DRC 12-15-05
Design Review Committee
December 15, 2005
Cupertino, CA 9S014
(408) 777-3308
APPROVED MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE DESIGN REVIEW
COMMITTEE HELD ON DECEMBER IS, 2005
ROLL CALL
Committee Members present:
Marty Miller, Chairperson
Lisa Giefer, Commissioner
Committee Members absent:
none
Staff present:
Colin Jung
Ciddy Wordell
Staff absent:
None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
October 6, 200S- approved
October 20, 200S- approved
November 17, 200S- Commissioner Giefer approved, Chairperson Miller abstained
(Commissioner Saadati approved via email)
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS: None
POSTPONEMENTSjREMOV AL FROM CALENDAR: None
ORAL COMMUNICATION: None
CONSENT CALENDAR:
1.
Application:
Applicant:
Location:
ASA-2004-02
Greg Pinn (Pinn Bros. Construction)
20128 Stevens Creek Blvd.
DRC review of building permit plans for conformity to the architectural
rendering approved by the City Council at its meeting of March 1, 200S.
Continued from November 17, 2005 meeting
Design Review Committee decision final unless appealed.
2 Design Review Committee
December 15, 2005
Staff member Jung re-capped the project history. This project was approved at the
March 1, 200S City Council meeting. The property is located at 20128 Stevens Creek
Blvd and is commonly known as Adobe Lounge. It is a mixed- use area consisting of
239S square feet of retail space and 23 residential units. The Design Review Committee
has been asked to make sure that the approved renderings from that meeting are what
will actually be built. The Design Review Committee was presented with an
abbreviated set of construction drawings at the November 17, 200S meeting. The
discussion was continued to this meeting so that the project architect could be present
with a complete set of construction plans for the Committee members to review. The
Architect went over the drawings, explaining how to view them to compare them with
the renderings approved at the March 1st City Council meeting. Commissioner Giefer
asked about the placement of bicycle racks for retail shoppers (a specific concern of the
City Council). The Architect explained that bicycle racks are available for the proposed
residents, but that he would add racks to the construction drawings. Staff member Jung,
stated that the City ordinance doesn't require bicycle racks for the public.
MOTION:
SECOND:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
VOTE:
Commissioner Giefer approved ASA-2004-02
Chairperson Miller
None
None
2-0
PUBLIC HEARING:
2.
Application:
Applicant:
Location:
ASA-200S-13
Audrey Smith (T-Mobile)
21760 Stevens Creek Blvd
Architectural and Site approval for a roof-top wireless facility and base
equipment enclosure on an existing office building
Design Review Committee decision final unless appealed.
Staff member Jung explained how T-Mobile had worked very hard on their design to
camouflage a proposed roof top cellular phone antenna at 21760 Stevens Creek Blvd.
The antenna has been disguised as a chimney. Several pictures were displayed which
showed the view of the "chimney" from the surrounding homes and businesses.
Commissioner Giefer asked what the notification radius was for this project. Staff
member Jung stated that the mailing radius was 1000 feet. At the community meeting
T-Mobile held prior to the application being heard by the Environmental Review
Committee, only two resident s showed up. These people did not object to the project.
Commissioner Giefer asked if there was additional space on the roof top for another
antenna after the proposed one is installed. The response was, no. The roof top will be
full once this tower is installed. Chairperson Miller asked for clarification that the tower
3 Design Review Committee
December 15, 2005
would be hidden and if other locations around the City had been studied for tower
placement. The applicant responded that they had done a lot of research into the tower
placement. The surrounding homes and businesses are not very close, tests have been
done by an outside consultant regarding the emission of RF levels, they have complied
with all of Staff's recommendations concerning design and had held a neighborhood
meeting. A resident, Mr. Jan Kucera of 21917 Oakview Lane, spoke at the meeting. He
expressed his great concern over the lack of long term studies to support that RF
emission exposure for long periods of time are not harmful to people. He works in the
field and says that in his environment, the proposed load radius of the RF emissions
would be considered hazardous. The neighboring people and the people working in the
building would be constantly exposed to these (potentially) dangerous RF levels. The
owner of the building where the tower is proposed, Mr. Tom McShane, said he would
be working in the office just below the equipment room for the towers and was satisfied
with the reports done by the consultants as to his safety. He also pointed out that the
tower only emits RF waves when the phones it will service are in use. The applicant re-
states that the consultants preparing the study are independent contractors who,
following the FCC guidelines, had determined the emissions from the tower would not
harm anyone. She also mentioned again that they had not received any complaints or
concerns from any of the surrounding neighbors. Chairperson Miller wanted to confirm
that 13 feet was the measurement used to get the frequency rating on the RF emissions.
Commissioner Giefer asked about the material that would be used in the "chimney"
construction. Mr. Kucera still expressed his safety concerns. Commissioner Giefer said
that it was not part of the committee's jurisdiction to rule on the safety levels of the
tower. Safety concerns should be brought before the FCC. This committee could only
rule on the design elements of the proposed tower. She further stated that she liked the
"chimney" disguise. Chairperson Miller also liked the design, but asked that in the
interest of confirming that the RF emission levels were within FCC regulated tolerances,
another frequency study should be conducted after the tower had been activated.
Everyone involved and concerned with the project agreed that this was a good idea.
MOTION:
Commissioner Giefer moved to approve application ASA-200S-13 with the
condition that more RF testing be conducted within one month of
activation of the antenna.
Chairperson Miller
None
None
2-0
SECOND:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
VOTE:
3.
Application:
Applicant:
Location:
ASA-200S-19
Brian Kelly Jr.
22189 Hammond Way
Architectural and Site approval for a new, single-story 4,237 square foot
residence
4
Design Review Committee
December 15,2005
Design Review Committee decision final unless appealed.
Staff member Wordell explained that this new house project was one of several new
home designs to come before the committee as part of the Oak Park development
project. The house meets all the design element ordinance requirements and is
consistent in its building material usage with that other homes in the development.
Commissioner Giefer remembered the applicant from the house proposed at the last
committee meeting. She noted the difference in the usage of skylights in this design
over the house heard at the prior meeting. She also asked for clarification on the
driveway building materials. Chairperson Miller asked what the planned
development's CC & Rs meant by needing to have the homes approved by an
Architectural Design Review Committee. Staff member Wordell explained that since the
Architectural Design Review Committee is defunct, this committee serves in the
approval capacity now. He asked the applicant about grading plans and about a short
wall to the side of the house. The applicant stated that the house would be a one story,
stucco and stone exterior with wooden roof shingles. There are fewer skylights in this
design because the placement of the house allowed for more windows. The low wall
next to the house was not a retaining wall, but rather a "garden" wall next to the
garage to blend with look of the driveway pavers. The grading on the site would be
minimal in the back part of the yard and would not change the slope of the lot.
Commissioner Giefer and Chairperson Miller both liked the design of the house.
MOTION:
SECOND:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
VOTE:
Commissioner Giefer moved to approve application ASA-200S-19
Chairperson Miller
None
None
2-0
OLD BUSINESS:
None
NEW BUSINESS:
None
Respectfully submitted:
~£h~
Beth Ebben
Administrative Clerk
g:planning/DRC CommitteejMinutesl21S0S