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HomeMy WebLinkAboutASAC Minutes 08-07-1974CITY OF CUPERTINO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA 10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, California 95014 Telephone; 252-4505 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ARCHITECTURAL AND SITE APPROVAL COITTEE HELD AUGUST 7, 1974, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY HALL, CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA 1 SALUTE TO THE FLAG Vice -Chairman Koenitzer called the meeting to order at 7:35 P.M. ROLL CALL Comm. present: Comm. absent: Staff present: POSTPONEMENTS There were none. Dressler, Weinstein, Vice -Chairman Koenitzer Chairman Sallan Associate Planner Robert Cowan Traffic Engineer Glenn Grigg Senior Planning Technician. Toby Kramer APPROVAL OF MINUTES: July 3, 1974. Moved by Comm. Dressler, seconded by Comm. Weinstein to continue the Minutes of July 3, 1974. Motion carried, 3-0 After discussion, it was decided a representative(s) from P.G. & E. would come to a meeting to discuss lighting data. WRITTEN COrUNICATIONS Letter of August 5, 1974 from Chairman Sallan expressing her deep regret that she would he unable to attend this meeting. HC--li.3 Page 1 Letter of August 6, 1974 from Member Barbara Rogers resigning from this Committee, effective immediately. (MINUTES 0F THE AUGUST 7 1974 ARCHITECTURAL AND SITE APPROVAL COMMITTEE MTG. F ge 2 t €MINUTE ORDER TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM TAE H -CONTROL COMMITTEE tasking that a letter of commendation be sent to Mrs. Rogers for ,serving on the Committee. Motion carried, 3--0 The Senior Planning Technician introduced a list of people who will be on the Sign Review Committee. Mr. Edward Galvin, 3693 Carlisle Avenue (Idestwood Oaks), Santa Clara, stated there are no sidewalks along Pruneridge between Wolfe and Tantau so the people could walk to the shopping center. They must now walk along the street, which is hazardous. It was his understanding that the Cupertino Charter states that sidewalks must be provided where buildings are built. This matter was referred to the staff. Vice -Chairman Koenitzer stated that no new public hearings will be initiated after 11-:30 P.M. PUBLIC HE,SRTNGS 1. Appl cation HC -5l,259. of Portal Plaza Shopping Center requesting approval of a landscaping plan for. Phase I of the modification to the existing; shopping center loc8Led oa the northeast corner of Portal Avenue and Stevens Creek Blvd. Continued from meeting of July 17, 1974. Vice --Chairman Koenitzer cautioned that the Committee's review of this application is restricted to the aesthetic quality of .the development. The Senior Planning Technician stated that the site plan for the Lumberjack was reviewed in conjunction with the modifications to the shopping center. The review at this meeting was in regard to the western portion. The landscaping area on Stevens Creek Bled. and on Portal Avenue is 12' wide. The applicant is proposing to retain the existing junipers and trees and add additional, taller plantings. The main objective here is to screen the parking. At torne.y Jim Miller, representing owner George. Yainaoka, said there is a 10 -year -old narrow strip of landscaping which they would like to preserve and incorporate into the plan. lie noted that along Stevens Creek. Blvd., from Wolfe Road to Saratoga -Sunnyvale Road there is no -mounding, and most of the property is already developed. ijr , Miller stated that in addition- to the expansion o! --the present landscaping areas, they are proposing the addition of some greenery at the ends of each parkin; bay. The plan is to put in a 3' high mound ialong Portal. By comparison, he said that there is an 18" to 24" high strin ,f -mounding at the office ecTnplex directly across the street from City Hall. r - MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 7, 1974 H -CONTROL MEETING Member Weinstein noted a discrepancy onthelandscape plan, whi will be rectified. He.further suggested yucca or flax be added to that 50' strip to break up the monotony. The landscape archi— tect said this presented no problem; however, the yucca was plann to go beneath the sign for emphasis. lie suggested bottlebrush or some similar plant be used instead. Mr.. Dias Doi, the landscape architect, said the yucca is a slow —growing member of the cactus family. In 2 to 3 years the bottlebrush could be high enough to screen the cars. Colored slides of the site were displayed. Vice -Chairman Koenitzer would -'like