ASA-2017-06 res.docCITY OF CUPERTINO
10300 Torre Avenue
Cupertino, California 95014
RESOLUTION No. 95
OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING MEETING OF THE CITY OF
CUPERTINO APPROVING AN ARCHITECTURAL AND SITE APPROVAL
APPLICTION FOR 1,487 SQUARE FOOT ADDITION TO AN EXISTING DUPLEX
SECTION I: PROTECT DESCRIPTION
Application No.: ASA -2017-06
Applicant: Susan Chen (SC Design Group)
Location: 22861 Medina Lane APN: 342-30-013
SECTION II: FINDINGS
WHEREAS, the Administrative Hearing Officer of the City of Cupertino received an
application to allow an Architectural and Site approval of a 1,487 square foot addition
to an existing single- story duplex located on property zoned R-3;
WHEREAS, the necessary public notices have been given as required by the Procedural
Ordinance of the City of Cupertino, and the Administrative Hearing Officer has held at
least one public meeting in regard to the application; and
WHEREAS, the applicant has met the burden of proof required to support said
application; and
WHEREAS, the Administrative Hearing Officer finds:
1. The proposal, at the proposed location, will not be detrimental or injurious to
property or improvements in the vicinity, and will not be detrimental to the public
health, safety, general welfare, or convenience;
The applicant is proposing an addition of 1,487 square feet to an existing duplex. The
addition is designed to visually match the current structure and will be consistent to the
form and land use of surrounding properties. This has been accomplished by maintaining a
similar building form, roof lines, and window treatments. Additionally, exterior finishes of
the addition will be consistent with regard to stucco, roofing material, and windows.
Therefore, the project is not detrimental to the public health, safety, general welfare or
convenience.
Resolution No. 95 ASA -2017-06 September 27, 2018
Page 2
2. The proposal is consistent with the purposes of Chapter 19.168, Architectural and
Site Review, of the Cupertino Municipal Code, the General Plan, any specific plan,
zoning ordinances, applicable planned development permit, conditional use
permits, variances, subdivision maps or other entitlements to use which regulate the
subject property including, but not limited to, adherence to the following specific
criteria:
a) Abrupt changes in building scale should be avoided. A gradual transition related to
height and bulk should be achieved between new and existing buildings;
The subject flag -lot currently has the only second -story element on Medina Lane, with single -
story buildings adjacent to the east and west on the same block face. The property is also
adjacent to a row of attached townhomes to the north (rear) and down the slope with minimal
lot sizes and setbacks. Any additional and new building height and bulk should be carefully
sculpted to avoid abrupt changes in building scale to the immediate vicinity and offer a
gradual transition to existing buildings. The project proposes to extend the existing two-story
element farther north and toward the existing townhome structures in the rear. The
configuration of the subject lot and the proximity to the adjacent existing buildings make such
expansion abrupt and lack transition. Therefore, a reduction of the proposed second -story
expansion should be limited to massing, scale, and design elements necessary to accommodate
reasonable access and connection to the ground floor.
b) In order to preserve design harmony between new and existing buildings and in
order to preserve and enhance property values, the materials, textures and colors of
new buildings should harmonize with adjacent development by being consistent or
compatible with design and color schemes, and, with the future character of the
neighborhood and purposes of the zone in which they are situated. The location,
height and materials of walls, fencing, hedges and screen planting should harmonize
with adjacent development. Unsightly storage areas, utility installations and
unsightly elements of parking lots should be concealed. The planting of ground
cover or various types of pavements should be used to prevent dust and erosion, and
the unnecessary destruction of existing healthy trees should be avoided. Lighting for
development should be adequate to meet safety requirements as specified by the
engineering and building departments, and provide shielding to prevent spill-over
light to adjoining property owners; and
The proposed architectural design, materials, finishes, and textures will match the existing
building and are compatible with the character of the neighborhood. The project proposes no
changes to the location, height, and materials of walls, fencing, and landscaping. Exterior
lighting other than that typically used in residential development is not being proposed and
no spill-over light uncommon in residential neighborhoods will occur. Furthermore, the
Resolution No. 95 ASA -2017-06 September 27, 2018
Page 3
proposal has been designed to meet the R-2 Multi -Family Residential Ordinance and does not
propose to locate unsightly storage, utility units, and/or parking lots visible to the public
right-of-way.
c) The number, location, color, size, height, lighting and landscaping of outdoor
advertising signs and structures shall minimize traffic hazards and shall positively
affect the general appearance of the neighborhood and harmonize with adjacent
development; and
No signage or outdoor advertising is requested through this proposal.
d) With respect to new projects within existing residential neighborhoods, new
development should be designed to protect residents from noise, traffic, light and
visually intrusive effects by use of buffering, setbacks, landscaping, walls and other
appropriate design measures
The proposed addition is located in an existing duplex located on a flag lot, which makes the
development difficult to see from the public right-of-way. The project has been designed in
accordance with the development standards of the R-2 Zoning District with the intent to
protect residents from unnecessary noise, traffic, light and visually intrusive effects.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
That after careful consideration of maps, facts, exhibits, testimony and other evidence
submitted in this matter, subject to the conditions which are enumerated in this
Resolution beginning on Page 3 thereof, the application for an Architectural and Site
Approval, Application no. ASA -2017-06, is hereby approved; and
That the sub conclusions upon which the findings and conditions specified in this
Resolution are based and contained in the public meeting record concerning
Application No. ASA -2017-06 as set forth in the Minutes of the Administrative Hearing
Meeting of September 27, 2018, and are incorporated by reference herein.
