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PC 5-13-2025 PresentationsPC 5-13-2025 Item No.2 Objective Design Standards Presentations 7/16/2025 1 Multifamily and Mixed-Use Objective Design Standards Planning Commission Study Session, May 13, 2025 6:45 7:00 7:30 PROJECT WELCOME ODS BACKGROUND 1. 2. DEVELOPING ODS4. 3. COMMUNITY INSIGHTS5. Agenda CUPERTINO’S DESIGN PRIORITES PLANNING COMMISSION DISCUSSION 6. 1 2 7/16/2025 2 Project Welcome PROJECT TEAMWELCOME Luke Connolly Assistant Director of Community Development, City of Cupertino Piu Ghosh Planning Manager, City of Cupertino Greg Goodfellow Senior Associate II, PlaceWorks Charlie Knox Principal, PlaceWorks 3 4 7/16/2025 3 City of Cupertino Objective Design Standards Welcome to the Cupertino ODS Project The City is in the process of developing Objective Design  Standards (ODS) for all types of multi‐family and residential  mixed‐use development projects.  Tonight’s study session has 3 goals:  1.Explain what ODS are and why the City is developing them. 2.Illustrate potential approaches to ODS and existing ODS.  3.Solicit Planning Commissioner feedback on design priorities and ODS  approaches.   ODS Background 5 6 7/16/2025 4 City of Cupertino Objective Design Standards CA Housing: A Statewide Challenge Insufficient supply »80,000/decade built v. 180,000/year needed. Unaffordability   »Lowest ownership rates since 1940. »1.5 million households devote 50% of income to rent. »22% of national homeless population. Challenges  »Materials, labor, state & local regulations. City of Cupertino Objective Design Standards CA Housing: Legislative Response Two themes: 1.California needs multifamily housing. 2.Discretionary review constrains production. One common provision »Subjective criteria can not be used to determine eligibility for residential streamlining. SB 330: Housing Crisis Act »“Cities can’t disapprove…a multifamily housing project, including through design review…unless project is shown to be inconsistent with ‘objective, quantifiable standards.’” 7 8 7/16/2025 5 City of Cupertino Objective Design Standards CA Housing: A Statewide Response Multiple laws require objective criteria:  »SB 423 (SB 35): Streamlined Ministerial Approval »SB 330: Housing Crisis Act »SB 167: Housing Accountability Act »SB 6: Middle Class Housing Act »SB 9: Housing Opportunity and More Efficiency  Act »AB 2011: Affordable Housing and High Road Job  Act City of Cupertino Objective Design Standards ODS: Preserving Local Design Control Traditional design guidelines no longer have approval authority. ODS: Design standards that involve no personal or subjective judgment by a public official and are uniformly verifiable by reference to an external and uniform benchmark or criterion. •Measurement •Definable requirement  •Rate  •True/false •Score •Numeric range  •Required quantifiable options 9 10 7/16/2025 6 City of Cupertino Objective Design Standards Subjective vs. Objective City of Cupertino Objective Design Standards ODS: Applicable Development Subject to ODS »All multifamily (2+ units) residential   projects. »Includes townhomes.  »All residential mixed‐use projects  with at least 30% residential. Not subject to ODS »Single family homes. »Non‐infill sites (less than 75%  developed perimeter).  »Hazardous sites. »Natural resource impact. »Wetlands site. »Historic impact. 11 12 7/16/2025 7 City of Cupertino Objective Design Standards ODS v. Zoning Standards Zoning standards »Regulate all types of uses. »Regulate development basics such as  building height, setbacks and lot size.  »Intent is safe, consistent, context‐ sensitive built environment, not  streamlining.   ODS »Limited to housing projects.  »Regulate design and aesthetics only,  with the goal of streamlined review.  »Existing MU/MF zoning standards  still apply.  »Do not repeat or conflict with  zoning.   Cupertino’s Design Priorities 13 14 7/16/2025 8 City of Cupertino Objective Design Standards Design Direction: General Plan Plan sites to enhance streetscapes. Promote diverse architecture and  articulation.  Design active frontages for inviting  pedestrian environments.  Link blocks, boulevards and nodes. Reduce visual impact of parking.  City of Cupertino Objective Design Standards Design Direction: Specific Plans Screen unsightly building features.  Allow for special architectural features. Design livable common & private open  spaces. Promote variety in building facades via  window, materials and other design  details.   Require attractive, landscaped  easements.  15 16 7/16/2025 9 City of Cupertino Objective Design Standards Design Direction: Zoning Code Building stepbacks.  Standards for visual privacy.  Balcony and private open space standards. Vehicle entryway limits. Various townhome design standards.  