to see a variety of higher plant behind the junipers along Stevens Creek Blvd. and would like to se( this indicated on the plans. He noted the veronica grows 3' to 4' high, and he would rather see something 5' to 6' high instead. He would like to see two different shades of leaves. He would like tc see something higher where the holly is planned. He suggested a shrub like pyracantha along the berm by the trees to provide screening at the mound, above the lower -growing plants. . Viee-Chairman Koenitzer read Chairman Sallan's remarks about this - proposal. Mr. Miller said the applicant waspresent at the last meeting unti: 11:25 P.M., when it was announced there would be no new hearings after 11:30 P.M. He understood there was some discussion after 11:30 P.M. Member Weinstein could not understand why the applicant felt there would be difficulty in mounding along Stevens Creek Blvd., behind the existing landscaping. Mr. Miller said we have existing, 10 - year -old junipers and trees and irrigation in there now. A 4' mounding directly adjacent to it would destroy the existing land- scaping. The purpose is to hide the cars, whether it is done with mounding and/or greenery. Member Weinstein said that unless some large -sized plants are put in, it will be a long time before the greenery will be sufficiently dense to accomplish this. Mr. Miller said the developer has no objections to incorporating these instructions into the proposal and coming back within two weeks with a new set of plans. Moved by Member Weinstein, seconded by Member Dressler to continue application HC -51,259.8. HC -113 Page 3 HC -51,259.8 continued Motion carried, 3-0 iic-11a Page 4 M:ENIJTES OF THE AUGUST 7, 1974 H --CONTROL MEETING With the permission of the applicant, application HC -51,075.40 was postponed to the end of the agenda since it was anticipated that it would be quite time-consuming. 3. Application HC 51,339 of Merritt Sher (Terranomics Corporation) -- requesting approval of site, architecture, landseapingand .grading for a commercial development located at the east side of Saratoga -Sunnyvale Road, south of Silverado Avenue. The Senior Planning Technician said this application is for a free- standing restaurant and a row of commercial stores on the southeast side of Saratoga -Sunnyvale Road, south of Silverado Avenue. It includes a 10' sidewalk and landscaping. There is adequate parking. There are residential homes 90' from•the.rear of this development. The landscape plans call for Monterey pines and ground cover. There is no fence along either side since there is the possibility this may tie in with the adjacent, undeveloped property. Although the architecture is somewhat different than typically found in recent developments in Cupertino, it would be compatible. The hip roof of the restaurant will be of a green sheetmetal material, which will also be used on the large fascia of the front of the row of shops. Colored slides were shown of the property under discussion. This completes the undergrounding of utilities along Saratoga. -Sunnyvale Road. The Senior Planning Technician said there is an existing, single-family home directly to the east that has commercial zoning. There is no indication at this time, but there is the possibility of extension of the commercial. Signing and lighting will be discussed at a later date. The Coco restaurant will probably require a free-standing sign: The signs could go along the fascia of the row of shops. Mr. Merritt Sher, 220 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, said they are not happy with the car wash next door. They will make every reasonable effort to upgrade the area. He said Coco's is similar to Marie Callendars restaurant. He believes the roof treatment to be very attractive, with the green about the color of grass. Since there was more than adequate parking, Vice -Chairman Koenitzer asked the applicant if he would consider 3 of the spaces. along the restaurant being used for additional landscaping. Mr. Sh`r agreed to i.L__ ..__...._._ ..- .-'11 .-44-L. -a. 1..., t-,.....«. s. T1... said he would like the handicapped parking to be retained. He suggested extending the walkway outside Coco's to Saratoga -Sunnyvale Road so opie would have_a pedestrian walkway rather than having to walk in the driveway. _ — MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 7, 19714 H —CONTROL MEETING The architecture was discussed next. Member Dressler asked about the roofing material, noting that the applicant is introducing a green roof into a red -roof area. Mr. Sher said it is a toned -down green sheetmetal with ribs. He offered to come back with a color sample. Member Weinstein said he would also like a sample of the building material included. 