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103-B. North Vallco Master Plan.pdfNorth Vafico Ma,,, terPMan m P hase I Dorking 'Toward A Vision for the North Uallco District of the Crty of Cupertino swwa„,m uur u,. mm�rvnu ww�u. w�,mrva -. wae�uwmrtrtreraemwrar�rwuwwamwaaw ,wtiuuaoa�wm�w✓xau � m wm mrrt��aau�nr�+awmrenswaw�noarms�m Cupertino, p, o 1, ORIENTATION ........... ........ .............. ............. ................... .......... I 11, PRINCIPLES / ISSUES TO ADDRESS ............. .................. .............. ................. 5 Appendix A: Starting Point - Existing Conditions ... ................... ....... ........... 11 Appendix B: Community Workshops ....... ............. ....... ........... .................. ..... 21 Appendix C: North Vallco Study Committee Working Sessions ... ............ ...... . 31 ProjectParticipants ...... ................... ....................... ....... .................. .............. 33 This report contains the results of a series of community conversations held in anticipation of significant near term changes likely to affect North Vallco's highly valued industries, their neighbors and the larger community. The North Vallco Study Area is a primarily built -out area of the City that is not easily recognizable asacohesive district, but that iodistinguished very clearly byits edges. The Study Area see Figure 11Study Area Location Map - comprises the 24Oacres that are bounded along their northern edge byHomestead Road; its eastern edge isdofined by the properties that line the eastern frontage of Tantau Road; it is bounded to the south by 1-280; and it is bounded to the West by all of the development between Wolfe Road and the single-family neighborhood to the west, All ofthe northern and eastern boundaries and most of the western boundary of -the Study Area are also the boundaries of the City ufCupertino, Figure 11 Study Area Location Map Byfar the largest property owners ofthe study area are Apple Inc. and H9 Apple has recently purchased most of the southern portion of the study area which is understood to be intended for a new campus that will ultimately involve redeveloping some or all of the property currently under the company's ownership. The Study Area is identified in the City'o recently updated General Plan as a "Special Center" intended to be retained asanemployment center with lodging and neighborhood commercial uses. General plan policies allow the primary employment uses to be complemented with some |odging, houoing, as well as permitting some overall intensifica- tion. The segment of Calabazas Creek that runs -through the Study Area is intended to be improved as part of the Ca|abazooCreek Trail, Physical conditions existing in North Vallco at the tirne of this Study are detailed in Appendix A: Starting Point - Ex- iatingConditions. COMMUNITY INTENT Major portions ofthe North VaUcoStudy Area are likely tochange inthe short term, The community highly values the current and po- tential industries located in NwrthVaUoo. This preliminary visioning exercise iointended to explore potential benefits tothose industries, tothe North VeUoo"workplace diatriot."and tothe larger oummunitythatmightbedehved from some advance thinking and a more col- laborative approach to planning for change in the district. THE PLANNING PROCESS The Planning Process for this first phase nf the planning effort for the North VmUoodistrict was organized around aseries ofcommunity workshops and North Va||ooStudy Commit- tee wnrNngnesoionn. The process was sup- ported by Project Core Team that included members of the Community Development Department, the Public Works Department the Chairman ofthe Planning Commission, and consultants, Prior to initiating community discussion, City Staff and consultants contacted representa- tives of Apple Inc. and HP —the primary prop- erty owners and employers in the district —to explore opportunities for collaboration and toengage ininitial discussion regarding the planning effod. Three community workshops open tothe general public were held initially and were followed byfour working sessions inwhich the North VaUooStudy Committee reviewed community workshop comments, additional information provided byCity Staff and project O.I,V.11.y North De Anza Boulevard Special Centers Bubb Road De An. C.11". Vallco Park North Monta Vista Homestead Road V.11- Park Smut I Ell City Center Heart of the City South De A— Boulevard LEcEN Neighbomcod Center comm City 3,m,ds,y B ... dry Agreement Line Unincorporated Areas Figitre 2-F. Speciat centers Figure 1.2TheNorth VaUcoStudyAreaiuidentified inthe General Plan aua"Special Center." A segment of Calabazas Creek rUns through the Study Area. consultants, and discussed and developed the ideas presented in the subsequent chapters of this report, Ovond|, discussion ranged over a wide