DRC 10-01-03Design Review Committee
October 1, 2003
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 777-3308
APPROVED MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE DESIGN REVIEW
COMMITTEE HELD ON OCTOBER 1, 2003
ROLL CALL
Committee Members present:
Taghi Saadati, Chairperson
Gilbert Wong, Commissioner
Committee Members absent:
None
Staff present:
Gary Chao, Assistant Planner
Peter Gilli, Senior Planner
Colin Jung, Senior Planner
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
September 17, 2003
Minutes of the September 17, 2003 Design Review Committee were approved.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS:
POSTPONEMENTS/REMOVAL FROM CALENDAR:
4. U-2003-09; Ken Chin, 10196 Empire Avenue
Request postponement to the next meeting.
ORAL COMMUNICATION: None
CONSENT CALENDAR: None
OLD BUSINESS:
None
NEW BUSINESS:
None
PUBLIC HEARING:
1. Application: R-2003-12
Applicant: Arnold Nite
Location: Madrid Road
2 Design Review Committee
October 1, 2003
Residential Design Review for a new, two-story 4,233 square foot residence.
Design Review Committee decision final unless appealed
Postponed from September 17, 2003.
Staff Presentation: Gary Chao, Assistant Planner, briefly described the project. Staff
and Larry Cannon, Architectural Consultant, have reviewed the plans and the applicant
has addressed those concerns with the exception of one. Staff is recommending the
entire house be of a hip roof design, including the west elevation, to further minimize
the mass of the second floor. In addition, a revised privacy protection plan will be
required to be submitted to the planning department prior to issuance of building
permit. With those suggested recommendations and conditions, staff recommends
approval.
Chairperson Saadati asked for more detailed information regarding the hip roof design.
Commissioner Wong asked for more detailed information regarding the privacy
protection plan.
Arnold Nite, applicant, explained that the hip roof in the back was complete and that he
was waiting for the architect to send the revised plans.
Martin Koo, rear neighbor to the south, was concerned about privacy with the proposed
two-story looking into his yards, living room, family room and a glimpse into the
master bathroom. Mr. Koo brought pictures showing the view from his home the
proposed home.
The Committee asked the applicant if he had considered using tinted glass.
Kathee Kraker, 22115 Linda Vista Place, was also concerned about privacy in her
backyard. Ms. Kraker also feels that the new home will not look like the homes in the
existing neighborhood. Her main concern is the privacy and the size of the building.
Mr. Wong agreed with the privacy issues and suggested adding more trees and adding
obscure glass and did not agree with the compatibility issues. Mr. Saadati agreed and
stated that the trees could take up to 3 years to provide privacy and the obscure glass is
an easy way to get around that. Or, the applicant could plant taller trees.
MOTION:
SECOND:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Commissioner Wong moved to approve R-2003-12 with the condition that
the applicant works with staff and the neighbors to either use obscured
windows on the south side elevation or plant higher trees.
Chairperson Saadati.
None
None
3
VOTE:
2-0
Design Review Committee
October 1, 2003
Application:
Applicant:
Location:
R-2003-14
Peter Hoang
7822 Festival Drive
Exception to Section 19.28.060 E (5)(b) of the R1 Ordinance to allow a second
story without required wall offsets.
Design Review Committee decision final unless appealed
Staff Presentation: Peter Gilli, Senior Planner, briefly described the project. Mr. Gilli
explained two mitigation measures that addressed the impact of the two-story walls.
The first mitigation would be to plant large trees and the second is to put a trellis on
either side of the smaller offset to provide some kind of relief between the first and
second story. The applicant would be more agreeable to adding the trellis rather than
the tree planting. The applicant has already planted privacy planting and chose shrubs.
Staff's recommendation is to plant 3 Evergreen trees in the place of some of the shrubs
and recommends approval with the two mitigation measures.
