visiting parks. For example, many parents would not allow their pre-school children to cross De Anza Boulevard or Stevens Creek Boulevard alone to go to a park. Implementation Cupertino will not have the money to buy enough park land to meet the standard of three acres for each 1,000 residents. Table 5-E and Figure 5-H show an acquisition strategy that stretches limited money by using school sites, expanding existing parks, and taking advantage of park dedication requirements for major new developments, such as Seven Springs Ranch and the Town Center. SEE FIGURE 5-G SEE POLICY 6-30 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN • • E �1' Environmental Resources I' r111 -2 e=7 N E-1 Noe ' I Steoens Creek Reserooir ` " F-1 g m F-2 < L-2 9 A-1 $ $Ieven9 A-2 0 IkAw ;, ��� H-1 0g Mcclellantl Rall , ~ ...w %SEM t a B H-2''' O m 6 P-1 to nu.... Rainbow • s We P-2 ` ^� Prospect 1 H 1-1 The City of Cupertino - — — — Urban Service Area Boundary — - - — Boundary Agreement Line nomennommazi Neighborhood Boundary Line Figure 5-F. Neighborhood Map. M K Rd School enrollment is declining in Cupertino and the Cupertino School District is evalu- ating closing schools. Residents depend on neighborhood schools for open space and, less often, as space for organized group play. Plan strategy is to acquire school sites as they become available in neighborhoods that do not have enough park land. Table 5-D inventories school sites. The third column shows the potential for school closure. The fourth column in Table 5-E identifies school sites that the City is thinking of acquiring for parks if the school is declared surplus. Surplus school sites not listed in Table 5-E will not be considered for purchase by the City for parks. Policy 5-32 Park Acquisition Program Recognize Table 5-E as the City's neighborhood park acquisition program. Funding and timing priorities are listed in the Capital Improvement Program. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • • Environmental Resources Table 5-B. 1977 and Projected 1990 Population for Cupertino Urban Service Area. Neighborhood 1977 1990 Park Unit Pop. Estimate Pop. Projection A-1 770 700 A-2 1,235 1,400 B (w/o San Jose) 3,375 2,890 B (w San Jose) 1,810 1,445 C 170 1,535 E-1 2,510 2,820 E-2 4,110 4,215 F-1 700 590 F-2 5,730 5,570 G 885 720 H-1 1,885 1,830 H-2' 2,740 2,435 1-1 3,615 4,480 1-2' 1,845 1,565 J-1 805 690 J-2 990 700 K 4,455 3,735 L-1 985 1,980 L-2 3,935 3,700 M 5 5 N 0 510 O` 1,645 1,635 P-1' 1,150 1,180 P-2' 1,925 1,745 TOTAL 47,275 48,075 Neighborhoods outside LAFCO 1978 Sphere of Influence for Cupertino; 1977 population of these neighborhoods was 12,105 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN E CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 e r 1 L J CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Environmental Resources Table 5-C. Neighborhood Park Land Need Analysis for 1990 Urban Service Area Population. 1990 Perk Supply Status Neighborhood 1990 Based on 1977 Inventory Park 1990 Neighborhood 1977 Inventory Surplus/Deficit Service Areas Population Park Need* Numeric % Need (Acres) (Acres) A-1 and E-1 3,520 10.6 Varian Pk. 6.2 -4.3 59% A-2, B and C 7,270 21.8 Linda Vista Pk. 11.0(1) -10.8 50% E-2 4,215 12.6 Monte Vista Pk. 4.2 -8.4 33% F-1 590 1.8 1.8 0 F-2 5,570 16.7 Memorial Pk. 22.2 5.5 133% G 720 2.2 Somerset Pk. 1.7 -0.5 77% H-1 and H-2 4,265 12 Jollyman Pk. 3.2 -9.6 25% 1-1 and 1-2 6,045 18 Wilson Pk. 5.2 -12.8 29% J-1, J-2 and K 5,125 15.4 Rancho(2) 1.9 -13.5 12% L-1 1,980 5.9 5.9 0 L-2 3,700 11.1 Portal Pk. 4.1 -7 37% N 510 1.5 1.5 0 O 1,635 4.9 4.9 0 P-1 1,180 3.5 Three Oaks 5.1 1.9 154% P-2 1,745 5.2 -5.2 0 TOTALS 48,070 144.4 66.8 Based on 3 acres/1000 Population 1) Large portion of park site unusable due to steep terrain 2) Rancho Rinconada Recreation District CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN i 41 0 Environmental Resources CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Table 5-D. School Site Inventory (Elementary, Junior High, and High School). Neighborhood School Operational Total Usable Service Area Sites Status/Type Acres Acres A-1 and B-1 Stevens Creek XXX/E 10 5.3 A-2, B and C Lincoln XXX/E 10 6.6 Kennedy XXXX/JH 25 14.2 Regnart XXX/E 9.5 6.2 Monta Vista XXXX/SH 29.2 15.8 E-2 Monta Vista X/E 97 3.6 F-1 No School Sites F-2 Garden Gate XXXX/E 10 4.6 G No School Sites H-1 and H-2 Faria XXXX/E 9.5 5.4 Jollyman XXX/E 10.5 7.9 1-1 and 1-2 Wilson X/E 10 7.1 Eaton XXX/E 10 7.8 Older XXX/E 13 6.1 J -1,J-2 and K Sedgwick X/E 8.8 4.5 Doyle XXX/E 9.3 5.8 Hyde XXXX/JH 14.5 9.5 Cupertino XXXX/SH 31 16 L-1 No School Sites L-2 Portal/Nan Allen XXXX/E 11 4.8 Collins XXX/JH 17.9 6.5 N No School Sites N No School Sites P-1 No School Sites P-2 Hoover XXX/E 10.8 6.5 TOTALS 259.7 144.2 Status Codes: XXXX Closure Unlikely XXX Closure Possible XX Closure Likely X Closed to General Enrollment; to remain in inventory for specialized use X Closed to be sold 0 • 40 Environmental Resources Policy 5-32 The City's park acquisition is defined by Table 5-E. The Acquisition Program is based upon four broad acquisition objectives: 1. Complete the Neighborhood Parks Acquisition Program. 2. Maintain an adequate inventory of sports fields. 3. Purchase a site for a community center. 4. Retain creek site and other natural open space areas identified in the Open Space section of the General Plan. The plan is a policy document which will be used annually to assist in the preparation of the updated Capital Improvements Program. The plan is subject to revision depending upon the availability of funds and subsequant actions of the Cupertino Union School District regarding the disposition of surplus school sites. Table 5-E. Proposed Park Land Acquisition Program. Area Population Future 1982 1990 Proposed Cost of Total Future Notes Demand Supply Supply Purchase Purchase Inventory Ratio Acres Acres Acres Acres $k ac/1000 A -1/E-1 2617 7.85 11.6 11.6 11.6 4.43 F -1/F-2 6286 18.86 40.6 40.6 40.6 6.46 G 715 2.15 1 1 1 1.4 1 N 1180 3.54 2 Subtotal 10798 32.4 53.2 53.2 0 0 53.2 4.93 A-2/B/C 6949 20.85 66.3 66.3 66.3 9.54 E-2 4271 12.81 6.2 6.2 7.9 691.25 14.1 3.3 3 H -1/H-2 3795 11.39 17.1 9.2 11.4 3990 20.6 5.43 4 O 1642 4.93 5 P-1 1168 3.5 3.4 3.4 3.4 2.91 P-2 1733 5.2 6.5 4.86 1701 4.86 2.8 6 Subtotal 19558 58.68 99.5 85.1 24.16 $6,382.25 109.26 5.59 1-1/1-1 5678 17.03 29.3 18.2 3.2 1120 21.4 3.77 7 J -1/J -2/K 5170 15.51 30 25.5 4 1400 29.5 5.71 8 L -1/L-2 5367 16.1 15.1 15.1 15.1 2.81 M Subtotal 16215 48.64 74.4 58.8 7.2 $2,520.00 66 4.07 Total 46571 139.72 227.1 197.1 31.36 $8,902.25 228.46 4.91 1) Land not available for acquistion in neighborhood G 2) Park land will be provided privately in neighborhood N 3) 7.9 acres of natural open space will be acquired (4.9 Stocklemeir, 3.0 Simms) adjacent to Stevens Creek per existing open space plan 4) Purchase 11.5 acres to provide sports field and community center site 5) Park land in neighborhood O will not be acquired because of close proximity to other parks 6) 4.86 acres will be acquired on the Hoover site 7) 3.2 acres of Wilson turf will be acquired to retain youth fields 8) 4 acres of the Sedgwick site will be purchaseed for youth fields and neighborhood park space CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN n U • • Environmental Resources Area of Greatest Deficiency: This relates to park acquisitions that satisfy the space and access goals of the parks program. For example, the City should acquire land first within areas of greatest need. The most important priority is that lands are not preempted for other uses. It maybe advisable to delay buying land in unincorporated pockets of County land within City limits until it becomes clear that the land will probably be annexed. This point is less important because property tax has become less significant as a source of support for parks. Explanation of the Funding Code Descriptions in Table 5-E General Fund: Money collected through property tax, sales tax, and other sources not specifically designated for another purpose. Park Dedication: These fees are collected in residential subdivision development. Generally, these funds should be spent in the neighborhood in which they were col- lected. Federal and State Grants: The City has used federal and state grants to help acquire park land and build on the land and hopes to continue to do so. Money has come from the State Bond Act of 1974 and 1976, state Urban Open Space moneys, a Department of Housing and Urban Development grant for the McClelland Ranch Park, and the Hous- ing and Community Development Act. Proceeds from Surplus Park Land Sales: On occasion, when there is too much park land in a neighborhood, or when park design is awkward, some land may be sold to a residential developer and the proceeds used to buy land in a neighborhood that needs parks. Other Agency Participation: As it has in the past, Cupertino will work with the Santa Clara Valley Water District, school districts, the MiclPeninsula Regional Open Space District and other governmental bodies to acquire park land jointly. Voluntary Donation or Gift: The City is sometimes offered park land along with development or an owner may want to bequeath land to the city for a park. Landown- ers may also wish to dedicate land to the City with the understanding that they continue to own the property for their lifetimes. Expenditure of Funds for Development and Construction of Facilities Because money is limited and there is pressure to close schools, land acquisition should have priority over park development. Lawns may be installed to a limited degree on some park sites depending on available money. Cupertino has completed a senior center in Memorial Park, and, as of 1988, plans a to build a community center in the park as well. The City will continue to use schools to conduct its teen drop-in program and other recreation programs. If the Lincoln School site is going to be closed, the City may want to go ahead with acquisition to take advantage of an excellent multi-purpose room. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN C� C� CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • Public Health and Safetv INTRODUCTION The purpose of this element is to develop ways to be sure that it is reasonably safe to live and work in Cupertino. It shows potential threats to life and property from nature, including earthquakes, floods, wildfires, and landslides; and from human carelessness, including urban fires and failures of water storage; as well as more subtle hazards such as long-term exposure to excessive noise and crime encouraged by misjudgments in land planning and building design. There is no such thing as a risk-free environment; there is only an acceptable level of risk. The question to be answered is "how safe is safe enough?" This is a subjective ques- tion. It would be ideal to be conservative and get rid of as much risk as possible, but local government must try to set realistic standards within today's economic and social limits. Seismic and Geologic Hazard The City is seismically very active. The mountains and lower foothills of Cupertino are crossed by the San Andreas Fault, which moves from side to side; and its two splinter faults, the Sargent-Berrocal and Monta Vista fault systems, which move up and down. Figure 6-A shows the two categories of fault displacement. The San Andreas and the Sargent-Berrocal fault systems are in the mountains of Cupertino's planning area. The Monta Vista Fault follows the line between the valley floor and the hillsides where urban development has taken place. This fault is potentially active, meaning it has not ruptured within the past 11,000 years. The potential always exists, and must be considered when reviewing urban development. Ground shaking is the greatest hazard in an earthquake. Earthquake intensity is measured two scales. First. the Richter Maenitude. which measures the Public Health and Safety CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 0 • Public Health and Safety A. San Andreas Fault Hori • Horizontal Offset of the Ground Surface B. Sargent - Berrocal Fault Verticall Fault Type: Right Lateral (Strike -Sup) Fault Displacement: Horizontal Fault Type: Thrust (Dip -Slip) Fault Displacement: Vertical Figure 6-A. Diagrams Exhibiting Faults Within the Cupertino Planning Area Characterized By Horizontal (A) and Vertical (B) Displacements. Earthquake Probability The time necessary for maximum probable earthquakes to occur again on a given fault are guesses based on present and past activity, the amount of displacement of rock forma- tions of different geologic ages along the fault tract, and the amount of strain accumula- tion now measured across it. Estimates on potentially active faults such as the Sargent- Berrocal and Monta Vista are even less accurate than the estimate for active faults such as the San Andreas. Table 6-B estimates the maximum earthquake magnitude and recurrence intervals of maximum probable earthquakes for fault systems that affect Cupertino. There is not enough information to estimate probable recurrence of a maximum earthquake on the Sargent- Berrocal and Monta Vista Faults. The recurrence interval on the San Andreas fault is 50 to 200 years; the last maximum earthquake was in 1906. Each year that passes without a maximum earthquake means that an earthquake is statistically more likely to happen within any year. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN E • 11 Public Health and Safetv Table 6-A. General Comparison Between Earthquake Magnitude and the Earthquake Effects Due to Ground Shaking. Earthquake Catagory Richter Mag. Modified Mercall Intensity Scale' (After Houser, 1970) Damage To Structure I Detected only by sensitive instruments 2.00 II Felt by few persons at rest, esp. on upper floors; delicate suspended objects may swing III Felt noticeably indoors, but not always recognized as No 3.00 an earthquake; standing cars rock slightly, vibration Damage like passing trucks Minor IV Felt indoors by many, outdoors by a few; at night, some awaken; dishes, windows, doors disturbed; cars rock noticeably 4.00 V Felt by most people; some breakage of dishes, Architectural windows and plaster; disturbance to tall objects Damage VI Felt by all; many are frightened and run outdoors; falling plaster and chimneys; damage small 5.00 5.3 VII Everybody runs outdoors. Damage to buildings varies depending on quality of construction; noticed by drivers of cars Moderate 6.00 VIII Panel walls thrown out of frames; fall of walls, monumnets and chimneys; sand and mud ejected; drivers of cars disturbed. Structural 6.9 IX Building shifted off foundations, cracked, thrown Damage out of plumb; ground cracked, underground pipes broken; serious damage to reservoirs/embankments Major 7.00 X Most masonry and frame structures destroyed; ground cracked; rails bent slightly; landslides 7.7 XI Few structures remain standing; bridges destroyed; fissures in ground; pipes broken; landslides; rails bent Total Destruction Great 8.00 XII Damage total; waves seen on ground surface; lines of sight and level distorted; objects thrown into the air; large rock masses displaced Subjective measure of ground shaking; not engineering measure of ground acceleration CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN I• • Public Health and Safety Table 6-B. Active and Potentially Active Faults and Their Earthquake Characteristics. 0. d'�' VIII -IX, � gra' � °•: o y : •. •°m.: Vo X - XII - Modif led Mercalll Intensity San Andreas Fault - Magnitude 8.3 I Figure 6-B. Apperent Intensity Map of the Cupertino Planning Areas, San Francisco Earth- quake of 1906. (Modified after Algermissen,1972; and Borchert, et a1, 1975) CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Causative Distance From Maximum Maximum Est. Recurrence Faults De Anza/SCB Historic Quake Probable Quake Interval of Max. Prob. Intersection Magnitude Magnitude Earthquake San Andreas 5.5 Miles 8.3 (Richter) 8.3 (Richter) 50-100 Years (Last event 1906) San Andreas Hayward 10 Miles 7.0+ (Richter) 7.0+ (Richter) 10-100 Years System (Last event 1868) Calaveras 14 Miles 6.0+ (Richter) 7.0+ (Richter) 10-100 Years Sargent- Berrocal 3.5 Miles 3.7-5.0 (Richter) 6.5-7.0 (Richter) Insufficient Data Berrocal System Monta Vista 2 Miles 2.0-3.0 (Richter) 6.5-7.0 (Richter) Insufficient Data 0. d'�' VIII -IX, � gra' � °•: o y : •. •°m.: Vo X - XII - Modif led Mercalll Intensity San Andreas Fault - Magnitude 8.3 I Figure 6-B. Apperent Intensity Map of the Cupertino Planning Areas, San Francisco Earth- quake of 1906. (Modified after Algermissen,1972; and Borchert, et a1, 1975) CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN n U • • Public Health and Safety i- — — — J: VII -VIII a j lA \ u,o+w a •' ! \ L 0 i IX \ � � eeumo„no • �o \ \ — —.r JX -XII \ { e IX Monta Vista Fault - ?e. Magnitude 7.0 VII -VIII \ j Figure 6-C. Hypothetical Intensity Map /or a Maximum Probable Earthquake on the Monta Vista Fault. Cupertino is divided into 13 geologic/seismic hazard zones. Figure 6-D shows the zones and describes the specific hazards that could happen within each zone. The hazard map and table will be used to determine which future development projects must un- dergo geologic review and the degree of detail of each review. Geologic Hazards Landslides are the greatest geologic hazards to the foothills and low mountains in the planning area. Landslides can move earth up or down. The sliding of a slope is the nor- mal geologic process that widens valleys and flattens slopes. The rate ranges from rapid rock falls to very slow soil and bedrock creep. Landslides are caused by inter -related natural factors such as weak soil and rock over hillsides made steeper by rapid stream erosion, adverse geologic structure, ground water levels, and high rainfall rates. Landslides can be caused by improper grading, excessive irrigation, removal of natural vegetation, and altering surface and sub -surface drainage. Figure 6-E shows landslide deposits within Cupertino. Geologic mapping in the hill- sides shows that landslide deposits cover as much as 20 to 30 percent of the hillsides in the planning area. Landslides range from small, shallow deposits made up of soil and weak bedrock materials to large, deep landslides involving a large amount of bedrock. It's nearly impossible to know the long-term stability of a landslide deposit. Old deposits are the most difficult to judge. Experience shows that old landslides are more far more likely to move again than areas that have not had landslides before. Areas in these old landslides that are next to steep, new stream channels are more likely to have new land - sliding than areas further from the new channels. This would be especially true with severe shaking during a major earthquake on any of the three faults in Cupertino. The historic account of the 1906 earthquake shows many landslides throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains. Some of these were catastrophic, causing loss of life, personal injury, and severe damage to buildings. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN E 11 11 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN • .._�-...�.- I Public Health and Safety f.: KJr. Figure 6-E. Cupertino Goelogy. MQal - Valley FloorAluvium QTsc - Santa Clara Formation MTm,Tr - Tertiary Sedimentary Rodes KJr -Franciscan Assemblage - Landslides �►�.� -Thrust Fault Strike -Slip Fault Figure 6-F shows vital facilities that must remain intact during the worst probable earthquake on any fault system in Cupertino. Most of these facilities are owned by pri- vate companies or public agencies beyond direct City control. The map's purpose is to bring the owners' attention to the need to evaluate the facilities in terms of their potential to disrupt service or cause hazard to Cupertino residents. Cupertino City Hall is a com- munications center for natural disasters including earthquakes and will be important in coordinating emergency services. The City must be sure that critical parts of the water system can withstand a maximum earthquake so they can be used for drinking water and water to fight fires. Table 6-E shows a policy position on the amount of technical evaluation needed to be sure that hazards in new developments are reduced to an acceptable level of risk based on land use. Critical facilities in Cupertino's planning area should be evaluated and modi- fied structurally to withstand a maximum earthquake. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN i L J • Public Health and Safety Table 6-C. Explanations: Goelogic and Seismic Hazards Map of the Cupertino Planning Area. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN GROUND FAILURE - Moderate to high land- slide potential along steep Stevens Creek VF- 4 Hazards Within Terrens Unit Zone Map To Be Considered Symbol In Harz. Zone EY FLOOR: Nearly flat, GROUND SHAKING - Moderate to locally - Ground Shaking ized valley floor; steep severe VIII to IX intensity for max. probable - Ground Failure of Stevens Creek Canyon; event (8.3M) on San Andreas Fault. X to XII VF - 1/23 - Ground Rupture filling foothills area new intensity within 1000 lt. and VII to VIII in- (Monte Vista Fault) seph Seminary and tenshies at distance> 1000 ft. from max. -Flood Inundation t Vista substation probable event on Monte Vista Fauh. (Calabazas Creek) GROUND FAILURE - Moderate to high land- slide potential along steep Stevens Creek VF- 4 - Ground Shaking canyon walls; Moderate -high potential - Ground Failure lateral spreading and ground lurching, Ste- (landsliding, lurc vens Creek Canyon walls, liquefaction po- lateral spreading tenial low -moderate non -seismic conditions, and along CaLbazas VF -6 - Ground Shaking GROUND RUPTURE- Moderate potential -Ground Failure along and w/n 300f1., Monte Vista Fault VF - 5 (liquefaction) trace - Flood Inundation Ground Rupture FLOOD INUNDATION - Moderate -high poten- (Monte Vista Fa tial along Stevens Creek under seismic or non -seismic conditions, and along CaLbazas VF -6 -Ground Shaking Creek under non -seismic conditions - Ground Rupture THILLS - Gentle to steep, GROUND SHAKING - Moderate to locally F-1 - Ground Shaking illy urbanized hillside severe VIII to IX intensity for max. probable - Ground Failure located west of Valley event (8.3M) on San Andreas Fault. X to XII (landsliding) generally east of intensity within 2000 lt, west of Monte ebello Ridge Vista Fault for max. probable event (7.OM) F-2 - Ground Shaking - Ground Failure GROUND FAILURE - Moderate to high land- - Ground Rupture slide potential under seismic/non-seismic conditions for slopes >15%; ground lurch- F-3 -Ground Shaking ing, fracturing within 2000 fl. west of - Ground Failure Monte Vista Fault trace during maximum - Ground Rupture probable earthquake. GROUND RUPTURE- Moderate potential F-4 -Ground Shaking along and w/n 30011. east and 600 fl. west (Same as - Ground Failure of Monta Vista Fault and Benocal Fault VF - 5) -Flood Inundatior FLOOD INUNDATION - Moderate -high poten- tial along Stevens Creek under seismic or non -seismic conditions NTAINS - Moderate to GROUND SHAKING - Moderate to locally M-1 - Ground Shaking I hill- side areas of severe X to XII intensity for max. probable - Ground Failure ebello Ridge and event (8.3M) on San Andreas Fault. X to XII (landsliding) t Cruz Mountains intensity within 200011. from Benocal Fault for max. probable event (7.O1A) GROUND FAILURE - Moderate to high land- M-2 - Ground Shaking slide potential under seismictnon-seismic - Ground Failure conditions for slopes > 15%; ground lurch- (lurching, facto ing, fracturing within 2000 h. west of Berocal and San Andreas Fault GROUND RUPTURE - High potential w/n M-3 - Ground Shaking 600 ft. of San Andreas Fault trace; Moder- - Ground Failure potential 600' west of Bemocal Fault trace - Ground Rupture 0 • • Public Health and Safetv ' Table 6-D. Acceptable Exposure to Risk Related to Various Land Uses. Land uses and structural types are annged below according to the level of exposure to acceptable risk appropriate to each group; the lowest level of exposure to acceptable risk should be allowed for Group i and the highest level of exposure to acceptable risk for Group 7. Exposure Group Reduce Risk To ELY LOW Group 1 VULNERABLE STRUCTURES (nuclear reactors, As required for maximum RISK Group 6 MINOR TRANSPORTATION (arterials and 2% of project cost; to 10% parkways) project cost in extreme cases LOW -MODERATE OCCUPANCY BUILDINGS (small apartment bldgs., single -faro. resid., motels, small commercial/office bldgs.) Group 7 VERY LOW OCCUPANCY BUILDINGS (warehouses, Design to resist minor earth - farm structures) quakes w/o damage; resist mod. earthquakes w/o struc. OPEN SPACE & RECREATION AREAS (farm land, damage, w/some non-struct. landfills, wildlife areas) damage; resist major earth- quake (max. prob. on local faults) w/o collapse, allowing some simc. & non-struc. damage CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN large dams, plants manufacturing/storing attainable safety hazardous materials) Group 2 VITAL PUBLIC UTILITIES, (electrical fransmis- Design as needed to remain sion interties/substantions, regional water functional after max. prob. pipelines, treatment plants, gas mains) eanhquake on local faults Group COMMUNICATION/TRANSPORTATION(airports, 5% to 25% of project cost telephones, bridges, freeways, evac. routes SMALL WATER RETENTION STRUCTURES Design as needed to remain functional after max. prob. EMERGENCY CENTERS (hospitals, firelpolice earthquake on local faults stations, post -earthquake aide stations, schools City Hall, De Anza College) Group 4 INVOLUNTARY OCCUPANCY FACILITIES (schools, prisons, convalescent and nursing homes) HIGH OCCUPANCY BUILDINGS (theaters, hotels, large office/apartment bklgs.) ,TELY Group 5 PUBLIC UTILITIES, (electrical leader routes, 5% to 25% of project cost water supply turnout lines, sewage lines Design to minimize injury, FACILITIES IMPORTANT TO LOCAL ECONOMY loss of life during maximum probable earthquake on local faults; need not design to re- main functional RISK Group 6 MINOR TRANSPORTATION (arterials and 2% of project cost; to 10% parkways) project cost in extreme cases LOW -MODERATE OCCUPANCY BUILDINGS (small apartment bldgs., single -faro. resid., motels, small commercial/office bldgs.) Group 7 VERY LOW OCCUPANCY BUILDINGS (warehouses, Design to resist minor earth - farm structures) quakes w/o damage; resist mod. earthquakes w/o struc. OPEN SPACE & RECREATION AREAS (farm land, damage, w/some non-struct. landfills, wildlife areas) damage; resist major earth- quake (max. prob. on local faults) w/o collapse, allowing some simc. & non-struc. damage CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 Public Health and Safety I The City of Cupertino Municipal Buildings ..... Sanitary Sewer Trunk Line School PG&E Transmission Lines X Water Tank or Reservoir ----- Water Mains q4 Fire Station 11111118111111 S.C. V. W. D. West Pipeline 0 Freeway Oveipass or Bridge — — Urban Service Area Boundary (Future- : ; ) "-1, --- Boundary Agreement Line ♦ Medical Supplies it Yard 4*allco Senior taghlo lafi n Ce•1*11 nter s*.. Cr.640 DeAas::' CH Center Hall .;Al W. McClelland Road ol Bollinger IN .... .. . . ....... ... ... .......... ........ ....... ... ... . ..... ..... . . ..... . . . ....... ..... .. .. .... .... i.San ,jose Rainbow ... The City of Cupertino Figure 6-F. Critical Facilities. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Municipal Buildings ..... Sanitary Sewer Trunk Line School PG&E Transmission Lines X Water Tank or Reservoir ----- Water Mains q4 Fire Station 11111118111111 S.C. V. W. D. West Pipeline 0 Freeway Oveipass or Bridge — — Urban Service Area Boundary (Future- : ; ) "-1, --- Boundary Agreement Line ♦ Medical Supplies Figure 6-F. Critical Facilities. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 10 Public Health and Safetv Table 6-E. Technical Investigations Required to Design Structures Based Upon Acceptable Level of Risk for Various Land Use Activities. Description Of Technical Evaluations UBC 1976 Edition, Uniform Building Code Soils Soils and foundation investigation to determine ability of local soil conditions to support structures Geology Determine subsurface structure to analyze potential faults, ground water conditions and slope stability Seismic Hazard Detailed soils/structural evaluation to certifyadequacy of normal UBC earthquake regulations or to reoomnend more stringent measures CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Hazard Zone Map Symbol VF 123 56 F 1234 M 123 VF 4 Land Use Activity Evaluations Required Evaluations Required (Table 6-D) Uniform Bldg. Code (UBC) Uniform Bldg. Code (UBC) Groups 1 to 4 Soils Soils Seismic Hazard Seismic Hazard Geology Uniform Bldg. Code (UBC) Uniform Bldg. Code (UBC) Groups 5 to 7 Soils Soils Geology Description Of Technical Evaluations UBC 1976 Edition, Uniform Building Code Soils Soils and foundation investigation to determine ability of local soil conditions to support structures Geology Determine subsurface structure to analyze potential faults, ground water conditions and slope stability Seismic Hazard Detailed soils/structural evaluation to certifyadequacy of normal UBC earthquake regulations or to reoomnend more stringent measures CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN C� • n U Public Health and Safetv Policy Recommendations This section outlines actions the City should take to reduce the risk of injury or prop- erty loss caused by natural disasters. Regulating new development offers the greatest rewards in risk reduction because while it is difficult to improve existing development, it is much easier to locate and design new buildings to achieve this goal. See POLICY 2-37 I Policy 6-1: Selsmic/Geologic Review Process Adopt and use a formal seismic/geologic review process to evaluate new development proposals all over the City. It is not practical to improve buildings to incorporate revised earthquake safety stan- dards. Luckily, most buildings in Cupertino are new and were constructed under a build- ing code that includes components and designs that resist ground shaking. Still, structures identified as "critical facilities' should be re-evaluated, especially those in the high -hazard zones. Many seismic safety evaluations have been completed. Cu- pertino's schools comply with legal standards. The Santa Clara Valley Water District found that Stevens Creek Reservoir's location and construction method were too risky to allow the dam to continue to hold water until an additional safety review was complete. The state Department of Transportation is looking at freeway overcrossings to see how resis- tant they are to ground shaking. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • • Public Health and Safetv Policy 6-2: Evaluation of Critical City Facilities Evaluate City facilities on the Critical Facilities Map to reduce risks consis- tent with Table 6-D and encourage agencies in the planning area to do the same. Evaluating non-critical public or private buildings is too expensive but City govern- ment should educate residents, employers, and business owners to protect their property and reduce risk of injury. Policy 6-3: Public Education on Structural Seismic Safety Start an educational program to help residents reduce earthquake hazards. SEE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN E • • Public Health and Safetv FIRE HAZARD People who live in the foothills and mountains of Cupertino's planning area are most at risk from fire. The City is not directly involved in firefighting in the mountains but fire safety in the Montebello Ridge and Stevens Canyon area does affect Cupertino directly. Major fires would hurt the Stevens Creek watershed, would increase Flooding potential by silting up the stream beds, and would reduce recreation. Fire Hazards in the Foothills and Mountains The vegetative cover, the degree of slope, and critical fire weather are the three natu- ral factors upon which the California Division of Forestry classifies the severity of poten- tial fire in the foothills. The amount of hazard to life and property is affected not only by the fire itself but by road access for evacuation, the number of available fire fighters, the availability of water to fight the fire, and the effectiveness of building codes and inspec- tion of developments in fire hazard areas. There are about 16 square miles of land and 100 houses in the mountains of the Cu- pertino planning area. Under county zoning regulations, the number of houses would peak at between 112 and 190. Considering the size of the land, only a few houses are exposed to fire hazard. Most of the mountainous land is owned either by the MidPeninsula Regional Open Spam District or the Santa Clara County Parks System. When the parks are fully active, many people could be exposed to fire risk. Road Access Public road access is severely limited and the problem is worsened by a decision by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors to scrap an emergency road access planning program. Property owners are asked to act independently or to form groups to maintain fire access roads. More restrictive zoning has cut down on development so much that it is not feasible to expand the planned fire road to form links. Santa Clara County lists the Montebello Road/Stevens Canyon area as the fourth highest risk in the county. A fire trail links Montebello Road and the Palo Alto Sphere of Influence to the bottom of Stevens Canyon. The MidPeninsula Regional Open Space District is considering ex- tending the trail to get rid of a quarter -mile gap in the fire trail system to make patrolling easier. The district is working with the California Department of Fish and Game to get approval to improve and rebuild the former fire trail and to make access continuous. A fire trail extends from Skyline Boulevard through Charcoal Road and down to Stevens Canyon. Segments of that road are not paved and are extremely steep, so standard pas- senger cars cannot be used. Road accessibility in the lower foothills is easier. The City requires an all-weather surface, private emergency access connection between public streets within Lindy Can- yon and Regnart Canyon. If the Inspiration Heights area develops, the system of public streets and private fire access roads will be extended within the Kaiser property north of Stevens Creek. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN E C� Public Health and Safety Water Supply on Montebello Ridge and In Stevens Canyon There are no water systems in the Montebello Road and Stevens Canyon area. The county requires each homesite to be served by a 5,000 gallon tank. It is theoretically pos- sible to have water storage systems that are jointly owned and operated and possible to reduce the required amount of water if there is an adequate water main distribution for all homes sharing the joint facility. The County Fire Chief's Assn. recommends that struc- tures larger than 1,600 sq. ft. located in a remote fire hazard area have 10,000 gallons of stored water. The county policy suggests that its land development regulations include that standard. There is now no apparent support for increasing the tank standard and there is no commitment of county resources to inspect the minimal 5,000 gallon tanks. Water Supply for Foothill Regions Within the Urban Service Area All development in the Urban Service Area must be served by a water system that complies with City standards for household and firefighting use. In the short term, a few developed areas, such as lots in the upper reach of Regnart Canyon and a few areas in Inspiration Heights, have an inadequate water system. In the long term, these areas will receive a better supply of water for fighting fires as the City's water system expands along with new development and capital improvements projects. Building Codes Cupertino and Santa Clara County use a Uniform Fire Code and designate certain areas in their jurisdiction as hazardous fire areas. The code regulates building materials and the closeness of combustible plants to a structure. The County Fire Marshal and Central Fire District regulate activities in fire hazard areas, including closing an area to the public. Neither the City nor the county has an effective inspection program under the fire code. The lack of funding may eventually require people who live in rural fire areas to monitor their own property and monitor activities of their neighbors that may jeopardized their properties. Fire Hazards on the Urbanized Valley Floor People who live and work in Cupertino are not subject to a high risk of fire. The City has a well-managed fire protection service; buildings are relatively new; there is a strong code enforcement program and adequate water service. Nevertheless, there is room to reduce fire hazards in some geographical areas. Fire risk in cities depends on building construction techniques, materials and heights, response time of fire equipment and fire- fighters, and water availability. Relationship of Building Design and Materials to Fire Risk Cupertino minimizes fire hazards by regulating building construction and site plan- ning through the Uniform Fire Code and the Uniform Building Code. All land within City limits is designated Fire Zone 3 under the Uniform Fire Code. This is the least re- strictive of the fire zones and is used by suburbs in which most of the buildings are con- structed to modern standards and separated so that fire is not likely to spread from one to another. Cupertino's large commercial and industrial buildings are designed to separate large areas to prevent the spread of fire. The City also requires automatic sprinkler and fire detection systems, further reducing risks. Fire Zone 1, the most restrictive category, is used for central business districts in older cities. The City and the fire district periodically inspect commercial and industrial buildings but single-family homes do not require inspection. Smoke alarms are required in new homes and the City has considered requiring them when homes are resold. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 11 • • Public Health and Safety Accessibility A radius of a mile and a half is generally the ideal service area for a fire station, but a large number of commercial and industrial buildings may require a radius of three-quar- ters of a mile while a rural environment of single-family and two-family houses may per- mit a radius of three to four miles or more. Figure 6-G shows the distances from three Central Fire District Stations and the Rainbow -Blaney Avenue station in San Jose. These distances predict potential response time, which may change due to traffic congestion and other problems. The ideal service area lines are used to show the relative degree of acces- sibility to various areas in Cupertino. One of the major goals of fire service is to reduce response time, but the City's policy of discouraging commute traffic from driving through neighborhoods may delay response time because it is difficult for fire equipment to use direct routes. Private security sys- tems for planned residential communities may also delay response time and must be looked at carefully. Water Supply Having enough water is important infighting fires. Figure 6-H shows private and public water systems that serve Cupertino. The San Jose Water Company and the Califor- nia Water Service supply the new areas of the City so the water lines and distribution systems are adequate to meet domestic and fire -flow needs. However, although they meet today's needs, neither private water system is required to maintain adequate fire Flows under its agreements with the City and fire agencies. The City and the fire district are looking into the possibility of new legislation that would require minimum fire -Flow ca- pabilities to be maintained by water service providers. The City bought its domestic water system in 1960. It consisted of old distribution lines and pumping facilities. The utility has modernized lines mostly through new devel- opment, but there are areas in the City that must be upgraded to meet fire -flow require- ments. Figure 6-H shows system deficiencies. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 0 F --I L CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 L n U CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN r1 U r1 U • Public Health and Safety Table 6-F. Total Possible Points of Deficiency and Relative Value of Items in Grading Schedule. Rem Relative % Values Of Total Water Supply 1,700 34 Fire Department 1,500 30 Fire Alarm 550 11 Fire Prevention 350 7 Building Department 200 4 Structural Conditions 700 14 Climatic/Unusual Conditions — Divergence between first two items — — Total 5,000 100 Table 6-G. Points of Deficiency Which Determine Class for Major Items in Grading Schedule. Class Water Fire Fire Fire Building Structural Supply Department Alarm Prevention Department Conditions 1 0-170 0-150 0-55 0-35 0-20 0-70 2 171-340 151-300 56-110 36-70 21-40 71.140 3 341-510 301-450 111-165 71-105 41-60 141-210 4 511-680 451-600 166-220 106-140 61-80 210.280 5 681-850 601-750 221-275 141-175 81-100 281-330 6 851-1020 751-900 276-330 176-210 101-120 331-420 7 1021-1190 901-1050 331-385 211-245 121-140 421-490 8 1191-1360 1051-1260 386-440 246-250 141-160 491-560 9 1361-1530 1261-1350 441-495 251-315 161-180 561-630 10 1531-1700 1351-1500 496-550 316-350 181-200 631-700 Class 1 0 to 500 Points of Deficiency Class 6 2301 to 2300 Points of Deficiency Class 2 501 to 1000 Points of Deficiency Class 7 3001 to 3500 Points of Deficiency Class 3 1001 to 1500 Points of Deficiency Class 8 3501 to 4000 Points of Deficiency Class 4 1501 to 2000 Points of Deficiency Class 9 4001 to 4500 Points of Deficiency Class 5 2001 to 500 Points of Deficiency Class 10 4501 and Over Points of Deficiency their staffing, and place greater restrictions on buildings. Fire insurance premiums would not change that drastically anyway, so it would make economic sense for the city and property owners not to spend the money needed to upgrade to Class 1. This General Plan element should encourage Santa Clara County to take greater steps to reduce the risk of a major fire within the Cupertino Planning Area. Although county government has not adequately put its fire prevention policies into effect on land devel- opment, the Board of Supervisors has agreed with a volunteer fire department to provide fire protection for the Montebello Ridge and Stevens Canyon area. The group will supply service between October and May when the California State Division of Forestry station at Stevens Creek Reservoir is unstaffed. The Central Fire District will give administrative support and the Division of Forestry will train volunteers. The Board of Supervisors will finance insurance. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 is LJ , i Public Health and Safety Policy Recommendations Policy 6-4: County Fire Hazard Reduction Encourage the county to put into effect the fire reduction policies in the County Public Safety Element. Policies and programs that ensure adequate access and water supply, along with current effective regulations on fire -retardant building materials and clearance of vegetation around homes, would help protect hillside residents and property. Policy 6-5: Fuel Management to Reduce Fire Hazard Encourage the MidPeninsula Open Space District and the County Parks Department to continue efforts in fuel management to reduce fire hazard. Policy 6-6: Green Fire Breaks Encourage the MidPeninsula Open Space District to consider "green" fire break uses for open space lands. This could include commercial timber harvesting. Residents of Cupertino's Urban Service Area have an acceptable level of fire protec- tion. Improvements can be made to increase safety in specific areas. Policy 6-7: Master Cupertino Fire Plan CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Prepare a master fire plan for Cupertino. Outline a fire protection pro- gram to achieve a high degree of fire protection with minimum public and private cost. Use the plan to find the break point in the level of service - versus -cost equation. The plan should establish the best level of fire protection for each land use and should analyze the emphasis on prevent- ing fires as opposed to fighting fires. Public Health and Safetv Policy 6-6: Dead -End Street Access Allow public use of private roadways during an emergency for hillside subdivisions that have dead-end public streets longer than 1,000 ft. or find a secondary means of access. Policy 6-9: Smoke Detectors Continue to require smoke detectors in new residential construction and continue to support fire protection agencies' education of homeowners on installation of smoke detectors. Use the Cupertino Scene to publicize fire hazards and correction methods. C� • CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 s Public Health and Safety FLOOD HAZARD Floods can result from large rainstorms, failure of water -storage facilities, and from a water basin created by a landslide. Flood Hazard from Rainstorms Floods caused by large rainstorms are the most common and the least risky. The vast watersheds in the Santa Cruz Mountain Range feed into four major streambeds that cross the City: Permanente Creek, Stevens Creek, Regnart Creek, and Calabazas Creek. Figure 6-I shows streambed locations and the extent of a 100 -year flood, the flood than has a 1 percent chance of happening during any given year. The 100 -year flood is the standard design flood accepted by the City, the Santa Clara Valley Water District, and federal agencies. There is more information on this subject in the section on acceptable level of risk. The remainder of Cupertino is protected from flooding by the concrete sub -surface storm drain system. It was designed for the largest storm that could happen once in three years and was redesigned in 1977 for a I0 -year flood. All new development will have the larger system. In the meantime, the key parts of the older system will be updated through the long-term capital improvements program. The City has not studied in detail the carrying capacity of the system for larger floods, but in general a moderate storm, a 10 -year to 40 -year flood, will be contained within the curbs and gutters of the streets and will flow into major storm channels and creek beds designed to handle a 100 -year flood. Heavier storms may cause some flooding of yards, but it would be extremely unlikely for water to enter buildings. A few areas in Cupertino, including Old Monta Vista, and older areas next to the foothills, are not protected by storm water systems. It is difficult, if not impossible, to predict the location and extent of flood- ing in smaller isolated areas. In any case, the risk to life is virtually non-existent. Heavy rainstorms in the foothills and mountains of the planning area generally do not cause flooding problems. A report sponsored by the Divisions of Mines and Geology showed that all streambeds can carry a 200 -year flood. Landslides and mudslides are the main problems caused by heavy rainstorms. These happen when heavy sheet flows of water expose cut -and -fill slopes. Unless the slopes are protected by erosion control methods, there will be landslides and mudslides, which silt up streambeds. Flood Hazard from Failure of Water -Storage Facilities Figure 6-J shows the location and size of water -storage facilities in the planning area. It describes the flooding if Stevens Creek Reservoir should fail instantaneously. The flooded area is based on the maximum storage capacity of 3,700 acre feet. The reservoir is being operated at a reduced level of 1,200 acre feet until a dam safety study is completed, so the flooded area would be smaller. The water district does not have an flooding plan pre- pared for the smaller storage capacity, but that limit was imposed to remove the probabil- ity of dam failure in the event of a maximum probable earthquake on the San Andreas Fault. • The storage tanks shown on Figure 6-J are considered a minimal risk, but there is a possibility of injury and property loss for homes located near these tanks if they were to fail. Owners of such tanks are not required under law to prepare flooding maps and CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN C� Public Health and Safety ilk l 14 G/\� a al Iteseraar. m goo " Cor � Cha McClelland Road Rainbow Prospect The City of Cupertino Flood Limit Line fora "100-Year"Event — -- Natural or Man -Made Water Course - — — — Urban Service Area Boundary -- Boundary Agreement Line s Bollinger Rd Note: Detailed Maps of 100 -Year Flood Event Are Available in City Hall Figure 64. Extent of Flooding As A Result of A "100 -Year" Flood. none have been prepared by water utilities. The San Jose Water Company has installed flexible couplings and check valves in the 20 -million -gallon Regnart Road Reservoir to minimize valve and water line failure during an earthquake. The City's two water tanks, each holding 2 million gallons, do not have a check valve or flexible couplings. The 8 -to - 10 acre-foot Voss Avenue Pond was determined to be safe by an engineering consultant. Flood Hazard From Landslides • A landslide could occur within a steep ravine in the foothill fringe in the more moun- tainous terrain outside the Urban Service Area boundary. If there is a landslide in a ra- vine serving a relatively large watershed, water could collect behind the landslide debris and eventually collapse the debris wall, resulting in a wall of water cascading down the CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN I• � 0 0 Public Health and Safety I Proposed I Tank N il 3 Acre Feel to Mann I Dr Mil. Gal.e,; Mil. 6a 1,8 oss.Avp- Un-d . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0, Fe t 212 Mil I n1A Z 0+10MIn Sw M �Reservolr egllMutual:... System -61.3 Acre Feet 20 hill. GaL:. dMcClelland- . , —R.M EM CA The City of Cupeffino Flood Limit Line Natural or Man -Made Water Course Urban Service Area Boundary Boundary Agreement Line Note: Flood Inundation Area for Failure of Stevens Crook Reservoir Is Based Upon Maximum 3700 Acre Feet Storage Capacity. r Rd Figure 6-1. Extent of Flooding As A Result of Failure of Man -Made Water Storage Facilities. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN • C� Public Health and Safety ravine, injuring people or damaging property. The watersheds in this area are relatively small, so the risk of floods caused by landslides is minimal. There is a massive ancient landslide west of Stevens Creek Reservoir but it would not be a flood hazard or result in an unstable pond. Acceptable Level of Risk There is low risk from flooding in Cupertino and its planning area. There is an ex- tremely low risk from flooding if Stevens Creek Reservoir were to fail. Sometimes rain - swollen flood channels cause drowning when people fall into them or venture out onto them in boats. It is possible to design flood protection for a 500 to 1,000 -year flood, but it would be extremely expensive in relation to the property's land -use activity. For example, it would be foolish to construct a flood works to protect grazing land next to a stream and slightly less foolish to protect agricultural land. It is prudent to protect a housing development and essential to protect a critical facility such as a hospital. Policy Recommendations The Santa Clara Valley Water District and the City are actively involved in programs to minimize the risk of flooding. The City developed a flood plain land use policy for the non -urbanized reach of Stevens Creek south of Stevens Creek Boulevard. This ensures that the area flooded in a 100 -year flood would be preserved and protects the natural streamside environment. The City and the district developed an unusual flood management program for the reach of Stevens Creek between Interstate 280 and Stevens Creek Boulevard. The strategy is to keep the natural environment of Stevens Creek even though structural improvements would be necessary to protect properties absolutely from a 100 -year flood. The majority of people living in the Phar Lap Drive and Creston neighborhoods agreed to accept a higher level of flooding risk with the understanding that risks would be partially lowered by using the Federal Flood Insurance Administration Program and installing a flood wam- ing system. The strategy also includes building anew conduit on Interstate 280 to reduce the barrier effect of the freeway itself, which was built across the natural flood plain. Policy 6-10: No New Construction in Flood Plains Adopt stringent land use and building code requirements to prevent new construction in already urbanized flood hazard areas recognized by the Federal Flood Insurance Administrator. For example, the finished floors of new construction must be higher than the water level projected for the 100 -year flood. A description of flood zone regulations and a map of potential flood hazard areas will be published in the Cupertino Scene. Policy 6-11: Prohibit Dwellings In Natural Flood Plain Continue the policy of prohibiting all forms of habitable development in natural flood plains. This includes prohibiting fill materials and obstruc- tions that may increase flood potential downstream or modify natural streamsides. SEE CMC 1652 CUPERTMO GENERAL PLAN 0 n U 11 Public Health and Safety Removing sediment from drains is one of the major expenses of the City and the water district. The sediment is caused by natural erosion as well as erosion induced by devel- opment, mostly in the hillsides. The City's Hillside Development Ordinance requires private hillside construction to install erosion control measures on all cut -and -fill slopes includ- ing roadways, driveways, and house pads. Sediment increases Flood risks and clogs the natural percolation function of streambeds, which replenish the groundwater table. Policy 6-12: Restrict Hillside Grading Continue to restrict the extent and timing of hillside grading operations. Allow lot and street grading from April through October. Require a performance bond to be submitted by a grading permit applicant before grading starts during the remaining months. The amount of the bond will guarantee the repair of erosion damage. All graded slopes must be planted as soon as practical after grading is complete. Most water -storage facilities shown in Figure 6-J are designed to withstand ground shaking. If the magnitude of ground shaking was not previously assessed or if the water facilities were designed before new standards, the City should re-evaluate the design if the facility is publicly owned or strongly suggest that the owners evaluate the structural integrity based on the maximum possible earthquake on the San Andreas fault, including an evaluation of the possible area of flooding. Policy 6-13: Evaluate City Water -Storage Facilities CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Program necessary funds to evaluate the structural integrity of municipal water storage facilities, including distribution line connections and any necessary repairs. Possible Flood speeds and flooded areas should be included. The study consultant will confer with the City's geological consultant to determine the geology and the maximum expected ground shaking intensities of the tank site C� r1 L J r 1 L_J Public Health and Safety NOISE POLLUTION Freedom from excessive noise is a major factor in maintaining a high degree of qual- ity of life. The noise environment is an accumulation of many different sources ranging from common machinery to the major source, street and freeway traffic. Table 6-H lists some common noise sources and their sound levels. The degree to which noise is irritating depends on a variety of factors, some inde- pendent of the noise source itself. Time of day, background sound level, the listener's activity, and surrounding land use can all influence the degree to which a particular sound is perceived as annoying. Value judgments also enter into tolerance for urban sound lev- els. Emergency sirens and loud lawnmowers are tolerated by most people because they represent necessary actions, public safety and neighborhood upkeep. However, loud noises from cars with defective or modified mufflers are usually greeted as annoyances. Overall noise levels seem to be increasing despite efforts to identify and regulate noise sources. Truly effective solutions to the noise problem will probably require lifestyle changes and tradeoffs between freedom from government intervention in personal lives and the convenience and economy of using noisy devices. It's not possible to control all city noise sources but some regulation is needed to offset negative results of excessive noise. Figures 6-K and 6-L are noise contour maps that focus on the transportation network and its noise impacts on the community. They are described in Ld. (average day /night sound levels) and Leo (the sound levels exceeded 10 percent of the time). The Leo map shows the less continuous, more noticeable, intermittant noises characterizing traffic sounds in residential neighborhoods. Effect of Noise on People Noise can affect the physical, social, psychological, and economic well-being of com- munity residents. Excessive noise can result in temporary or chronic hearing loss and physiologic damage to the inner ear. Noise can disturb privacy, worsen mood, disturb relaxation, and interrupt sleep. It can interfere with speech and confuse other auditory signals. Diminished worker efficiency and economic loss can result if noise disrupts the performance of complicated work tasks. All of these stresses are reasons for trying to control the effects of urban noise. The next section outlines and discusses some measures that can be put into effect by cities and identifies City policies aimed at counteracting some of the increasing noise irritations. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN n U • • CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Public Health and Safety of Hearin Table6-11. Sound Uvels and Loudness of Illustrative Noises in Indoor and Outdoor Environments. dB(A) Overall Level Community Home or Industry Loudness (Sound Pressure (Outdoor) (Indoor) (Human judgment of Level = .0002 Microbar) dill. sound levels) 130 Military Jet AircraftAircraftTakeolt w/Afterburner From Cartier @ 50 h. (130) 120 UNCOMFORTABLY Oxygen Torch 121 12048 A 32 times as loud LOUD Turbofan AircraftAircraftTTakeoff@ 200 h. (11 B) Riveting Machine (110) 110 Rock -n -roll Band 108 11048 A 16 times as loud Jet Flyover @ 1000 h. (103) Boeing 707 @6000 h. before landing (108) 100 VERY Helicopter @ 100 h. 100 10048 A 8 times as loud LOUD Power Mower (96) Newspaper Press (97) Boeing 737 @6000 h. 40 before landing (97) 90 Motorcycle @ 25h. 90 9048 A 4 times as loud Car Wash @ 20 h. (89) Food Blender (88) Prop Plane flyover @ 1 k(88) Milling Machine (85) Diesel Truck 40mph @ 50' (84) 80 Diesel Train 45mph @ 50' 83 Garba a Disposal 80 BOdB A 2 times as loud High Urban Ambient (80) Living Room Music (76) MODERATELY Pass. Car 65mph @ 25h. (77) LOUD Freeway @ 5011. ton. Pavement 70 Ede 0-82 TV -Audio, -Audio, Vac. Clnr. 70 7046 A Cash Reg. @ 10'(65-70) Elec. Typwnr. @ 10' (64) Dishwasher @ 10' (60) 60 Air Cond. Unit@ 100h. 60 Conversation 60 6048 A 12 as loud 50 QUIET Large Transformer @ 100' 50 50dB A 1/4 as loud Bird Calls (44) Lower Limit 40 Urban Ambient Sound JUST AUDIBLE dBA Scale Interrupted) 10 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Threshold 0 of Hearin 40 4048 A 1/8 as loud Threshold 0 of Hearin C� 11 • CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN I• 1 Public Health and Safety ' The City of Cupertino I (Noise Level Exceeded 10 Percent of the Time) Noise Contour Line / 8lReferences: ----- Projected Contour, 1995 I Continuous Contour Lines On Selected Arlerials Obtained From: Stevens Creek Blvd. Plan Line Study ICalifornia State Department of Transportation --- Urban Service Area Boundary --I _ ---- Boundary Agreement Line Figure 6-L. Noise Contour Map, Lra UPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • Public Health and Safetv Policy Recommendations This section gives a policy framework for guiding future land use and urban design decisions and contains a system of control and abatement measures to protect residents from exposure to excessive or unacceptable noise levels. Policy objectives will be identi- fied and analyzed according to land -use compatibility, noises sources related to and not related to transportation, and will include discussion of severe effects of Kaiser Perma- nente truck traffic on Foothill and Stevens Creek Boulevards. Acceptable noises do not disturb commonly recognized activities, such as conversa- tion and rest. Various studies have established maximum interior noise levels that will insure undisturbed conversation and relaxation. Exterior noise environments are more difficult to analyze and control. The ability to speak at close range in a normal voice seems to be a reasonable standard with which to judge outside noises. This section allows tech- niques to help protect interior and exterior environments from disruption by city noise of activities basic to comfortable daily living. Land Use Compatibility Goal A: Strive to ensure a compatible noise environment for all existing and future land uses. Many undesirable noise effects can be reduced or avoided if noise conditions are considered when assigning uses to specific land parcels. Noise cannot and should not be the primary factor considered in land use analysis, but the City should strive to match land uses to compatible noise levels. Compatibility may be achieved by locating land use types outside of designated noise impact areas or by requiring modifications including setbacks, noise walls, building insu- lation, or landscaping. Policy 6-14: Land Use Decision Evaluation Use Figures 6-K, 6-L, and 6-M to evaluate land use decisions CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Public Health and Safety I Figure 6-N. Land Use Compatability for Community Noise Environments. Community Noise Exposure Land Use Catagory (Ld. or CNEL, dB) 55 60 65 70 75 80 Single Family, Duplex, Mobile Homes RESIDENTIAL - MULTI FAMILY TRANSIENT LODGING . ...... Motels, Hotels SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, CHURCHES HOSPITALS NURSING HOMES AUDITORIUMS, CONCERT HALLS AMPHITHEATERS SPORTS ARENA, OUTDOOR SPECTATOR SPORTS PLAYGROUNDS, NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS • GOLF COURSES, RIDING STABLES WATER RECREATION, CEMETARIES OFFICE BUILDINGS, COMMERCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL CENTERS INDUSTRIAL, MANUFACTURING UTILITIES, AGRICULTURE F -F O Normally Acceptable Conditionally Acceptable Normally Unacceptable Clearly Unacceptable • CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 Public Health and Safety Transportation Noise Goal B: Work to reduce the noise Impact of major streets and freeways upon Cupertino. Traffic noise is the greatest contributor to noise pollution in Cupertino and one of the most difficult to control through local effort. Cupertino is crossed by two major freeways and nine major arterial streets. Cupertino is fortunate that significant portions of Highways 85 and 280 are recessed because this helps lessen noise in the surrounding neighborhoods. Freeway noise is at a constant but subdued level, less of a direct threat to neighbors. Commuters use local north -south streets heavily and greatly increase local traffic congestion, air pollution, and noise. Near Ste Freeway West on Interstate 280 lling Road. Recessed Minimizes Noise impacts. The problem is worsened by the incomplete status of State Route 85, which will direct much of the through commute traffic away from streets, if it is ever completed. Unfortu- nately, further extension of Route 85 may increase noise above acceptable limits for many of the homes along the right of way. Careful consideration of potential noise generated by the extension is absolutely necessary for future freeway design and should go along with more stringent California and federal noise standards to lessen noise. About 2,000 of Cupertino's 16,000 homes are exposed to excessive noise potential from freeways and major streets. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • • Public Health and Safety Table 6-1. Noise Exposure Index (Ldn, 60 dB and above). Existing Future' Total Units I Population Units I Population Unitsl Population R-1 1500 4380 300 880 1800 5260 R-2 R-3 500 1460 1460 TOTAL 2000 5840 300 880 1800 6720 Future impacted areas result from Highway 85 extension to Saratoga Sunnyvale Road and from Bollinger Road extension to Stelling Road NOTE: Population multiplier = 2.92 persons/household Policy 6-16: Freeway Design and Neighborhood Noise Be sure that design and improvement of roads along the West Valley Transportation Corridor are designed and improved in a way that mini- mizes neighborhood noise. Policy 6-17: Support Stricter State Noise Laws Continue to support enactment of stricter state laws on noise emissions from new motor vehicles and enforce existing street laws on noise emissions. Local Streets/Neighborhood Protection Neighborhood streets are especially sensitive to noise abuse. The resident's need to drive and the need to keep emergency vehicle response time to a minimum must be bal- anced against the need for safe and quiet neighborhoods when policies on streets are considered. Policy 6-18: Neighborhood Need Priority Continue to review the needs of residents for convenience and safety and make them a priority over the convenient movement of commute or through traffic where practical. Policy 6-19: Solutions to Street Abuse CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Continue to evaluate solutions to discourage abuse of local streets through modified street design. Examples include meandering streets, diverters, landscape islands, street closures, and widened parking strips. E Ll 0 Public Health and Safety Train and Aircraft Noise Trains and aircraft do not contribute much to noise in Cupertino. Aircraft flying into Moffett Field Naval Air Station are restricted to the northeasterly corner of Cupertino, affecting some residents of the Rancho Rinconada neighborhood. Cupertino's only rail- road line passes through the Monta Vista neighborhood and connects with the Kaiser Permanente Plant in the Western foothills. There are only two trains a day but if Kaiser products are shipped more often by rail, people living along the Southern Pacific line would suffer from more noise pollution because there are no noise protection devices. Kaiser Permanente Truck Traffic The most crucial example of traffic noise intrusion on the quality of neighborhood life is the effect of heavy duty truck trips to and from the Kaiser Permanente Plant in the western foothills on people who live near Stevens Creek Boulevard and Foothill Boulevard. There are about 1,500 trips each working day, generating up to 90 decibel noise levels next to the road. When trucks speed up, slow down, or use their high-powered brakes on the unusu- ally steep road, the truck noise problem is worsened. A detailed analysis of this problem is in the Noise Element Working Paper Appendix. Figure 6-N displays the results of an analysis of truck noise and attempts to define only the noise from Kaiser trucks. O dr I F L 8465. 55. ^'•l` e . rT S . 90 J -f I �- �y �.. 55 .� �fid� •,.` f 0.:.5 ,..c ,s ' .s, ;• ,'• II .. 551'•/'......•. , 65 55 II t KAISERi PERMANENTE 6s t t ` .. 90 -- S EI B0 II ' ov Numbers Represent Truck Levels Lr In dBa i �, r.-•,•.. .....y; � ,t, ,II r•II Figure 6-N. Equal Noise Level Contours. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN • • Public Health and Safetv Policy 6-20: Noise Improvement by Restricting Trucks Continue to work toward improving the noise environment along Foot- hill Boulevard by restricting truck traffic to the Kaiser Permanente Ce- ment Plant, especially during late evening and early morning hours. It is preferable that this restriction be voluntary. A study prepared by professional acoustical engineering consultants suggested a se- ries of measures to diminish noise for homes along the truck traffic corridor. Reducing truck travel and carrying out these measures could give some relief to the residents most severely affected. Policy 6-21: Reduction of Noise from Kaiser Permanente Trucks CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Work to carry out noise mitigation measures listed in the Edward L. Pack and Associates report to diminish noise from Kaiser Permanente truck traffic for homes near Foothill and Stevens Creek Boulevards. CJ 11 Public Health and Safetv Non -Transportation Noise Sources Goal C: Protect residential areas as much as possible from Intrusive noise generated by sources other than traffic. Noises not generated by traffic are typically stationary and sporadic. They have a relatively minor affect compared to traffic noise, but noises such as barking dogs and rat- tling of garbage cans when people are trying to sleep can be annoying and disruptive. Complete regulation of these noises is unlikely, but the City can work to protect neighbor- hoods from excessive noise during the evening and early morning, when noise levels tend to be lower. Adjoining Dissimilar Land Uses People who live near commercial loading docks often complain of late night and early morning disturbances. Similarly, those who live near industrial areas are often annoyed by sounds from chemical storage plants, air conditioning equipment, and the general manufacturing process. It's easy to anticipate these problems but it's hard to resolve them in the development review process because economic interests and property rights must be balanced. Policy 2-23 of the Land Use/Community Character Element of this plan gives a strat- egy for design controls to ensure a more peaceful co -existence between neighboring dif- ferent land uses. These should be studied carefully at the beginning of an commercial or industrial project that will adjoin homes. Policy 6-22: Commercial Delivery Areas Be sure new commercial or industrial developments plan their delivery areas so they are away from existing or planned homes. n N M UWA NIPAM Wr�/-1! Commercial Delivery Area Adjoining Single -Family Residences - McClellan Square Shopping Center. SEE POLIcy 2-20 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 n U Cl Public Health and Safety SEE CMC 10-45 I Policy 6-23: Limit Delivery Hours Continue active enforcement of Section 10.45 of the Municipal Code limiting commercial and industrial delivery hours. Policy 6-24: Noise Control Techniques Continue to require analysis and implementation of techniques to control the effects of noise from industrial equipment and processes for projects near homes. Construction can also disrupt neighborhoods. Expecting this, the City has required in several cases that building construction be stopped during evenings and weekends. Policy 6-25. Restrict Hours of Construction Work Continue to restrict non -emergency building construction work near homes during evening, early morning and weekends. Common Neighborhood Disturbances Common household activities are often audible beyond property lines. Barking dogs, parties, lawnmowers, amplified music, and pool equipment are just a few of these. Policy 6-26: Comprehensive Noise Ordinance Development Develop a comprehensive noise ordinance that gives time restrictions on commercial and industrial deliveries, establishes procedures for regulat- ing noisy animals, regulates hours for construction, and establishes maximum noise levels for common neighborhood disturbances. Noise Attenuation Goal D: Encourage use of techniques to diminish noise wherever they can produce practical and desirable results. Interior noise can be best be diminished in the same way homes are insulated against cold. Leaks around doors, windows, vents, or through open fireplace dampers as well as uninsulated exterior walls and lack of seals or weatherstripping increase noise intrusion and can be remedied. Sound is pervasive in cities and it's difficult to control exterior noises. Different noise control techniques can be used with varying degrees of success. Each site should be evaluated to find the best combination of noise control devices. Here is a summary of common techniques and their uses. Barriers Solid noise walls can reduce noise from 1 to 15 decibels or more. Their effectiveness depends on the relative grade of the roadway, the distance of the listener from the center line of the nearest road, placement and height of the noise wall in relation to the source's line of travel, the size and location of the area to be protected, and the frequency of the noise source. The barrier is more successful with higher -pitched noise and is usually more CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 11 • • CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN milillm'AnwMEM ' .T:y�, Ell lil 112 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • • KIM1 Public Health and Safety Building and Site Design Building and site design techniques can control noise effectively in new developments or when existing buildings are modified. Sensitive areas can be set back or buffered by buildings, parking, or recreation areas. Homes can use rooms such as kitchens, bathrooms, and garages to buffer the more sensitive bedrooms and living rooms. Buildings should face solid walls onto the noise source and be sure that no vents or other air leaks face the noise source. Insulating Buildings From Noise Conventional building practices will achieve noise reductions from adjoining road- ways of between 10 and 20 decibels. This table, from the Santa Clara County Noise Element, shows noise reduction from typical building types. Table 6-1. Approximate Noise Reduction Achieved by Exterior of Common Structures*. Bldg. Type Window Condition Reduc. of Noise Max. Exterior from Outside Noise level Source Matched to 45dBA Interior Design Stnd. All Open 10 decibels 55 dBA Light Frame Ordinary sash, closed 20 decibels 65 dBA Masonry Single pane, closed 25 decibels 70 dBA Masonry Double pane, closed 35 decibels 80 dBA 60 Feet 75dBa 80d Ba \1 60dB . � -1 0 Ftp'� 1"OFt.- 20 Ft. _ P.L. Air/Sound Leaks: • Roof and Walls Lack Insulation • Floor Vents • Poor Quality Window/Door Assemblies • Windows/Doors Lack Weather Stripping Figure 6-P. Typical Structure Exposure To Noise. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN LI • i Public Health and Safety CRIME The concept of defensible space, popularized in the early 1970s, uses architectural design to create a physical environment that allows the person in it to monitor activities, thereby reducing unacceptable behavior. Cupertino evaluates 70 to 100 development projects a year; these translate into the working and living environment for Cupertino residents. The City should develop an appreciation of the sociological and psychological effects of the physical environment on human behavior. Park Design People who live next to neighborhood parks have had problems with nuisance and criminal behavior in parks, especially park areas that are not easily visible from the street. Future park design will include a perimeter road that would allow neighbors and the police to see the park from all sides. This gives people more control over their neighbor- hoods. Figure 6-Q shows the current and proposed design of Three Oaks Park, north of Rainbow Drive. If technical and legal problems can be resolved, a part of the park will be sold to a home builder with the proceeds to be used to buy land in a nearby neighborhood for another park. Parks in other parts of Cupertino should be checked to see if this might work there. m 'ty �sunre..r rl;i � 7 •auenee..a. ►�i; � P ARK PARK A eae.+.n SITE —�j!' au.