PC 10-14-25 Searchable PacketCITY OF CUPERTINO
PLANNING COMMISSION
AGENDA
10350 Torre Avenue, Council Chamber and via Teleconference
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
6:45 PM
IN-PERSON AND TELECONFERENCE / PUBLIC PARTICIPATION INFORMATION
OPTIONS TO OBSERVE: Members of the public wishing to observe the meeting may do
so in one of the following ways:
1) Attend in person at Cupertino Community Hall, 10350 Torre Avenue.
2) Tune to Comcast Channel 26 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 on your TV.
3) Watch a live stream online at www.Cupertino.org/youtube and
www.Cupertino.org/webcast
OPTIONS TO PARTICIPATE AND COMMENT: Members of the public wishing to
address the Planning Commission may do so in the following ways:
1) Appear in person at Cupertino Community Hall:
a. During “Oral Communications”, the public may comment on matters not on the agenda,
and for agendized matters, the public may comment during the public comment period for
each agendized item.
b. Speakers are requested to complete a Speaker Card . While completion of Speaker Cards
is voluntary and not required to attend the meeting or provide comments , it is helpful for
the purposes of ensuring that all speakers are called upon.
c. Speakers must wait to be called , then proceed to the lectern/podium and speak into the
microphone when recognized by the Chair.
d. Speakers are limited to three (3) minutes each. However, the Chair may reduce the
speaking time depending on the number of people who wish to speak on an item. A
speaker representing a group of 2 to 5 or more people who are present may have up to 2
minutes per group member, up to 10 minutes maximum .
e. Please note that due to cyber security concerns, speakers are not allowed to connect any
Page 1
1
PC 10-14-2025
1 of 10
Planning Commission Agenda October 14, 2025
personal devices at the lectern/podium. However, speakers that wish to share a document
(e.g. presentations, photographs or other documents) during oral comments may do so in
one of the following ways:
• At the overhead projector at the podium or
• E-mail the document to planning@cupertino.gov by 3:00 p.m. and staff will advance the
slides/share the documents during your oral comment.
2) Written communications as follows:
a. E-mail comments to planningcommission@cupertino.gov
b. Regular mail or hand delivered addressed to the: Cupertino Planning Commission, City
Hall, 10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, CA 95014
c. Comments addressed to the Planning Commission received by 5:00 p.m. on the day of the
meeting will be included in written communications published and distributed before the
beginning of the meeting.
b. Comments addressed to the Planning Commission received after the 5:00 p.m. deadline,
but through the end of the Planning Commission meeting, will be posted to the City’s
website by the end of the following business day.
3) Teleconference in one of the following ways:
a. Online via Zoom on an electronic device (Audio and Video): Speakers must register in
advance by clicking on the link below to access the meeting:
https://cityofcupertino.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QCCcozoXSguvy-xNgs24SQ
• Registrants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the
webinar.
• Speakers will be recognized by the name they use for registration. Once recognized,
speakers must click ‘unmute’ when prompted to speak.
• Please read the following instructions about technical compatibility carefully: One can
directly download the teleconference (Zoom) software or connect to the meeting in their
internet browser. If a browser is used, make sure the most current and up-to-date browser,
such as the following, is used: Chrome 30+, Firefox 27+, Microsoft Edge 12+, Safari 7+.
Certain functionality may be disabled in older browsers, including Internet Explorer.
Page 2
2
PC 10-14-2025
2 of 10
Planning Commission Agenda October 14, 2025
b. By Phone (Audio only): No registration is required in advance and speakers may join the
meeting as follows:
i. Dial 669-900-6833 and enter WEBINAR ID: 836 4590 5145
ii. To “raise hand” to speak: Dial *9; When asked to unmute: Dial *6
iii. Speakers will be recognized to speak by the last four digits of their phone number.
c. Via an H.323/SIP room system:
i. H.323 Information:
144.195.19.161 (US West)
206.247.11.121 (US East)
Meeting ID: 836 4590 5145
ii. SIP: 83645905145@zoomcrc.com
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1.Subject: Approval of the Sept 23 2025 Planning Commission Minutes
Recommended Action: Approve the Sept 23 2025 Planning Commission Minutes
1 - Draft Minutes
POSTPONEMENTS
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons wishing to address the Commission on any matter
within the jurisdiction of the Commission and not on the agenda. Speakers are limited to three (3)
minutes. In most cases, State law will prohibit the Commission from making any decisions with respect
to a matter not on the agenda.
