Loading...
Director's ReportCUPERTINO CITY HALL 10300 TORRE AVENUE CUPERTINO, CA 95014 TELEPHONE (408) 777-3308 FAX (408) 777-3333 CUPERTINt7 DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Subject: Report of the Community Development Director Planning Commission Agenda, Date: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 The City Council met on October 6, 2009, and discussed the following item(s) of interest to the Planning Commission: 1. Use Permit Modification for Adobe Terrace -Council approved the modification as recommended in Planning Commission's Resolution #6563, with modification to allow 50% commercial office use and 50 % retail, but only for the current property owner. Miscellaneous ltems: 1. Housing Proposal - At the August 13~ Housing Commission meeting, a presentation was made under oral communication by Cupertino Rotary club representatives about a proposed senior housing project on Mary Avenue. The presentation included a general PowerPoint overview of the concept, as well as a question and answer session. Attached is the handout Rotary provided as well as the agenda & minutes. Since the project came up under oral communications, the Housing Commission decided to invite Rotary back for the September meeting, at which time the commission would consider taking a formal position on the conceptual project. At the September 10 Housing Commission meeting, members voted to support Rotary's conceptual senior housing project on Mary Avenue. Agenda of that meeting is also attached. The Commission directed staff to draft a letter to accompany the item when it comes to Council, expressing the Commission s support. The Commission asked that the letter highlight the need for senior housing in Cupertino, and the proposed location of this site near neighborhood amenities such as shopping, dining, entertainment, and transportation (not mention our Senior Center and Memorial Park). The Council will hear a presentation on the project later this year. 2. Renewal Permit for Lehigh Cement/Quarry -Colin Jung attended the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) hearing for the Title V permit for Lehigh Cement Quarry on Thursday, September 19. The permit has to be renewed every five years, and facilities are required to meet emissions criteria set by BAAQMD. About 60% of the Cupertino Room was filled including a councilmember, two council candidates, County planner Gary Rudholm, tl-tree Lehigh representatives (including Sandy James) and Lloyd LaCuesta, the television news reporter. The agenda for the hearing included: Welcome and introductions, a brief staff presentation and a public hearing. At least a half dozen BAAQMD staff and the hearing officer on the permit attended the hearing. Staff gave a brief overview presentation of the Title V permit: what it is and what it can and carulot do. The remainder of the time was taken up by ~~- Report of the Community Development Director Tuesday, October 13, 2009 Page 2 public testimony that was recorded by BAAQMD staff. There was no formal verbal interchange between staff and the public, but after the hearing, there was informal, one-on- one Q&A between staff and the public. Thirty-four people testified: 33 against the permit renewal and one supporter. The partisan crowd applauded each of the opponent speakers, while the lone supporter was booed. The opponent speakers came from a large geographic area: Los Gatos, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, & Cupertino. In Cupertino, there were speakers from Stevens Creek Boulevard, Creston, Linda Vista, and the Forum. Some speakers represented countywide public health interest groups. There was a wide range of concerns among the speakers with several recurring themes. The concerns included: - The quantity of mercury being emitted by the cement kiln and its possible connection to higher incidence of autism among Cupertino schoolchildren compared to other area children. - Delaying action on the permit renewal until new EPA regulations are promulgated in March 2010 on hazardous air pollutants produced by the cement industry. - Lack of a central kiln stack to monitor emissions. Presently there are 32 vents on the kiln and only a few of the vents are ever monitored. - Violations of the air quality regulations are occurring after regular hours when BAAQMD employees have gone home for the day or weekend. - Lack of monitoring of environmental conditions by independent third parties, rather than, by Lehigh Quarry itself. Written comment period ended on October 1, 2009. The Planning Division received one additional comment email from a resident and forwarded it to the BAAQMD. 