•.n e•naa. � •mere. iT � •� I� Existing Configuration Proposed Configuration of Three Oaks Park Three Oaks Park Figure 6-Q. "Defensible Space" Park Design. Cupertino's zoning codes stress the need for visual privacy protection. This could conflict with the idea of defensible space if privacy design techniques isolate households enough so that people lose the feeling of possession of private and semi -private spaces in a residential development. Design can be used to create social cohesion, important not only for a planned residential community but in single-family detached homes. For ex- ample, someone who lives in a single-family home needs assurance that the neighbor- hood would support his or her effort to question a stranger parked at the curb or to report a strange car that keeps cruising up and down a street. If the resident thinks that other neighbors don't want to get involved or don't care about strangers in the neighborhood, that person would watch out only for his or her own property. Cupertino has actively supported a Neighborhood Awareness Program that offers advice on crime prevention and encourages neighborhood cohesiveness. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • Public Health and Safety Policy 6-28: Neighborhood Awareness Programs Continue to support the Neighborhood Awareness Program and others intended to help neighborhoods prevent crime through social interaction. Non -Residential Design for Defensible Space Using design techniques to prevent crime in non-residential districts is more direct than it is in non-residential areas. The key is to design buildings to ease police patrol and help community surveillance. Decisions on crime prevention involve tradeoffs between esthetics and the ease of access for patrol vehicles as well as tradeoffs between privacy and acoustical protection between commercial properties and adjacent homes. Commercial office and industrial properties designed with interior garden courts with private fenced patios and isolated entrances have more burglaries and robberies than those that are highly visible. Masonry barriers and landscaping beds are typically used to iso- late parking lot noise in commercial operations. The County Sheriff's Office, which pro- vides police service in Cupertino, believes that these solutions do not increase burglary in adjoining homes. Policy 6-29: Crime Prevention in Building Design Consider the relationship between building design and crime prevention in reviewing all developments. Develop criteria with help from the Sheriff's Office to determine the degree to which crime prevention stan- dards should override esthetic concerns. Policy 6-30: Public Perimeter Roads for Parks CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Encircle neighborhood roads with a public road to provide visual accessi- bility whenever possible. 0 • 0 Public Health and Safety DISASTER PLANNING Under state law, cities must prepare an emergency plan to respond to "war -caused" or other disasters that threaten the health or property of their residents. The City's Emer- gency Plan mainly establishes an organizational framework to let the City plan for its emergency response activities and to coordinate with county and state agencies. Effective communications is one of the primary objectives of the Emergency Plan. The Cupertino Emergency Plan The City's Emergency Plan depends greatly on the availability of key people once a state of emergency is declared. Typically, only the city manager, department heads, assis- tant department heads, and some clerical staff members have participated in annual dis- aster drills. City Hall operates from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., so it is highly likely that an emer- gency will occur during non -working hours. Many Cupertino employees do not live in the City, so it is likely that a general emergency such as a major earthquake would delay people from staffing their emergency operation positions. Policy 6-31: Broaden Emergency Service Training Program Broaden the Emergency Service Training Program to include more middle management and non -management employees in future emergency training programs. A large earthquake could isolate Cupertino from major full-service hospitals. City personnel and local physicians will be ill-equipped to meet the emergency needs of resi- dents if a major earthquake strikes. co Ex.W. _. 2 y /melSfdfe �� H '01 2gp P� u' w Levens Crmk Blvd > V E m d E H r° c c „ m 0 � 3 Hospitals Potential F+q ^� Barriers Figure 6-R. Areas Potentially Isolata6le In A Seismic Emergency. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 F_I L Public Health and Safetv Policy 6-32: Shift Emergency Responsibility to the State Join other local cities to lobby the state to shift the responsibility of plan- ning and providing major emergency medical responses in cities to the state government. Cupertino planned the construction of an emergency operation center in the City Hall basement for 1980. Emergency diesel generator and telephone equipment is already in- stalled. Policy 6-33: Emergency Operation Center Incorporate a permanent display system and information update process in the design and operation of the emergency operation center. Right after a major emergency, police, fire, and medical services will be spread very thin. Residents must develop self-reliance in first aid and storage of food, water, and other essentials. The last major disaster was the 1906 earthquake, so most Cupertino residents have not experienced a major disaster. Policy 6-34: Informed Citizenry CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Use the Cupertino Scene and other communication methods to inform residents that they have a responsibility to be prepared for emergency disasters and give information on how to achieve this self-reliance. ' 0 9 0 CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN s • E ram INTRODUCTION This section outlines the steps to betaken to carry out General Plan policies and programs during a set period of time. It monitors the City's progress toward meeting the Plan's goals and measures the Plan's effectiveness through periodic reviews. It is not easy to relate policies and programs that extend over a long time to concrete implementation steps but other policies and programs that are very specific can be completed relatively quickly. Implementation Techniques The General Plan is carried out through four techniques: control of timing of growth, development regulations, capital improvements, and intergovernmental coordination. Controlling the timing of growth includes consideration of the infrastructure capacity, geographic limitations, and annexation. Cupertino makes sure that the City's infrastructure, in other words, its utilities and road system, can absorb the impacts of growth, regulating growth's timing and extent. Cupertino cooperates with the Santa Clara County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) to define the growth limits of the City. LAFCO establishes an Urban Service Area boundary that identifies a supply of land to accommodate five years of growth based on the growth rate of the previous five years and a Sphere of Influence lin showing the 25 -year growth limit. Both limits are illustrated on Figure 7-A. Cupertino's Urban Service Area is developed with the exception of a few areas along the western fringe of the foothills, the Vallco Park planning area and the San Jose Diocese prop- erty near Interstate 280. Cupertino does not intend to expand into the 25 -year limit Sphere of Influence growth line at this time. Most of the county islands within the Urban Service Area have been annexed into Cu- pertino. Routine annexation will will continue with properties that require new or expanded connections to Cupertino Water Service or properties that develop under county jurisdiction with a formal agreement to annex ata specified time. Annexations of large areas will be reviewed as they come up to find the degree of benefit to both the annexed area and to Cupertino. Policy 7-1: Annexations of Small Islands Actively pursue annexation of small islands, especially those in need of Cupertino Water Service and other municipal services to facilitate new development. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN s 1�1 • CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN E • • Implementation Program = Land Use/Community Character Element = High Priority Low Priority = Medium Priority P = Unprogrammed POLICY DESCRIPTION FOLLOW-UPACTION TIMING NUMBER (Program Summary) Program I Development Re s. Inter- CIP Agency Code Code/Ord. Guidelns. Chane Coord. 1990 1 1991 1 1992 1 1993 1 1994 2-1 Intensify urban development in Vallco Park, N. De Anza BI. and Town Center Coordinate Private Development yof 2-2 Town Center to Create Community 2 Focal Point 2-3 Allow transfer of FAR Credit between core area properties Protect residential areas from intrusive 2-5 impacts of commercial and industrial uses Implement shared driveways and 2-6 Interconnect parking lots on commercial sites 2-6 Eliminate architectural barriers to pedestrian mobility 2-13 Encourage residential and public open space next to major streets Review proposed development at 2-15 Community entries to include Gateway Treatment 2-16 Minimize number of curb cuts in each development Provide 50 It. setback for properties 2-19 fronting De Anza and Stevens Creek Blvds. 2-20 Use Design techniques to offset barrier effects of major roadways 2-21 Define neighborhood entries through architecture, landscaping 2-22 Protect neighborhoods from through traffic spillover 2-23 Provide full range of housing density and tenure type 2-24 Consider housing in non-residential developments Ensure scale and density of new d 2-25 remodel housing consistent with predominant single fam. pattern 2-26 Encourage variety in housing type and density in urban core Include private indoor/outdoor spaces 2-27 for each unit in residential developments CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN n U r1 U • entateon The General Plan must be both practical and visionary. The Plan must not be limited to a short-term viewpoint because it contains fundamental goals that it may not be possible to achieve in a prescribed period. The steps to carry out such goals must be tested yearly to be sure that they are still valid and attainable. The community should appoint a Goals Com- mittee to examine and restructure the Plan every five years to reflect changing community values. Policy 7-2: Plan Review Schedule Schedule the General Plan for review annually by the Planning Commission and every five years by an ad hoc citizen's review committee. The implementation diagram shows follow-up actions to be taken within a specific time period based on a system of priorities. The Program Code refers to the Capital Improvements Program, Legislative Review Program, or to the Community Development/Public Works Departments' annual work programs, which contain more detailed description of each ac- tivity. CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN n U I• -11 L_J • CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN Implementation Program General Plan Element: Land Use / Community Character POLICY DESCRIPTION FOLLOW-UP ACTION TIMING NUMBER (Program Summary) Program I Development Rens. Inter- Code/Ord. Guldelns. CIP Agency Code 1990 1 1991 1 1992 1 1993 1 1994 Chane Coord. 2-26 Use design techniques to reduce privacy Inbuslon from neighbors 2-29 Use design techniques to enhance security/neighborhood awareness Allow up to 5000 s.f. gfa bonus for 2-30 redevelopment of pre -1973 shopping centers according to established criteria Increase FAR to .40 or add 1 K sf over 2-31 base FAR (whichever less) for redevelopment of substandard sites. 