1 Sign plans were ,discussed next. Mr. Sher said the signs will be individual, interior -lit letters. He answered Member Dressler that they had one tenant who wanted to be slightly different from the others. Member Dressler said he does not mind a break in the stores, but he would like to see a continuous, horizontal line. The applicant was informed that camaflaging of the roof apurtenances is one of the standard conditions. The Vice -Chairman was concerned that the buildings look rather massive. M. Sher said that when you look at the grading plan, they are recessed 1 foot. in regard to the landscaping, Member Weinstein asked for the.addi- tion of two olive trees, one by the restaurant, and another on the other side because he noted the plan calls for roughly 200' with only two olive trees. Mr. Sher agreed to this. Member Weinstein noted that every square foot of the property not consumed in concrete is covered with ivy. Vice -Chairman Koenitzer suggested 3' high shrubs along the walkway to Coco's to help screen the view of the parking lot as you go north along Saratoga -Sunnyvale Road. Mr. Sher was not sure whethe! that would break up the continuity of the mound. Vice -Chairman Koenitzer asked for comments from the audience. There were none, Moved by Member. Dressler, seconded by Member Weinstein to close the public hearing. HC --113 . Page `i Motion carried, 3-U nC l -i3 r, IC -51, 339 approved ;r j c0nd iti_onS ES OE. THE AUGUST...7, 1974 Ii -CONTROL MEETING Moved by Member Dressler, seconded by Member Weinstein to recommend to the City Council approval of RC 51,339, subject to the standard conditions, Exhibits A, B, D, and the following additional conditions: removal of three parking spaces in front of Coco Restaurant closest to Saratoga -Sunnyvale Road and replace -that space with landscaping (compatible with the other landscaping, including a sidewalk from the restaurant to the sidewalk along SaratogaSunnyvale Road; the additior of two olive trees ,I1. is the center in front of the Coco Restaurant and 1 entered in the landscaping berm along Saratoga -Sunnyvale Road in front of the project. The applicant shall return for approval of project color with samples of roof color and wood stain design on the side of the buildingand samples of the construction blocks for approval by this Committee. The Associato Planner said the City is trying to link parking lots in commercial areas together to mi.ti.gate storage and travel pattern problems, He asked the Committee if they would include a condition that the applicant agree to. try toaccomplisli this. Mr. Sher said the; -v-ould like to have some control so they won't be bound in with some possibly incompatible use of the adjacent property. IAn. c1lrend't '.'.t cr3 the _!lotion was made, by Member Weinstein, seconded by M -ember Dressler (since there were no other Members present to do so) J that there S hOUld be, if at all pClssibi in the future, depending on d£vetopme_'ttt of aljace nt_ 'p'rvpe`-' y, scrie link t7 include driveways, !etc ., to combine curb cuts. Vote on the amendment: AYES: ' Members Weinstein, Vice -Chairman Koenitzer NOES: Me ber Drassler ABSENT: Chairman Sallan Motion carried, 2-1 Vote on the notian.: AYES: Members Dressler, Weinstein, Vice -Chairman Koenitzer NOES: None ABSENT: Chairman Sallan i - Motion carried, 3-0 MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 7, 1974 H -CONTROL MEETING UNFINISHED BUSINESS 4. Application HC -51,027.12 of Taylor Wheeler Planning Corporation requesting approval of the modification of site and landscaping for five single -story professional office buildings located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Torre Avenue and Pacifica Drive. The Senior Planning Technician said this application was approved in its entirety,by the City Council last November. It is the new development across the street from City Hall. They are requesting a modification to add more -landscaping and to delete 12 parking spaces. The ordinance requires a minimum of 96 spaces and the original approval was for 109. The current request is to reduce this figure to 97. The perimeter landscaping is being revised, also. Mr. Mark Beaudoin, 17608 Vineland Avenue, Monte Sereno, said he is proposing to use holly oak trees, which are evergreen. The red oak is a deciduous variety. The