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Environmental Center EIR-DeAnza Racquet Club - 1974
Environmental Winter a 111�1/ 6 �e 0 � f� � L CiE i� AGREEMENT FOR PREPARATION OF - DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT AGREEMENT mane by the CITY OF CUPERTIVO, a municipal corporation of -he State of California, hereinafter referred to as "City", and Center for Environmental Design, a California corporation, hereinafter referred to as "Center". R E C I T A L S A. In connection with the proposed De Anza Racquet Club and De Anza Village Green Project in City, City has determined that the project may have s substantial effect upon the environment; and P. Ac,�ording_ly, the Environmental Review Committee of City has deter- mined that an Environmental Impact Report will be required in connection with said project; and C. The Environmental Review Committee of City has selected Center to prepare a draft Environmental Impact Report with respect to said project. NOW, THEREFORE, City and Center hereby ,agree as follows: 1. Center shall prepare a draft Environmental Impact Report with respect to the proposed De Anza Racquet Club and De Anza Village Green in City, based upon existing data, and any additional data which may have to be developed properly to assess he effect of the project upon the environ- ment, in accordance with Ci_ty's Environmental Assessment Procedure, dated March 27, 1973, as amended, emphasizing therein the following foul areas: a) Traffic information is necessary to properly understand the t imp•sct of the development on the intersection of Stevens Creek Boulevard and Stelling Road. b) Interrelationship of recreational/commercial/residential land uses need further investigation and identification. -1- • c) Internal traffic circulation relationship relative to recreational and cowerc.'al uses need further exploration, d) To the extent pcasible, infarmation needs to be developed concerning air and noise pollution impacts relative to the residential/recreational land use adjacent to heavily- travelled public streets. 2. Center shall supply City with four preliminary copies and twenty- eight finished copies of the draft Environmental Impact Report. 3. Richard S. Frisbie shall act as Project *tanager for the report, and Richard S. Frisbie shall be required to attend up to four meetings of the City Council or Planning Commission of City, in connection with the review and presentation of the draft Environmental Impact Report. 4. City shall pay Center, upon completion of the services herein- above described, a fee based upon a time and material basis, with the total price not to exceed Four tnou::and dollars ($4,000.00) . Direct labor shall be billed in accordance with the Schedule of Billing Rates for Individuals which is marked Exhibit "A" and is attached hereto and made a part hereof by reference. Other direct charges shall be billed at Center's cost. Any additional services, provided by Center beyond those services described above shall be billed separately, on a time and material basis, but such additional services shall riot be performed, and Center shall not be entitled to receive any compensation therefor, unless prior written approval of such additional services has been giver, by City. 5. Center represents to City that it is skilled in the professional calling necessary to perform the services hereinab ., lescribed, and that it has not heretofore been employed by or associated with Donald 0. Bandley, Cupertino Realty, Inc. , Equity Development Co. , Inc. , Ralph Saich, John Saich or Robert Saich, and it has no ;financial interest in the project. -2- 6. City shall make available to Center all information and data which • it has in its possession, or under its control, which may be helpful to Center in performing the services hereinabove described. 7. AY 4ata developed, together with the draft Environmental Impact Report, st ecome the property of City. 8. The .us of Center shall be that of an independent contractor, and Center shall indemnify and save harmless City from any and all claims, d- ands or liability by or to any person for injuries to person or damage to property arising out of its performance of the services provided for by this Agreement. 9. This is the whole agreement of the parties, and may not be modified except by an instrument in writing executed by the party against whom the enforcement of any modification, waiver or discharge is sought. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement, in duplicate, this day of 4: n ALfZ , 1974. CITY OF CUPERTINO, a municipal corporation of the State of California By Mayor ATTEST: CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL. DESIGN, a California corporatioi y Clerk Approved as to form: By DAVI H. ADAMS City Attorney -3- E::hibit A RATE SCHEVULE 0 PLANNING, RESERACH, WRITING, ANV SITE VESIGN Richard S. Frisbie, Planner, AIP $35.00/hr Edwin Wood, LandscapL Architect 35.O0/hr Cedric Phelps, Site Planner 25. 00/hr g Barbara Rudge, Resei ac.ier 25.00/hr ENGINEERING Ben White, Civil Engineer, RE#13247 $35. 00/hr Rod Andrade, Project Engineer 25. 00/hr SOILS AND GEOLOGY Murray Levishr Vice President $35. 00/hr Larry Pavlak, Assistant Geologist 20. 00/hr TRAFFIC John Forristal , Traffic Engincc.r $35. 051/hr Jim Robertson , Traffic Engineer 35 . i'O/hr SJNIC Ed Pack, President , Principal Con5,ultajzt $35. (�0/hr Ballard IL George, Senior Acou tical Engineer 25. 0/hr AIR nc1ALITY Don :".fyronuk, Mechanical Engineer $25. 00/hr BIOTIC Bill Anderson, Wildlife Specialist & Horticulturist $25. 00/h.r Randy Morgan , Wildlife Specialist: & Horticulturist 25. 00/hi ARCHEOLOGY Miley Holman, Archeologist $15. 00/hr TYPING Sherin Cole, Secretary $12. 00/hr PRINTING San Jose Blue Print At Cost Center for Environmental Design At Cost REH LMION NO. 3757 A RESOLUTION OF Ti : CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CUPERTINO ArTHORIZ G EXECUTION 07 AGREE14M FOR AN ENWIP.O:ti iEMMAL MACT REPORT FOR DE A, RACQUET CLUE AND DE ANZA VILLAGE GREE,# CONDOMINIUMS WHEREAS, the City of Cupertino desires consulting services for preparation of a draft Environmental Lzpact Report for the De Anza Racquet Club and De Arza Village Green Condominiums; and WHEREAS, an agreement has been presented to the City Council for such services to be rendered by the consulting firm of Center for Environmental Design; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and the City Clerk are hereby authorized to execute the agreement herein referred to in behalf of the City of Cupertino. PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cupertino this 8th day of October , 197t, by the follos:ing vote: Vote Members of the City Council AYES: Frolich, Jackson, Meyers, Nellis, Sparks NOES: None ABSENT: `one ABSTAIN: None APPROVED: ATTEST: /s/ Reed Sparks Mayor, City of Cupertino /s/ bit. E. Ryder City Clerk THIS IS TO CERTI:v f-• - - INSTRUMENT ISATPLVE A`JJ OF THE ORIGINAL ON FILE IN THIS OFF,;.'. ATTEST CITY CLERK OF' THE CITY OF CUPERTINO By- _- CITY CLERK^ Y O aI ` December 16, 1974 a DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT ON i 'VE ANIA RACQUET CLUB 6 VILLAGE GREEN CLUSTER VETACHED HOMES ' Cupertino, California Prepared by: ENVIRONMENTAL CENTFR, DIVISION OF MACKAY & SOMPS Air Quality Dr. Donald Myronuk 1407 Bryan Avenue San Jose, California 95113 Biotic Ed Wood Landscape Architect Environmental Center, Division of MacKay & Somps f 3563 Ryder Street i Santa Clara, California 95051 Engineering Terence Sclna Civil Engineer Environmental Center, Division of MacKay & Somps 3563 Ryder Street Santa Clara, California 95051 Planning Richard S. Frisbie, AIP Environmental. Center, Division of MacKay & Somps 3563 Ryder Street Santa Clara, California 95051 Sonic Edward L. Pack Associates, Inc. 2940 Scott Boulevard Santa Clara, California 95050 Traffic John J. Forristal 3320 Grand Avenue Oakland, California 94610 i f, This nepoAt was pAepaned by contAact with ,the City 06 CupeAt.ino � Fj .in accord with State and Local EIR Gu.idet.ines . Upon Aece.ipt o$ comments SAom ou", ide agencies and inteAested .ind.iv.iduats and/ oA groups; the tpad agency causes to be ptepaRed the d4nat EIR. ` ThAough this process the FIR evotves as an objective, eompAehen- s.ive, and comptete evacuation od -`he env�iAonmentat e��ects assoc- j .iated with the pto jeet. The EIR pAoeess ,in .intended to enabte � pubt.ic agencies to evacuate a p4o1 ect to deteAm.ine whethe4 it may have a s.ign.ig.icant eggeet on .the env.iAonment, examine and 4nat i.tu.te methods o 5 Aeduc.ing adveaa a impacts , and cons.ideA aP_teAnatives to the ptojeet as proposed. An EIR may not be used as an insttument to Aational.ize appAovat og a pto;ect, noh do indications o g adveAs a impact, as enunciated .in an EIR. Aequ.iAe that a pto j eet be di4 a ppto ved---public agencies Aetain existing autho4 ity to balance env.iAonmental objectives with economic and social obi ect.ives . 'Although .the Envitonmental Centet, Viv.is-ion og MacKay 9 Somps has used its best eggoAts to ptepate a complete and competent tepoAt, the Env.itonmertat CenteA, V.iviA i on o g MacKay 9 Somps , shacc not be .t.iabce got cost on damages og any client oA thi4d paAt.ies caused by delay of .teAm.ina.tion o g any pro 1 ect due to 'ud.ieac oA administtative action, whetheA oA not such aetiun .is based on .the goAm of content og this AepoAt oA poAt.ion prepated by the Env.iAonmentat CenteA, V iv.is.ion o g MacKay £ Somps . Any services og stagg oA sub-consultants og the Env.itonmen.tat Cen.teA tequ.iAed by any patty in any litigation on oA ,Le.tated to this EIR shall be paid got by the patty tequestina such setv.iees at the standard euttent Env.itonmental Centet consulting Aates . r�rr"I NIA L c T� s�� e�ae �M. INDEX I. PRIiECT mCRIPTION • { B. OB J BCTI♦ES . • • • . • • . • . . • • • • . • . • • • • • 2 C. CHARACTERISTICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 IY. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING . . . . . . . . . . " S YII. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT A. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED ACTION . . . . . . . 13 9 1. Direct/Indirect Impacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 2. Alterations to Ecological Systems . . . . . . . . . . 16 3. Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 4. Physical Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 5. Population, Distribution and Concentration . . . . . 23 6. Public Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 7. water Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 8. Scenic Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 9. Human Use of the Land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 B. ADVERSE ENVIRON131ENTAL EFFECTS WHICH CANNOT BF AVOIDED IF THE PROJECT IS IMPLEMENTED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 C. MITIGATION MEASURES PROPOSED TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT. . . 48 D. ALTER*sATIVES TO THE PROPOSED A:TION . . . . . . . . . . 50 1. No Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 2. Alternatives to the Project or the Location, which could obtain basic: objectives. . . . . . . . . . . . 50 3. Alternatives that reduce or elimir,:tte environmentally adverse impacts, which substantially impede the attainment of project objectives . . . . . . . . . . .52 �.s I E. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOCAL SHORT—TERM USES OF MAN'S K VIROMdENT AND THE MAINTENANCE AND ENHANCEMENT OF LONG—TERM PRODUCTIVITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 F, IRREVERSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES WHICH WOULD BE INVOLVED 7N THE PROPOSED ACTION SHOULD T BE IMPLEMENTED . . . . . 54 G. GROWTH INDUCING IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT . . . . . 55 H. APPENDIX J 3 IN V 1 0 N rl ZN TA L C Z K T 8 A 4, I. PROJECT OESCRIPTTON A. LOCATION The 13i acre project sitq is located on the northwestern corner of the Stevens Creek Boulevard and Stelling Road intersection in the County of Santa Clara and the City of Cupertino. The - bite is across the street from De Anza College and- adjacent to - a city park currently under construction. . = v+ HOMESTEAD RD i RT 2 8 0 J Q pe Z �1 Z STEVENS CREEK BLVD PROJECT SITE MCCLELLA N RD & T tN z 1 J � W a I. PROJECT OESCRIVTION OBJECTIVES e As there are two project sponsors, one for the racquet club I and the other for .f.,he detached cluster hooe=s, the objectives Y of each sponsor differ, excepting the common and primary goal i of developing the land for profit. Another common objective is to have the city approve the requested zoning for the respec- tive land uses envisioned. Sponsors of the racquet club intend to be owner operators of the facility ; and as such, want tc, produce and operate a high level commercial tennis, swimming, and restaurant-bar-banquet complex. . The detached cluster homes' sponsor wants to create a housing complex Embodying salient characteristics of both town houses and single family detached homes. With such a concept , the buyer is expected to be single, young-m4rried, semi-retired and/or i a empty nesters. Consequently, persons living in the complex must be sixteen years of age and older since the CC&R' s will place that restriction on the land. L f t ar.s�awr �s I. PROJECT OESCR I PT I Oft C. CHARACTERISTICS Since there are two major aspects to the project(s) , the char- acteristics are summarized separately. ' . Racquet Ctub a. General The racquet club will offer memberships (800) for sale to the general public, which will give them full use of the facilities. In addition , a public restaurani is planned that may be used by non-members (general public) as well as members. Twenty tennis courts are planned, twelve of which are adjacent and easterly of the club � house. The remaining eight are westerly of (and sep- arated b the off street y parking from) the club house. � A large poc ! is also envisioned alonZ with three indoor handball f.;ourts. Vehicular access to the site is from both Stelling Road and Stevens Creek Boulevard. Tennis courts are to be slightly depressed along these major ! streets. The site plan is laid out so that it can develop independent of the adjacent cluster detached home concept ,although there will probably be a special membership program for residents of the cluster project . b. Site Plan Factors Gross Site Area 6.44 a Net Site Area 6. 37 ac *as per cent of net site* • Building (2 stories, 1.6,000 sq. ft . ) Coverage, including deck .05 % Pool (56 ft by 70 ft) 'and Decking . .05 % Tennis Courts 52.0 % Parking "140 spaces) & Vehicular Movement 20.0 Landscaped Area 27.0 TOTAL 100.0 r 41" c. Building Factors Number of Family Members 803 Maximum number of employees there at one time 028 Number of restaurant seats (open to public) IUG Number of banquet room seats (c.raen to public) Os Number of bar-lounge seats (open to public) 126 Number of seats on outdoor deck (Private) 145 *lower level* Three indoor handball courts 2,e,40 S.F. Pro-shop 600 S.F. Womens Locker Room 1, :00 S.F. Mens Locker Room 1 , 488 S. F. Storage 1 ,050 S.F. *upper level* Banquet Room 1 , 024 S. F. Bar-Lounge 1 , 888 S.F. Dining Room (Restaurant) 2:11166 S.F. Kitchen l'500 S. F. d. Major Public Improvements Sidewalks will be installed on Stevens Creek. Stelling Road is improved with an additional 40 feet of paving (total right-of-way of 90 feet) , which brings the street to a curb to curb dimension of 70 feet. Cirbs, gutters, and street lights are to be installed along Stelling. The sanitary sewer exists within Stelling; but a storm sewer will be installed in Stelling (city cost responsibility) . 2. S.ingZe Fam.it y Detached-Ctus.;'_en Homes . a. General The homes, single and multi-storied, are situated can small. lots (approximately 2,400 square feet) with t.reas outside of the 1(�t (common green, landscaper) areas, ` Pat �l�211MAi III $IRS a a� etstastaEL •s ,. eACQUET BY • 57'EVE7l.�a �K•v�`iII ' —71 ---- 1 ! v-.�: L•.'i tU.'. __ r......1.� EP ':mac; .,J.:ir S- streets, and recreation facilities) owned by an automatic, marditory homeowners' association. Each home is separated (on the side) from the neighboring home by a minimum of five feet. Narrow fingers of common open space separate the rears of the homes and some side to rear juxtapositions of homes. Vehicular access to the site is by two private streets off of Alves Avenue --- one serving 28 homes and the other serving 40 homes. These private streets have several dead ends without prob•ision for turn aroune. facilities. Private street widths vary from 20 to 22 feet, with the larger dimension occurring where entrance to a double car garage (depr.:ssed two feet from street grade) along with an entrance to the one-space-carport r adjacent to each garage. Additional. guest parking spaces are provided on-site in selected locations. A private recreation facility conplete with pool and club house is located near the center of the site with M visitor parking nearby. The club house is planned to have a fireplace, , kitchen;, barbecue, game areas, 6 lounge, sauna bath , exercise room, showers, and rest- rooms. Homes vary in square footage from 1 . 100 to 1 ,600 square feet; sell at an estimated price raLge of $45, 950- $66,950; and have two bedrooms with eight models having Ma study/den. Each home has two bathrooms, perhaps a powder room in larger ones, and dining room separated from the living room, or within the enclosed kitchen. Featured in each model are fireplaces, wet bar, refriger- ator/freezer, dishwasher, garbage disposal , and compactor, self-cleaning oven , electric barbeque, intercommunication to entrances with electric lock. Home designs incorporate 8 fully insulated reflective walls and ceilings, weather s`.rfpping, and economizer central heating systems with prco ision to add cooling unit at a later date with a minimum expense. Views out of each unit are to an enclosed private patio or deck, providing privacy, security, and second entrance to the home. Also, a decorative security fence is planned around the perimeter of the project. External appearance of the units is to be a compatible variation of contemporary with combination of redwood, shingles, stucco, and masonry. •b. Site Plan Specifics Net Site Area 6. 71 ac Number of homes 68 Number of homes/net acre 10. 1 Number of uncovered parking spaces 33 Number of covered parking spaces 68 Number of enclosed parking spaces 136 *Per %.ent of net site* Building Coverage (includes 4. 3 per cent car port coverage) 35.0 1 Uncovered Vehicular Area 23.6 Common & landscaped Open Space 26 . 8 % Private Open Space 14. 6 % TOTAL 100. 0 Parking ratio/home 3.5 7 c. Building Factors Number of two bedroom homes 60 Number of two bedroom with den homes 8 Minimum Patio Size 12 ft x 30 ft Square footage in Recreation building 1,Fe0 S.F. Estimated Population/home 2.0 Total Population 136 d. Major Public Improvements Alves Drive is improved as a 60 feet right-of-way with 40 feet paving curb to curb, sidewalks on development side of the street , street lights, sanitary sewer, and storm drains (part of the city's responsiblity to drain the city park) . Stelling Road is improved with an additional 40 feet of paving (total right-of-way of 90 feet) , which brings the street to a curb to curb dimension of 70 feet . Curbs, gutters, and street lights are ,to be installed along Stelling Road. The sanitary sewer exists within Stelling; but a storm sewer will be installed (city cost responsibility) , which drains the city park sander construction. 2 W, 91It0N Vol 2DITAL CUSNT R TT. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING This portion o g .the Aepo tt dea cA.ibea certain aspects o6 the env4Aonmentat setting .in the area where the project .is to be toeated, pA.ioA to pro f eet .imptementat.ion. Since there have at- Aeady been others EIR's prepared .in the vicinity and fors the recent Generat ptan Amendment, this EIR tends to be a move spec.iSie evatuat.ion of the project. Readers dest.A.ing the genetat aapeeta are encouraged to Aev.iew 6.i.te4 .in the p.ta►cn.ing depattme►:t pe ta.in.ing to such areas as geotogy, drainage, and atcheo.togy. Addit.i.onatty, puAauant to direction o6 the EnviAcnmentat Review Committee o6 the City, as ezpAessed .in .the.i.A minutes dated September 19, 1914, . . . " the ¢o.t.teiv.ing areas should tece.iv f p4imaty conaiderat.ion as part og the Report: i i 1. Traffic information is necessary to properly understand the impact of the development on the intersection of Stevens Creek Boulevard and Stelling Road. 2. Interrelationship of recreational/commercial/residential land uses need further investigation and indentification. 3. Internal traffic circulation relationship relative to recreation-- al and commercial uses need f,,rther exploration. ' 4� To the extent possible, information needs to be developed concerning air and noise pollution impacts relative to the j residential/recreational land use adjacent to heavily tr-veiled public streets. . . " This EIR speaks to the above .items and many ,many mare. The site is located in the City of Cupertino, which comprises approximately eight square miles. The city is situated in the Santa Clara Valley, 20 rules south of the nearest seaport terminal of Redwood City, 375 miles north of Los Angeles, and 42 miles south of San Francisco. Cupertino' s central location and modern freeways give easy access to other cities. Cupertino is a "total community' with commercial, industrial, recreation, and residential areas. Current city population 'is estimated to be 23,600 with another 10,000 in the unincorporated area. Population increases vary from year to year but averaged about 1 ,350 new residents per year over the last five years. As of November 1, 1974, there were approximate- ly 8,000 housing units in the city, consisting of 3,712 single . family homes, 1,128 high and/or cluster density, 462 duplexes, and 2,699 apartments. The unincorporated area has approximately 11,352 housing units consisting of 6,953 single family homes, 1,128 high density, 530 duplexes, and 2, 741 apartments. The incorporated area encompasses approximately 5, 110 acres with 2,646 acres developed, 917 acres in the low land areas available for development , and 1 ,547 in hill area available for development . The urban service area encompasses approximately 6,240 acres with f 1, 100 acres in the low land area available for development , and 1,120 in hill area available for development. ,I Land use in the local vicinity of the site includes several major use activities. Vallco Park commercial and office complex, is approximately 1. 7 miles east ; the Town Center of Cupertino is approximately . 9 miles southeasterly; and De Anza College is directly across Stevens Creek Boulevard from the site. Other land i use surrounding the site includes across Stelling Road proceeding in a northerly direction from Stevens Creek Boulevard are a service station , open lot used for (it appears) auto storage , a church, :and a single family home lot fronting on Alves Drive; the north boundary is orchard; and the westerly boundary is the City ' s Central park, currently under construction. The central park's f Phase II is the only pending development in the immediate vicinity of the site, although a shopping complex is under construction west of the site on Stevens Creek Boulevard. AA San Watn'ut Caeek �� 'BPJt.��Lesf COUTRA COSTA CO. Saa �l ° Fna► ci6CO Oak.Land <� { San w FhanciA eo ; o ( Bay ALAMEDA CO. teaaanton �v- San � ywatd Mateo \� Fnemon t.. Pat v� l to SANTA CLARA CO. r Qnta SAN MATEO C.Lana M -i SITE I a ka.tog a San Jobe f Lob GQtob ► E G I C"01 N A L M AC •" � �._ a.e� ts � �IOg1►EAO 0 1 1 f! • or .s • •-Le < { Th Now •- a ,• � . QI / V�Ilop 6v�Y1► • f r fLTsfht! •- GARDEN GATEB { s• • ELr t o < r SG100L • , o � r,., � C•e.mtest p�, ° Aw i • T`Id10 �• • p �L St. Ats ULLLIL .� waoto/a pT i 1 J 1 J i _ 1 GLEN®ROOK -j plac • �C Fwaves streetPer lk m j �.