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HomeMy WebLinkAboutASAC Minutes - 01-13-1977CITY OF CUPERTINO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA 10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino Telephone: 252-4505 MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE ARCHITECTURAL AND SITE APPROVAL COMMITTEE HELD ON JANUARY 13, 1977 IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA SALUTE TO THE FLAG The meeting was opened at 7:20 p.m. by Chairperson Sallan with the Salute to the Flag. ROLL CALL Members present: Claudy, Irvine, Ripplinger, Chairperson Sallan Members absent: Bond Staff present: Senior Planning Technician Caughey PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. Application HC -51,333.7 - Cal Coast Sign Company (Inprint Corporation) requesting approval of signing for a commercial building located at 10625 Bandley Drive in the Valley Green Business Park. Continued from H -Control meeting of January 6, 1977. Staff member Caughey displayed a colored rendering of proposed sign to the committee members. The proposed ground sign measures approximately 22 sq. ft. in advertising surface which would be within the constraints of the existing and proposed Sign Ordinance. Slides of the site were shown. Mr. Caughey pointed out an illegal ground sign put up without a permit. Mr. Verne Pittroff of Cal Coast Sign Company pointed out intended location of the sign. Chairperson Sallan pointed out that in terms of consistency it would be better to have the sign on the wall to balance Smart Clinic sign on opposite end of building. . Member Irvine ascertained these two tenants would make the building 100% occupied. HC- 184 Page 1 HC -51,333.7 Cal Coast Sign Company (Inprint Corporation) HC -184 Page 2 Public Hearings closed HC -51,333.7 continued to 1/20/77 HC -51,410.1 Carl Holvick Co. MINUTES OF JANUARY 13, 1977 ADJ. H -CONTROL MEETING Member Claudy referred to Condition 11 of Resolution No. 499 which said the intent was to have wall signing on this building. Chairperson Sallan noted that while there was the qualification that major deviations from that approval would be considered in the context of a specific application, she did not feel that a deviation at this point was mandatory. Chairperson Sallan asked if the applicant and committee members would be amenable to a continuation of this application. Member Claudy noted the illegal sign should be corrected. He would much prefer a wall sign on Building 6. Members Ripplinger and Irvine agreed. Mr. Pittroff said he would hate to wait 90 days to get a sign. He said he did not think the tenant would object to the wall sign. The hearing was opened to public comment. There were none. Member Claudy moved to close Public Hearings. Seconded by Member Ripplinger. Motion carried, 4-0 Member Claudy moved to continue Application HC -51,333.7 until the next regularly scheduled meeting to allow the applicant to design a wall sign. Seconded by Member Irvine. Motion carried, 4-0 Chairperson Sallan advised this application would be heard on January 20, 1977. 2. Application HC -51,410.1 - Carl Holvick Co. requesting approval of site, architecture, landscaping, grading and lighting for two light industrial buildings located at the northeast corner of Lazaneo Drive and Bandley Drive. Continued from H -Control meeting of January 6, 1977. Staff member Caughey referred to Condition 21 of Resolution No. 1618 which compels the developer to satisfy the Architectural and Site Approval Committee's desire for maximized depth in the landscape planter adjacent to the east property line of the development. He pointed out that the landscaping theme for the 30 ft. driveway easement serving this portion of the Conceptual Plan area would be established MINUTES 'OF THE JANUARY 13, 1977 ADJ. H -CONTROL MEETING to a significant degree by the Holvick application. Mr. Caughey displayed an overlay showing staff's suggestion to use 60 degree parking stalls in place of the 90 degree type at Building A. This would yield a minimum 8 ft. planter and maintain a uniform planter width along the east property line. Three to four parking spaces would be eliminated from Building A parking lot by this change. Mr. Caughey pointed out the parking spaces were well over the Ordinance requirements. Mr. Jim Walker of Carl Holvick Company said they would like all the parking spaces even though it exceeded the Ordinance requirements since the building was constructed on speculation. Mr. Walker said they would like to keep the landscaping against the building to soften it and still maximize its exposure from Lazaneo Drive. He said they would agree to any mounding in the front but felt the corner mounding should be kept low because of traffic visibility. Mr. Walker commented they did not feel their landscaping would be setting a precedent for what was on the other side. With reference to change in parking stalls, Mr. Walker said the 90 degree type was most convenient. He indicated the traffic flow would be impeded by the use of the 60 degree stalls. He also voiced