variety of issues related to planning North Vallco, with varying degrees of consensus and disagreement. Changes to the composition of each workshop's participants augured against consensus on all issues, but there was sufficient consistency of information to make the discussions quite valuable to the preparation of Phase One recom- mendations, both as a bellwether of the larger community and to brainstorm ideas, Support for Apple and HPwas a major theme in both community workshops and Study Committee working sessions, Housing and traffic impacts were primary concerns. Participants in the first workshop expressed strong opposition to adding residential units, whereas various participants in the third expressed significant support to consider permitting some housing in North VaUoo. Adding new public facilities for the community and compatible development adjacent to close -by residential neighborhoods were notions that received fairly consistent support. GUIDING FuTURE GROWTH AND CHANGE KVNORTH VALLCO Aschange occurs in the North Vallco District, consideration of the following Principles is considered akey to maximizing the effectiveness ofthe district in meeting the needs ofthe precious industries located there, and to insuring that new development contributes to the creation of beautiful and functional city district. OVERVIEW OF THE PRINCIPLES 1. "Win -win" Partnership Planning 2. Workplace Core l Convenient Services 4. Settings for Interaction 5, VVa|kubi|ity/Conneotivity 0. District Identity &Visibi|dy 7. 8ustuinabi|ih/ 8. Efficient Land Utilization Q. Protection ofAdjacent Neighborhoods 10. Minimization `mfTraffic Impacts 11. Consideration ofHousing THE PRINCIPLES IN DETAIL "Win -win" Partnership Planning. Partner with Apple and HP in the planning and development of the North Vallco District. Apple and HP are highly valued members of the Cupertino community — both as major employers and tax revenue generators for the City, as well as being the primary property owners and stakeholders in the current core of this "workplace district," To maximize the value of all new private and public investments in North VaUoofor the benefit ofApple and HP, planning and development should proceed inacollaborative process organized whenever the City, Apple or HP contemplate significant change in the district. This collaborative process should also involve Cupertino Village and other North Vallco stakeholders as appropriate, ThecuUubmndivep|anningpnooeaoohou|da|wayofoouaoneuhievinQ"win/win"outoomeo-ia,mutuaUyb*n' eMcia| results -for private and public interests, 2. Workplace Core. Protect and Enhance North Vallco's Existing Industrial Base 21Core Land Use. Retain the existing tech industry "workplace" - more specl,`Ioally: ofD,6, office/research & development - land uses atthe core ufthe district. 21 Security, Recognize Apple and HP'o physical and intellectual security needs. 2.3. Workplace District Competitive Edge. Collaboratively plan changes inthe district that guide its transition to a "Twenty-first Century Workplace" that will provide the features and characteristics that will support Apple and HP, bolster North Vallco's competitive position in the region - focusing particularly on the attraction of North VaUcotofutuneoccupants, and tothe induotry'omost sought-after employees (see Principles 3and 4. below). 3. Convenient Services. Encourage the provision and access to needed services convenient to Apple and HP executives, employees, and guests - and to potential future occupants of the core of this workplace district -including lunch places, fine dining, hotels, local -serving retail and uemicea, and child care. 31. Market Driven Development Retail and services development should be market -driven and consistent with other nearby retail and services. Avoid plans that require uses in locations for which there is no market demand. 32 Easy Walking Distance. Accommodate investment in convenient services within easy walking distance of company employees. 3.3. Enhance connections to existing centers featuring retail and services (see Principle 5, below). 4. Settings for Interaction. Attract "Knowledge Workers" by incewdvzin#the provision mf an engaging and vital working environment. Attract knowledge workers who work inNorth VaUoobyclustering the business and personal ammiuee mentioned above within walking distance "that atimu|ete interaction among paop|m, including places toeat and drink conference and meeting facilities, recreation space and facilities, parks and plazas, business service centoru.", 41. Public accessibility. Convenience retail & services should also be available to the whole workplace district and tothe larger community. 4.2. Clustering, Convenience retail and services are primarily composed of a compact cluster of ground level activity -generating uses Such as cafes, restaurants and services. 