PUBLIC HEARINGS - None
Effective January 1, 2023, Government Code Section 65103.5 (SB 1214) limits the distribution of
copyrighted material associated with the review of development projects. Members of the public wishing
to view plans that cannot otherwise be distributed under SB 1214 may make an appointment with the
Planning Division to view them at City Hall by sending an email to planning@cupertino.org. Plans
will also be made available digitally during the hearing to consider the proposal.
OLD BUSINESS - None
NEW BUSINESS
Page 3
3
PC 10-14-2025
3 of 10
Planning Commission Agenda October 14, 2025
2.Subject: Appointment of a Planning Commission Ad Hoc Subcommittee to report on
best practices on community noticing from other Bay Area cities.
The Planning Commission may identify procedural or policy areas that would benefit
from detailed review by this ad hoc subcommittee. The subcommittee will operate
consistent with the Brown Act and Cupertino Municipal Code Chapter 2.32, focusing
on its defined scope and providing a report back to the full Commission for discussion
and possible recommendation to the City Council.
Recommended Action: - Appoint a Planning Commission Ad Hoc subcommittee with
the defined scope to study best practices of other cities on community noticing; and
- Direct the subcommittee to return with findings and recommendations to the full
Commission on the following topic:
Community Noticing – Evaluate current noticing best practices from other Bay Area
cities for development projects and their related applications and report back on a
comparison of practices in the area of community noticing with the goal to further
enhance community awareness and participation.
Consider a motion that the Planning Commission form an ad hoc subcommittee to
study community noticing best practices from Bay Area cities, and direct the
subcommittee to return with findings and recommendations to the full Commission
within the recommended timeframe.
This study session will allow Commissioners to form an ad hoc subcommittee to
address the identified topic, establish subcommittee membership, and set expectations
for reporting timelines and deliverables.
STAFF AND COMMISSION REPORTS
This portion of the meeting is reserved for staff to provide any updates on matters pertinent to the
Commission and for Commissioners to report on any Commission related activities they have taken part
in since the prior regularly scheduled meeting.
FUTURE AGENDA SETTING
This portion of the meeting is reserved for the Chair or any two Commissioners to propose a future
agenda item within the jurisdiction of the Commission. A proposal to add a future agenda item shall be
brief and without discussion by the Commission.
ADJOURNMENT
If you challenge the action of the Planning Commission in court, you may be limited to raising only
those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this agenda, or in written
correspondence delivered to the City of Cupertino at, or prior to, the public hearing. In the event an
action taken by the Planning Commission is deemed objectionable, the matter may be officially appealed
to the City Council in writing within fourteen (14) days of the date of the Commission’s decision. Said
appeal is filed with the City Clerk (Ordinance 632).
Page 4
4
PC 10-14-2025
4 of 10
Planning Commission Agenda October 14, 2025
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), anyone who is planning to attend this
meeting who is visually or hearing impaired or has any disability that needs special assistance should
call the City Clerk's Office at 408-777-3223, at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting to arrange for
assistance. In addition, upon request in advance by a person with a disability, meeting agendas and
writings distributed for the meeting that are public records will be made available in the appropriate
alternative format.
Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the Planning Commission after publication of the
packet will be made available for public inspection in the Community Development Department located
at City Hall, 10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, California 95014 during normal business hours and in
Planning packet archives linked from the agenda/minutes page on the City web site.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please be advised that pursuant to Cupertino Municipal Code section
2.08.100, written communications sent to the City Council, Commissioners or staff concerning a
matter on the agenda are included as supplemental material to the agendized item. These written
communications are accessible to the public through the City website and kept in packet archives. Do
not include any personal or private information in written communications to the City that you do not
wish to make public, as written communications are considered public records and will be made
publicly available on the City website.
For questions on any items in the agenda, or for documents related to any of the items on the agenda,
contact the Planning Department at (408) 777 3308 or planning@cupertino.org.
Page 5
5
PC 10-14-2025
5 of 10
CITY OF CUPERTINO
Agenda Item
Subject: Approval of the Sept 23 2025 Planning Commission Minutes
Approve the Sept 23 2025 Planning Commission Minutes
CITY OF CUPERTINO Printed on 10/10/2025Page 1 of 1
6
PC 10-14-2025
6 of 10
DRAFT MINUTES
CUPERTINO PLANNING COMMISSION
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
At 6:46 p.m. Chair Santosh Rao called the Regular Planning Commission meeting to order and
led the Pledge of Allegiance in the Cupertino Community Hall Council Chamber, 10350 Torre
Avenue and via teleconference.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Santosh Rao, Vice Chair Tracy Kosolcharoen, and Commissioners David Fung,
Steven Scharf and Seema Lindskog. Absent: None.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1.Subject: Approval of the September 9, 2025 Planning Commission Minutes
Recommended Action: Approve the September 9, 2025 Planning Commission Minutes
MOTION: Lindskog moved and Kosolcharoen seconded to approve the September 9, 2025
Planning Commission Minutes. The motion passed with the following vote: Ayes: Rao,
Kosolcharoen, Scharf, Lindskog, Fung. Noes: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.
