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HomeMy WebLinkAboutASAC Minutes 10-09-1975CITY OF CUPERTINO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA 10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino Telephone: 252-4505 HC -148 Page 1 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ARCHITECTURAL AND SITE APPROVAL COMMITTEE HELD ON OCTOBER 9, 1975 IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA SALUTE TO THE FLAG The meeting was opened at 7:10 p.m. by Chairman Koenitzer with the Salute to the Flag. ROLL CALL Members present: Dressler, Grubb, Sallan and Chairman Koenitzer Members absent: Irvine Staff present: Assistant Planner Steve Piasecki INFORMAL REVIEW OF PLANNED DEVELOPMENT USE PERMIT APPLICATION: None UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes of September 18, 1975 and September 4, 1975 Minutes of September 4, 1975: On page 3, paragraph 8 should read "....with Exhibit C-1 1st Revision. The exhibit to be given to staff indicating final plans and materials, which shall reflect substitution of river rock material for crushed rock and bark chips." On page 4, paragraph 8, the third line should read "east elevation also. She wondered...." Member Sallan moved to approve the Minutes of September 4, 1975 as amended. Seconded by Chairman Koenitzer. Motion carried, 2-0-2 Abstain: Dressler and Grubb HC -148 Page 2 Minutes of 9/18/75 continued HC -51,259.81 California Canadian Bank MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 9, 1975 H -CONTROL MEETING Minutes of September 18, 1975: Since the minutes had not been included in the packets, .Member Sallan moved to continue approval until the next regular meeting. Seconded by Member Dressler. Motion carried, 4-0 POSTPONEMENTS: None WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS: None ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None Chairman Koenitzer announced no item would be initiated after 11:30 p.m. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. Application HC -51,259.81 - Edwin J. Myers (California Canadian Bank) requesting approval of landscaping for a bank facility in the Portal Plaza Shopping Center located at the northeast corner of Stevens Creek Boulevard and Portal Avenue. Continued from H -Control meeting of June 19, 1975. Staff report: Assistant Planner Piasecki gave a brief summary of staff report as printed. He noted there are two parts to be covered. One is the landscaping proposed for the California Canadian Bank site and the other is the landscaping for the Standard Oil site at the north side of Stevens Creek Boulevard between Portal Avenue and Vallco Parkway within the Portal Plaza Shopping Center. Mr. Piasecki pointed out that in April, 1974, when the bank facility for Portal Plaza Shopping Center was approved, Condition 11 of Resolu- tion 384 required that the 12 ft. landscaping strip adjacent to Portal Avenue be extended south to Stevens Creek Boulevard to include the service station site. The applicant has apparently met with opposition from the existing leasee and has requested that the improvements be bonded for completion at the termination of the existing lease. Mr. Piasecki referred to Exhibit C, noting that while the proposal would make a substantial improvement to this corner, to fully comply with the intent of Condition 11, the widened planter strip and plant materials should be continued on the existing planter located to the immediate corner of Portal Avenue and Stevens Creek Boulevard. MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 9, 1975 H -CONTROL MEETING HC -148 Page 3 Mr. Edwin J. Myers, representing Mr. George Yamaoka, said the lease expired in December of 1977. He said they are willing to put up a bond to see that some improvement is done around the corner when the lease expires. He did not think it was necessary to show what they would be doing. He said Mr. Yamaoka did not have the authority to make changes on the service station site since it was land leased. Member Sallan said her concern was their holding off on the planter that was part of the approval and understood by everyone that when the bank went in this implementation would be made. Who paid for it was irrelevant as the approval was based on the condition that this modifica tion would be done at this time. Improvement of the corner had not been discussed previously, but the planter on Portal Avenue was a requirement Mr. Myers reiterated Mr. Yamaoka did not have the authority to make changes on that site. He' said Standard Oil is using that area for parking. Mr. George Yamaoka, 781 S. Wolfe Road, Sunnyvale, said he had talked with the Standard Oil representative and he said they did not want to have anything done at this time since they are not sure they will be renewing the lease. The manager had also told him he was not anxious to have anything done. Member Sallan said the manager had told her he would like it upgraded. Mr. Yamaoka said his attorney did not think the approval was based on that condition. The strip in question was located on the exhibit. Mr. Yamaoka said they did not know what would