3. Street Light Demonstration - As part of Cupertino's energy efficiency project review process, it is evaluating alternative streetlight technologies and installers. Included in this effort is a fixture demonstration so that staff, community members, and others may view a variety of installed fixtures to evaluate their aesthetics and so that light performance may be measured (luminance, color temperature, uniformity, etc.). The Light Emitting Diode (LED) and induction technologies evaluated through this demonstration are both designed to use 40% less energy and last longer than the existing High Pressure Sodium (HPS) streetlights, thereby lowering utility and maintenance costs. Through its 2005 municipal-wide greenhouse gas emissions inventory, the city identified that street lighting accounts for 41 % of total electricity consumed and 39 % of total energy costs of municipal operations. As such, street lighting has become a primary focus for efficiency upgrades, particularly as current equipment, namely the city's high-pressure sodium lamps, reaches the end of its useful life. Two different technologies will be displayed near City Hall: four LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights and four induction (a form of fluorescent lighting) lights. Both technologies have life expectancies up to five times that of the city's currently installed street light technologies, and use less energy. The LED & induction fixture installation is part of the competitive process of selecting a streetlight vendor. It allows evaluation of the installation and workmanship of the prospective subcontractors. In addition, it gives city staff and residents an opportunity to preview and provide feedback on different street lighting technologies. ~~ Report of the Community Development Director Tuesday, October 13, 2009 Page 3 Streetlights for the demonstration were installed on September 23 & 24 on Pacifica Avenue between S De Anza Blvd. and Whitney Way. A Streetlight Demonstration Event was held at 7:15pm on September 29 on Pacifica Avenue near City Hall (see accompanying map). Feedback on the alternative streetlight fixtures was collected at this event. Staff and residents may also submit comments through AccessCupertino (under special events topic). 4. On-Line Permitting - We installed the system and activated five contractor accounts for online permitting. IT Manager, Mariyah Serratos, will present a demonstration to City Council at the October 20 meeting. 5. Projections 2009 -ABAG produces updated forecasts every two years and publishes them as Projections. ABAG released the final Projections 2009 document in August 2009 and hard copies were sent to cities in September 2009. The attached memo provides additional details. 6. Our Website Wins National Award -Our website has won first place in its population category for the National City-County Communications and Marketing Association (3CMA) 2009 Savvy Award. The awards were announced at the annual 3CMA conference last Thursday in Scottsdale, AZ. Our web specialist, Nidhi Mathur, has done an absolutely outstanding job leading and coordinating our website effort. The City provides residents and businesses web-based services ranging from business permits to live webcasts. We continue to expand online service and information resources and deliver services far beyond those provided by cities our size. The Savvy Awards recognize local government achievements in communications and marketing and provide nationwide recognition for innovative government solutions. Upcoming Dates: Sept 29 Street Light Demonstration Event, 7:15 PM (Pacifica Ave near City Hall) Oct 24 Cupertino Library's 5~1 Anniversary Celebration, l0- 4 pm, Ceremony 11:30 am Nov 2 Possible Council Meeting Nov 3 Election Day (no Council meeting) Dec 1 Council Swearing in Ceremony Enclosures: Mary Avenue Senior Housing Project Materials ABAG Projections Street Light Demonstration Informational Flyer & Map Staff Report G: ~ Planning ~AartiS ~ Director's Report ~ 2009 ~ pd10-13-09.doc ~~-3 IMAGINE THE TRANSFORMATION .