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March 27, 1968W CITY OF CUPERTINO., State of California 10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, California 95o14 Phone: 252-4505 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ARCHITECTURAL AND SITE CONTROL dOMMITT I E E' I HELD ARCH; 27TH9 1568 IN -THE 'COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY IUNLLCUPERTINOI, CALIFORNIA `The meeting- `w as -called to order' dt:&e05'p6AA6 by:Merdber Fitch',Oh6 presided- over `the meeting and led 'the `assemblage in the ,flag ­'I'salute . Members present Aguilar 9 Zinall', Fitch,. Absent Member Irwin­d' Also :'present ,.:,ge-cording-,Secretdi;y Eatzleyo mall moved, Member Aguilar sec-onded and it was passedo-_ Member �t unanimously,, that the zoning''ordiharice revisions,as s*ubtittod: by Director�o,- f Plahning, LauYin-' beackhowledge,d;and filed.: There, we-ze no other written-communidations. The RecordIng:Secretary advised the Committee members that a;call had been received from 'Phairman Irwin, indicating his inability to attend tonight's meeting. There wereno further -verbal 'communi cations. Member Aguilar moved,, Member Small seconded I aftd:it was passed: .unanimously thatthe minutes. of the March 139 1968 meeting of "H" Conttol.be approved as printed. Applications A. 328-HC-68-. Powell and Lee Realto'rs.9 'San lntonio'::Road and Second Street, Los Alt"os;:resubmitting approval -6f, request to erect sign in conformance with existing allowable sign area on the proposed building on Stevens Creek Boulevard and Bianchi Way. Mr. Powell stated that, since the City Council had denied the requested variance for a pole sign, he was resubmitting his request for approval based upon the requirements of the Sign Ordinance. M Fitch, in clarifying the reasons for the Council's denial of the variance request, said that the Council felt jb.stified in .denying the application as it did not meet the requirements that should be met, that the building by its very location was suffi- clOntly outstanding,,and that the building in itself was a distinct. sign. Mr., Powell ,' -said that he had been disapp ointed in not having been invited to. comthent, on the rational of conditions that' would justil fy 'the:: granting of a variance. HC-6 call to order flag al "a 6:: roll call revisions filed ' no written chairman absent no VdAals minutes approved 328-HC-68. reasons member's statement page 2 present- ation clari- fication opinions voiced statements Minutes of "H" Control, March 27, 1968 328-HC-68 cont'd Mr. Powell did indicate that the last Council meet/ ng had been a particularly long, busy and emotional one and that the Council had probably overlooked asking for an expression by the applicant. As before, Mr. Powell maintained that the purpose of the Sign Ordinance was to get and keep the business community as attractive as possible and that the conditions, as stipulated in "H" Control's recommendation to approve the application, would have justified a variance, specifically, Section 10.4 of the Sign Ordinance. Mr. Powell stated that he had three alternatives at his disposal; 1) placing the sign against building side(s); 2) placing a sign on top of the roof or 3) the pole sign. Since the pole sign had been denied him, Mr. Powell was asking "H" Control's members to assist him in discussing the two remaining alternatives, at the same time remembering that a sign placement on the sides of the building was impractical if for no other reason tan expense, as it could easily be reached and destroyed and/or defaced. Member Small inquired as to the size of the proposed sign and was told that the actual sign would measure 314" x 5'10" and that the pole, as submitted on the artist's rendering, would measure 9'5 from top to bottom. Member Small also asked what the original intent of the Sign Ordinance had been, and Member Fitch stated that, although aesthetics had certainly been a consideration, the major intent was to provide a guide and a means of control. Member Small felt that since only two variances had been granted since the inceptioi. of the Sigii Ordinance, i.e. five years ago, consideration of hardships placed upon an applicant could not have been a concern of vast importance. Mr. Small also felt that, apart from all other considerations, the sign, as submitted, was attractive and that the placement of sip-ns on either the roof or the sides of the building would not -have nearly the aesthetics that the pole sign would have. Member Smali wanted the record to show that he had asked for re -affirmation of "H" Control's position in recommending the approval of the variance for the pole sign. Member Aguilar agreed with Mr. Small's last statement and wondered if it would do any good to once more recommend approval for the pole sign, indicating ,"H" Control members' feelings. In answer, Member Fitch asked that he be permitted to refresh the Committee members' memory on the activity of the City Council in connection with this application. He recalled Councilman Johnson's strong point that the building itself represented the business very aptly, that the building was too close to the street to warrant a sign, and that the Sign Ordinance was a very well conceived and effective vehicle with which the City prevents the installation of unattractive signs. dt-r Minutes of "H' Control, March 27., 1968 328-HC-68 cont'd Member Fitch said the Counc'.1 1;had given this application a lot of'consideration, and that he respected the treatment of the application and its subsequent_'-d n* ,:.e ial as well as the City Council's consideration to maintain the requirements of the E­..