Vice -Chairman said he would prefer to see some kind of broad leaf evergreen tree in. the planting areas along Torre Avenue. Vice -Chairman Koenitzer asked for comments from the audience. There were none. Moved by Member Dressier, seconded by Member Weinstein to close the public hearing. Motion carried, 3-0 Moved by Member Weinstein, seconded by Member Dressler to approve the modifications to HC 51,027,12, subject to the standard condi-- tions and the following special condition: The trees along Torre Avenue frontage shall be changed from deciduous to evergreen and the choice of said trees shall be left to the staff and the landscape architect. AYES: Members Dressler, Weinstein, Vice -Chairman Koenitzer NOES: None ABSENT; Chairman Sallan HC -113 P ge 7 HC -51,027.12 modifications approved Notion carried, 3-0 MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 7, 1974 il-•CONTROL MEETING Recess was called at 9;30 P.M. The meeting reconvened at 9:45 P.M. 2. Application HC 51,075.40 of Valico Park, Ltd., requesting approval of site, architecture, grading and conceptual landscaping for the regionalshopping- center including Bullock's and J. C. Penney ms —'-._.4-.-. - 7(?A y • k intersection with Wolfe Road, extending southerly on the westerly side of Wolfe Road from said Freeway 280 on the easterly side of Wolfe Road to Vallco Park Way. Written communications regarding this application were introduced. The Associate Planner stated that this is the third and final step in the'development process. The scope is to review a very detailed site and landscape plan of the project which has been approved by the City Council. The parking ratio could be reduced by 10% in order to increase the landscaping. The Drachman plan was introduced-, which combines parking spaces for compact and standard -sized cars. The Director of Public Works was concerned that there were too many spaces allocated to compact cars in the northwest portion of the property, Vice -Chairman Koenitzer said his experience. at Lockheed is that anyone who has less than a 10^ton truck feels he has -,a compact car aid uses those Ua king sooacas. There followed a discussion of enforcement ;}I: l a c Member Weinstein C1ICan �...�._i. 2tIl�E..r 1.:30 believed that in some ill;..'?Cosy owners of compact cars would use standard -sized parking spaces. The Associate Planner answered Member Weinstein that if we went to all. standard -sized parking spaces this plan would not work. Member Weinstein stated that he would not put his Porche (a compact car) in a 7.5' wide parking space. The Associate Planner said the second consideration in terms of the site plan related to peripheral landscaped areas on the west side, between Bullock's store and the adjacent residential. It will be difficult to get three rows of trees and a bike path in that 25' strip. Sears, Vallco Park and Portal Plaza will have to have some kind of agreement to make that entrance at Stevens Creek Blvd. work, also. One of the conditions of approval is that there will be r!o delivery trucks using the perimeter roads near the residential. The only truck r f+_e ill the in da= kl ears ramp Member Dressler noted a 5% grade from the east parking lot to the r s _�nci 11e c_ouldr't ne s?logpers walking up to the stor.es ._ MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 7, 1974 H -CONTROL MEETING The Associate Planner said the 8' sound wall will extend all along the residential property to the west. It will be a precast -type slumpstone. The Associate Planner next reviewed the grading plan, pointing out the areas where there will be fill and the•areas to be cut. It was determined the grade level of the ground floor of Penneys is 5' higher than that of Sears. Mr. Walter Ward, Vallco Park General Manager, opened his.remarks by stating that he never said he expected a battle before this Body, as the article in the July 22nd issue -of the San Jose Mercurj says. This is the 114th meeting he has attended in regard to this project. He said they have tried to incorporate all suggestions of the people to mitigate any problems. He noted that,40 consult- ing firms have worked on this. He has had 3 meetings in New York City with 17 persons, all day, from Penneys. Mr. Butterfield, of Wurster Bernardi & E.maons, Architects for the Vallco Park -development gave an analysis of the parking and site plan. They first went through the project: to see where they could. best distribute the 10% increase of landscaping. The original use permit calls for 12% in landscaping; it is now up