objection to the medians. Mr. Walker spoke to problem concerning the watch dog at the Toolshed rental. Member Claudy said he was disturbed by 5 ft. planter with trees planted 40 ft. on center. One of the purposes of the landscaping was to screen cars and ground cover and trees would not do this. He would like to see some shrubbery interspaced among the trees. Member Ripplinger agreed. Member Irvine said he felt the 5 ft. planter would give 3 ft. of solid landscaping which would be enough for a 3 ft. shrub to develop a good root structure. More trees could be added. He did not like the stall layout presented by staff as he did not feel 18 ftwlwas wide enough. Chairperson Sallan said since this is the first landscaping in this area, given a choice of 8 ft. or 5 ft. planter strip, she would opt for the larger. She did not feel 3 ft. was adequate for getting good plants. HC- 184 Page 3 HC -184 (MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 13, 1977 ADJ. H -CONTROL MEETING Page 4 Mr. Walker suggested a procedure of notching out concrete curb to give plants more protection from car overhang. He noted this was done fre- quently in other cities. Mr. Walker also said they were considering building a patio area for use by the employees. He was advised this would have to be submitted for approval. After further discussion, a straw vote was taken which showed two (members opting for 8 ft. strip and two members feeling the 5 ft. strip would be adequate. A colored rendering of building elevations was displayed. Mr. Walker said the tenanted building would have 8,000 sq. ft. of nice office space with 2,000 ft. for storage. With regard to landscaping; Chairperson Sallan noted the intent was to maximize landscaping and she wondered if this would be accomplished by the 5 ft. Member Claudy felt it could be done with proper choice of plants. He would like to see a plant that grew to 231 to 311 feet. He pointed out this strip was not on a major street but an alley. Mr. Walker said he did not think the City Council or Planning Comri.ssion were anxious to create a corridor effect along this private driveway. It was agreed that staff could approve the addition of shrubbery in the landscaping strip. Chairperson Sallan clarified that approval of this application should not be taken as precedent setting for others. The 5 ft. was approved only because the parking configuration could not utilize the 8 ft. On other sites the 8 ftor more would be preferred. Mr. Caughey referred to Guideline 4.1 which required landscape frontages along the auxiliary streets to utilize mounding and shrubbery for a screening device. The applicant agreed to incorporate mounding consistent with landscape maintenance and approval of Traffic Engineer. Chairperson Sallan said she would like to see a specific plan of the mounding and planting. She gave the applicant a copy of landscape plan on which was marked changes as recommended by the committee. Mr. Walker was instructed to bring in detailed plan for staff approval. Relative to Building B, Chairperson Sallan pointed out there were several "holes" in the landscaping where the applicant might want to add some shrubbery but since it faced the other building, this would be left to the applicant's discretion. MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 13, 1977 ADJ. H -CONTROL MEETING The grading was found to be satisfactory. With regard to the lighting, Mr. Walker gave a general review of their intent to have only building lights sufficient for employee safety. He was advised to bring in more detailed plan when he came back for signing. approval. Six bicycle parking spaces should also be included. The hearing was then opened for public comment. There were none. Member Claudy moved to close Public Hearings, seconded by Member Irvine, Motion carried, 4-0 Member Claudy moved to recommend approval of Application HC -51,410.1 subject to standard H -Control conditions with the further conditions: (1) Lighting, signing and bicycle rack components of this application are continued with the specification that the applicant will come in at next hearing. Location of six bicycle racks to be shown. Rack type to be subject to approval by the Traffic Engineer. (2) That the landscaping buffer to the east of Building A will have shrubs interspaced along with ground cover. The shrubs to grow 2½ to 3½ ft. high. Choice to be recommended by landscape architect and subject to staff approval. (3) Frontage on Lazaneo Drive will be mounded to the maximum extent possible subject to staff and Traffic Engineer approval (4) Additional shrubs will be added along Lazaneo Drive frontage between the trees to screen cars to a greater extent. Seconded by Member Irvine. AYES: Members Claudy, Irvine, Ripplinger, Chairperson Sallan NOES: None Motion carried, 4-0 The applicant was advised that approved portions of the application would go before the City Council on January 17, 1977. 