4.3. Public Space. Convenience retail & services are organized around Public spaces that provide settings for interaction, such as plazas, greens, campuses, promenades, and pedestrian -oriented streets, 44. Central Location. To serve as the heart of the workplace neighborhood, a cluster of business and personal services should be podeutrian'friend|yund easily accessible tothe workplace core. 4.5. Comprehensive Planning, Create incentives that encourage the planning of cohesive workplace environments and campuses rather than piecemeal design. A Compact Cluster of Ground Level Activity -Generation Uses. P8g�� Convenience Retail and Services can beCombined with Public 3pacenthetProvided SettinQsforInteraction andthat Complement Private and Semi -Private Work Spaces, See "Liriking [he New Economy to the Livable Community" by Collaborative Economics, WalkabilitylConnectivity. Consistent with company security requirements (see Principle 2,2, above), pl new development patterns and amenities to facilitate walkability and convenient connections in the stud I 5]. Multi-/noda/Connertivity Provide connectivity for uUmodes.pedestrianandvehicu|ur-induding automobi|o, bicyc|e, shuttle and Segway. 5,2, /nba-districtConnectivdy Enhance connections to development outside the district. especially Cupertino Village and Cupertino Square. Encourage the provision offacilities that provide connectivity between Apple campueea,and between North Va||coand City Center/Cnonaroads and DeAnzaCollege. 5.3. C/eeAba8acceas. Work with Apple and Water District staff toexplore the possibility uftrail access along Ca|abazasCreek, while evaluating flood protection, security and liability issues. Pedestrian Scale Blocks. Encourage clustered patterns "+�="",/""""""+�°""°°°­1+"/"�/"/�.=|�..xainnn ~' p^'~^^~~~rp~~~~ ^` ^'~'''~~~' ~--'"- uunound*d bylarge parking lots. Providing connectivity for all modes oftransportation is an essential aspect ofthe workplace of the 2111 District Identity and Visibility. Work with Apple, HP, Century. Cupertino Village and other North Va||co stakeholders to create a distinctive identity for the district. 0.1. Gateways and Landmarks. Consider gateway features, landmarks, and/or distinctive landscaping positioned at particularly visible locations and at appropriate scale that call attention to district entrances and entrances tocompany compounds that express the character ofthe city and district, Strategically positioned new buildings can be designed as dramatic gateways into the district or into acompany campus orcompound. Special free-standing gateway landmark features could be positioned to call attention to agateway 62. Landscaping. Preserve the mature, well maintained trees already present inthe district ue muoh as possible; continue to add landscaping that meets oustainabi|ity principles (ae* below) and that provides aflattering image for the district, 6,3. Public Art. Encourage the incorporation ofpublic art into the design of buildings, company landscaping, and into the design ofpublic places in the district. Sustainability. New development should be encouraged to comprehensively utilize the knowledge and technology available throughout the planning, design, and construction process to help achieve SUstainability through energy efficiency and resource Efficient Land Utilization. Developable land is a vapidly diminishi resource In Silicon Valley and new development in the study area should use the land efficiently and wisely. i 81. Efficient parking, Encourage the provision ofparking either inabove- ground orinundergroundparkingstrudurasorinparking|ota configured toaccommodate future transition tostructured parking. Bridges over the freeway might be improved to provide dramatic entrances and enhanced connections 82, Minimize building footprint, Substantial new development increments tothe district. should beencouraged tmprovide multiple story structures that minimize - — building footprint and maximize available land for future development, Taller buildings should be kept to the center of the district to avoid impacting adjacent neighborhoods, OvenaU, new development should avoid the reproduction of the pattern of single low-rise buildings surrounded bylarge surface parking lots. 8.3. Plan Intensification, P|uo for the posoibi|ityofintenoiflcation—inc|udinQfor potential infrastructure requirements ofintensification — over the |onA-t*/m. Insure that new development does not unduly restrict options for i ntensifl cation should that become desirable over time as property values increase and available land becomes increasingly scarce toaccommodate industry needs. 