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HomeMy WebLinkAboutASAC Minutes - 09-21-1978HC -225 SUMMARY MINUTES OF REGULAR .'.F'.'l .:v`; ?P THE A. S.A. C. , SEPTEMBER 21, 1978, AND REFERRAL OF RECOMMENDED DECISION ON VARIOUS PUBLIC HEARINGS TO THE CITY COUNCIL. MEETING HELD IN ROOM 105 OF CITY MAIL. CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA. Meeting called to order at 7:13 PM by Vice -Chairman Ripplinger with the Salute to the Flag. ROLL CALL Present: Members - Johnson, Sallan, Irvine, Chairman Ripplinger Absent: Member - Bond Staff present: Mark Caughey, Assistant Planner (7:30 PM) Kathyrn McKenna Scott, Planning Intern APPROVAL OF MINUTES Regular Meeting - September 7, 1978 - Approved as corrected POSTPONEMENTS: Item ##1 of Vallco Park, Ltd. - to ASAC meeting of October 5, 1978 COMMUNICATIONS: Letter from Vallco Park, Ltd. RE: Public Hearing Item #1 PUBLIC HEARINGS: 2. Application HC -51,270.2 - Shell Oil Company requesting approval of site, architecture, landscaping and signing for an existing gas station located at the northeast corner of Stevens Creek Boulevard and Stelling Road. As the applicant was not represented, the Chair approved a unanimous motion to move this hearing to the end of the agenda. 3. Application HC -51,333.12 - Urbanist Group, Inc. (Jenn Chiu) requesting approval of modified architecture for a previously -approved restaurant building at the northwest quadrant of Valley Green Drive and De Anza Boulevard Presentation: Thomas Ma, Architect The applicants have restudied the thematic architectural character of the Chinese Restaurant building which was approved by the ASAC last April. The overall height and shape of the building will remain unchanged, as will the interior square footage dimensions. The most noticeable exterior changes are the addition of a decorative stone veneer to the lower half of each elevation, beam and column details to break the apparent visual length of the building walls, and the addition of skylights at the peak of the roof line. The applicants are also deleting the formerly approved green ceramic tile roof in favor of a more conventional red clay material. The committee endorses each of the foregoing modifications. The Chairman invited comments from the public; there were none. Member Sallan moved to approve Application HC -51,333.12, with Member Irvine's second subject to conditions contained in Resolution No. 840. Motion carried 4-0 -1- HC -25 Minutes of September 21, 1978 A.S.A.C. Meeting (continued) 4. Application HC -51,468.1 - Byrne Avenue Associates (George Cody) requestir approval of site, architecture, and landscaping for eight single-family homes located on the southwest and southeast corners of Byrne Avenue and Stevens Creek Boulevard. Presentations: Terry Brown; George Cody, Architect The subject development was approved by the Planning Commission under develop- ment standards prescribed in the single-family cluster zone. A zero lot line approach has been used for each dwelling unit. The Committee noted that the applicant had attempted, in his use of materials and through the general styling concept of the buildings, to retain the small lot character of the existing Monta Vista residential neighborhood. The applicant presented to the Committee a definitive study of the colors to be used on each building, demonstrating how they would accentuate various features of the building and how they would enhance the adjoining streetscape while avoiding a highly L,__ urbanized a appearance. The Committee commended the applicant for utilizing this approach as consistent with the Monta Vista General Plan. Conditions in the staff report were suggested to control the use of open versus closed fencing on individual property lines consistent with previous actions of the Planning Commission. The applicant had no objection to implementing these conditions as written. The Planning Commission required that the applicant submit a landscape plan for at least the street front open space portions of each lot. The applicant indicated his desire to leave all landscaping details to the desires of individual home purchasers. The staff and Committee both agreed, however, that a minimal planting scheme for street frontages of each lot should be presented for Committee approval prior to issuance of building permits. The applicant assented to this condition. The Chairman requested comments from the audience regarding this application; there were none. Member Irvine moved to approve Application HC -51,468.1, with Member Sallan's second, subject to conditions contained in Resolution No. 841. Motion carried 4-0. 5. Application HC -51,027.19 - Howard Ruth, Jr. and Alan Simpkins requesting approval of site, architecture, and landscaping for 20 single-family cluster lots located on the southwest corner of Pacifica Drive and Whitney Way. Presentations: Howard Ruth, Tom Starr The Committee noted that most of the substantive concerns with respect to privacy intrusion from the proposed Ruth project into the existing single- family tract to the south had been resolved through conditions imposed by the Planning Commission. Minor concerns with respect to placement of land- scape material and setbacks were discussed in the ASAC staff report and will be resolved through the applicant's cooperation at the building permit level. Essentially, the Committee had no concerns with respect to this application. The Chair requested comments from the audience with none forthcoming. -2- HC -225 'flutes of September 21, 1978 A.S.A.C. Meeting (continued) Member Sallan moved to approve Application HC -51,027.19, with Member Irvine's second, subject to condition contained in Resolution No. 842. Motion carried 4-0. 