to 18%. They reinforced the perimeter road. They are providing a bike path through the center and on the Tantau overerossing. They had an overlay showing how they intend to implement the Drachman plan for their parking layout. • The Associate Planner said the parking ratio is 1 space per 240 sq. ft. of building, but this ratio decreased with a larger projec They are proposing 1 space per 200 sq. ft. Mr. Butterfield said there are 16 handicapped spaces near all major entrances. He then displayed an exhibit of compact and standard cars parked in compact and standard stalls. As to the grading, Mr. Butterfield said they have developed a balanced cut and fill situation. From the Sears ground floor, they scooped out and put a building on top at the same level as Sears. This allows covered parking area below. All service point are under cover. From the mall you can go into the lower level of Penneys. - Member Dressler was concerned about the 5% slope up to the Penneys store from the parking lot., Mr. Butterfield said this is not considered a problem at this point. HC -113 Page 9 MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 7, 1974 H -CONTROL MEETING •HC -113 Page 10 Mr. Sheldon Gordon, Codeveloper of Vallco Fashion Park, said there is a very definite purpose for this grading up to the Penney store. Penneys puts their fashion lines only on the floor with direct access to the parking lot. This would put their hard line products such as furniture, upstairs. The shopping center has a one -level mall . ₹f the parking -lot is dropped -it-w©ul1- —impl-y ma -k€- the Penney store look higher. Member Weinstein suggested the entire shopping center be built single story throughout. Mr. Butterfield next went over the elevations and the model of the center. The underground parking area will be 14high and the ceiling will be treated with acoustical material. It will be light and airy. They have tried to work with natural materials that wear well and blend in with the community: warm -tone precast cement, paneled wall with redwood soffett, natural brick, and solar brown, obscure glass which allows seeing out but not in. There wil be a series of glass alcoves for display on the one side and for the restaurant on the other. Their solution for screening the ser- vice areas would be to provide baffle partial walls of concrete material. Member Weinstein commented that this appears to be better than he ant.i.cipated. .Grchiteci: Pierre Cabrol, of Welton. Becket Assoc.ates, 1.01700" Santa Monica _? a s An^cele s expl i n" d here are two entrances on the. Oi7J_ a BLd. Los �` • South side , one f':iram the mall anti one from below which is related to the parking areas.. They wanted to avo?.1 the feeling of a big box. For this reason they cut the corner 43° to reduce the bulk of the building and allow free vistas, and to open up the relation •between the buildings, landscaped areas and parking areas. The area with the stalls and ramps has been loaded with 'Landscaping and heavy roof to make it as pleasant an experience as possible. Mr. Cabrol reviewed the building materials: plaster on the walls and at the entrance- they are using erood on the fascia and walls. The same concrete being used in the center will be used or. the Bullocks store and on the wall protecting the residential area, as well as on the stair/ramp areas and at the transition point between the center and the Bullocks store. Mr. Cabrol answered Member Weinstein that he did not design the Stanford shopping center Bullocks store; they are very different. _________Member Weili.stein asked tf theT1as— anyttiTrgrnoTeT Spanish flavor here. Mr. Cobrol felt that the Spanish design was becoming cliche'. will he _iegntrated__in o- ti.e _fascia. c —__------ _-------l��r, •�.aliro-1. -said -t-lam- sgz� � MINUTES Cr THE AUGUST 7, 1974 1I-COHTRGL MEETING Member Dressler said lie. likes the geometric shape of the Bullocks building; it tends to follow the geometric shape of the overall center with the exception of Pennys and Sears. ti Mr. Michael Painter, of Painter and Associates, landscape archi- tects, stated tYiat the landscaping is planned so that as you pass the center you will not appear to see seas of automobiles. The view from the freeway will be soft, with the wall of redwood trees largely obscuring the shopping center. There will be groupings of trees within the parking lot. He said this plan has 50 to 75% ore landscaping in the center than in the Stanford shopping center Earth berming will take place in spaces not less than 10' wide