8.4. Usage of temporarily undeveloped property. Where appropriate and consistent with company security, confidentiality, and liability, encourage the creation of usable private and public open spaces on undeveloped 8.5. Address Supe/fuxndode. Given the importance of using all land in the district efficiently, begin the process of exploration nfsuperfund site long term clean-up and potential ultimate readiness for development, Protection of Adjacent Neighborhoods. Planning for new development should respect the interests of adjacent residential neighborhoods. 8]. 7taffic. New development should include planning that discourages cut -though traffic in adjacent neighborhoods, 92. Visibility. Respect the privacy of pre-existing residential development by avoiding the placernent of the tallest new structures along the other periphery of the workplace core, In particular, new workplace development across from homes lining Homestead should retain deep landscaped setbacks that minimize views of commercial development from those pre-exiating homes. 9.3. Compatible Adjacent Uses. New development should respect existing residential neighborhoods. In particular, new development backing up to homes behind development along Tantau should be scaled and disposed tominimize impacts onthose adjacent residential properties, 9.4. Transition Zones. Where appropriate, transition zones should be considered to help buffer adjacent single family neighborhoods. 9,5. Noise. New development muot be planned to buffer adjacent homosfnom potential noise impacts. 10. Minimization ofTraffic Impacts. As change occurs, organize new development b»minimize congestion in this part of the City. Plan short-term development in afmrxvard-|ooking manner, e.g., in away that improves the integration of land use, development form and transportation infrastructure. Consideration of Residential Uses. Residential development is an important community issue on which individuals within the community have differing views. As development of the study area proceeds, the issue of residential development should be addressed in a constructive manner that seeks to come to community consensus on the appropriateness of additional residential development in the area. Cupertino iaaunique and diverse community, biamdestination city for tami|iauseeking excellence ineducation, professional development and civic pride, Cupertino elementary schools are inthe top 5%ofthe state, One ofour high schools was recently rated inthe top 1OOinthe country, Our community college has been ranked among the best inthe country auwell, We are a high tech community and home to Apple Inc. and in the near proximity of HP, C|SCU.SUN and 800g|eamong others. VVeare surrounded byoutstanding universities such asStanford, Santa C|ara, San Jose State and B*rke|ey. VVoare acombination of high tech companies and o bedroom community, VVehave the best and brightest ofhigh tech engineers and scientists from around the world living here, With respect to ethnicity, we are one of the most culturally diverse communities anywhere, We have parks for hiking, picnicking, and recreation. We have one of the best micro -climates in the country. In short, we have a great place to live. Summary provided byDr. Wendell Stephens, Member, North Vallco Study Committee, CONTEXT: ACCESS TO REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE The North Vallco Study Area is favored with a geographically central location in Santa Clara County, providing conve- nient (and aoomntie|) industry access tothe places that drive innovation such as univeoitieu, ourp*mi* headquarters, and centers ofventure capital. Figure A.1 Regional Context ��Q�1| The Study Area has excellent access tnthe regional highway infrastructure due to its positioning at primary 1-280 interchange. However the Study Area is currently disadvantageously positioned with regard to existing regional mass -transit corridors such as Caltrain, Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority (VTA)LightRai|.andACE-meeRgune A.1: Regional Context. IMMEDIATE CONTEXT: NORTH VALLCo ENVIRONS As illustrated in Figure A,2 — Site Context, below, the North Vallco Study Area is across 1-280 from South Vallco, which is dominated by the recently renovated Cupertino Square shopping center (formerly Vallco Fashion Park). The North Vallco Study Area combines with South Vallco to compose a "rectangle of development" distinguished less by its internal cohesion than by its vivid contrast with the single family neighborhoods that surround it. The North VaUuoStudy Area iminc|000pnoxmitytoanewKuiaerPermanent medical center, and inreasonably close proximity to the city's second-largest employment center (North Vallco is the largest by acreage) just to the west along 1-280 that includes Apple's prestigious Infinite Loop Headquarters, A variety of medium-sized properties containing or potentially containing employment development both within and outside ofcity jurisdiction are located inclose proximity toNorth VaUoo. The Study Area inalso within avery short drive ofthe