SECTION III: CONDITIONS ADMINISTERED BY THE COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
1. APPROVED EXHIBITS
Approval is based on the plan set prepared by SC Design Group consisting of nine
(9) sheets labeled "Gu & Ming Residence", except those as may be amended by
conditions in this resolution.
2. ANNOTATION OF THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
The conditions of approval set forth shall be incorporated into and annotated on the
building plans.
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3. ACCURACY OF PROTECT PLANS
The applicant/property owner is responsible to verify all pertinent property data
including but not limited to property boundary locations, building setbacks,
property size, building square footage, any relevant easements and/or construction
records. Any misrepresentation of any property data may invalidate this approval
and may require additional review.
4. FENCES
Any changes to the fencing shall require design review with the Community
Development Department and shall comply with Cupertino Municipal Code
Chapter 19.48 Fences
5. CONSULTATION WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS
The applicant is responsible for consulting with other departments and/or agencies
with regard to the proposed project for additional conditions and requirements. Any
misrepresentation of any submitted data may invalidate an approval by the
Community Development Department.
3. EXTERIOR BUILDING MATERIALS/TREATMENTS
Final building exterior treatment plan (including but not limited to details on
exterior color, material, architectural treatments, lighting fixtures, and/or
embellishments) shall be reviewed and approved by the Director of Community
Development prior to issuance of building permits. The final building exterior plan
shall closely resemble the details shown on the original approved plans. Any
exterior changes determined to be substantial by the Director of Community
Development shall require a modification approval with neighborhood input. Prior
to issuance of building permits, staff will review exterior material, architectural
elements, and building scale and massing to ensure quality and consistency with the
approved findings prescribed in Section II above.
4. GEOTECHNICAL PLAN REVIEW
The applicant's geotechnical consultant should review and approve all geotechnical
aspects of the development plans (i.e., site preparation and grading, site drainage
improvements and design parameters for foundations, drainage, pavement and
retaining walls) to ensure that their recommendation have been properly
incorporated. The following should be performed prior to final (as -built) project
approval:
The Geotechnical Plan Review should be submitted to the City for review and
approval by the City staff prior to issuance of building permits.
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5. GEOTECHNICAL FIELD INSPECTION
The geotechnical consultant should inspect, test (as needed), and approve all
geotechnical aspects of the project construction. The inspection should include, but
not limited: site preparation and grading, site surface and subsurface drainage
improvements and excavation for foundation and retaining walls prior to the
placement of steel and concrete. The following should be specifically performed:
The Project Geotechnical Consultant should closely monitor the fill and expansive
soil over -excavation, and pool backfill to assure that rigid grid foundation is placed
on low -expansion potential materials, and atop suitably compacted fill materials.
6. INDEMNIFICATION
Except as otherwise prohibited by law, the applicant shall indemnify and hold
harmless the City, its City Council, and its officers, employees and agents
(collectively, the "indemnified parties") from and against any claim, action, or
proceeding brought by a third party against one or more of the indemnified parties
or one or more of the indemnified parties and the applicant to attack, set aside, or
void this Resolution or any permit or approval authorized hereby for the project,
including (without limitation) reimbursing the City its actual attorneys' fees and
costs incurred in defense of the litigation. The applicant shall pay such attorneys'
fees and costs within 30 days following receipt of invoices from City. Such attorneys'
fees and costs shall include amounts paid to counsel not otherwise employed as City
staff and shall include City Attorney time and overhead costs and other City staff
overhead costs and any costs directly related to the litigation reasonably incurred by
City.
7. NOTICE OF FEES, DEDICATIONS, RESERVATIONS, OR OTHER EXACTIONS
The Conditions of Project Approval set forth herein may include certain fees,
dedication requirements, reservation requirements, and other exactions. Pursuant to
Government Code Section 66020(d) (1), these Conditions constitute written notice of
a statement of the amount of such fees, and a description of the dedications,
reservations, and other exactions. You are hereby further notified that the 90 -day
approval period in which you may protest these fees, dedications, reservations, and
other exactions, pursuant to Government Code Section 66020(a), has begun. If you
fail to file a protest within this 90 -day period complying with all of the requirements
of Section 66020, you will be legally barred from later challenging such exactions.
Resolution No. 95 ASA -2017-06 September 27, 2018
Page 6
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 271h day of September, 2018 at a noticed Public Meeting
of the Administrative Hearing Officer of the City of Cupertino, State of California, held
by the Director of Community Development, or his or her designee, pursuant to
Cupertino Municipal Code Section 19.12.120.
ATTEST:
/s/Erick Serrano
Erick Serrano
Associate Planner
APPROVED:
/s/Benjamin Fu
Benjamin Fu
Asst. Director of Community Development