2-32 Monitor development rate/fiscal effects to avoid market saturation Use Procedural Ord. to 'grandfather* certain uses predabng 07/10/03 2-33 City may enter into agreement with developer of hotel/convention center to develop such facility 2-34 Apply slope density lonnula to foothill residential areas 2-35 Require rural Improvement standards In hillside subdivisions 2-36 Include view of foothills/natural features In public facilities design 2-37 Irwesbgate/mitigate environmental dangers of hillside development Minimize disturbance of natural 2-36 contours, plants, trees during hillside development Allow existing commercial/recreation 2-39 uses In floodplain to remain or convert to agriculture 2-40 Designate non -recreational sites in floodplain as res. per criteria 2-41 Allow public, quasi -public uses In floodplain after review 2.42 Balance access to, protecbon Irom sun exposure for all homes 2.43 Encourage private rehabilitation and retention of landmark buildings Combine parcels <5000 s.f. If owned 2-46 contiguously; single family use allowed If stand alone ownership 2.50 Allow non-badltianal uses at De Anza College - 2-52 Allow new ddveup facilities If com- pabblllty w/surroundings shown Discourage late -hour activities except 2-53 in Vallco , Town Center or areas Isolated from residential uses CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 Implementation Program Housing Element PROGRAM SUMMARY RESPONSIBLE AGENCY FUNDING SOURCE TIMING 1985 1 1986 1 1987 1 1988 1989-90 1. Provide information regarding rezoning of commercial and industrial lands to residential for owners of these lands. Planning Dept. Staff Time (ONGOING) 2. Work with county, state, federal and private agencies in developing affordable housing; Use HUD funds to finance infrastructure Planning Dept. Staff Time HUD (ONGOING) 3. Construct 80-130 units of assisted family and elderly rental housing using state/federal subsidies if available. Develop family and elderly units in proportion to needs identified Planning Dept. Section 202 Section 8 CDBG 4. Continue participation in Section 8 (Ex.) to assist 20 very low income families and elderly households Housing Auth. of SC Co. CDBG Project sponsor Staff Time (ONGOING) 5. Develop rental and affordable ownership housing opportunities through the following combination of programs: — Continue priority processing of developments that have low/moderate income units (ONGOING) — Identify suitable sites in Figure 3-M and determine availability of surplus school sites — Excuse all/part of development fees for projects which include low -mod. income units if no adverse public impact is identified (ONGOING) — Apply for state predevelopment loans to write down predevlopment costs; use Mort- gage Revenue Bonds to finance rental construction (ONGOING) As Needed — Adopt method to implement density bonus increases per Gov. Code Section 65915 — Use City funds to asist non-profit organization to develop rental units for low and very low income households. Establish funding source and transfer funds to recipient agency in response to to RFP. 6. Determine necessity for Article 34 referendum Staff Report to City Mgr. City Funds 7. Participate in Mortgage Revenue Bond pro- grams through the county. Provide ownership housing for 20 moderate income HH's, rental units for 60 low income HH's and 120 moderate income HH's Continue City participation w/County Bond Sales City Funds (ONGOING) 8. Encourage inclusion of housing in mixed use developments by exclusing housing from FAR calculations; encourage housing in areas otherwise reserved for non-residential growth Planning Dept. Staff Time City Funds (ONGOING) 9. Review vacant lands for potential rezoning every three years including rezoning non- residential land to residential uses and increasing permitted density of residentially zoned parcels Planning Dept. Staff Time =JONGOING) CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • • Implementation Program General Plan Element: Housing PROGRAM SUMMARY RESPONSIBLE AGENCY FUNDING SOURCE TIMING 1985 1 1986 1 1987 1 1988 1989-90 10. Continue second unit ordinance. Approx- imately 100 units primarily for elderly expected; investigate financing assistance options Planning Dept. Staff Time (ONGOING) 11. Continue to support Project Match with CDBG funds; Assist 15 low income elderly households annually Planning Dept. Staff Time CDBG (ONGOING) 12. Continue to use CDBG funds to reduce costs in supplying below market rate housing through Senior Citizen Housing Fund/CDBG money Planning Dept. City Funds CDBG (ONGOING) 13. Conserve existing BMR units and 27 low income handicapped units; control BMR resale price and affordable rent schedule Planning Dept. Staff Time (ONGOING) 14. Continue code enforcement and maintenance of public areas Planning Dept. Public Wrks. Dpt. City Funds (ONGOING) 15, Provide low interest loans to 5-10 very low and low income HH'styr. to rehabilitate deficiencies and code violations per rehab. guidelines. Expand program to rental units if funds allow City Rehab Coordinator CDBG (ONGOING) 16. Continue Condominium Conversion Ord. to preserve existing supply of affordable rental units Planning Dept. Staff Time (ONGOING) 17. Provide information on loan programs and fix up techniques through the rehabilitation program City Rehab Coordinator CDBG (ONGOING) 18. Review existing City Ord. and energy pro- grams from other jurisdictions. Develop energy policies; ensure housing costs not affected Planning Dept. Staff Time (ONGOING) 19. Determine need for pre -sale code inspections. Staff Report City Funds 20. Continue the City Energy Commission's activities City Manager City Funds (ONGOING) 21. Investigate, pursue federal, state and county funded programs for expansion of rehabilitation activities Planning Dept. Staff Time CDBG (ONGOING) 22. Refer discrimination complaints to contract service agency Planning Dept. Stat/Time (ONGOING) 23. Refer landlord/tenant complaints to City established mediation agency. (ONGOING) 24. Continue support of Midpeninsula Citizens for Fair Housing through County CDBG program Santa Clara Co. MOMMOMM (ONGOING) CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN -0 E Implementation Program =High Priority =Low Priority k Circulation Element •l� = Medium Priority % = Unprogrammed [� POLICY DESCRIPTION FOLLOW-UP ACTION TIMING NUMBER (Program Summary) Program Development Re s. I Inter- CIP Code/Ord. Guidelns. Agency Code 1990 1 1991 1 1992 1 1993 1 1994 Chane Coord. 4-1 Participate in developing regional transportation solutions Strategy Preserve/Construct Rte. 85 corridor improvements Strategy Support expansion of County Transit fleet to 750 vehicles Maintain reasonable PM peak hour 4-2 traffic movement through land use limitations Limit Stevens Creek Blvd. and Strategy De Anza Blvd. to B lanes; retain 16 trip/ac. core area limit Strategy Impose FAR on commercial, office and industrial uses Strategy Carry out citywide transportation improvement plan to accommodate LOS D on major street system Plan construction of critical street 4-3. improvements to coincide with major development Strategy Require traffic study with plans for major developments Interconnect private driveways in 4-4 lieu of direct access to major streets 4.5 Protect community from harmful impacts ,(N of transportation system Develop traffic mgml. plans for 4-6 neighborhoods affected by excess levels of through traffic 4-7 Studylimplemenl techniques to discourage abusive driving 4.8 Discourage Private auto use in favor of other travel modes Strategy Encourage bicycling, motorbike use and car/van pooling Strategy Provide street space for bike lanes, ped. paths, bus turnouts Strategy Require on site bicycle facilities at industrial, comm. developments Strategy Consider jitney service btwn Town centerNallce bus transfer station and N. De Anza Blvd. 4-9 Plan comprehensive trail system consistent with regional system CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN • Implementation Program ' = High Priority = Low Priority Environmental Resources Element j •l� = Medium Priority ? = Unprogrammed POLICY DESCRIPTION FOLLOW-UP ACTION TIMING NUMBER (Program Summary) Program Development Re s. Inter- CIP Agency Code Code/Ord. Guidelns. 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 Chane Coord. 5-1 Designate Williamson Act properties for their anticipated developed use 5-2 Recognize aesthetics of farming in development review 5-3 Encourage fasmingrgrazing in hillside areas - monitor erosion 5-4 Assess air quality impacts of major developments 5-5 Consider purchase of more fuel efficient city vehicles Warn joggers, cyclists against 5-6 inhaling pollutants - expand par jogging trails per demand 5-8 Design foothill, slreamside develop- ment to minimze disrubance of vegetation/specimen trees 5-9 Use native plants near natural veg- etation and for erosion control 5.10 Limit fencing of hillside lots to area near building, not entire site 5-11 Limit recreation activity as compat- ible with preserving natural areas 5-12 Provide public access to wildlife and fishing sites 5-13 Establish mineral resource area designation to allow extraction 5-14 Control pollution, scenic restoration in mineral extraction activities 5-15 Consider passive recreation uses at abandoned quarries 5-16 Support SCVWD development of =2 ground water recharge sites in city; provide public rec. uses when poss. 5-17 Set water rate schedule to encourage conservation Encourage inclusion of conservation 5-18 measures in industrial projects with Sanitary District cooperation 5-19 Retain natural state of creek beds to enhance ground water recharge 5-20 Encourage County GP amendment 11 to reflect city RHS -20 zoning CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • C� 1 Implementation Program General Plan Element:Environmental Resources POLICY NUMBER DESCRIPTION (Program Summary) FOLLOW-UP ACTION Program Code TIMING CIP I Develo mentR s. Inter- Agency Coord. Code/Ofd. Chane Guidelns. 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 5-21 Recommend County reaffirm connection of upper/lower Stevens Creek Park 5-22 Keep Stevens Creek Reservoir 8 watershed in public ownership 5-23 Encourage interagency acquistion of green belt space on lower foothills 5-24 Acquire open space/trail linkages in Figure 5-C 5-25 Encourage continued existence of private open space facilities 5-26 Provide park space at 3 acres/1000 population 5-27 Provide park space @ 1/2 mi. safe walking distance from all households 5-28 Plan park areas at 3.5 aae minimum area for flexible use 5-29 Design parks for flexibility and low maintenance 5-30 Ensure parks are bounded by public streets; create perimeter roads 5-31 Emphasize continued development of Memorial Park 5-32 Pursue park acquistion program per Table 5-G fundung/bming priorities CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 • • Implementation Program = High Priority = Low Priority Public Health and Safety Element j •l� = Medium Priority = Unprogrammed POLICY DESCRIPTION FOLLOW-UP ACTION TIMING NUMBER (Program Summary) Program Development Reqs. Inter- CIP Code/Ord. Guidelns. Agency Code 1990 1 1991 1 1992 1 1993 1 1994 Chane Coord. 6-1 Adopt formal geologic process for new developedment 6-2 Evaluate City's critical facilities to ensure adequate seismic Ph resistance 6-3 Start public education program to reduce earthquake hazard Strategy Impose informational covenant on seismically effected properties Strategy Publish earthquake safety flyer for homeowners and businesses Strategy Activate Emergency Operation Can- ter in time of emergency 6-4 Encourage County implementa- tion of fire hazard policies in County GP 6-5 Encourage outside agencies to pursue fuel management practices 6-6 Encourage MPOSD to allow use • • of green fire breaks fil ►71 6-7 Prepare master fire for City, in- cluding level of service for land uses 6-8 Allow public access to private streets in emergency for dead end streets 6-9 Require smoke detectors in new res. structures 6-10 Discourage new construction in J urban flood hazard areas 6-11 Continue prohibiting habitable devel- opments in natural flood plains 6-12 Restrict hillside grading from April to October; replant affected slopes 6-13 Evaluate structural integrity of city • water system components l71 6-14 Use GP data to evaluate land use com- patibility with noise environment Strategy Review new/remodel housing in proximity to traffic noise sources Strategy Consider adoption of noise standard for intermittent sources CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN 0 W Ll ' Implementation Program General Plan Element:Environmental Resources POLICY DESCRIPTION FOLLOW-UP ACTION TIMING NUMBER (Program Summary) Program Development Reqs. Inter- Code/Ord. Guidelns. CIP Agency Code 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 Chane I Coors. 6-16 Design of West Valley Transportation should minimize noise intrusion 647 Support stricter miss reduction legislation @ state level 6-18 Prioritize resident convenience and safety over through commute traffic 6-19 Evaluate solutions to halt abuse of local streets, Including assessment district funded improvements 6-20 Monitor Bevel. rate/fiscal effects to avoid market saturation 6-21 Work toward voluntary truck traffic reduction at Kaiser plant 6-22 Plan new commerciatrindustrial delivery areas away from residential uses 6-23 Limit delivery hours per Municipal Code 6-24 Require noise analysis/mitigation for industrial uses now homes 6-25 Restrict hours of construction work new homes 6-26 Develop comprehensive noise ordi- nance to set maximum disturbance levels from many sources 6-28 Support Neighborhood Awareness Program to prevent crime 6-29 Consider crime reduction techniques in project planning and design 6-30 Encircle public parks with perimeter roads when possible 6-31 Broaden emergency training program access for more city employees 6-32 Lobby State to assume greater burden of emergency planninghesponse costs 6-33 Incorporate display/information update system in Emergency Operations Ctr. 6-34 Use appropriate means to encourage residents to prepare for emergencies CUPERTINO GENERAL PLAN