{ l s * i { tF ; PROJECT SITE ....: iiih - a 1 `J y i CENTRAL I PARK STEvEM4 , C•r+ E E 1% -- — f AA E R DE ANZA COLLEGE r, . . u liol old EARIA f k ELEOIENTARY� CDpQ SCHOOLID �� 00 i �. D® Topography of the site is basically level, with the surface falling . at a falrly uniform rate from an elevation of approximately 2 , feet at its most southwesterly corner to an elevation of approximate- . ly 265.0 feet at its most northeasterly corner. The average rate of fall is a 1.8 per cent. Biotic conditions on this site are not unusual. The site topography is basically level, and the dominant flora on-site is a well maintained mature orchard comprised mainly of apricots and prunes with a lessen amount of cherries and a few scattered fig trees. There are a few ornamental shrubs and trees surrounding the old home and barn. The most dominant of these is a 3±. feet caliber Interior Live Oak, which is an outstanding specimen. Included in these. ornamentals are two 2± feet caliber Canary Island Date Palms in good quality ` aving caliper and height that could classify them as specimens. Other ornamentals are of lesser size and lack: intrinsic value. An active bird population was evident at the time of survey. Most of the biros were searching for focJ or "flying through the orchard. i Birds observed include: Starling, Common Crow, Rock Dove, Mocking- bird, Anna' s Hummingbird, Red-Shafted Flicker, Brown Towhee, White- crowned Sparrow, Oregon Junco, and Blue Jay. No rare or endangered f specie- listed on the State or Federal Wildlife list of rare or endangered species were sighted or are believed to ,inhabit the site. Mammals sighted were the Fox Squirrel , and the California Ground Squirrel. Signs of an active gopher population were evident , too. Air quality in the area is not unique to the region in general . The major sources of air pollution in the vicinity of the site are the vehicles travelling along Stevens Creek Boulevard and Stelling Road. Vehicular movement along Route 85 and Route 280 have little effect on site air quality. The location of the site in the Santa Clara Valley is significant in the description of current as well as future air quality on-site. Air parcels Jr contaminated with pollutants released by stationary and mobile r -urces, have shown a tendency to drift in a southeasterly direction; channelled by hills on either side of the San Francisco Bay. Hence contaminants released well upwind of the site, are ca-ried into the region and augment locally released emissions. During the summer snonths especially, primary pollutants, nitrogen oxides, and reactive hydrocarbons, released upwind, are reacted by sunlight as they drift , to form photochemical oxidant and ozone. Oxidant excesses have been recorded at the Bay Area Air Pollution Control District Station in Sunnyvale. In 1973, this station (activated in September) recorded 17 days in violation of the Federal Oxidant standard of 8 parts per hundred million (pnhm) , and 13 days in violation of the State standard of 10 pphm. The BAAPCD Station in Los Gatos recorded 39 days and 29 days , respect- fully, violating Federal and State Standards in 1973. The Los Gatos data is probably representative of oxidant excesses on-site. There were carbon monoxide excesses on four days, and one day with an excess of nitrogen dioxide near the Sunq)rvale station. It is improbable the primary air quality standards for carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, organic gases, and particulate are currently violated in the vicinity of the site. The oxidant excesses are : !najor problem common to the whole Santa Clara Valley area. Photochemical products, Ln concert with particulates, L result in an increased frequency of occurrance of reduced visibility. ` This effect is measured by a gradually increasing coefficient of haze in the valley. California has a lead standard of 1. 5 micrograms per cubic meter yfg/m3) averaged over 30 days. This concentration is measured at distances up to 200 feet away from roads handling 20,000 vehicles per day. The lead as a fuel additive, emerges in the vehicle exhaust as a halide compound. Currently , there is a federal program to phase out the use of such an additive; hence, the appearance of "low-lead" fuels. Similarly, the 1975 cars, with We 7? catalytic mufflers, cannot . use a fuel containing lead compounds. The net result is a declining lead concentration in the vicinity of roadways. Currently, bgwever, lead levels near heavily travelled roads violate State Standards. Carbon monoxide levels were measured on-site and did not exceed valley background levels of 1 to 1. 5 parts per million. (1200 tc r 1800 micrograms per cubic meter) . Prevailing, winds from the northwest diluted highway (85 and 280) emissions. At the same time, emissions originating on Stevens Creek Boulevard and Stelling Road are blown away from the site in a southeasterly direction. . Sonic conditions in the area are ascertained by taking continuous sound level recordings at locations along Stelling Road and alone; Stevens Creek Boulevard. These two streets constitute the primary sources of noise intrusion on and about the site. The recordings 1 were made with a sound level meter with "A" weighting network and with the output connected to a graphic level recorder. The first recording; location is approxirrx4tely 50 feet west of f Stelling Road and 300 feet north of Stevens Creek Boulevard , and the ticne of recording was 12: 24 p.m. to 1 : 24 p.m. Figure 1 of this report represents the acoustical environment along Stellin-, Road with a traffic rate of approximately 590 autos per hour. The sound level is plotted against the time that the level was equalled or exce�.Aded. The second recording is at a location 50 feet north of Stevens Creek Boulevard and 600 feet west of Stelling Road. Figure 2 (upper curve) represents the acoustical. environment along Stevens Creek Boulevard with a traffic rate of approximately 1.760 autos per hour. The lower curve of Figure 2 represents the sound levels as adjusted to the location of the nearest houses to Stevens Creek Boulevard as shown on the proposed plan. ■ n°0 lOQ ��- i' - �, � ' ��. � � ;� ;�� , �,� ;• Sou �d :Le �! ''I��" �{; 1 I l f �' .•; ;." �? a i� `ta r�'t�t D Anza Rac ue Clu aSndVi�11 Koms p' e 't• s'£l'o-r 's�'g.i oa , 1. � �•► �; .) •+, ;-l � t"�- { 1.._ , -reek., - i' d 0, `� reek; Blj90 Sur eyL cati n,.i . R .a 3 ._.._ noxfII Cf,u tt of., ;fe Crook Blvd. 1�. �''►, Try f f is ate'- I . �• ) �_ ( ��'_._( - -� S0 vcile�s.�er h_ u�{;'' • ��� inr�� �3T� p �f)r�o t :� ��nort��� '� 80 I I I I ) ,' , g t- I 4 Barometric 'Pr ssur 1:3 910 n. { _ Date vc�nb $ �', 1'g7 j !_:-.- ) ' I 1 I - 'i'� �' I' I,i`� I' i;'t}ill) ,• ; i�r r 4� ,: ;.. I. I_ , {1.) 070 _ I �_� I� .�__7.V '' }!I I ` �r ,I• 1 ) �1j i; t ,; r, a ;:;�F ( 1L Mf 63. 5 d59 BA �` I •+- � - I , 4 1,1 , i +� 1 I f ) I 77- ���� i� l� I , _^+'-'.• +..t.il ,�,.�� ' ' , f, •'I( + -•- ( ( '�_ � I ..1-..:. ' I 'lii i {� 1 j ) '! �'�• ,I i (I:� 1''� f ' I:)'" Itli ' lii '� 'I�' �1'i .� :�.' ..+.�� I{ •' �. � ��� _'' ' �I I ��f� �• 4 { �,:� � -�... �'�1 i i� �+� j'i•' hT ': �r 1 'i,I �r 7• ,� �}: �1.i �, r '� �' t I r �i' ' ,}. 1i1. 1..1 Y 1• i •!. }i jf, •••• 4 i , I 4_ �T :Ni 301 )' 1 Anion t ot{ the '�' rie" hc' Spund sve1� i;.Zs' an>,ial c ..�l I�xc e )yea 1.41 ,..,1 fl't P _'�' ._ �' �_. 0 0% 1G 0. 9., 1 '02 90% 100% i I I '' i ,. „ ', t .R�cue a IUD t 1A oeed: Dn d : .�� f ,t' lu nc�t,� �lzg ;;Gen , Antes' I �� t f {{ ' 1- 'I �t• �'. j..i'� 4j1' T .� c ":' k,. i dw�i.{90 . p �: i 'FI• ��; _ t ti cati n: o t. ;fin ac ti� i stev rs�. :, -:.. + _ �f - i'C;e�k' iv�i`. .fin s o,p '' t '. St ? f ', ;► t i� _1 • , -� ._, . � ..,....:�. . ,.Road' � `. ` ,� ;,•,, `' E j'p , i Iat „ v h outr� ~ .� �• Wnc� ,.35 asp Frot�:l e� }to . f t p 80 =-�— —�1.� _� �_�:. _ " f ! l _ B a r me E r 6 'Pic ' 6 i z' � ;i 1,3 ' 4 .Dat !vuvO;nbt#r. 25 ;1974i Fi 370 As measured 60 ��, 55IIA' 1 0 {�f j i1 dB 50 adjusted to 777 I I I hnuse location IT 40 �I _ ( f � ���t� + �� �� t ) +• _ _..1_mO_ur_ of _t..h.r.. Tzrc . t ��rcic , i .gjur;s . ) i k7- 30 nt Pill _ t ©J1 01 10% J . .,. . �_ �3... 0. IT] } Reference to rigure 1 shows the background or 40 level a3 measured at 50 feet along Stelling Road to be 53.5 dBA, the average or L50 level is 59 dBA and the intrusive or L10 level is 63.5 dBA. These levels are defined as the sound levels which are exceeded 90 per cent, 50 per cent , and 10 per cent of the time, respectively. As patios of the houses along Stelling Road are located only 10 feet in from the street property line, an adjustment for distance was calculated for application to the measured sound levels. In addition, an adjustment was determined using hourly traffic data from the Highway Research Boards Report #117 , dated 1971 , to obtain the sound levels expected at the peak hour. Each of these increments is 1 . 5 dBA to be added to the measured sound levels. The total increment is thus 3 dBA. For the resulting sound levels at the patio location during peak hour period, the L90, L50, and L10 levels would be 56. 5 dBA, 62 dBA , and 66. 5 dBA, respectively. 1 Reference to Figure 2 shows the background or 1,90 level, along Stevens Creek Boulevard at 53. 5 dBA , the average or. L50 level i is 58 dBA, and the intrusive or LIQ le . is 63 dBA. Figure 2 � also shows that at the houses nearcz�t to Stevens Creek Boulevard the L90, L50, and L1.0 levels are 45. 5 dBA, 50 dBA , and 55 dBA, respectively. The intrusive LIO levels, as described above ; for the location along; the two roadways are all within the Federal Highway Administration (F11WA) limit of 70 dBA for housing sites. Traffic conditions related to the site place heavy emphasis on the use of automobiles as the major cre-.Lns for transport of persons. Steve;:s Creek Boulevard is a 6 lane divided arterial with curb parking prohibited. Stelling Road is a 4 Lane divided facility south of Stevens Creek Boulevard and a 2 lane undivided facility to the north adjacent to the site. There is no curb, gutter, or sidewalk on this latter section. Parking along this road is restricted during the day time. Separate turning lanes on both arterials are constructed at their intersection. Existing traffic volumes on Stevens Creek Boulevard are 28,600 and 23,500 vehicles per day west and east. of Stelling Load respectively. Average daily volumes on Stelling Road are 13,850 and 18,400 vehicles per day north and south of Stevens Creek Boulevard respectively. A large portion of the vehicular travel on Stevens Creek Boulevard in the v. ^inity of the site is oriented to State Route 85 freeway, which presently terminates at Stevens Creel.: Boulevard. The influence of this freeway is also evident by the heavy north- bound left turn from Stelling Road to Stevens Creek Boulevard. A recent turning movement count by the City indicates that left turns during the morning peak hour are 46 per cent of the total northbound direction. During the afternoon peak hour the proportion of left turns reduces to 32 per cent . Traffic signals exist a.t all intersections of ma,;or arterials along Stevens Creek Bt,u,.evard. At Stelling Road, the signals operate with separate phases for the south and northbound direction on Stelling Road. Stop signs are located at all intersections along both Stevens Creek Boulevard and Stelling Road. During peak times, particularly ir, the afternoon , traffic flow at the interections along both Stevens Creek Boulevard and Stelling Roa,,I. is generally between level of Service "C" and "D" with occasional shorn peaks between Levels "D" and "E" . As defined by the Hi ghtiray Capacity 41.1anual. , service level is a theoretical traffic volume determined by the physical and operational characteristics (--of a given roadway and by varying conditions of traffic flow, ranging from free flow at Level "A" to extreme congestion at Level "F" . The conventional standard of urban design is service level "C" . Traffic at this level is stable with intermittent but unobjectionable delays during peek hours. At level "D" , flow is approaching; unstable -conditions with toler- able delay. Traffic Mow at level "E" is unstable with significant delay and nearly continuous congestion . The report "De Anza College Accost and Circulation Study, " August 1974 , by Wilbur Smith and 1 iS Associates describes quantitatively traffic conditions at the' inter- section. Their report indicates the level of service I'D" generally prevails. The City has ®codified the signal operation to reduce phases and delay since that report was received. D Road improvements currently proposed by the City include the `Widening of Stelling Road to 4 lanes from Stevens Creek Boulevard to Alves .Roa.d, with a two-way median left turn lane adjacent to the site. Tha total street width between curbs is planned to -be 82 feet within a right-of-way width of 102 feet . A separate left turn lane would be designated for southbound turns at Stevens Creek Boulevard. Further major ,improvements to Stevens Creek Boulevard are not proposed. The extension of the Stevens Creek Freeway is planned but not currently budgeted; however, the right-of-way has either been acquired or protected. Bicycle routes exist along both sides of Stevens Creek Boulevard and of Stelling Road. The Santa Clara Transit District provides bus service along Stevens Creek Boulevard adjacent to the site. Route 18 is operated on 2 hour headways and Route 41 on 1 hour headways. The above fixed-route system is supplemented by a Bial- a-ride system (called Personalized Transit) to 18 districts within the County. This demand responsive system provides door- to-door service. R 16 III . ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT A. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED ACTION 1 . Vt4ec4/IOtd4Aect Impacts If a project , in itself, opens an area and snakes it develop- able because it provides the basic services (e.g. , sewers, road, water, etc. . . ) , it could be considered to i,ave a significant growth inducing impact . This project certainly does not fall in that category, as it is basically "infilling" . For that reason, this project has mainly a p4ima'ty, or dia-ect impact -- those impacts that are associated with the pro ect ' rot.struction and usually noticeable as soon as the project Is comp!.eted. Secondaty, or indirect , impacts result primarily from the very limited growth inducing aspects of this project and are discussed under that section. Also important to understanding overall environmental impact is to know that impacts run two ways -- impact of the project on the present environment , and impact of the present environment on the project . Impacts can be categorized in another way -- those that affect !.San , which are probably the most important with this project , and those that affect resources other than !San . Short and long-term (as appropriate) aspects of the various impacts are discussed with each impact in the following sections. . 2. AEtcna.t.ior,s to Ecofogicat Systems The long-term impact is to replace the existing ecosystem with an urban system having; substantial huizn activity. It is expected that the total orchard will be destroyed, leaving only the Interior Live Oak and the two Palm trees. .The cluster homes should rep:'ace and add much more ornam-ntal landscaping than there is at present. When this matures, It will create nesting and feeding areas for the d.:s;placcd bird population. iNVI AI 9,11rl UUT b7 Since the tennis club is not e. -cted to have as great or as dense a landscaping as the residential clusters, it will only sustain a few birds. This coupled with the large amount of human outdoors activity father lessens the desirability for birds to inhabit the area after project completion . When construction begins, the fate of the squirrel population will be in jeopardy. They will probably migrate to an undeveloped part of the orchard. 3. Reaouoccea The major resource loss is the removal of land that has strong agricultural possibilities {and once a park- probability} , as evidenced by the existing active orchard. However, this orchard is located in a very developed area and can realistically only be consi-lered as a tempor7ry land use. tiat.ural resources are also required for construction of the project , but the pru ,:ise amount cann,it be exactly determined si.nce the amount and type varies cor;sidcrably aver time , depending on factors that constantly change. Although no grading plan was submitted s_ith the project plans at this prelim;inax ,, stage , * t is estimated that constructing the strez-ts, building pads, and tennis court pads associated with thin_ pro•.':.ect involves moving approximately 21 ,000 cubic yarc'.s of matc—ial . Conseil;uL-ntl.y , the surface of the earth is only chanjed slightly; and no import or export of material should be nett ssary. Maximum slopes on the: site are to be no st.cep�!r than 1 vertical. to 2 hori.zc.;tal ; due to the split .evei design -)f the proposed residential units, some retainers may he required to meet this maxiinum slope crite;rium. Air pollution caused by the project originates primarily from vehicles dry ver, by re_.idents and visitors the project attracts. Dwelling, service , and office units have small values compared to emissions released by vehicles. Data furnished by the Traffic Consultant are used to generate the following estimates. Delays in meeting nitrogen oxide standards in vehicles are considered. The estimates do not include the effect of increased fuel prices; decreased avail- ability of fuel; and public availabilty/acceptance of some form of public transportation. In these cases, especially the latter, all have real potential to reduce vehicle miles travelled (Mt) in the entire bay area. This reduces the emission of primary pollutants and in turn , the production of photo- chemical smog. 1072 Local Regional E.fISSION.T Santa Clara Pr.)ject Impact Imp et Co. lb/day lb/day /'g/m3t 4g/m.; • CARBON '•'O`:OXIDr 2,000,000 826 285 1 . 8 HYDROCARBONS 5S0,000 87 31 0. 2 NITROGEN: OXIDES 300,000 160'. 56 0. 35 SULFUR OXIDES 14 ,000 4. 8 1 . 7 0. 011 PARTICULATE 50,000 14. 7 5. 3 0. 034 * ,y g/m3 micrograms per cubic meter as an annual average over area of one square kilometer ** The regional impact is they concentration measured 10 kilometers downwind of the project treating its emission. as a point source. In all cases , the emissions attributable to the project will not by themselves lead to any violations of standards now being met. HoNever, many such small sources in the Santa Clara Valley, do have a cumulative effect , which can contribute to increasing, oxidant levels in areas downwind of their respective locations. `1 ��sP 1;J 1C1Ir"j TA J G l�Afn Lfe1� 19 Using the project plus non-project traffic volume per hour, both ways, along Stevens Creek Boulevard and Stelling Road, an estimate of carbon monoxide concentration at a given dis- tance from the intersection may be calculated. Vehicles having to decelerate, wait at idle, then accelerate at an intersection, emit more than twice the emissions of a vehicle passing through the same intersection without hindrance. As such, a plume or canopy of emissions exists at the specified intersection. The concentration falls off with increasing; distance, ventill- ating winds, local background levels, and average traffic speed also have an effect. For peak hour morning; traffic with low winds, levels of carbon monoxides at 100 feet and 500 feet from the intersection are 7200 and 4800f1g./n.3, respecti.vcle. The State standard is 46,000/4g;/m3 for 1 hour. The eight hour averages at the same radii are 2G00 and 1500// g/r^3. The Federal standard in 1 this case is 10,000 g/m3. In both cases , the resultant are not in violation of standards and, the levels shown will probably have little effect on the players on the tennis courts. The location of the cluster homes well away from the major intersection , as well as, in a generally up-wind location from the intersection , is most desirable from an air quality standpoint . Dense shrubbery (preferable coniferous) is desirable beti:cen the residences along; Stelling; Road and the major roadway. Such trees act as a natural filter for part- iculate, trapping, material on leaf or needle surfaces and eventually incorporating; the material in the soil humus luyc.r. Lead part.iculat.-, could partially be removed in this fashion. A thermal island will be created by the covering; of the ground with parking lots and tennis courts. Temperatures in the immediate area of the site are expected to increase by about one der-ree by the curtailling; of natural evapo-transpiration cooling; associated with plants and tree:,. As well the pave- ment and court materials absorb solar heat inure readily I I 1 P'l 11'�'A L C"P�1 ?0 during the day maintaining higher local temperatures. Adequate shade trees in the cluster home area should ameliorate the thermal effect experienced by the residents. In sum-nary, the impact of the project on local air duality, chile adverse, cannot by itself be considered significant . The cumulative impact of this project in concert with other existing or planned projects could be significant . Sonic levels on and about the site are increased by project generated traffic. As urban noise originates mostly from vehicular traffic sources, future noise and ir;pact levels can be predicted from future traffic: rates using prediction methods of the Ifighway Research Board. Additional noise, however, will be generated by activities in the central par?: , which constitute a source of noise intru- sion onto the site. These include an open--air theater with band concerts a rol.atively short distance from the resicionccs at the Fist side of the site and baseball diamond with stands and loudspeaker northwest of the site , which are discussed later in this report . The table below summarizes future traffic increases as provided by the traffic consultant and includes the corresponding noise level increases for the roadways indicated : Predicted project Traffic and Noise Generation Over Existing Levels Traffic Noise Road Increase Fer cent Increase (dl3A )* Stelling Road, north of site 3. 5 0.5 Stel.ling Road, south of Stevens Creel: Boulevard 0. 7 0. 5 Stevens Creek Blvd. west of site . 8 0.5 Stevens Creek Blvd. east of Stel l i ng 3tsod 1 . G 0. 5 *Represent;, .a worst-ca:ie noise increase during; peak traffic periods;. 21 The predicted noise level increases resulting from project generated traffic are less than 0.5 dBA in each case. This noise increment is insignificant and would not be perceptible. The following classifications of corn�nonly accepted ratings provide a perspective on the minimal nature of the predicted increases: Predicted Impact from Increase Over Existing Noise Levels Increase in Level Assessment Expected Response Less than 6 dBA No impact Little comment or individual reaction 6 to 15 dBA Some impact Some individual cor=mellt and reaction ; no group act i0�n is likely More than 15 dBA Great impact Strong individual comment and group action Noise mitigation measures for traffic, generated noises are not considered necessary as the predicted noise level i.ncrea�-:(-!s are less than 0. 5 dBA. Noise levels along the Lti:t? major roadways remain within Federal Highway Administration design standards. On the other hand, problems are expected as a result of noise intruding; onto the site from activities at the Memorial Park west and northwest of the site. The planned par;: amphitheater staf;e is to located approxim<itely 120 feet nest of the property line of the site and 510 feet north of Stevens Creek Boulevard. This location is clr.)se to houses along the west boundary of the site. Sound frc,m the theater utilizing a sound reinforcement system Will be projected at a 45 degree ankle toward the northeast to the west line of the site. Theater activities including band concerts are planned for Sunday afternoons. It is expected that weekday prog;r:un_, such as � N 11PUR � iA C11 1 1-3 b "31 27 dramatics for children will also be performed. An existing baseball field is located at the pars: with the outfield at approximately 450 feat from the northwest corner of the site. This field is used on -eekday nights until 10:3t0 p.m. These two park activities as described above appear likely to create relatively high sound levels at houses on the site. E Therefore, noise mitigation measures may be required for houses at the northwest region of the site near the planned amphi- theater and the baseball field. Such measures could include a wall or berm and architectural noise control provisions at the houses . Dur i.g construction of the project , some temporary noise is created. The site preparation ar.d construction phases; generate sound levels rangir.> from approximately 70 to 90 dBA at 50 feet distances lrom heavy equipment and vehicles. The construction noi!;os diminish with distance at a rate of 6 dBA for each doubling of the distance from a noise source. For example, the 70 to 90 dBA noise Iinl;e at 50 feet reduces as follows: NOISE RAI GE DISTANCE 70 to 90 dI3A 50 feet 64 to 84 dBA 100 feet 58 to 78 d13A 200 feet 52 to 72 dBA 400 feet 46 to 66 dBA 800 feet Generally , the short-term site preparation phase, which requires; the use of heavy equipment such as bulldozers, scaper!c , trenchers, truck:;, etc. is the noisiest . The following; build- ing construction and equiprient installation phases are quieter 1 IJ� "19 71711 r1 TA C �J's 2 S J and on completion of the project . the pro,ject 's sound levels reduce to the traffic noise Ievois. Noise control measures can be instituted during construction of the project by using quieter than normal equipment , operat- ing fewer pieces of equipment at a time, scheduling noisy operations for the daytime hours to avoid the more sensitive evening and nighttime hours and by arranging equipment operations within the site to reduce sound transmission to the boundary or to the noise sensitive locations. S. PopuCa.t_ion' Dist�t<batiojz and Coa:ce#:.t•%a.tio#. As a direct: impact , the project ' s 68 hones add an estimated 1.36 parsons to the areas population , an increase of leas than one per cent to the city ' s currant population. Persons using the tennis facility constitute a short-term, intermittent population incroa.