~ _ f__ - ==~= ~. ~" ''. The Concept 1. Remove 860 lineal feet of excess asphalt along Mary Avenue and consfruct T8-20 l t IS THERE ENOUGH ROOH TO DO THIS? sing a-s ory When you remove the angled parking affordable senior and the center left turn lane you pick cotfages. up a narrow strip of land about 35 fee 2. The excess deep by 860 feet long. The land asphalt consists equals about 213 of an acre. (See of rarely used attached figure on page 5) angled parking and a center f 1 urnrng ane. 3. Re-s fri pe .Mary Avenue into a slower, safer two-lane tree lined neighbor- hoodstreetwith parallel parking and bike lanes. "THEY PAVED PARADISE; PUT UP A PARKING LOT" [SN'T THIS PARKING BEING USED? Cupertino Rotary Club members have been monitoring the parking along this stretch of Mary Avenue for about 6 months and it is occasionally used by moving vans, large motor homes, large semi-tractor trailer trucks and once in a while a few De Anza college students and flea market attendees. Most of the time this is what we saw. The area does not include the parking in front of the Oaks Shopping Center that is heavily used by De Anza students and festival-goers. The segmentofparking along Mary Avenue contemplated for this project is further down Mary Avenue and is rarely used. u er ino~ -~~.o ~~ ~ ~, ~~ A ~O ~ C3 NOT FOR PROFIT CORPORATION a~-~I ~; ~~. .. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PAY FOR THIS? The great advantage of using excess street area is that we don't have to purchase the land. It will cost to move the curb and regrade the property and to construct the new senior cottages. "PLEASE JOIN US IIV THIS EXCITING GRASS ROOTS COMMUNITY The Rotary Housing Corporation hopes to partner with the City of Cupertino and possibly anon-profit housing developer and use funding set aside for affordable ' housing. The partnership will also seek grants that are specifically set aside for affordable housing. V~HAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE LITTLE PARK NEXT TO CASA DE ANZA? With community assistance it would be nice to shift the curb out to align with the new curb in front of Mary Avenue Village to expand the size of the park and then rebuild the park. Some grass, a swing set a slide and perhaps a rose garden that the seniors could tend? magine... WHY ONE STORY COTTAGES? ~,,~.. The small one-story cottages are planned to be 500-800 square feet in size and will be shielded from the freeway by the existing sound wall. Single story is preferred because senio ..:_._ . may have disabilities or find it difficult tc ..; climb stairs. Detached cottages will fit i ~''' better with the predominantly single- F ~Y family detached neighborhood. Also, seniors will appreciate having their own home with some space around it for Dt2-5 FROM THIS TO THIS EFFORT ~, ,~;W Yy~ p 5 I: "' ~~~~ V ~~~, ~, ,.~~. t~~ . ~' k< ]~'.I ..~ '~:e~ ~., ' ~~ ~~• Ate" ~,.' .y a "~~ . F.., A 1 I I~,,.,~,,,q,..t-~f 1 jilj,F ~ ,~. ~i fit. -»,« x'~ + P NEW SIDEWALK NEW ON-STREET PA ~ KIN NEW BIKE LANE NEW SOUTHBOUND TRAVEL LANE MARY AVE ~' __ i ~ :~-- - ~, _.~_ I' MARY AVENUE SENIOR HOUSING CITY OF CUPERTINO MARY AVENUE CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA ~ ;o Archllecls, Inc. np Hlgh 51nw1~ BuNe p.8~.85~,140A I: B60.B53.tA16 PROGRE33 PRINT NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION n~sr ~, oaa .m r41r tl, 9a+ ~~ ,~ ~r~ . r~ lltti .~: y,.~ ~^ ~~ ~"'~ :: ~ ~4 ,~_ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~ .~ w~~ . . ~~~ ~ ~ rte.- w ~ ~~ w r- .~ww~ ~ ,A ~ f .t. ~ ~'- !!yyy~~~~~y~~~~ ~ MIII~V * ~. ~; '': ENLARGED SITE PLAN ~~ 1 ~ s M.~+om ~ _._ _.~ F ~. .,,, .. w. V ~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ :~'~"" ~ g ~,: ~? ; x, i. t »~ n 4" .. ~ - Cv ,: !~"''. i ~. ~• n ~. • +R „~S! 3 ~a ,x. ~a ~. ., da. ~ `~ h r ~~" ..': 'r ~ '~ a ,. t ~ ~' r -. .