6. Application HC -51,027.2 - Howard Ruth, Jr. requesting approval of site, architecture, landscaping, lighting and grading for an office facility located on the north side of Pacifica Drive between Torre Avenue and De Anza Boulevard. Presentations: Howard Ruth, Tom Starr The proposed office building conformed, as submitted, to prior approval by the Planning Commission for site layout and circulation purposes. Staff pointed out in its report that this building's roof line height will be approximately 5 ft. higher than that of the proposed dental lab to be built immediately west of this project, and which is being discussed under Item #7 of this agenda. The Committee asked that the renderings for Item #7 be placed on display next to those for Item #6 so that the heights might be compared. Noting that the distance between the two buildings was approximately 80 ft., the Committee found that the height differential would present no adverse impacts to the overall character of the street. Some confusion existed with respect to on -site lighting. The applicants were unable to demonstrate the location for proposed fixtures, and were directed to return to the Committee informally for approval of a final lighting plan. Chairman Ripplinger requested comments from the audience; there were none. Member Johnson moved to approve Application HC -51,027.2, with Member Sallan's second, subject to conditions contained in Resolution No. 843. Motion carried 4-0. Chairman Ripplinger declared a recess at 8:22 p.m.; the Committee reconvened at 8:35 p.m. 7. Application HC -51,027.3 - Cupertino Dental Lab (Frank J. Messina, A.I.A.) requesting approval of site, architecture, landscaping, and lighting for a dental laboratory located on the north side of Pacifica Drive between Torre Avenue and De Anza Boulevard. Presentations: Frank J. Messina, Leon Frangadakis As mentioned above, this office development is immediately west of that approved under Item No. 6 above. In its analysis of the two projects, the staff attempted to look for and coordinate consistency in street front land- scape themes and traffic circulation; these intents were met for the most part. -3- HC -225 Minutes of September 21, 1978 A.S.A.C. Pieeti.: ~, (continued) The principal issue in this matter is in the sign program. The applicants are proposing a free standing sign, although the site does not qualify under the Sign Ordinances "200 -Rule'. The applicants justify the proposed exception in terms of the intent to identify the building only, and not the tenant within. Further, they contend that a free standing unit is more in keeping with existing sign programs at other locations within Town Center neighborhood. Chairman Ripplinger expressed his concern to demonstrate a more compelling justification for a Sign Ordinance exception. Members Sallan and Irvine generally agreed that a ground sign approach is preferable to signs on the walls of the building, given the proposed architectural concept. However, Member Johnson suggested, and the rest of the Members generally agreed, that prior to a decision on a sign exception, that the applicant should demonstrate an alternative signing effort within the permitted constraints of the Ordinance. Accordingly, the sign program portion is continued to a date uncertain to permit restudy of the building architecture to ascertain whether or not a wall, or window sign approach within allowable ordinance limitations might eliminate the need for a ground sign approach. The Chairman requested comments on this matter from the audience; there were none. Member Irvine moved to approved Application HC -51,027.3, with Member Sallan's second, subject to conditions contained in Resolution No. 844. Motion carried 4-0. 2. Application HC -51,270.2 - Shell Oil Company requesting approval of site, architecture, landscaping and signing for an existing gas station located at the northeast corner of Stevens Creek Boulevard and Stelling Road. Presentations: Mike O'Mahony, Mr. & Mrs. Paul Weis The existing Shell Service Station at the northeast corner of Stevens Creek Boulevard and Stelling Road is proposed for demolition and conversion to a self serve only facility with no provision for mechanical work. Use permit approvals for this remodel effort were granted by the Planning Commmission, which also specified urban design standards for specific implementation at the ASAC level. One existing driveway opening on each frontage of the site will be closed and a continuous landscape berm provided. Additionally, the 10' existing sidewalk will be reduced to 5' thus increaing the available landscape area. Minor modifications to the landscape plan were suggested by staff, and were indorsed by the applicants except in instances where onsite vehicle circulation might be impaired. The Committee's principal concerns were lighting and sign program. Staff suggested in its report that the applicants study the potential effect of glare into the public street from light fixtures beneath the pump island canopy. The applicants presented engineering details of the proposed fixtures to be utilized in this area; however, the Committee was still somewhat certain about the intensity control potential of these units and suggested that