Building glass and lighting standards. Developing ODS 17 18 7/16/2025 10 City of Cupertino Objective Design Standards ODS Balance: Design Control and Streamlining Simple ODS ODSSubjective Guidelines •Few decision points •Rapid streamlining •Less control of design details •Infinite decision points •No streamlining •Most local control City of Cupertino Objective Design Standards Adopted Standards: Site Design Focused on  layout »Building orientation »Pedestrian access »Frontages »Parking location »Corner sites 19 20 7/16/2025 11 City of Cupertino Objective Design Standards Adopted Standards: Site Design Focused on site‐ wide aesthetics »Design themes »Architectural styles »Visual consistency  »Roof and facade  standards  City of Cupertino Objective Design Standards Adopted Standards: Massing and Roofline Required setbacks  depending on  building height  Use of setbacks Pitched roof  standards Flat roof standards  21 22 7/16/2025 12 City of Cupertino Objective Design Standards Adopted Standards: Target Landscaping Focal Point Landscape Standards   »Entries »Plazas »Terminal points of pedestrian pathways   Surface Parking Landscape  Standards  »Required Buffers  »Islands planting  »“Fingers”  City of Cupertino Objective Design Standards Adopted Standards: Trash and Services »Trash enclosures shall be finished  using at least two (2) materials used  on primary building.  »Trash enclosures visible from upper  stories of adjacent structures shall  have an opaque horizontal  cover/screen.  »Storage areas shall not be closer  than 20 feet from doors or operable  windows of adjacent structures.  23 24 7/16/2025 13 City of Cupertino Objective Design Standards Adopted Standards: Exterior Lighting Lighting Fixtures. All building‐and ground‐mounted  lighting shall be oriented away from the street and  adjacent properties and be fully shielded so that no light  is emitted above a 90‐degree angle. 2.4.4.2 Entryway Illumination. The front porch, landing,  other recessed entryway, including garage recess, shall  include a lighting element consistent with the design,  materials, and/or color of the structure. 2.4.4.3 Ground‐Mounted Lighting. Ground‐mounted  lighting to illuminate driveway edges, landscaped areas,  or stair approaches shall be limited to three feet tall. City of Cupertino Objective Design Standards Adopted Approach: ODS “Checklist” For use by  applicant and  city staff 25 26 7/16/2025 14 Community Insights 27 28 7/16/2025 15 City of Cupertino Objective Design Standards Large Projects: Connectivity and Orientation »“Driveways with  just garages do  not create  communities”  »“Projects with 4+  units must have at  least 1 entrance  driveway  and 1  separate exit  driveway.”  PC 5-13-2025 Item No.3 Steven's Creek Blvd. Corridor Vision Study Presentations A Multijurisdictional Long-Range Planning Study Stevens Creek Blvd Corridor Vision Study Matthew Schroeder City of Cupertino Senior Transportation Planner Project Background History •Informally initiated in 2017 as a working group for regional transportation coordination with VTA, Santa Clara, San Jose, and the County. The project was initiated in 2019 with the adoption of Resolution No. 19-089. Purpose •Develop an aspirational community ‘vision’ for the Corridor •Balancing the needs of all roadway users •Not an immediate, prescriptive plan •Phased approach based on agency discretion Cupertino’s Role Directed by Resolution No. 19-089 •Support efforts to study improving transit efficiency and streetscape. •Support continuing ongoing conversations regarding high- capacity transit service along the Corridor, with the understanding that it would: •Not use general-purpose lanes or adversely impact vehicular capacity on City surface streets; •Be grade-separated and time-competitive with automobile travel; •Study an alternate alignment along I-280. Project Location Project Limits •Stevens Creek Boulevard/West San Carlos Street (9 miles) •From Foothill Blvd in Cupertino to Diridon Station in San Jose Project Location Project Limits •Stevens Creek Boulevard/West San Carlos Street (9 miles) •The roadway varies along the Corridor Project Location Project Structure Group Roles & Responsibilities •Steering Committee -5 members •Elected officials from Cupertino, Santa Clara, San José, Santa Clara County, and VTA •Community Advisory Group (CAG) -12 members •Residents, businesses, and advocacy groups •The Public •Surveys, webinars, and pop-up events •Outreach led by Winter Consultants Project Schedule Community Outreach Engagement Methods •Stakeholder interviews (40) •Focus groups (4) •Pop-Ups (7) •Corridor tours (4) •Online webinars (4) •Community Advisory Group meetings (4) •Steering Committee meetings (5) •Website/agency communications/surveys Community Outreach Engagement Methods •Agencies provided an equivalent amount of outreach Cupertino Events •De Anza Farmers Market •Cupertino 4 All Regular Meeting •Bike Corridor Tour •Steering Committee Corridor Tour •High School Student Virtual Corridor Tour •Walking/Transit Corridor Tour •College Student Virtual Focus Group •De Anza Flea Market Community Outreach Community Feedback by Phase The Vision Vision Statement •“The Stevens Creek Boulevard Corridor transportation infrastructure changed little in the past 50 years while the area it serves grew into a worldwide hub of innovation. Therefore, we envision the transportation corridor our community deserves to support continued residential and commercial vibrancy: safe and enjoyable travel for people of every age, ability, and chosen mode.” The Vision