Mr. Wong asked how high the shrubs were and Mr. Gilli stated that they were a
minimum of 6 feet and also explained that if the 3 additional trees were planted then
the front yard required tree could be waived. Mr. Wong noticed that a window was
gone from the rear elevation and was concerned that it looked really plain and
suggested using some of the artwork similar to the front elevation.
Peter Hoang, applicant, stated that he planting the privacy screening plants 5 months
ago and in the front elevation there is a very large tree.
Dave Perng, Architect, explained that the reason the building was pushed in a little was
due to a pipe. Mr. Perng stated that the second floor was in the right location and the
first floor is indented an additional 1 feet. Regarding privacy issues, with a little time
the planting will grow and will be minimized.
Radha Nagarajan, 7800 Creekline Drive, was concerned about privacy and his main
concern was breaking up the second floor and direct line of sight.
Jennifer Ediyanto, 7827 Creekline Drive, was very concerned about privacy and
strongly objects to the one-foot offsets and would like to see the second floor torn down.
Mr. Gilli asked the affected neighbors if they preferred to see the house brought to code,
which means adding an extra foot to the offset, or to have the larger tree planting. Mr.
4
Design Review Committee
October 1, 2003
Nagarajan would rather see the trees planted. Ms. Ediyanto asked why the applicant
couldn't do both. Mr. Gilli stated that if they made that part of the house up to code,
the applicant would not need an exception. Mr. Wong suggested that the applicant
could put the closet window back.
David Rudd, 7827 Creekline Drive, feels that the applicant gerrymandered the property
and that there were no accidents. Mr. Rudd does not agree that the plantings were 10
feet at purchase. He was concerned about damage to his fence due to roots of an
Evergreen tree and stated that he would expect the applicant to pay for the cost to
repair the fence. He commented that the lot was a poor choice for a home. As far as the
light issue, the home blocks out light from his window, in addition to leaving the
windows closed due to privacy concerns. Mr. Rudd does not have faith that anything
built there will be mitigating and suggests that all 3 trees are planted prior to the
approval the application.
Millie Wang, rear neighbor, also stated that she has to close her blinds due to privacy
concerns. She is also concerned about roots damaging her foundation.
Mr. Saadati would like the applicant to focus on privacy planting rather than
reconstructing the building. Mr. Wong would like to deny the exception and have the
applicant rebuild the offsets according to the plan.
MOTION:
SECOND:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
VOTE:
Commissioner Wong moved to continue R-2003-14 for two to four weeks.
Chairperson Saadati
None
None
2-0
Application:
Applicant:
Location:
U-2003-10
Richard Madden
10101 Imperial Avenue
Use Permit to construct a 2,387 square foot, two-story residence to replace a
residence destroyed by fire.
Design Review Committee decision final unless appealed
Staff Presentation: Colin Jung, Senior Planner, briefly described the project. The project
fits well into the existing neighborhood and staff recommends approval.
Design Review Committee
October 1, 2003
Mr. Wong asked if the Imperial Avenue side yard fence could be built on the property
line to give the applicant a little larger yard. Mr. Saadati asked Mr. Jung about parking
and setbacks.
Richard Madden, applicant, stated that when he moved into the house, there was an
existing fence along the property line and when he remodeled, he replaced it and that is
why he was proposing it there again.
Mr. Wong noted that a property line fence would not interfere with the commercial
driveway sight line.
MOTION:
SECOND:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
VOTE:
Commissioner Wong moved to approve U-2003-10, deleting condition #2
regarding fence location.
Chairperson Saadati.
None
None
2-0
Application:
Applicant:
Location:
U-2003-09
Ken Chin
10196 Empire Avenue
Use Permit to enlarge an existing residence by approximately 600 square feet,
including a second story addition.
Design Review Committee decision final unless appealed
Request postponement to the next meeting.
MOTION:
SECOND:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
VOTE:
Commissioner Wong moved to postpone R-2003-13 to the next meeting.
Chairperson Saadati.
None
None
2-0
Respectfully submitted:
Kiersa Witt
Administrative Clerk
g:planning/D R C Committee,/Minutesl O0103