City Center district. L eoemo� p*mnma �� Residential��~O«� " =" °° °� Gateway Treatment Workplace �� ��-netaU Figure A.2Site Context P8g�12 EKisn#G DEVELOPMENT There are currently over two and a half million square feet of occupied and unoccupied office, and office research & development buildings that provide byfar the dominant land use in the North VuUco Study Area (see FiQureA.3: Existing Development, below), This "workplace core" is complemented bymedical offices inthe northeastern corner of the site, and by MUlti-family residential (about 550 units) and lodging (about 315 rooms) development clustered loosely around the intersection ofWolfe Road and PruneridgeAvenue. |nthe northwestern corner, Cupertino Village provides both the workplace district and surrounding neighborhoods with a supermarket -anchored neighborhood shopping center consisting of about 125,000 square foot of shops and eateries (currently under new ownership with plans for expanuion). Achurch occupies the farthest northwestern corner, ofthe Study Area, In the farthest south- western corner of the Study Area, a privately owned green space is positioned between single family homes and 1-280. ^� LEGEND: Tech Workplace \ Retail �3 EOo�D*oai�vUm/sjnn � � Low-o^~ ubty�m�hg Civic 1 Lodging M*dical/DemalVffice*_\ damm 0 Study Area Boundary Figure A.3Existing Development Figure A.3Existing Development The workplace development that dominates the character of the district is fIrst generation business park develop- ment that dates back to the 1960s when land in Santa Clara County was significantly less expensive, and when it was believed that the densities ofemployment centers should bekept very low, Buildings are separated bysignificant distances that are primarily covered with surface parking creating an environment that is suited primarily to cirCUla- tion in automobiles. This pattern of development is clearly illustrated in Figure A.4: Pattern of Existing Deve|opment, below. Residential, lodging and shopping center development are similarly characterized by buildings set back from the public sidewalks and surrounded primarily bysurface parking. Figure A.4 Pattern of Existing Deve101Dment The edges ofmost ofthe workplace development feature deep landscaped setbacks. Deep setbacks along the northern portion ofthe workplace core provide alandscaped buffer from the single family homes across Homestead Road from the HPcampus. Along the eastern side of Tantau Road, buildings of similar size and mass face toward the roadway, forming asomewhat unified one-sided boulevard composition. Commercial development along the eastern side ofTbntau directly abuts detached single family development tothe east. Deep setbacks along the northern portion of the workplace provide landscaped buffer across from the single family homeuacross Homestead Road, Buildings along the eastern side ofTantau back upagainst detached single family homes, Both the primarily HP campus that dominates the northern half of the site, and The Hamptons residential develop- ment feature central semi -private green spaces, The district's only public green (as opposed togreen landscaping, which is not meant to accommodate activity) is located in the center of the Cupertino Village shopping center. None of these green spaces are connected to each other or to other public or semi-public spaces in the district. There is a Well Used Public Green Space in the Center of Cupertino Vil�age, VISUAL CHARACTER AND IDENTITY The most visible portions of the North Vallco district are the wide arterials - Wolfe Road, Homestead Road, Pruneridge Avenue, and Tantau Avenue - and the treatment of the private development lining their edges. For the most part, the thoroughfares are richly landscaped with well maintained plant materials that have achieved substantial mcdurity. Dramatic formal arrangements of mature street trees buffer most sidewalks from moving traffic and provide shade and amenity for pedestrians and bicyclists, Identical street furnishings, similarly wide arterial treatments, large scale plantings and the absence of visible buildings make many segments of the four primary arterials somewhat difficult to distinguish one from another. The visibility of uniformly sited buildings along Tentau provides odistinctive imag- ery in comparison. Primary arterials are richly landscaped and well maintained, but can be difficult to distinguish from each other Similarly, within the workplace onm, mature, very well maintained landscaping is the most noticeable feature along with surface parking lots and buildings ofinterchangeable design. Existing on -site amenities are characterized by dramatic stands of mature, very well maintained planting arrangements and aU6euoftrees. Entrances to the city and to the district feature a number of understated markers and/or landscape treatments, �8g�1