the applicants visit the nearby USA Petroleum site at Blaney Avenue and Stevens Creek Boulevard for insite on a successful non -obtrusive lighting system. The sign program was modified at the request of staff to employ materials and colors consistent with the architecture of the new pump island canopy. Before taking final action on the sign program, however, the Committee asked that specific HC -225 Minutes of September 21, 1978 A.S.A.C. Meeting (continued) samples of the sign color and slumpstone base materials be returned for their informal review before permits for construction are issued. The owners of the undeveloped property north of the Shell Station, Mr. & Mrs. Paul Weiss, addressed the Committee regarding the proposed location within the public right of way in front of their land a metal frame bus -stop shelter by Santa Clara County Transit District. They cited numerous objections to this facility, and suggested that since the Shell.site was now before the City for remodeling, some means should be found to locate the shelter on the Shell property. The staff indicated to the Committee at this point that the City's input to the transit district on bus shelter locations is advisory only with the district having ultimate authority in these matters. Several options were then discussed between the Shell representative, the Weiss', and Committee members: These alternatives include eliminating a shelter at this location altogether; placing a shelter on the landscaped frontage of the Shell property but still leaving the actual bus -stop location north of the Shell Stations Stelling Road driveway entry; placing the shelter perpendicular to the roadway within the 5 ft. planter area at. the north edge of Shell's Stelling Road driveway entry; and moving the existing Shell driveway entry on Stelling southward to accommodate part or all of the 10 ft. length of the proposed shelter structure. Considerable discussion of these alternatives ensued with the Committee split in its procedural approach. Members Sallan and Ripplinger felt that no action should be taken on the Shell application until the shelter location dilemma is resolved between the two property owners and the two governmental jurisdictions involved. Chairman Ripplinger opened the hearing for comments from the audience; there were none. Member Irvine moved to approve Application HC -51,270.2, with Member Johnson's second, subject to conditions contained in the development staff report of August 30, 1978 as modified. A roll call vote was requested with the following results: Ayes: Members Johnson, Irvine Noes: Members Sallan, Ripplinger Absent: Member Bond Under ASAC procedures, a tie vote automatically denies the application. The applicants indicated that they wish to appeal this decision to the City Council. Subsequent to the above vote, Member Sallan moved that a Minute Order be directed to the staff to convene a meeting between the applicant, property owners, transit district and Public Works staff for the purpose of resolving the transit shelter location question prior to the applicant's appeal hearing before City Council on October 2, 1978. The motion to approve the Minute Order was carried 4-0. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Application HC -51,015..9 — Kessler Merchandising, Inc. -5- HC -225 _Minutes of September 21, 1978 A.S.A.C. Meeting (continued) The subject application for remodel of the former Safeway Market at the Crossroads Shopping Center was considered several months ago by the Committee. The applicants now wish to make a slight modification in the materials used on the exterior of the building to prevent damage by passersby by adding a wainscotof textured masonry. The Committee approved this modification noting that the color and texture of the masonry work was sufficiently similar to the wood paneling to be placed above it that the --overall appearance and scale of the storefront did not differ substantially from prior approvals. NEW BUSINESS: Application HC -51,334.2 - Mercury Savings Per conditions of approval imposed on this development, the definitive landscape plan was presented for informal review. The Committee expressed several concerns with respect to the intensity of plant materials and concern regarding some of the deciduous varieties specified. Staff was directed to return the Committee's comments to the applicant that the plan might be revised accordingly. Corvett Stop Several weeks ago, the Committee approved a permanent ground sign, under Sign Ordinance exception provisions for the Chrisman-Taylor building on Stevens Creek Boulevard west of Blaney Avenue. One of the two tenants in that building is requesting use of a temporary ground sign for approximately six weeks until the permanent fixture can be manufactured and installed. The Committee expressed their willingness to allow the temporary ground sign to be used on that interim basis, and directed staff to ascertain whether or not the other tenants in the structure would wish to be identified on the temporary ground sign as well. Final approval of the size and location of the temporary sign is left to the staff's review. There being no further business before the Committee, Chairman Ripplinger declared the meeting adjourned at 11:27 p.m. to the next regular ASAC meeting October 5, 1978. APPROVED BY: Is/ Ted Ripplinger Ted Ripplinger, Vice -Chairman Architectural and Site Approval Committee ATTEST: Is/ Wm. E. Ryder Wm. E. Ryder City Clerk -6-