DRC 06-07-07
Design Review Committee
June 7, 2007
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 777-3308
APPROVED MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE DESIGN REVIEW
COMMITTEE HELD ON June 7, 2007
ROLL CALL
Committee Members present:
Cary Chien, Chairperson
Gilbert Wong, Commissioner
Committee Members absent:
None
Staff present:
Gary Chao.
Staff absent:
Colin lung
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
April 19, 2007
Minutes of the April 19, 2007 Design Review Committee meeting were approved
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS:
None
POSTPONEMENTSjREMOV AL FROM CALENDAR:
None
.ORAL COMMUNICATION:
A resident asked a question about how to inquire about having a traffic signal installed
at Stern A venue and Stevens Creek Boulevard. She was directed to contact the City of
Santa Clara's Public Works Department.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
None.
PUBLIC HEARING:
1. Application No.(s): EXC-2007-07
Applicant: Whole Foods Market
Location: 20955 Stevens Creek Blvd
Sign Exception for two additional wall signs, with two on one wall face, and an
exception to exceed the allowed height of 48" .
Design Review Committee dedsion final unless appealed.
2
Design Review Committee
June 7, 2007
(Staff member Chao filled in for Staff member lung.) Staff member Chao explained that
the applicant received approval of their sign program in May 2007. The sign program
approved one wall sign and two ground signs. The applicant is requesting a height
exception for the wall sign. There has been a design modification to the sign since the
approval aqding a leaf motif on the letter "0" in the "WHOLE" part of the sign. The
new letter design makes the sign height at about 65 inches instead of the allowed 48.
They are also asking for a second wall sign along the Stelling Road frontage. Staff does
not support the additional wall sign because it is too near the already approved ground
sign. The applicant is also proposing a new sign along the Stevens Creek elevation. The
sign would be 55 inches where 48 is permitted, however, staff supports this new design
as the sign is in proportion to the wall. Staff recommends the application be approved
without the additional wall sign on the Stelling Road elevation side. The applicant, Alan
Ford, spoke about the importance of the signage, the visibility of the signs and the
placement of the signs for the new store. He felt the size of the building supports the
larger size of the proposed sign. If the number of signs presents a problem, they would
be agreeable to only installing one of the two proposed ground signs. Commissioner
Wong asked for clarification of the wall height. He wanted to know about the sign
exceptions for other businesses in the area. Staff member Chao stated that the volume of
signs Whole Foods is requesting is more than what any other store in the are have
received as part of an exception application. Staff is trying to maintain equity.
Additionally, a sign exception application is necessary due to the size of the proposed
signs. Chairperson Chien asked the applicant about the original sign approval with out
. the leaf motif on the letter "0". He said Staff member lung suggested they pursue a sign
exception after the original approval because other signs in the area have one letter
larger than what the sign ordinance allows so adding the leaf motif to an already larger
sign would be easier to approve and the store was in a rush at that time to get their
signs on order. A resident said that she felt an eight-foot sign facing Stelling Ave was
too big a sign for that side of the building. The discussion continued about sign height,
composition and placement. Commissioner Wong supports the sign the leaf motif, the
"triple stacked" sign and the applicant's compromise in not putting both monument
signs. However, he said that he didn't feel that the number of proposed signs was a
problem due to the scale of the building. Chairperson Chien supports the exception
application for the leaf motif, but would like to have a total of three signs on the site,
which would mean the removal of both of the monument signs.
The discussion continued regarding the reduction of the number of signs and sign
heights. Chairperson Chien asked the applicant to reduce sign "B" to six feet and
supported the rest of the application and requested the removal of monument sign
"D1". Commissioner Wong asked the applicant if the reduced sign height would make
the sign inadequate for their customers. The applicant felt it would. To reduce the triple
stacked sign to 6 feet would have the "w" in WHOLE work out to be about 17 inches
high. The discussion continued regarding maintaining the equity between this sign
exception request and with other sign exception applications for other businesses in the
City. The applicant agreed to reduce sign "B" to six feet. Commissioner Wong motioned
approval with the condition that the sign "B" will be reduced to six feet and the
monument sign, "D1", be removed. Chairperson Chien concurred.
3
Design Review Committee
June 7, 2007
MOTION: Commissioner Wong
mentioned conditions
SECOND: Chairperson Chien
ABSENT: none
ABSTAIN: none
VOTE: 2-0
moved to approve EXC-2007-07 with the above
OLD BUSINESS:
None
NEW BUSINESS:
None
Respectfully submitted:
&~~
Beth Ebben
Administrative Oerk
g:planning/DRC CommitteejMinutes060707