�:e to tha area . Both of these irnpadcts could be considered benefic ,al , one in adding to the eityl !3 recreation dimenf';ion and Lho othe. placin,,; persollt,� in close proximity to major land use activitii�k_c. 6. Pubtic Se4vices Availability of public facilities needed with urban develop- ment i�, one indicator of t:hather the development of this area represents orderly and plannrd growth. If basic infra- structure (roads, waiter ai,ct sewer r:,in , transrnjssion lines, sewer treatment plant , etc . ) is present in the area and unit :t-d capacity is present , development of the area represents a more efficient use of that infrastructure. If , on the other hand, main lines have to be substantially excended or enlarged because a new area has been open(-(] up or capacity has been reached. public costs may make de -elopment less attractive, at least at this time. As will be evident from the following, the project does not open the area to development . M W� _J t 24 All utilities necessary to serve the project are already adjacent to the site with the exception of adequate storm drain facilities. The City of Cupertino is currently designing; a major storm line to go in Stelling Road along the site' s easterly boundary. This storm line is scheduled for construction In late spring of 1975, Consequently, all necessary utilities are to be adjacent to the site prior to the time of project development . Moreover, none of the improvements within this project would facilitate additional development in the area. Based on rules of thumb, the project requires 0. 035 MGD of water, generated 1100 loose cubic yards of solid waste per year, discharges . 023 !.'GD of liquid waste , and uses ]tJC , OCJO Therms (gas) and 500, 000 t:V$!,HS (electricity) per year. Fire suppression service to the site is quite good . Cupertino Fire Station located at Stevens Creel; Boulevard and 1 ,: :ci Lan,-a , approximiat.ely one mile from the project , %vo-ild re .pond to the project in approximately two minutes with two engines, one. truck, one staff car and eight men . backup re�:pons:c• is from tl,(. Monta Vista Station located at Stevens Creel: Boulevard and Foothill approximately two miles away , with a responi,.i! time of three minutes. The project is rated as a Class ix,' fire protection and does not require addition-) staff or equiprnE•rtt . Police ,orvice to the area is by contract e.ith the Santa Clara County- Sheriffs Department through the City of Cupertir.c, _ Major crir:(-- in the community is burglary , which is a likely problem % i.thin the project . Since the blank side walls of the homes do not give visual access to the pri,:,at:2 areas between homes, this aspect coupled with the com-mon open space is likely to make the project more susceptible tc-:) vatidaliscn and theft than other conventional residential projects. The close proximity of the amphitheatre to several. of the home. could cause sevice calls to the area due to c®'sp1L is of noise irritation. This project , by Itself, d .ses not cause the need for additional sheriff's staff; but coupled with possible other projects could require the addition of staff. School impact from the project is quite minor . The cluster horse portion of the project with age limited to 1G or older I causes no impact on elementary and junior high school levels. High school students will attend Homestead ltigh School , within walking distance of the project. Usinn a generation factor of . 9 the project generates approximately fl students, which Homestead Mi,h School at a capacity of 2300 and an enrollment of 2127 can more than acco-vnodate. Park and recreation --.crvice to the site is also quite adequate and the housing, proposed should generate the type of resident most liFely to use the facilities p; annea. The Cupertino Memorial Park, currently und,�-r construction abutts the project on the v.- ;t and consists of 15 acres to be used as a fully active central part`. hl '_hou ;h there are no other parks within walking distance of the project , the 'Memorial Park upon co: pletion should more than adequately handle the resid,:�nt.c, of the project . AlsU , a recreation s•ertter includin ; a pool_ is prol>�,Sed within the project for the private use of residcnt.� , although the need for the facility is questionable. Of course, the tennis. club further expands the recreation facilities available within the conmunity. Vehicular traffic increases as a resilt of the project by an estimated 1 ,220 vehicle trips daily. * Of these, 10 per cent , or 120 trips are estimated to occur during the afternoon -c_: k hour. These trips would be distributed to the local street systen, on the b:isi.s of the location and relative size of areas of trip generation and attraction. For the purpose of { estim;it. ing traffic impacts , the cumulative total of all activity areas was assumed to occur on a week day, although this is not actually the case. + State. Dc!partment of Transportation Trip Gent,-ration Research Counts 1064-72. .11!;o refcr to appc-ndix for spacial analysis of traffic generation for tennis and handb:.11 courts f Trag'fic volumes on Stelling Road north of Stevens Creek Boulevard increase 3.5 per cent to .a projected total of 14 , 340 vehicles per day, and south of Stevens Creek Boulevard traffic Increases 0. 7 per cent to a total of 18,520 vehicles per day. The estimated increase on Stevens Creek Boulevard west of Stelling Road is 0. 8 per cent for a total daily volume of 28,840 vehicles per day , and east of Stelling Road, 1.6 per cent for a daily total of 23,870 •.gehicles per day. The above increases are based on average daily traffic. Impact during the peak hours is of particular concern, fAnce the intersection is now experiencing recurrent congestion . To deturm.i.ne the impact of the additional traffic generated by the: pr.))ject. , a critical Lane analy:>is procedure is used. ** The ofternonn leak hour only is analyzed because traffic flow at this time is the more critical . The volumes below art! based on a turnin{: movement count tnli en by the City on May 1 , 1974 ; and theme counts are assured to be typical and to represent averagv conditions. Critical Approach Existing dolumf-� Lanes Lane Volume Stevens Creek Blvd. - eastbound t.hroui,h and right. turn 916 T 578 = 1 ,494 3 49F,'*** Stevens Creek Blvd. westbound left turn 184 1 184 Stelling Road - northbound 490 3 163 St ll.inr; yzoad - southbouncl 781 2 390 TOTAL 1 ,235 **• Through and right turns average to allow for some right turns during red phase. ** W Guide to (tamp Intersection Analysis at Freeway Interchanges, July 197•1 , California Department of Transportation , District 4 , San Francisco, California t The existing lane volume slightly exceeds 1 ,200 vehicles per hour. The figure of 1 ,200 vehicles per hour ma_•ks the upper limit of a "C" level of service, Below which traffic flow is stable,Kith acceptable delays. A critical lane volume of 1,235 vehicles per hour indicates that the inter- section is within an unstable range, and congestic i would be regularly experienced during; peak hou::�;. Adding the traffic generated by the project to existing volumes gives the following critical volume: Critical Approach Existing Volume Lanes Lane Volume Stevens Creek Blvd. east- bound - throug-h & right; turn 916 + 578 = 1494 3 498 Stevens Creek Blvd. west- bound left turn 184 1 184 StellinU Road northbound 490 + 10 = 500 3 1.67 Stf_,l l ing Road :_;outhbound 781 + 9 = 790 2 395 TU.AL 1 , 244 The critical lane volume would he increased by 0 7 per cent . An increase in this ran a would not measurably affect the existing operational characteristics of the intersection . Moreover, the project provides the means of completing the widening of Stellin , Road to 4 lanes adjacent to the inter- section . The effect of the increase in the number of south- bound lanes is on the followin.; page. Since the critical lane volur.;e is below 1 ,200 vehicles her hour, traffic flow is improved to stable conditions and congestion reduced to more acceptable levels. Traffic 3 movements on Stelling Road to and from the site would be made via Alves Avenue and via a driveway b •twcen Alves Avenue and Stevens Creek Boulevard. The proposed taco-way left turn lane on Stel ling Road satisfactorily acco.-Ln ,dates the projected traffic turning, into the situ. }} S C !f� Critical Approach Existing Volume Lanes Lane Volume Stevens Creek Blvd. east- E bound 916 + 578 = 1 ,494 3 498 Stevens Creek Blvd. west- bound left turn 184 1 184 Stelling Road - northbound 490 + 10 = 500 3 167 � Stelling Road - southbound 781 + 9 = 790 3 263 TOTAL 1 , 112 The impact of the project on bicycle facilities is minimal . Existing bike lanes are not heavily used, and the bicycle trips generated by the project can easily be accorr•:7odated on the designated routes. Existing and future transit service provided by the Santa Clara Count; Transit: District %pith the site vicinity is not significantly affected by the project , since no major transit trip generators are in the plan. �1IIMti� MEII s AL 0I:'1T JP6 As part of the review of the tennis club facility, the adequacy of parking is also evaluated. ACTIVITY NUMBER OF SPACES Tennis Courts Players at one time = 3 x 20 courts x . 80 = 48 Number of vehicles = 48 = 24 spaces 2 Pool Assume 10 spaces = 10 spaces Restauranta . Number of spaces = 166 seats = 42 spaces 4 Banquet Roamft Number of spaces = 68 seats = 17 spaces 4 Bar-I:ounrea Number of spaces = 126 x 50 per cent = 16 spaces 4 Handball Courts . Players at one time = 2 x 3 courts = 6 . Number of vehicles = 6 - 4 spaces 1 . 5 Employee Pa rl:i gb Total number of employees at one time = 28 Number of spaces 28 = 14 spaces h TOTAL PARKING NEEDED =127 spaces a lonin;, Parking, and Traffic , 1972 p. 86, Eno Foundation for Transportation , Saugatuk, Conn . b Parking Principles, Special. Report 125, 1971 , p. 39, Transpor- tation Research Board, Washington , D. C. 30 This number of spaces is less than the 140 proposed to be provided and therefore the plan is adequate. As further consideration, the total parking needs has assumed that all facilities of the complex would be fully active or occupied. Also, no allowance has been made for multi-purpose trips or for walk-in trips from the adjoining residential complex and neighboring areas. Both of these latter factors would tend to reduce actual parking demand. As a further evaluation of the parking needs, the project is evaluated with a recent ordinance amendment in the City of Fremont for such uses and with the findings of a parking study for a tennis club (of similar scale to this project ) in Los Gatos that this E1R writer did the site planning. In both these cases, the parkin; proposed is not shown to be adequate. Proposed Amended Off-Street Parking Regulations Fremont , California Tennis & handball courts - 23 C' 2 spaces/court = 46 Clubhouse - 3738 sq . ft. C1 space/200 sq. ft. in excess of 1000 sq. ft . = 14 Restaurant - 360 seats @ 1 space/3. 5 seats = 103 Pool - 1 @ 20 spaces/pool = 20 TOTAL = 183 Town Planning; Staff Determination of Parking Requirements for Vasona Venture - Los Gatos „ California Tennis & Ilandb:all courts - 23 2. 7 spaces/court = 62 Clubhouse Retail - 600 sq. ft . 0 1 space/200 sq. ft. = 3 Ba1::nce- 3138 sq. ft. Q 1 space/500 sq. ft . = 7 : Restaurant - 3GC seats ,_], space/3 seats -- 120 Pool - 3920 sq. ft . dal space/500 sq. ft. = 8 TOTAL = 200 31 Although the City of Cupertino parking requirements do not specifically call out tennis clubs, an estimate of parking needs can be Made by using the Los Gatos data where none is available in the Cupertino ordinance. Tennis & handball Courts - 23 (12.7 spaces/ct . - 62 Clubhouse (per Los Gatos) Retail - 600 sq. ft . C I space/200 sq . ft . = 3 Balance - 3i38 sq. ft . C 1 space/500 sc; . ft . = 7 Restaurant - 360 seats 12 1 space/4 seats plu., 10 cmployees (assu!nption) CI 1 space/er:�t:loyee - 100 Pool - 3920 sq . ft. C- 1 space/500 sq. ft . = j (per Los Gatos) i t I TOTAL ISO • 4 1 As with the other two cases , the parkin; proposed does not seem adequate. 32 Another aspect of the traffic impact relates to the on-site circulation system within the project , which will be discussed further in "the human use of tho land" section. The through circulation on-site-parking situation with the tennis club is not a necessity to adequate traffic flow, but has some merit if Anton Way is not connected to Stevens Creek Boulevard as shown on the alternative plan. The three drive way openings on Stevens Creek Boulevard along with the drive through and drop off area create a confusing and unnecessary traffic situation. One driveway opening in this area is all that is necessary or desirable. The lack of direct connection between the tennis club and residential area for vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles is a definite drawback to the plan proposed. If such a connection were made, a much greater flexibility would be provided to the travel patterns of trips to and from the residential area. It could, for example, allow some vehicles to avoid entering the intersection on Stelling I:oad and turning right onto Steven,- Creek Boulevard. Traffic from the residential area would have a much greater impact on the weekday peak hour traffic con- ditions on both adjacent arterial streets and at the inter- section than the Racquet Club complex. As noted previously, components of the Racquet Club area %Yculd usually generate traffic during off-peak time: with a peak time during weekends ; consequently, the introduction of score residential traffic through that area could have a minimal effect on parking and Circu," ation. 