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DRC 12-06-07Design Review Committee December 6, 2007 Cupertino, CA 95014 (408) 777-3308 APPROVED MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE HELD ON December 6, 2007 ROLL CALL Committee Members present: Committee Members absent: Staff present: Staff absent: Marty Miller, Chairperson Lisa Giefer, Commissioner David Kaneda Colin Jung None APPROVAL OF MINUTES: November 15, 2007 Minutes of the November 15, 2007 Design Review Committee meeting were approved by Chairperson Miller at the meeting and by Commissioner Wong via email WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS: None POSTPONEMENTS/REMOVAL FROM CALENDAR: None ORAL COMMUNICATION: None CONSENT CALENDAR: None PUBLIC HEARING: 1. Application No.(s): Applicant: Location: DIR-2007-33 Karen Ngo 10495 N. De Anza Blvd Director's Minor Modification to a Architectural and Site Approval (ASA-2006- 16) with a referral to the Design Review Committee to remove a driveway located on the north property line of an approved office building .under construction Design Reviez~~ Committee decision final unless appealed. 2 Design Review Committee December 6, 2007 Staff member Jung explained a parking garage was approved last year (exhibit B). The driveway in question is the rear access drive leaving the parking structure left or right out to Mariam Avenue. There is a private ingress/ egress easement between the two adjoining property owners allowing mutual access and parking. There is a lack of agreement between the property owners regarding the road maintenance in the easement. It is due to this disagreement, that the applicant is requesting a modification in the driveway design (exhibit A). The new proposed driveway design has eliminated the rear drive access right exit onto Mariam Avenue. All cars leaving the parking structure in this direction will have to turn left onto Mariam Avenue. Staff did not originally support this modification, as it would force many more cars onto the Mariam Business Center's property. The applicant has refined their design, placing a Mariani- exiting rear driveway entirely on the Sand Hill property. (Exhibit A1). Staff and the Public Works department have reviewed this plan and support it. Staff recommends that there be a revised landscaping plan and that a traffic circulation/directional signage plan be part of the approval. Commissioner Giefer asked if it would be possible to re-design the garage so that the ramp was located in a different area of the property. Staff Member Jung explained that placing the exit ramp as suggested by Commissioner Giefer, would impact the number of parking spaces of the adjoining neighbor. She asked about vacating the easement agreement. The easement agreement is a recorded private agreement and does not involve the City. The applicant, Karen Ngo, spoke of the difficulties she had been having in trying to get the adjoining neighbor to agree to maintenance agreement, so she had decided to re-design the access so that the driveway is entirely on their property. Eric Hartman, the attorney for the adjoining neighbor, Mrs. Wu, explained that his client was leery about Sand Hill property traffic at the back of their property where they have a busy medical practice. He feels that relocating the driveway to be on the neighbor's property would be best as long as the traffic flow was directed properly. Mrs. Wu stated that she objected to the modifications. She didri t feel that people would adhere to the directional signs. The discussion continued regarding the merits between the original site plan versus the modified site plan and other possibilities of moving the handicap ramp and/or eliminating parking spaces or adding another driveway entrance. Commissioner Giefer supports the site plan (Exhibit A1) as presented. She thinks that this drawing meets all the requirements for safety. Chairperson Miller agreed with Commission Giefer. He added that he felt the access rights onto Mariam Avenue are those of the applicant and there is no reason to force them to place the driveway across both properties. MOTION: Commissioner Giefer moved to approve DIR-2007-33 SECOND: Chairperson Miller ABSENT: none ABSTAIN: none VOTE: 2-0 2. Application No.(s): ASA-2007-15 Applicant: Jody Chan Location: 20289 Stevens Creek Blvd 3 Design Review Committee December 6, 2007 Architectural and Site Approval for site modifications for a Day Care Center/Specialized School Design Reviez~~ Committee decision ftnal unless appealed. Staff member Jung explained that this school was approved by the Planning Commission at its meeting in November. The design features were referred to the Design Review committee for review and approval prior to building permit issuance. Enclosed in the information packet are pictures of the playground equipment. The applicant will be modifying an existing parking area for the playground. The existing landscaping provides the necessary privacy screening and safety concerns have been addressed by anchoring the play area fencing in deep concrete posts. Three pipe bollards will be installed in front of the playground fencing in the parking lot. Staff recommends approval of the application. Commissioner Giefer asked about possibly installing additional bollards. The applicant, Jody Chan, stated that they have been in business for a long time and are excited about expanding their operations in Cupertino. They designed the play area to be safe and fun for the children. Commission Giefer suggested that the fence posts be placed closer together on the parking lot side rather than using the pipe bollards due to the space the bollards would take up in the parking lot. Chairperson Miller agreed with the additional condition requested by Commissioner Giefer that rather than installing bollards, the fence posts on the parking lot side be spaced no more than 4 feet apart. MOTION: Commissioner Giefer moved to approve ASA-2007-15 with the added condition regarding the fence posts be no more than 4 feet apart SECOND: Chairperson Miller ABSENT: none ABSTAIN: none VOTE: 2-0 OLD BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: None Respectfully submitted: ~ ~i ? Beth Ebben Administrative Clerk g:planning/DRC Committee/Minutes120607