be there two years from now and since they could not get a release from Standard Oil, they would like to wait until the lease was up and they had control. A discussion was held regarding Resolution 384, Condition No. 11, which was read by Mr. Piasecki. Mr. Yamaoka answered Member Dressler his problem was the inability to get permission from the leasee. Member Dressler felt there should be some way of getting this permission since Mr. Yamaoka was willing to do the improving. Member Sallan felt there should be dialogue between the leasee, the owner and the City to convince Standard Oil it would be to their advantage especially since it would not cost them anything. She said she would like to hear Standard Oil's reasoning for opposing it. Not to install it now would not be in accord with the conditions of the original approval. She would like to have the landscaping now. She suggested a letter from the. Mayor or Chair of this committee be sent to Standard Oil representative. Based on their answer a decision could then be made. Member Grubb also felt there should be something in writing from Standard Oil stating their position. HC -148 Page 4 Public Hea ing closed HC -51,259.81 ap,roved condition- ally MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 9, 1975 H -CONTROL MEETING Mr. Myers answered Chairman Koenitzer that they were on a tight schedule and would prefer to have the approval conditioned that work had to be done. Then when it came to City Council it could be approved or rejected at that point. A discussion was held on whether to continue the applica- tion or condition approval. It was decided to condition approval. Member Sallan suggested a legal opinion be gotten on what the rights of the applicant and the City are on enforcing conditions. The landscaping for the bank site was then discussed. Mr. Myers said the landscaping had been planned in conjunction with Vallco. Member Sallan suggested some shrubs or plants in the compact car area. She suggested adding several trees in other areas and plants at the rear of the building. Member Dressler suggested moving one of the pear trees back. He also advocated taking out a pine tree at the corner of the bank. He noted the legendshould then be changed to read 9 pine trees. Chairman Koenitzer wondered if the signs had been taken into considera- tion in relation to the landscaping. He pointed out the sign proposed for northeast corner_ of access road was directly under an evergreen pear tree which tends to be low and multi--trunked. He referred to the Tulip trees on side of building ,;Mich would be in front of wall sign. The hearing was then opened for public comments. There were none. Member Sallan moved, seconded by Member Dressler, to close Public Hearings. Notion carried, 4-0 Member Sallan; moved to recommend to the City Council, subject to the standard H -Control conditions and enclosures, denial of Application HC -51,259.81 if the applicant is unable to receive from Standard Oil permission to install the 12 ft. planter on Portal Avenue service station site. The denial is based on the applicant not satisfying the original Condition No. 11, Resolution 384, for the approval of the bank facility. Approval of HC -51,259.81 was recommended if the applicant is able to sustain an agreement with Standard Oil for the implementation of that planter at this time. The specifics of the landscaping modifications are as follows: (1) One Monterey Pine adjacent to the compact car location on the site plan is to be removed. MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 9, 1975 H -CONTROL MEETING (2) The planter area to the rear of the bank facility is •to contain plants that will grow to a height of 3 or 4 feet. (3) The area in front of the compact car space is to be planted with additional plants beyond the ground cover which now shows on the plant legend. Those plants to be screening type plants 4 to 5 feet in height. (4) Next to Azuma restaurant, repositioning the Ash trees as proposed so that one more Ash tree can be planted adjacent to the bike path. (5) That the applicant take into account the signing on the building and the site and adjust the plant locations accordingly. (6) In place of one Tulip tree, substitute an evergreen tree ; that to either remain in the cluster as proposed or moved northward on the legend. Seconded by Member Dressler. AYES: Members Dressler, Grubb, Sallan and Chairman Koenitzer. NOES: None Motion carried, 4-0 The applicant was informed this would be heard by the City Council at their next regular meeting. Member Sallan submitted her marked exhibit to staff which showed recommended landscaping modifications. It was decided not to write a letter to Standard Oil at this time. 2. Application HC -51,339.2 - Ad -Art, Inc. (Terranomics) requesting exception to Section 6.042 of the Sign Ordinance to allow two (2)' ground signs to be located on one parcel and an overall sign program for the individual tenants for a commercial development located on the east side of Saratoga -Sunnyvale Road approximately 130 ft. south of Silverado Avenue. Continued from H -Control meeting of September 4, 1975. Staff report: Assistant Planner Piasecki noted the applicant is requesting approval of a sign program including a sign exception for a specialty commercial center located on the east side of Saratoga - Sunnyvale Road south of Silverado Avenue. Using colored renderings, Mr. Piasecki described the sign program as presented by the applicant for committed tenants.. He referred to guidelines contained in packet which would apply to future tenant signs. HC -14 8 Page 5 HC -51,339.2 Ad -Art, Inc. TerranomicE HC -148 i MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 9, 1975 Ii --CONTROL MEETING Page 6 Mr. Piasecki referred to Wallpapers To Go sign., noting that staff proposed it be restricted to only one logo. With regard to sign exception, it was noted the applicant was fully aware of the Ordinance restriction of only one ground sign. Mr. Piasecki referred to the applicant's letter of August 14, 1975 and advised that the staff did not find that the necessary characteristics of the sign exception had been established. Mr. Mel Peterson, 1715 64th Street, Emeryville, said they were mainly in agreement with staff. However, they felt the corner tenant should be able to have a second sign on the front fascia of the store since they will be facing on two directions. There is no committed tenant at this ( time. With regard to Wallpapers To Go, Mr. Peterson said the double logo is their signature, it is on their letterheads, bags, etc. Mr. Merritt Sher of Terranomics, Inc. pointed out they have a large frontage. Member Sallan-felt the color- of the background should be set. Mr. Peterson said it would be the same color as that on the illustration. With regard to the other sign colors, Mr. Peterson showed sample chips that came close to the colors. Several signs are special made and there are no exact samples. Member Sallan said she was concerned with size of letters. Mr. Sher said the proportion had been carefully considered. He explained their reasoning. It was ascertained the background would be tan. Member Dressler objected to all the colors being used. Member Sallan suggested the letters be limited to 20" in height; Chairman Koenitzer proposed 24" letters. Member Dressler said this was a nice project but with vivid signs and the street sign exception would really make it overpowering. He felt the applicant should redesign and suggested a continuation. Mr. Sher said the wall signs were most important to him. He said he thought in order to give these tenants sufficient identity they should be able to have a certain type of impact, peculiar to their business. .He felt the signs were interesting and attractive and would hate to see the ground sign diluted. This canopy was developed so each sign fit into it. MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 9, 1975 H -CONTROL MEETING After further discussion, Chairman Koenitzer asked each member to summarize their feelings. Member Sallan said she thought the maximum height allowed could be 24", either above or below the line; item 4 of suggested guidelines is not good criteria - 3% is too much; madwa:a._ reakas taken with the meeting reconvening at 9:12 p.m. Member Grubb did not return after the break. Member Dressler summarized that he felt even 24" letters were too large. When they are illuminated they will be overwhelming. He was opposed to so much color and would prefer to have only one color. He felt there are other ways of attaining the same identification and again proposed continuing the application. Mr. Peterson pointed out that by using individual letters rather than the sign cans, she illumination was greatly diminished. Mr. Sher said he could not agree to giving up individual colors. Chairman Koeniter said he felt some of the proposed letters are satis- factory (such as on Stero and Hatchcover) but the Pic -A -dilly letters are too tall for the area. He suggested 24" height be maximum for the letters. He did not see the need for repeated text as wall sign and was not opposed to different colors, although he would like a better look at the actual colors that will be used. Mr. Peterson said there was a light box available and he would have samples made and show them on it. This was satisfactory to the committe( members. He said they could live -with a limitation of 24". Chairman Koenitzer asked if the applicant would have any objection 'to the continuing of this application. Mr. Peterson said he would like to establish the size and the fact that the color variations would be allowed. A discussion was held on distance and visibility. Mr. Piasecki suggestec a picture could be taken of an actual existing Pic -A -dilly sign. Member Sallan suggested staff redo the five suggested guidelines in light of the discussion tonight. Member Dressler moved to continue sign program portion of Application HC -51,339.2 to the next regular meeting. Seconded by Member Sallan. Motion carried, 3-0 Member Sallan asked to have a name included on the next rendering for the corner tenant. HC -148 Page 7 HC -51,339.2 Sign program con `d. HC -148 MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 9, 1975 H -CONTROL MEETING Page 8 The portion of the application covering exception for the ground sign was then discussed. Member Sallan ascertained the applicants were aware of Ordinance limiting them to one ground sign. Mr. Sher explairrt*d the situation, noting that Coco's would not have gone in without the ground sign and it was necessary to build Coco's as an anchor to create the necessary funding for the entire project. Mr. Sher pointed out that if they couldn't have a ground sign it was very important for them to have adequate signing on the building for the individual tenants. He said the ground sign was considered to be directory rather than advertising. Chairman Koenitzer read Section 10.2 of Ordinance dealing with sign exceptions and asked what their reasoning was to support a request for an exception. Mr. Sher said it was the largest mid -block site in town without a corner. He said McClellan Square had 3 free standing signs including Sambo's. Member Sallan said there was a stipulation that only one ground sign would be allowed and when criteria is made, it should be adhered to. She did not feel the reasons given would justify not adhering to the stipulation. ' Mr. Peterson said in looking at the project, Coco's looked like a separate facility. Chairman Koenitzer pointed out they would only be allowed one sign on the basis of their frontage and it had been made very clear they would only be allowed one ground sign. After further discussion, the committee members agreed they could not support the exception. Mr. Peterson asked to have the sign exception continued also so both portions of application would go before City Council at the same time. HC -51,339.2 Sig,L excep- tion con'd. HC -51,075.2 Hewlett- Packard Member Sallan moved to continue Sign Exception request of Application HC -51,339.2 to the next regularly scheduled meeting. Seconded by Member Dressler. Motion carried, 3-0 3. Application HC -51,075.42 - Ehrlich, Heft and Rominger (Hewlett- Packard) requesting modification of site, architecture and land- scaping for a light industrial building located in the southeast quadrant of Homestead Road and Wolfe Road. MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 9, 1975 11 -CONTROL MEETING Staff report: Assistant Planner Piasecki referred to displayed exhibits of previously approved plan and the proposed modified plan. He described the changes being proposed: the building size has been increased from 141,800 sq. ft. to 155,880 sq. ft. There are a few very minor architectural modifications which he pointed out. Some of the recreational activities and the bicycle parking areas have been relocated and a service driveway around the east end of the structure has been eliminated. Mr. Jack Rominger, 1057 Guinda Street, Palo Alto, answered Member Sall that he doubted if they would notice any difference because of the changes. He explained the pingpong tables and shuffle board courts had been moved closer to the buildings. Mr. Rominger answered Chairman Koenitzer that no changeswereplanned in the plant material. Member Sallan said what was proposed is fine. One concern she had is the tank on Homestead Road. She did not think it would be that visible. She thought the solution was to put landscaping that would hide the tank. Mr. Rominger said the plants had been fed and stimulated and in another year there should be noticeable growth. Member Sallan pointed out that the Ash trees are deciduous. She hoped something other than oleanders would be considered. Mr. Rominger said there were Monterey pines among the .oleanders. He also said this would be implemented this fall. Member Sallan asked to have plans for this portion submitted to the City. Mr. Rominger agreed to do so. Member Sallan stressed the intent was to have the tank screened. The hearing was then opened for public comments. There were none. Member Sallan moved, seconded by Member Dressler, to close Public Hearings. :. Motion carried, 3-0 Member Dressler moved to recommend approval of Application HC -51,075.42 to the City Council subject to standard H -Control conditions and the Enclosures of Staff Report of August 30, 1974, Resolution No. 455 and Exhibits A 1st Revision, B 1st Revision, C 1st Revision and the following special condition that the applicant submit to the City staff their plan to screen the lrg propane tank that is in the front of the project on Homestead Road for review. Seconded by Member Sallan HC -148 Page 9 Public Hear ing closed HC -51,075.4 approved w/ condition Motion carried, 3-0 HC -143 MINUTES OF TILE. OCTOBER '9, 1975 I[ -CONTROL MEETING Page 10 •-,, Chairman Koenitzer notified the -applicant that h:i.s request had been approved and 'oulcl be heard by the City Council at their next regular meeting, NEV BUSINESS: None ADJOURNNENT Member Dressler moved to adjourn to the next regular meeting at 7:00 p.m. on October 23, .1975. Motion seconded by Member Sallan. Meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m. Motion carried, 3-0 APPROVED: Is/ R. D. Koenitzer Chairman ATTEST: Is! Wm. E. Ryder City Clerk .