7. kla.tet The principal source of water pollution associated with the project in street drai.:-aag;e, with the largest load occurring; with runoff after early winter rains. However, the incremental quality of --treet pollutants attributable to the project over the lon,--term is ss•r.all when compared to the total area tributary to bot:i local str._ ams and the San Francisco Day. .yf n � 33 8. Scenic QuaL4ty The current pleasant-view of a well maintained orchard is changed to a more urban scene. The treatment along the public strees adjacent to the project should be.-,accomplished in a carefully planned manner. In this regard (as will be further discussed in the following section) , the tennis club has been particularly careful in handling the streetscape by setback and berming (gently up throunh use of a four feet high retain- ing wall on the tennis court side) up from the street to a height of six feet . Additionally, trees are pla,%-ned along the higher portion of the berm, whi�:�h add to the screening of the ten feet high tennis court fences. If landscape material similar to the material used on the lie Anna College strec-t frontage is used, a landscape boulevard of strong aesthetic value could he achieved. Other design refinements could be made I)%, staggering courts and key fence alignment changc t;. The vehicular entrance to the club house off of Stevens Creek Boulevard is perhaps the only flew in the tennis club street scene. Aside from being somewhat confusing from a traffic standpoint , the three drive openings break the continuity of the streetscape with paving. Moreover, when drive through situations such as the one proposed are used , they become convenient parking areas for key club personnel or prominf2nt club members. If such drop eff area!; are desired , they cculd easily be designed into the parkinf; areas and oriented away from public streets or treated so as not to be so noticeable. One driveway connection to Stevtons Creek Boulevard is all that is necessary for the club under tho current plan ; and with the alternative plan discussed later in the report , no drive- ways would be necessary on either Stevens Creek Boulevard or Stelling road. The visual. improvemt•rit is obvious. The visual situation with the residential does not reflect the same decree of concern :1:; the to-nnin club reflects, which � Is discussed in greater detail in the following section. Structures, patios, off-street parking areas are placed close to the street; .thereby diminishing a positive visual streetscape potential. Means to improve this situation are discussed more in the next section. However, the plan does propose retaining the oak and two palm trees, which is cer- tainly a visual plus. In Stelling Road adjacent to the site' s easterly boundary is an overhead power transmission line. If the line is placed underground as a part of project development , the street visual scent' would be enhances: further. All new utilities constructed «'.ithin this project , of course, are to be underground. 9. HU-nal, Use c � i�:e Land Although the project site was intc>nded previously as part of the City' s Central Park , the 1:1nd use envisioned conforms with the Core Arva. General Plan amendm. e n,t , which Was approved by the City Council on Septt.x:ber 16, 197.,;. Additionally, the juxtaposition of the two land uses envisioned seems to be valid -- i . e, placement of recreation facility near the major Steven Creek and Stell •ing Road intersection and the residential area removed from that intersection. There are, ho;,eter, specific concerns relating to impacts on the 'taties planned from outside land u2;us and activiLics; as wt-!ll as internal impacts due to the design concepts proposed foi the: project . Each of these ;a�-q)vcts; is discussed separately; and these co-%mentn ,as is the nature of I•:ili' s, tonii to speak in a negative tone rogarding project dc-sign since. it is more important to understand the problem are.is than the beneficial parts of the plan - - pres,__ming }problems can be corrected. 35 Obviously, the project designers have applied their best efforts in developing the plan, governed by utilization constraints imposed by sponsors. There are many noteworthy aspects to the plan, which the sponsor can point out during appropriate hearings on the EIR and project . As a general summary statement , it seems clear that the design proposed for both the tennis facility and housing; complex is aimed toward maximum utilization of each uses' portion of the site with little concern given to interrelations of the uses, and relationships - to adjacent benefical and nuisance land use r activities. ► a. Recteational A.2ea. This EIR does not attempt to examine in detail the basic design proposed for the club house since the current design is very preliminary and is really an aspect not too relevant in an EIR. Moreover, the landscape tre:atinent envisioned along both Stelling Road and Stevens Creek Boulevard tends to diminish the public. impact from the project. ; alld the use could be considered as a public benefit as it adds to the City ' s recreation base even through it would be a restricted/ limited membership. Improvements that could be made in the elan include the following: (1 ) Relocate the club house to the west near(.•r the Central Part: so that per.:cons in the dining room could over look the mangy• attractive features in the park . This would also place park usr�rs in closer relationship to the club and pertrips increasce their walk-in patronage of the public restaurant in the club. a 4' �r (2) Eliminate the pedestrian and vehicular conflicts on-site by placing parking along the Stevens Creek frontage (still keeping the 25 feet plus landscaped berm to screen the parking area from street view) and along the western edge of the site adjacent to the park and by locating all of the tennis courts easterly and nor, herly of the club house. (3) Eliminate the vehicular access connection to Stelling Road. (4) The boundary coinciding with the residential aspects of the project should be flexible to optimize site planning benefits between the two uses. (5) As a general guide, tennis courts --- not parking areas, should separate the tennis facility from the resi- dential project . Where thi : does not occur , substantial landscape buffers (minirium of twenty feet wide) to include berms should be develo,_)ed jointly . (6) Both Pedestrian and vehicular access should be provid- ed to and thro-a-gh the recreation facility to Stevens Creek Boulevard directly from the residential area with- out using Stelling Road. (7) Pedestrian access on this tennis club site should be restudied so that easy access to the tennis courts is provided without having to cross one court to get to another. (8) Corners of tennis courts (zind the ten feet high fence) should be cropped in key locations (adjacent to streets) to soften the stret•t appearance; and courts should bo staggered to create internal courtyards to break up the monotony of long lines of tennis fences, also providini; attractive waiting, area for players. " i7Y,1911U'011 AL CldUTI'MI (9) Under the alternate plan reviewed in a subsequent section, many of these comments ^.ould easily be included in the plan along with vehicular access only to a street paralleling the Central Park --- thereby creating an o uninterrupted (by curb cuts) iandsc:aped boulevard treatment along both Stelling and Stevens Creek visually relating well to the college across the street and the adjacent park. Since the club house is two stories, view of the facility would still be possible from Steven Creek under such an alternate scheme. Additionally with the noted new street , both the pedestrian and vehicular access to the club and Stevens Creek from the residential project. would be realized without an on-site connection . b. Resfde►t.tiat Area. The houFzing concept has sore definite advartages (which the project dr-signer can speak to in appropriate hearings) , but it also has many , zany draw backs --- most of which could probably be solved by a substantial reduction in the project density. This, of course, would have to be eventually reflected in the cost of the housin.; , which might place the homes "right-out- of-the-inarket" . According.; to the sponsor ' s designer , the land cost is at $75,000 per acre, which at ten dwelli.nds per acre means a unit land cost of $7, 500, or at five per acre --- a unit land cost of $15, 000. This does not even include the improverrent cost and the necessity o` having; ;an adequate number of homeo.,ners to properly handle the monthly maintenance cost for the cc.:.;.Mon areas . Another item to consider is whether the design concept proposed is justified at the density e-nvisioped --- would a different concept provide a better livir.f; environment at the same or even higher density. MAny of the desirable 3$ features of the plan --- norm-attached units, three parking spaces proximate to each home, single story on a portion of each unit , and generous square fool:1ges --- cause a considerable reduction in open spaces and privacy factors, not to mention the crowded visual scene. 'obviously, a for sale attached townhouse concept or garden apartments at a low density would probably produce a plan with greater livibility. This tends to say the concept chosen at the density desired is not appropriate. On the other hand, if the density were slightly reduced and the concept improved with many additions and refine- ments to the site plan , the benefits from the concept could create a compact urban livin ; environment with maximum privacy and livability. If more reliance were placed on the large open space provided by the adjacent city park and the planned recreation facilities associated with th" tennis facility , open space within the project could be used mainly for adequate separation of buildings , passive recreational pursuits, pedestrian movement , and visual excitement . Continuity of open spaces would be less important than its Location , viewability , and con- figuration. There seems to be, for example , little justification for an extensive club house and pool in the residential area when both facilities a:.•e readily available in the corrz:icrcial-tez►nis club next door. That is if proper pedestrain and vehicular access is provided to the club from the residential area. Elimination of the private club would rcduce unit housing costs al(-mig- with monthly homeowner maintenance fees, not to .mention adding open space in the Ilan. If a separate pool facility were desired, a small satellite pool could easily by incorporated in the plan without m.-Ozing major site planning compromises 39 , to accommodate than pool . Facilities a°-e planned in the corrnercial-tennis club that could be used for homeowner association meetings. Certainly, some kind of permanent agreement could be gained between the two sponsors in this regard, which could benefit both parties and the eventual residents. In reviewing the site plan, this EIR writer requested to see the tentative house designs, because an understanding of the interior relationships to the exterior open spaces . other structures, and vehicular areas becomes verb im- portant in evaluating a "tight" site plan. On the follow- ing page , a sche-mat :c representation of these plans is presented. In concert with review of the floor pl-ans and the site plan , several. problem areas are noted. Rather than discussing each iter:i, the following reco..m- mendations for impro erients in the plan include, where necessary for overal ; understanding a di ts�_ussion of the problem area ies in italics. (1) Reduction in d-_nsity would greatly improve.- plan livability --- but would not have to be subs _ritial if other listed items are also arcornpI ished. (2) Diminish in scale or eliminate the recreation buildin - or pool. (3) Increase patio fences , buildings , and off-street parking area setbacks along public streets. Nary se.tbackd along .the sttec.ts a4c quite sr.'aU . Some patio 6ences along S.teZUjzg Road a4e as ctosc as ten Sect .to ,the n.igh.t- o6-way, along Aives Avenue one building aide ' (.the bunk side! is only eight Sect Eton .the atgh.t-og-way with o66- st4eet parking and patio sencc:; even ctosen. To improve the streetscape, patio fencers and off-street parking areas should be at least twenty feet from the right-of-way , F r®®o�.r®®.0000sosome s.oa so an PATIO KIT- ILIA`. � LIv. 0 I.IV. ® g r�® � � �t OIL 113. ' KIT. DI1;. KIT. .? I3i)RU• = ' GURt:. I3DRM. i DECK + M. BDR'•F. . � DECK .'