- _n Ordinance. Mr. Fitch said that the applicant had a very good-1,oking sign,, but that it. would have to be considered in itssurroundings and its relationship to the City of,C:UP ertino. Member Small said that, in his opinion,, the figure of a;',200' frontage was arbitrary simply because it meant 1/6th of an acre, and not enough of a reason; also, that he had not yet been convinced that any of the stated -alternatives would be better suited to'the City needs than the proposedDole sign. Member Small moved that "H" Control re -affirm its vote on Application 328-Hc-68 from anaesthetic standpoint, also that, instead of looking at the.4,pplication in the form of a hardship, it be considered that placing a sign on the roof or attaching it against the building will not, add to the attract- ive principles of the City of Cupertino; and in the case of Application 328-HC-68 "H" Control ,'r-e -affirms its vote and requests that the City-Couricil take a second look. Member Aguilar seconded with a question. In the ensuing further discussionthe applicant reiterated his request that the Sign Ordinance be reevaluated for its purpose and intention, after which 'Member Aguilar moved to amend the motion to include a clarification to the Council that "Hlv Control recommends the approval of the pole"'sign. Member Sma 1 11 seconded the amendmentandit was passed unanimously, . after which the original motion passed 2 1. with Member Fitch voiciing the "No" V'Ot e. Mr. Powell askedthat his requested appearance before the City Council be postponed for two weeks because of planned business trip. Mr. Flt-ch requested that Mr. Powell write a letter to the City Clerk pr1or­ to the April 1, 1968 meeting of the City Cc4`mcil., asking that the final decision on this application be held in abeyance until the April 15th meeting. 352_-_Hc-680 Town & Country s De;velop err 20430 Town Center Cupertino; requesting "H" Control approval to con- st-ruct a 189000 sq.fto industrial building, to be located in the West Valley Industrial Park on the west side of Bubb Road, approximately 500 feet south of Stevens Creek Boulevard. Kc®6 !page 3 member 's statements opinions expressed 328-HC-68 previous vote reaffirmed anendment to motion post- ponement asked 332-HC-68 page 4 332-HC-68 present- ation member's requests state- ments questions cooper- ation indicated Minutes of "H" Control, March 27, 15,68 332-HC-68 cont'd Mr. Ralph Ramona of 18700 Casablanca Lane, Los Altos, stated that the proposed development was Located a the: westerly side of Bubb Road and backed up against the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks, and that all proposed buildings strictly adhere to all City Ordinances. When requested to e:T)lain the proposed development in detail, Mr. Ramona said that the "eye brow" would be constructed of heavy cedar shake with asbestos backing and normal stain, the columns would be poured into place and sand-blas+nd to create an open aggregate rough look, the walls would be Latex painted, but that the colors had not been decided upon as yet. However, Mr. Ramona stressed that all colors would be subdued and decorations of the buildings had been planned to enhance the attractive impression of the entire development. Also, that the window frames would be aluminum and there would be an extended use of stone veneer and brick. Since Mr. Ramona had submitted artists' renderings and plot plans, Member Fitch asked numerous questions relative to the plans for the development, such as whether the screening as indicated on the rendering would extend to other buildings to ensure an impression of continuity, the distax-ce between the building and the street, if a continuity c,f architecture, lighting and landscaping could be expected, to all of which the applicant answered in the affirm- ative indicating his sincere desire to cooperate with whatever plans necessary to enhance the area and guarantee its attractiveness. Member Fitch, joined by his fellow Committee members, explained to Mr. Ramona that he was the first applicant for this development and that the Committee wanted to discuss guidelines so that sub- sequent proposals would reflect continuity of architecture, land- scaping, design, exteriors and lighting in order to maintain the high level he was apparently seeking. Mr. Ramona assured the Committee members that all subsequent applicants would have to channel ;heir requests through his offices, thus insuring an integrated development. Mr. Fitch told the applicant that the City would be most happy to assist in and ,rich whatever was necessary to bring plans for a tremenduous area to fruition. Member Small asked about appurte- nances and how they would be hidden from view and was told that the "eye brows" extendou above the roof line and no equipment could be seen unless it was from an airplane. There was a lengthy discussion of future landscaping and the applicant stated that a minimum of lawn was planned with inter- mittent trees and low -maintenance shrubs. Again, Mr. Ramona stated his desire for absolute cooperation with the City's wishes. v Minutes of "H" Control., March 27, 1968 332-HC-68 (ontd Member Aguilar asked if the applicant would be opposed to submitting a detailed landscaping plan at a late- tiffe, and also noted that the proposed parking facilities showed 9 X 20, whereas the Ordinance required 10 x 20; also,, that Mr. Ramona give a detailed description of the planned lighting. The applicant said that all outside lighting would be facing the buildings and not disturb motorists travelling Bubb Road, that there would be one or two lights of very low construction at the sign, as and when it is installed, and that the parking lot would show a number of low lights to discourage burglars. Member Fitch- said that., according to everything submitted, this was going to be a -most attractive development and that he hoped that the applicant would maintain a strong hand in controlling all. proposals. Member Aguilar moved that Application 3.32-HC-68 be recommended for a-Pproval, subject to the ten Standard Conditions, with condi- tion 11) that the exterior walls be of subdued colors; 12) that the exterior light adhere to the oral presentation by Mr. Romano;, 13) that the parking meets the City's requirements; 14) that the plans for the signs and landscaping be submitted at a later date; 15) that this application be recommended for approval with the plans and specifications as submitted; 16) that the architecture e compatible;gWYthat any and all signs carry out a pattern; and 9) that any appurtenances installed not be visible. Member Small seconded and it was passed unanimously. Mr. Fitch advised the applicant to appear before the City Council at their April 1. 1968 meeting and suggested'that he prepare a colored rendering to better acquaint the City.Council with the very attractive development, The--,-.e was -no. unfinished. business. Member Aguilar moved,, Member Small seconded and it was passed unanimously that the meeting be adjourned. Thel meeting adjourned at 9030 pomp ATTEST,- g';;�ngng 'Rec��aS retary ZsJ - Guy Fitch Acting Chairman HC-6 page 5 questions explanations 332-HC-68 recommended for approval with conditions no unf.bus. adjournment