POSTPONEMENTS – None
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Luthern Williams, the head of Tessellations School, noted frustration about a seven-month delay in
a promised traffic study. He shared that the school has engaged with local officials, including the
Public Works Department and the Santa Clara Sheriff’s Office, who are taking steps such as site
visits, signage evaluation, and increased patrols. Williams also said the school continues to meet
with city leaders and neighbors to address concerns, aiming to grow responsibly despite facing a
costly and complex approval process compared to similar schools.
Julias Paras spoke about Tessellations School and his experience as a parent. He shared that he was
impressed by the school’s core values, its natural environment, and efforts to reduce wait times
during school pickup.
PUBLIC HEARINGS – None
7
PC 10-14-2025
7 of 10
NEW BUSINESS –
2.Subject: Presentation on the Arts & Culture Commission’s recommendation to the City
Council on an Art-in-lieu fee policy. (Application No. MCA-2025-003; Applicant: City of
Cupertino; Location: City-wide)
Recommended Action: Receive a presentation.
Assistant Director of Community Development Connolly introduced Senior Planner
Martire who gave a presentation.
Commissioners asked questions which staff responded to.
Arts and Culture Commission Chair Rohra spoke.
Commissioners asked questions, which Chair Rohra responded to.
Chair Rao opened the public comment period and, seeing no one, closed the public
comment period.
Commissioners asked questions and comments, which staff responded to.
Chair Rohra spoke.
MOTION: Rao moved and Scharf seconded to propose to retain the premium for the in-
lieu fee, not having it reduced to one percent, and create a separate art fund, proposing
the council maintain final discretion on approvals.
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Scharf proposed a friendly amendment to the motion, that
the art fund, as established as a separate fund, be solely used for the creation of public art
in any form.
Rao accepted the friendly amendment.
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Scharf proposed a friendly amendment to the motion, to
support the in-lieu fee being the same percentage as the amount the developer would
spend on the art, but only if at least fifty percent were spent on the on-site art.
Rao did not accept the friendly amendment.
The motion carried with the following vote: Ayes: Rao, Kosolcharoen, Scharf. Noes:
Lindskog, Fung. Abstain: None. Absent: None.
8
PC 10-14-2025
8 of 10
STAFF AND COMMISSION REPORTS –
Commissioner Lindskog met with Tessellations School staff and discussed the community
feedback.
Commissioner Scharf asked about the next Planning Commissioner Academy and requested
that Commissioners have the option to attend. Staff responded to his question.
FUTURE AGENDA SETTING – None
ADJOURNMENT
At 8:07 p.m. Chair Rao adjourned the Regular Planning Commission Meeting.
Minutes prepared by:
Lindsay Nelson, Administrative Assistant
9
PC 10-14-2025
9 of 10
CITY OF CUPERTINO
Agenda Item
Subject: Appointment of a Planning Commission Ad Hoc Subcommittee to report on best practices on
community noticing from other Bay Area cities.
The Planning Commission may identify procedural or policy areas that would benefit from detailed review by
this ad hoc subcommittee. The subcommittee will operate consistent with the Brown Act and Cupertino
Municipal Code Chapter 2.32, focusing on its defined scope and providing a report back to the full
Commission for discussion and possible recommendation to the City Council.
- Appoint a Planning Commission Ad Hoc subcommittee with the defined scope to study best practices of
other cities on community noticing; and
- Direct the subcommittee to return with findings and recommendations to the full Commission on the
following topic:
Community Noticing - Evaluate current noticing best practices from other Bay Area cities for
development projects and their related applications and report back on a comparison of
practices in the area of community noticing with the goal to further enhance community
awareness and participation.
Consider a motion that the Planning Commission form an ad hoc subcommittee to study
community noticing best practices from Bay Area cities, and direct the subcommittee to return
with findings and recommendations to the full Commission within the recommended
timeframe.
This study session will allow Commissioners to form an ad hoc subcommittee to address the
identified topic, establish subcommittee membership, and set expectations for reporting
timelines and deliverables.
CITY OF CUPERTINO Printed on 10/10/2025Page 1 of 1
10
PC 10-14-2025
10 of 10