•F. RDR!J. � ll::CK � !d . FYDR!:. CAR?CO) T GARAGE J UND'r.II _ v:.-Dt R lilyp. Ty p. N � N I'RI:'r1TE llitIt'= Dr.Ci: !•F. FSI)ii!.i. 'S DECF; '•! , hi)Fi.'.S. i ® ACCESS ®® ENTRY DIN. a y I Iv . +` t1r---cads:I'I'. =m om 0,000010 te a SCHEMATIC FLOOR PLANS 40 e greater in some areas. Buildings should be setback a minimum of twenty five feet , greater in some locations. (4) Blank walls of buildings along public streets should be screened wittf mature evergreen trees :and shrubs. (S) Walks (and bikeways if not in street paved area) along public streets should meander into the setback areas, covered by appropriate public easements with the homeowners association responsible for landscape main- tenance. (6) !.Major c-itrances to the project should have a land- scape median at least ten feet wide with one-way travel lanes fifteen fE+at wide on either side of the median. The plan s he is ont y m.i►-,inal six Se et wide ncdia► 's ctii tr twetve Seet wide "Uavet Panes on cither side. A six 6--et wide a;,e_a ca;► rot ac_cor.riodate laAge trees or shrubs with- out tapping oven the to;etvc. Sect Lane, thereby .i►;terLter.i.►:g with both resident vcl;{cies a;zd e.ne•2gency vc1hictes , t.avc:- s.ing the Panes . Add.itlonatZy, a S.i Stec►. Seet wide ta►.e at_tocr.s an auto to pass a stated velic.ile, ci.;heteas a t:cctve Sect te-ide tare wvu " : ptobab<y not; and the extra thpec Sect is not enough added width to make the tape see►i wide. 1.7olians should also traverse the entire length of the entrance area.. One oa the pta,is mcc.%a►t steps sho.tt. (7) As in accord with the recently adopted Sin-gle Fancily Cloister 'Lone, private streets should be a minimum of twenty four feet curb to curb; and an additional five feet of right-of-way (nog: encumbered by :structures) snould also be provided for a full right-of-way of thirty-four feet . The pia►i shoe:►s a typical street dtrnens.ion o6 twenty- (sun Sect, zeduced .in some atc_aa to twenty Sect. Two .ttoetve Sect trave£ tapes are a neat Son good and saSe tnasstc c i 6tett.+ even if.c+ttgh a nat-P4vvc4 latte has aesthetic bene6ita . *E dtthough tile- site part showa a thiRty-twv beet dime►taion between ga agca (tt:-cnty-Sout Sect atzeet and 6ou4 6ect d4iveway approach) , .the mastc•t bedroom, above garage, ove•t- ha►tgs the drive apt toac:5i by th•tee beet, leaking art e6gective night-o6-teay o6 •ttre►.ty-six beet. This peaces .tile upper x. stony in peitil due to tatters vehicle-6 passing within � .inches o6 t►tc' tcppet st•tuctute. Tile extra Give Sect would give a drive approach o6 eight beet, which could also add landscape cnatemLiay to .the private stteetscape. (8) Extensive use of textured paving , landscaped center i►_clands, staggered building, setbacks, and varied, but ' coordin _ted , building ar Ahitecture along; the private i .streets should occur. Since t{te ptan e►:visio►i.5 a two story garage-maste•Y bedtcom (above) on tite pA vate &V ect j with onCy twenty-'six beet ,sepr"Ihati►tq the, buizdi►:gs (ore. � thii'tty-tout minimum undc%, the pteviotiA 6vg_ge-sted site pPan i.mptovemettt) a►td sit-,cc t{►e ptan in addition to the i gartage has a catpc�r.t adjace ►:t zhcre O , v:Vt y CittLe land- scape oh op^►r. �rapce is t%;ithin these crowded vc{t-.cuf-a.t coAkidozs . Iii a Vraditic►iat si►i9tc 6atniLy detached home, ti►e 6epatat1-on o6 homes acto.ss a pub.£ic street is quite s large i.rt rCtnpL_-, ;•5o►t to the projects Aepartation, apptoachi►:g r one hu►td'ted feet i►: the tacditio►zat si►tgte 6a►nity dwe£iing i situatiot, . Although imposition o6 :the tnadito►:at drive- u3ay app,to.ach o6 twe►ity beet ptu.s c►t the project woutd het'p te£.i.eve the c_towded 6ee.fing, it wou£d have disaste-;oua ' tnpacts on the common open space system without a la•7ge reduction in density. Tate exampte drawing on tite 60rtow- ing ;page sitow3 hots the situation choutd be. i►nptoved with- ; Out .such disastenouA ptan side e55ects . Otte could argue. j that the vehic.utar areas ate not impo.#Ltattt and should ; ,tot evert be conside►.ed; but this tc+-titer takes t►te position z .,�.. � NM DIT At curl m w 1 _ 41 14 3= that no area os .the site ptan must, by S►inctlon, be ptayed down, pa:t.iculatly an anea that aece.ives a good deal os usage ang .is very proximate to the ma6.tc4 bed- aoor►s. (9) Consideration should be given to eliminating on-site parking, relocation , and a combination thereof to protect important scenic areas of the plar► S open sp., ze and strong focus visual corridors. By the plant vcAy concept, there ace three pa%ki►tg .%pacea provided pen home. Consequentty. .the ►teed 6o r add.it.ic rat panting .is questionab£e cons.ide►t-i►g .there .is public st-tect parb.ir:3 io,: guests along A£ves Avenue. Ye-titaps on£y a sew adds -iona£ spaces should be pnov.ided on-atte --- o►.z ga►tg anea OA sevenal dispen.e.d areas .i►t twos . Regavid£ess c� < the anotti,", parf,i.►:g slcuuFc.` not be tocate.d in %rvo. .taut v.i.s:'a£ a.teas as .is done on the pnoJect elan. ;.'os-t 06 the o en 311ace areas oil .the dp£a►: have pal-1 :.ing .in 6ro►:t o6 thC,'- Oa con-se, this does serve ad a co►:ve►t.iert spot 6o , guest p.i-11-i►:9 e-i►:ce gtkcs,ta could pair , .them autos and terzilz dc,cv►t .the open space to ! their 6--i.end' s !to►ne. HCrL'ev('Z , the sane e4tuation could occurs by .stight£y c j 6-sett-i.►,g tite pa.h_.i►q 6ror* the open i space, much to ti:e v<suat i.r•rr"lover^e►tt 06 the p'to1ect. One 06 the rnajo ent"?a,ices to the p.' V ect, 6o,% example, directs the eye to a Pia ,'tow opon space corridor -- - but j the wou£.d -be att~ac.t'ive v.icut .is b%ocf;cd by three o66- street pa LF ing spaces . ( 10) Adequate turn -arounds and consideration should be given to fire cquipment . Many of the dead -end st►ce,,ts show o66-street pa,%ki►q at their ends . which precludes any ma►teuv`hab.it.ity o6 Large emergency equipment. The city has used attennativcs .in the past to so£ve this aadety pnobtcm, which .include nim.imat tunn -a.totind and emergency acc::aa ea5cne,tte . CEINTEn 43 i (11) ®pen spaces between buildi.gs should be intensively landscaped with strong consideration given to interrupting view lines with mature stock, screening for privacy and tt to hide unattractive blank walls of buildings, use of f detailed landscape areas inclvdino reflecting pools and varied ground cover, and varied patio wall alignments. Since the p4oject plan does not have geneaous open space coAtidons , what is thcne must be veny cakc6utty designed to etiminate on dirninish the tight Seetings created by narrow spaces . t ( 12) To the greatest extent. feasible, common open space areas between structures should be sixty feet or greater, with due consideration given to creating varied space relationships (which require selected tight spaces) and a small :pace's relationship to a much larger space. The pta►, is attic_-,dy headed in a good d�p,ecti_on by having only si►tgfe sto,,y po tio►:s o,1 the homes on the co►ninon ope►: spaces; hocvcve:., so►ne o5 the spaces becom quite smaLt'. It appeak-5 these sr;af'f_ spaces were speared as a nesutt os neces-sity to maintain a certa-i►, density, instead o6 design considerzati:o►:s to rr.aLe the project a tnore i►t- teresting pzace to five. (1.3) More consideration should be given to private patio privacy through orientation and screening to preclude second level views into lower level areas. The"c ane a hew tocatio►:s On .the pnojecl plan ulheh.e a rnas.te_.t bedtoo►,n patio deck (or just t;:e bednoorj window) is veny ctose and above the p^iva.tc patio ob annthes: home_. Thiel coutd pnobabty be sotved best by " 'Upping" .the unit that tooks down, and thereby avoi4i.ng the probtem enti-tety. f r I 44 t f e 7 (1-1) Fenestration sche-ze , landscape treatrient , and entry locations should be carefully studied at t;te detailed design stare to diminish or eliminate crowded and/or � confusing situations on each lot and within each home. A6 an exampte, the tentative Moot plans 61tow tong 1 rlahroty passageways ( four. $eet wide) teading to an entrant: to a home - -- some e►itrances a•ze or, the othe,t end o4 .tire. unit jAcm tvher.e the guest would path, his auto. Both sun - tight and ta►ldscapc mate. iat wt£t be og necess.i.ty,sca ce ist .these a,-teas . Ccn6equOnt£u, use oS tandscaped' t:e U'ses , ' non-continuous pav2cf of v-ood waf_ktear s , high (cteat stoi fl w.ivtdotvs , ctimb.i.ng vines on bank tva£fs , and ncstttd.icd entp.ances could improve t/:c situation . lit some cases , the sec_end becf•,toor: £oohs out at a bfar.F teaC£_ v � .the adjacent home onty {►out beet away. ff.ighe t t�--.indotes could a.ss.�st all ezru.5-i.o►t oS CihCc2tC 6,pocc, K'iiehe as toiveh toindcws woutd } do the co►zve•2se. j - t (15) Greater consideration should be given toward unit ; orientations and separations, to improve_ the living situation adjacent to potential nuis meo areas , particularly large i off-street parking areas and the amphitheatre use in the adjacent city park. S.i►:cc tl;c pahk .is gni►:g to be an t►t.tcusi�^cQrf used �4aciUty, u►ti.ts should not be o :k.cnted to the pal-, u►ztc s5 tl: e sCpa ti.o►t .is 4#:crca6cd co►:side.iab�y , S•'tont what .is sho.:.!n on th -,) oiect pfa: - - - a lbet.tcn zy,,.tcrn toott!'d pE'acc the bCa►zf: wazZ.0 i►: that d ,,;cction aton tth tntc►t6tvc fa►:d.scape pCa►z.:i►;g . A►iothe2 a•aea os conccr►: .i6 where master bed-to ►ns r.•tc o-t.iented to the j►a-zk.ing area ! o6 the tc >ni.s club, whichcould be so£ved by " 'lipping" u►t•it6 , tetoca.tio►t paak.4nD , o-t heavy Landscape bu66e.4.i►zg eopipte.te with ea:then be•2►,. ( 1G) !.tz:rg i nal benefit coz m:non open space areas; should bo included in c-ach units lot area. Th.ie steins 6peci: icatty to the opts: space at the .teak ( 4ro►lt) o6 the homes abutting is r 45 4he tcn"i3 court® in the e0uthcvc3te.zn cC►cncx 05 the p40ject ptan. Another aspect of the land use impact relates to the over- all pattern in the area. Obviously, the project changes the land use from agricultural to intensive urban usage and further reduces the open land in the area.. Approx- imately twenty-one acres (designated for residential) ' r.:main vacant northerly of Alves Drive, which forms a wide panhandle" around the rear of the city park and abutts the rear lot lines of existing single family detached hones along ltazelbrook Drive. With the development of cne project (reviewed in this EIR) and the noted twenty-one other acres, the city ' s central park %vould be fairly surro i!idt-d by private land � u"es. Since this park has limited. Public street ex- � posure, primarily from Stevens Creek 13,-;ulevard , and Js t quite long; compared to the frontage on Stevens Creek , i the dexelop.rent of rer. aining land in this area with private uses immediately .djacc!nt to the park , elimipates the � f po sibl ity of e%posi.ng such an is:.portant park to pul,7 is j vieex. Additionally , the various 1•i.nd ores planned with- in the parj; will encour aC,e large E;r•-nu1) usage of the park , making; foi- incompatible land use r#-altion� hips; tivithout adequate he:undary h. rriers and separtions. The need for police and f i-er ea.=;y access and sure(.,i lance to the P.irk. is also vary important . As proposed , the• projc-•t tends � to makes the potential inco:i, patible _;i.ttiatiun worse. f An alternative plan , still consi-,tent with project object- f ives, which removes tho.,ie concerns , is evaluated in a subsequent ejection. This plan retain: the street planned between the ;project and the park. The rirtit-of-way for j • A this street is ur.sc�er the ci Ly :� control currently. i i i 0 ._....�,.� • � t ? N�� �1'a" � CFI � -- 46 { tTl. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT B. ADVERSE ENVIR014 JUNTAt tFFECTS WHICH CANNOT BE AVOIDED IF THE PROJECT IS IMPLEMENTFD The jottote.i►tg t.isted .impacts ahe co►ts.ide4ed adve44e atthough the detehmination is in natty cases subjective and .the ►teadeK may see items noted p4e.v.iousty .in .the nepoa.t .that could also by cons.idehed adverse. 1. The project disrupts and destroys portions of the ecosystem on-site, replacing, it with buildings, streets , and related utilities and landscaping 2. During the construction of .he project , short-terra adverse impacts can be expected from heavy cquiprn-- nt operations on-site and on adjacent streets causing airborne dust and t noise. 3. The project , althou.