and at times going to 25' in. width. The planting along Wolfe Road wit_ utilize the same evergreen ash that exists there now. The median strip will.. be widened and evergreen ash will be put in the center of it along with some lower shrubbery. Another special element of this parking lot is the way you swing into the parking lot. He demonstrated this on the site plan. They are thinking of low water lets at the entrances from Wolfe Read. The iow profile will mean the trees will assume the vertical scale of the Stores. The trees are a very significant element. The parking lots are divides in half by 25' medians. There will be sidewalks along Wolfe. Road as wall as bus stops with benches underneath the shade of the bridge. The same trees swing into the shopping center from the street. As to the 25' buffer adjacent to the residential.,. Mr. Painter said there will be a precast masonry wall, and the residents could also have their own fences. Valico Park is pre- sently negotiating with P.G. & E. for removal of the utility poles and those wires will go underground. The bicycle traffic will be separated from the automobile traffic. Mr. Walter Ward answered Member Koenitzer that they had another study done which revealed they should have a 6 to 8' solid wall to buffer the sound. The Sears wall will be raised to 8'. There followed a discussion about the sound wall. An acoustical engineer had explained it in depth at the Planning Commission hearing. His recommendation was a solid, 8' wall. Mr. Ward said they would like to construct the 8' wall on their property from Stevens Creek Blvd. to the freeway immediately so it will be done prior to construction of the -center.. EC -113 Page 11 uG-113 Pace 1.7. F 0 tnd wall 3.; prC'11ed..• e cep t f -or that Oft ion ai en?_, 280 MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 7, 1974 1F! -.CONTROL MEETING Mr. Nicholas Timashenka, 19630 Merritt Drive, Cupertino, asked. it !Merritt Drive will be cul-de--sac'd or it will be an opening to the center. He would prefer that it be closed off. Mr.. Ward said they ;would prefer not to have Merritt or Amherst opened because this would become a police problem for them: The Associate Planner said ,the bicycle path issue was brought up as a convenience for the neighbors. IL they on want it, this is a statement the H - Control - FCommi<ttee could transmit to the City Council Mr. Timashenka said he did oat think Merritt Drive could accommodate bicycle lanes. Mr. Timashenka stated that in Ordinance No. 255, one of the original concepts of Vallco Park in regard co height of buildings was the line -of --sight approach. The Bullocks store is 30' high and 85' from the property line. Mr. Ward said the line -of -sight `actor referred to building wail -to- _building wall, not to property lines, The staff -was asked to double-check this. 'As to the solid wall, Member Koenitzer said .ita constructionand location seem to be satisfactory. He asked forcomment.s from the audience.. There were none. Moved by Member OresS i.er , seconded by Member Wei.ns,:?. i? to Ur.r :_nu the public hearing on application H'C-j? ,C75>40 to f':30 P.'. on eriday. A;gJ.st 9, ..914, This iLotion. was raolcd I.C., croe2' to n ;i,ke another motion Moved by Member Dressler ; seconded by Member Weinstein, at the applicant's request, to recommend to the City Council approval of the sound wall portion of application HC -5'_,075.40 as presented, according to the location on the site plan, to be constructed of. precast materials as presented in the exhibit, with the following conditions: That the sound wall be a sound barrier at the property line, from freeway 280 to the southern terminus near Stevens Creek Blvd., 1with no breaks for plantings, bicycle paths or pedestrian walkways. That the Sears wall shall have 2 or 3 courses added to achieve the u:7 t: Lmate height of ≤3' . That portion of ti-ia sound wall along the property 11.ne at Freeway 280 shall be deferrer until furger sound. studies a.re. completed. CS: Members Dressler, -Weinstein, Vice -Chairman. Koeriitzer ABSENT: Chairman Sallan MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 7, 1974 H —CONTROL MEETING ADJOURNMENT Moved by Member Dressler, seconded by Member Weinstein to continue the public hearing on application HC -51,075.40 to Friday, August 9, 1974, at 8:30 P.M. This meeting adjourned at 12:45 A.M. Motion carried, 3-0 APPROVED: /s/ C. Nancy Sallan C. Nancy Sallan, Chairwoman ATTEST. /s/ Wm. E.�Rvder City Clerk HC -113 Page 13 HC -51,075.40 continued to 8/9/74 A j