3. Application HC -51,158.2 - Michael T. Cobler (Togo's) Staff member Caughey advised this item had been postponed indefinitely. HC -184 Page 5 Public Hear- ing closed HC -51,41.O .1 approved w/ conditions HC -51,158.2 Togo's postponed indefinitely HC -184 Page 6 MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 13, 1977 ADJ. H -CONTROL MEETING At 8:45 p.m. a recess was taken with the meeting reconvening at 9:00 p.m. 4. Application HC -51,365.12 - Downey Savings and Loan Association requesting approval of change of copy for an existing ground sign. Subject property is located on the west side of De Anza Boulevard, south of Rodrigues Avenue. Continued from H -Control meeting of January 6, 1977. Staff Member Caughey showed slides of the sign, building and adjacent area. The slides indicated the ground sign was difficult to see in comparison to others in the immediate area. The applicant was proposing to use a metal sign can which would consist of a brown cabinet with a white background with individual dark blue letters attached. The sign area would be increased to approximately 64 sq. f* per side by changing the width of the sign to 5 ft. and the copy size would be increased to 17 inches. Mr. Caughey referred to staff memo of December 30, 1976 which noted that proposed change of copy would be within the constraints of the draft Sign Ordinance but the increase in ground sign dimensions would put the total advertising surface area for the site 53 sq. ft. in excess of signage permitted under the current Sign Ordinance No. 353. Mr. Tom Lynch, 3501 S. Harbor Blvd. Santa Ana, said they needed the change of copy because the current sign was difficult for motorists to see and their business was suffering even though they were way above their advertising budget. He noted the new Sign Ordinance would allow them 75 sq. ft. of sign area per side on the ground sign. Mr. Caughey said staff had not been sure how to advise the applicant since it seemed to be a question of interpretation. Chairperson Sallan suggested they look at what was being proposed since this would be an aesthetic judgment as well as whether the sign could be seen. Member Claudy said it was a handsome sign as it stood now, but it was ,difficult to see. Member Ripplinger agreed it was difficult to see in the day time. Member Irvine said this was because there was no contrast between the background and the letters. Mr. Bill Mills, Mills Electric Signs, referred to adjacent signs with which they were competing, namely Sambo's. MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 13, 1977 ADJ. H -CONTROL MEETING Chairperson Sallan suggested having white letters with blue trim. She felt this would be very visible. Member Irvine ascertained the existing sign was illuminated. He suggest ed keeping same sign and increasing it to 5 ft. Mr. Lynch answered Chairperson Sallan's suggestion of white letters with blue trim by saying they are trying to establish their logo of white background with blue letters so that eventually they can use just initials and colors as Great Western does now. Chairperson Sallan said she would like to see them keep the existing sign as it was a very handsome sign. The proposed sign would really be downgrading. Mr. Mills said they were trying to conform to the City's progressive law and get a sign that would be adequate for their identification. Mr. Lynch said the white background with dark letters would capture motorists eyes which was the purpose of a sign. Chairperson Sallan agreed, but noted after the initial impact of the sign most people didn't notice it really and yet the community would have to live with it for years. Member Claudy said he thought there was a problem. He agreed the blue background with white letters would not show up as well as the reverse. He felt they needed some change. Member Ripplinger noted they could control the brightness of the sign at night. He agreed the existing sign was difficult to see. Mr. Lynch said their first choice would be what was being proposed, the next would be to leave the sign the same size but change to can type with white background and blue letters, the next would be to increase size using present materials and the least preferred would be to leave sign as it is. Chairperson Sallan felt some redesign could be done that would be aesthetic as well as give them the identification they feel they need. She suggested continuing the application to allow them to come in with a different proposal. Mr. Lynch said they had to fly up from the Los Angeles area for each hearing. HC -184 Page 7 HC -184 Page 8 MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 13, 1977 ADJ. H -CONTROL MEETING Public Hear- ing closed HC -51, 365 .1,- continued to 2/10/77 Member Irvine said they had a very good looking wood sign and what they were proposing was a very drastic change. He felt there should be some way to make the wood sign more readable. Mr. Lynch said the wood background just does not allow sufficient con- trast for adequate visibility. Member Claudy said he would approve a blue background with white letters, Member Ripplinger said he would also, Member Irvine said he would have to think about it and Chairperson