Vision Statement “Residents, businesses, and visitors would be served by: •A high-capacity transit system supported by station access enhancements to connect the Cities of Cupertino, Santa Clara, and San José from Diridon Station and Downtown San José to De Anza College within twenty minutes, with connection to Foothill Boulevard, for reliable travel to local and regional destinations. Station areas would be well- maintained and inviting community assets. •A stress-free and enjoyable walking and bicycling environment. High-quality pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure would be prioritized to connect neighborhoods to the corridor within a 20-minute walk of transit stops. •Safe and efficient vehicle travel would be accommodated for connections to neighborhoods, businesses, and expressways and freeways. This Vision would be implemented by an open and inclusive process of continuous evaluation to promote equitable access and use.” Recommended Projects ‘Implementation’ Plan •Near-Term (5 Years) •Corridor identity and maintenance •Bus speed, reliability, and experience •Enhanced corridor walking and biking infrastructure and connections •Mid-Term (10 Years) •Intersection and crossing improvements •Long-Term (20+ Years) •Separated, high-capacity transit Near-Term Projects Corridor Identity and Maintenance •Convene businesses and business groups to explore: •Joint advertising and branding opportunities •Marketing and special events •Public safety and hospitality •Small business grants/loans •Communicate business resources to Corridor businesses. •Coordinate street cleaning and maintenance, including graffiti removal and sidewalk and vegetation maintenance. •Reduce the speed limit to 35 miles per hour from Lawrence Expressway to Harold Avenue. •Coordinate vehicle speed enforcement and speed education efforts. •Develop a process for ongoing community input and engagement for corridor issues through the Stevens Creek Boulevard Corridor Steering Committee. Near-Term Projects Bus Speed, Reliability, and Experience •Complete an administrative policy for the four agencies operating signals in the Corridor to cooperate with VTA to implement a corridor-wide transit signal priority through a centralized system. •VTA will develop a Speed and Reliability Improvement Plan for the frequent network routes. •Cupertino does not support the conversion of general-purpose lanes for transit. Near-Term Projects Enhanced Corridor Walking and Biking Infrastructure and Connections •Physically protect/separate/buffer bicycle lanes while maintaining access to driveways. •Widen sidewalk widths consistent with City standards •Plant shade trees. •Review locations for installation of median refuge islands. •Implement existing agency plans. •Review the potential for leading pedestrian intervals at signalized intersections (LPIs). •Implement pedestrian-oriented lighting when street lighting is installed or replaced in the corridor. Mid-Term Projects Intersection and Crossing Improvements •Implement enhanced, high- visibility crossings for pedestrians and bicyclists. •Implement curb extensions and protected intersections. •Prioritize crossings of barriers for pedestrians and bicycles •Review key hotspots for crossing improvements, such as Monroe Street and Stevens Creek Boulevard at I-880, for potential reconfiguration to accommodate clearer travel patterns for all modes. Long-Term Project Separated High-Capacity Transit •Continue conversations and pursue grant funding to study the project. Example Project Delivery Timeline •Preliminary Engineering (2025-2028) •Design and Engineering (2029-2030) •Environmental Clearance (2031-2036) •Utility Relocation (2037-2039) •Construction (2040-2045) Final Steering Committee Meeting December 18, 2024 •Acknowledged the participation of new members on the Steering Committee moving forward due to recent elections. •Supported a review of the document and proposed that each agency organize a study session tailored to the needs of each jurisdiction. •Approved the amended plan, changing the name from Implementation Plan to Recommendation Plan. Cupertino BPC Meeting April 16, 2025 •Passed a motion recommending that the City Council accept the Study with specific qualifications. •The City maintains final decision-making authority regarding any projects or recommendations contained within the Vision Study. •The BPC reaffirms the City’s commitment to the provisions contained within Resolution 19-089. •All projects within the City of Cupertino, including any intersection modifications, will conform to the City’s standard processes, plans, and procedures relating to public outreach and approval. Next Steps Ongoing Coordination •Reconvene the long-term Stevens Creek Vision Steering Committee and staff working group to lay out near-, mid-, and long-term strategies for projects. •Pursue grant opportunities to advance project recommendations. •Accepting the Plan now doesn’t constitute the approval of approving the Plan’s recommended projects, like the grade- separated transit project. Recommended Action •Recommend that the City Council accept the Stevens Creek Boulevard Corridor Vision Study.