-h it does not exceed the State and Federal air quality standards, does add to the existing sources of t oxidant , carbon monoxide. , and susperded particulate excessc's in the Santa Clara Val.ley. 4. The short-term adverse visual impact : !used by site grading � operations and removal of orchard tre 5. Thr. po,;: .i.ble adverse effect of st-, face water quality- during the: rainy season . 6. The cumulative effect of the! su--.1101'ded pollutant loads added tc, the area' s streams and the bay. i 7. The po:;f iAble limitation or even der;radatior: of ground crater quality/quantity in the region if supplemental water sources are not developed as area gro.%-th occurs. C!71 114 A 1 47 S. The cumulative effect of the added solid waste disposal , if alternative disposal systems are not developed. 9. The possible decrease in quantity of ground water infiltration because of the increased area of impervious surfaces. 10. The increase in enemy demand resulting in a net reduction of energy available to the area. 11. Short and long-term loss of agricultural land. 12. Loss of open land that , if fiscal resources were ascertained by the city in the future, could be used as part of the city's central park for the enjoyment of all the people in the city. 13. The project increases traffic to an appreciable extent only on Stelling Road north of Stevens Creek Boulevard . Con.--;estion ` at the intersection of Stevens Creak Roulcv-ard and Stelling road is slightly increased. i t 14 . During the construction phases , (short-term i^►p:tcts of 20 to 40 dBA increases can be created fror.-, equipmt. nt and construction vehicles when loc ted alon., the property line o. the site. � 2 l5. Visur.il quality di►,.in ishment alonFr Steven Creek Boulevard with toy, many drive%Vay openings from the tc..nnis club, and along Stelling Road and Alves Avenue with t;a:;:`r,, patio fencer, and parking areas sited too close to those streets. 16. Reduced quality of living envi.ronm.ont within ti►e project• due to inaducluate conc;ideration for both internal and external nuisance sit.uatjons created, as discussed fully under previous; section:. in this report . 17. Impaired liva:-)il ty , us:thili.ty , :and .security within the project due to certain aspects of the 171-o,ject design as discussed under previous sections in this report and in particular "The Human Use of Thr, La"()" Section . n 1fT ^a ni ►, w n :1 *i1''�ftl�2t . 1'�q1 iftl�1"(4 r Although there are several adverse impacts listed, it is questionable as to Whether any are considered to fit into the 4ig►iisican.t classification , as de Fined by Sections 15040 and ! 15081 of the State EIR Guidelines, particularly if mitigation measures are implemented. Adverse impacts numbered 1 - 4, and ! 13 - 16 are mitigated to some degree by mitigation measures ' listed in the following section. Adverse impacts numbered 3, and 5 - 12 are impacts normally associated with development, of { -land and which must he solved beyond the purview of this project , z or which cannot be solved. Solutions include plans , programs , policies, and funding at many levels of government and public i utility agencies ; not solutions relatin-- to alternative prOJOct designs. However, if the sponsor is opposed to the mitigations listed in the following section , he should in light of f ;:is and in accord with Section 15143(b) of the State EII. Guideline~ describe the implications of such measures as related to impacts and reasons why the project is being proposc-d. 4 P 49 III. ENVINO!:MiENTAL IMPACT C. MITIGATION MEASURES PROPOSFD TO l4INDOITIE THE IMPACT Maio& mitigation neasunea atneady .in .the pta►r .i nctude be4ming, type og £and usr: `, sing£e etoity poition:s o$ homes lacing open ap:!cea, age iteszr.ccti oils , anti )aytkir unden the housing :nits; many ninon measu les .too numerous tr% menttion but, which anc obvious 1,j nevi.eteing .the p£anr, city, and o-thet distn.i...: dLizances -efcvai t to tite pnoject, and govet menta£ Sites on the p4o ject :arzd .t;ze area ic;med ia.teCy sure.ou,:d i.r.? ,the p-a j ec-t arse. a£sr inctud'ed .in the plan 0t wi££ be checked and added in a su:.,sequcnt dcvetopment p;iase. THE !dEASCIP ES TO FOLLOC� ARE ADn] It 01:ES THAT CO:ILD REDUCE ADVERSE J!.fPACTS Ft1i^,FH R IF INCLUDED WITHIN) THE PLAN'. 1. Duet problcr:s _an be controlled by including within the gradi.-V cc.ntractor ' s contract provisions a.rd instructions for mini- mizing, airborne dust nuisance during construction . j 2. I ;: is conceivable that once the construction is underway . !� nubsurf=tc�-? evidence of archaeological significance may be ; reveal:_:.,d. Should such a situation arise, the construction activity should be delayed and a qualified archaeologist be contacted for irimediate assessment of the- situation. 3. Prur e'w timing; of clearing and grading operations , to cuse the 1;rad.ing oiler.= lion to be c,impieted in tiro spring and early summer, follo ev ' by land:>capinl„ pavir:�,; zirid installation of. � drainage fac.il ties prior to the win2:car rains. 4. Regulation o'' construction equiprzent opc-rating, hours to mi.rimize nei.:;c :xncl traffic problems. J 3 5. 'I'ta�� wideni :c of Stel.iin,, Roay adjacent to the site for four p i tr. ffic lanes and <a tv•o-a;ry left turn lane. Moreover, the i cvalai t4on of traffic impact: .,issurned traffic fro. Ili activ.it- "Ail 61 VIC s N SO areas would occur simultaneously on a week day. As a practical matter, this would rarely occur, since recreational activity areas typically peak on weekends. 6. Aside frorn appropriate detailed studies made at the final design stage relative to the siting of units, landscaping there- to. and foundation system situation , the large specimen oak tree can be saved it appears by keeping buildings out of the drip line, maintaining existing grate, and assuring new drainage pat .erns drain seater away from the base of the tree. 7. Redesign the p-roject taking the iterns noted in "The Human � Use of the Land" section of this report into account . 8. Utilize the alternative plan evaluated in the next section , or a plan substantially complying with principles contained in that plan. 9. Night lighting for thr! tennis courts should be limited to those courts not adjacent to the residential portions of the project . 10. A detailed soils and geologic study Should be accomplished prior to final project desi.-n . 11 . Construct Anton Way from Alves Drive to Stevens Creek Boule- vard. 12. Undergarounding of overhead wires on Stelling Road. 13. Dedic, tic,n of park land in accord with city ordinance along and adjacent to the city park ld. Since the parkin,,; needs for the club cannot be precisely deterrvi ne.i ( for two reasons : parking requiremearts are not a precise science aru -the use is unique with not tn.iny truely comparable clubs existing) and there ray be a shortage, it is suggested one of the tennis courts proximate to the off- street parking area not be constructed until the club operations prove parkin;; propo ;ed is adequate. If the contrary is- proven , ther. the intended tennis court area could he utilized for additional off-:>trcet parkin:,, , particul-arly if' the site plan is delignud for such eventually. 111. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT 0. ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROIfOSEO ACTION As .the City°s GeneZat P::an, Zoning 04dinance, and va4iou6 otheh po ieies and 4equtation4 beat gteatty a►: attenfrative usage o J the i ptnpetty, the choices avaitabte Sot the site take these items into consideaati on. 1 . No PAojcc.t. If the pi-oject does not move ahead the lanai would probably remain as it currently exist. for an and _ , ,'r- mined aniount. of tire. Since the land is in private ownership and is in a develop i n,, area, continuous of forts to develop the land are expectcd. Obviously, if no project occurs the impacts occurring on the site, caused 1)v the project , disappear as well as do those in the iri-.nediate local area. Tile only reason for prolonging development of the site would be to hold the land u::e option open for expansion of Central Park . However, the city through many hearings oil fiscal capabilities pl;cced ;L ir,.r prohabi ► it_, of acquistion occurring in the fore- st-eatile future- for the Lind . UnfortilliaLely , such a desirable go;:1 do(., r.()t appear to be realistic . 2 . Atta1:ni;t.ivcs -tv, the _P',!:c� jec.t (YP, .thc Location cola %c!: cou£d ohta i►. _b;- ti i c c(,1 r^c t-it_..s . Although there are probably alternate locations %vithin the city and region ~:here the project could be (L--vvloped, this EIR v.riter is not aware of the sponsors search for other properties to develop the project. If the sponsor has other sites in mind , these could be brought out during the public hearing on the FIR. However, there do not appear to be any strong reasons to sul:gest the uses would i)e better located in other. areas. t o oil I t:J 4 al a DI J.J Ut/ti :J.+U Y Regarding an alternative design plan, one is presented on the following page in :schematic fashion. The plan is pur- posely laid out to eliminate many of the adverse impacts noted previously in the report and to retain the existing street right-of-way for Anton Way along the western side of the site. (Notation must be made that the project plan utilized that right-of-way for siting various facilities with- in the project . Consequently, including the street as part of the project automatically removes two tennis courts and about six to eight cluster homes) . Since the impacts on infrastructure are expected to he only slightly reduced by the alternate plan , further comment on that kart of the effects is unnecessary. llowever, some of the noticeable and noteworthy benefical impacts with the alternate plan are listed below: 1. Improved central park public e:-�posure. 2. Ir proved fire access and police surveillance of the and the project . 3. Diminishment of incompatible relationships between they park and residences , and (note the park dedication required for the project adds a further buffer) between the tennis cli,b and residences. 4. Slightly improved traffic circulation from a public street standpoint , particu1:11-ly by eliminating the access point to the tennis club from Stellin.j. Road. 5. Improved pedestrian , bicycle , and vt,-hi.cular traffic from the residential portion of the project to the tennis club (no need to use Stellinb Road) . 6. Impx• wed sLreetscape particularly along, Stevens Creek Boulevard by elimination of the need for access to that street (cane access could be provided but from a traffic standpoint it does not make any difference either way) , y Y '1 1 ALVES ® AVE� `l l IA ® S VILLAGE GREEN CLUSTER AMPHI- • ' THEATER ol 1 t I ' PARK POOL TENNIS Ot'"' PARKING twJ Lj �-; B ]DG. COURTS r> ......)40, I �. STEVENS C . EEI� BLVD. ® ACCESS N ALTER, NATE SITE PLAN 'i "1 a1e-1 1, riL cEi"all T 12 i thereby adding to the boulevard treatment existing already on the other side of the street along the Le An� a College frontage of the park on Stevens Creek Boulevard creatigg a long stretch of landscaping. Other minor Improvements include elimination of 120 feet of tennis fencing along Stelling Road, staggered setbr►ck of tennis fencing; along Stevens Creek Boulevard to include ten feet corner cropping of courts in key areas, 1:►ndscape area between club house and Stevens Creek doulevar,i. (Parking areas could easily be screened by landsca .)ed berms) . 7. Eliminates pedestrian conflicts with vehicles on the tennis club and improves tennis court control . S. Better on-site pedest.-ian movernent to the tennis courts. 9. Locates the club house in closer proximity to the par]: for view of the park and walkin patronage. i 10. Diminishes air pollution impact b,,' slightly 'reducing; the amount; of idlir,i; vehicles. 3. At.te.~,►at.ives -t;:(r-t tedt.ce c` cti-m<rta.tc cr:v1~rrrrne►: ";zttr� ,:dt,c�sc i^,? ?ap c.t.s , r.,riclt subs ia►:t ir p)edc z; at=atrn;►:t v jt_vtect i nbjec.tivcs . An alternative deign reflecting; the commcnts mainly c xr,ressed in " The }iu:::;in Use of the Land" sect ian would probably be, morc costly , but such an alteyrn ►tivu should be evaluated once it is prepaTcc} by the _sponsor. It is conceivablc• most of tho adverso imi)acts uouid be resolved by ::uch it plan . Howover , all alternative that r_ould 1-esulve m:rn;' of the lit•a- bility in the residential area could be a well planned cluster attached for kale townhouse project or a for ren g;aracry a}�artment project . Tho benefits of they s;ponsors plan as related to these other concepts are quite obvious. InPZcts on infrastructure would not be differcrit enough to be an- important concern one way ur the other. rANVt i.It I �I���I�a�}�r radl 114