Sallan said the sign can was the last resort as far as she was concerned. She preferred individual letters. A discussion was held on what would be acceptable. Mr. Lynch said he did not see where bringing more graphics in would help when each thing they had suggested had been rejected. Staff member Caughey suggested the applicant bring in colored renderings _f,_ of the two proposals: Chairperson Sallaa s suggestion of keeping same sign and changing to white letters with blue trim and the can with blue background and white letters. Member Ripplinger recommended they also include samples of materials being used. Mr. Lynch ascertained they could be heard at first of agenda and that if their presentation was available by next Thursday's regular meeting, it could be considered informally so they would not have to make another trip up in case it was not acceptable. The hearing was then opened to public comment. There were none. Member Claudy moved to close Public Hearings, seconded by Member Irvine. Motion carried, 4-0 Member Claudy moved to continue Application HC -51,365.12 to the meeting of February 10, 1977. Seconded by Member Irvine. Motion carried, 4-0 Chairperson Sallan left the meeting at this point and the chairmanship was assumed by Member Claudy. MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 13, 1977 ADJ. H -CONTROL MEETING 5. Application HC -51,108.5 - Virginia Barns, Inc. requesting approval of a sign plan for a restaurant facility located at the northwest corner of Saich Way and Stevens Creek Blvd. Continued from H -Control meeting of January 6, 1977. Staff member Caughey showed slides of the building, which illustrated the pizza sign installed in the window. The slides also showed site anc distance of building from Stevens Creek Blvd., and existing ground sign. Mr. Caughey gave a brief background noting the red, neon tube window sign advertising pizza was installed without prior approval of the City. In addition to the pizza sign which measures 6.75 sq. ft. two neon tube beer signs of 2.3 sq. ft. each were being requested for the same area. Mr. Caughey said the existing ground sign did not appear to have a building permit according to department records. It would seem that if the draft Sign Ordinance were now in effect that one window sign in addition to the existing ground sign could be permitted, providing permits were obtained to legalize the change of face on the ground sign. Mr. Jack Anderson, 143 El Bosque Dr., San Jose, said he was the manager of the restaurant. He described the beer signs wanted for each side of the pizza sign. He said they had lost customers because people wanted beer with their pizza. In answer to Mr. Anderson, Chairman pro tern Claudy said it would be a matter of making the ground sign legal by applying for permits. It was clarified that the beer signs would be within the 25% window area but would be over the number of signs allowed. Staff member Caughey said the red neon pizza sign was a very strong sign. Member Irvine pointed out this is a hard site to see. He did not relate pizza to the Red Barn restaurants so he could go along with the pizza sign. He did not think having the beer names would be appropriate. Member Ripplinger ascertained from Mr. Anderson that the beer license was not in effect yet. He said the pizza sign looked large but noted the building was quite a distance from the street and visible only from in front of the building during the day. Mr. Anderson asked if the three signs were grouped together, could this be construed as one sign. Member Irvine said pizza and beer, without naming brands, might be acceptable. HC -184 Page 9 HC -51,108.5 Virginia Barns, Inc. HC -184 Page 10 HC -51,108.5 continued Adjournment MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 13, 1977 ADJ. H -CONTROL MEETING The applicant asked for a continuation so he could pursue the possibility of having a pizza and beer sign appropriate to window restraints. The hearing was opened to public comment. There were none. Member Irvine moved to continue Application HC -51,108.5. Seconded by Member Ripplinger. Motion carried, 3-0 Mr. Caughey advised the Planning Commission would be studying the Sign Ordinance on January 24, 1977 and were inviting H -Control to join them for a joint discussion. They could come individually, elect a representa- tive or come as a group. It was decided to discuss this under New Business at the January 20, 1977 meeting. Member Irvine wondered if there was some way the meetings could be streamlined so applications could move ahead He suggested having a time period from 7:00 to 7:30 on meeting nights for committee dis- cussion of any concerns with the applicants being heard after 7:30 p.m. This was discussed at length. A guideline or check list of points to be looked for in each application was suggested so their decisions would be more consistent. I ADJOURNMENT At 10:35 p.m. the meeting was adjourned to the regular meeting on January 20, 1977 at 7:00 p.m. ATTEST: Is/ Wm. E. Ryder City Clerk APPROVED: Is/ C. Nancy Sallan Chairwoman