~~ ~~ m ~ ~ ~' a'~r w> '` ~> s.'a ., d _ ~ ,nik ,. ;, ~± ~ ,~ ,- ' ~ _ .. ~a C1TY OE CE.IPERTINd Call to Order Roll Call Written Communications AGENDA Oral Comm~xn'rcations This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons wishing to address the Commission any matter nc~t on the agenda. Speakers are limited to three (3} minutes. In mast cases, State law will prohibit the Commission from making any decisions with respect to a matter not listed on the agenda. Unfinished Business Update on the Housing Element New Business Guest speaker, Debbie Vl/ade of the Housing Industry Foundation. Commissioner Reports Announcements Adjournment Adjourn to Regular Meeting of the Cupertino Housing Committee on September 10, 2Dt}9. Iri campliatace tvit#i the Atrterca~is with Disabilities Act (ADA), the City of Cuperti~ia will make reasonable efforts to accommodate persons with quali~erl disabilities. If you require special assistance, please contact the city clerk's office at 40$-7T7 3223 at least 4$ hours in advance of the meeting. Meeting of the Cupertino Housing Commission '1300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino -City Hall Conference Room C Thursday, August `t 3, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. 1~-2-~ o 14~i tU~I`r~S aF THE MLET1vTG OF THE CTJPERTINO HOUSIl~TG COMMISSItJIv August 13, 20Q9 L CALL TO [)BOER The nieetin~ of t17e Cupertino Housing Coriunission was caIIed to order at 9:1a a.rn. by Chair: IZadha Kulkanl.i L 2. ROLL CALJ<, Present: Chair Radha Kulkarni; Frances Seward, Nicole Ma:roko and Planning Conunissioner David Kaneda Absent: Harve3T Bai~n.ett anal Jessie Lin Staff oresent: Vera GiI, Senior Planner; Ife11y Kline, RedevelopmentlEconomic Developn~erlt Manager; Steve Piasccki, Consulting Planner 3. WII2I`I~TEN CU~~G1~dIC'ATI(3NS None ~. ORAL CO'1~II17L.~1V~CATIfl1~S Rota1:-y Housing Connraton rotary Housing Com~rafion representatives I~atli~=1~'ells and 1i:m ~ alker made a PozverPoint presentation tci the Hoiisina Canunission. The Rotary Housing Corporation is a new 501 {c) (3) not for profit co;~oration created with tl~e specific nussion of creating affordable senior Housing to serve- Cupertino residents. The project would result in, 18-2Q units of affordable senior housing c.onstruct~.d on excess asphalt consisting of rarely used angle parking and a center tuns lane along Mary Avenue. Mary Avenue «-ould lie narrovvecl into a na~z-oj~~er, safer, tree-lined neichborhood street ~~rith a bicycle lane and parallel parking. The uili.ts would be small 5(?0-8Q(~ square foot detached. one-story cottages with front porches. The Rotary Housing Corporation has held one ncighborho~d in.eetiizg and is pIanrung on n.~eeting with the Glenbraak. Apartments and the Senior Center- iii the ile.ar future. After the Rotary I-lousing Coi~ozation presentation, the Plousii7g Cornnuss.i.on discussed the idea. I'l:an.ning Comr~~issioner David l~aneda rrrentioned that the senior hoL~sing was a gr~at idea. However, he rem.enibers the community complaints about removal of the parking vahen the last proposal to narrow IVtary Ayer~ue ~-as heard, iVLr. Piaseekr and l~~lr. Walker addressed this by discussing the recent construction of a new parking garage on the DeAnza College eanspus which more than. addresses the scl°~ool's parking needs. Most of those parking on the current Mary Avenue spaces ar'e individuals not wishing to purchase a parking pass at tiie eol.le~?e. Also, members c+f file Rotary Hc~tirsing Corporation have Ue~-n moriitcrulg the use of the parking spaces at key times- and they are firdina very Little use of these spaces. P~-~ COIT1I11ISSlaner i~•larako mentio3~ed that documeaiti.ng the needs for the affordalal:e senior housing. is also key to tlii: developmznt of the project. What has the Ratazy Housing Corporation been doing: to document the need? 11~r: ~?r'alker mentioned that they are planning to meet with the Senior Center director, Julia Lamy to discuss Skhat the nce.d for this type of housing is currently. They h3~-e also been collecting other data. ~. APPRf)V~L ®P IWI"I'~>IiTES \?one 6. CJN~'II'~ZS~ED B>L~SINESS Housing Element L~~date City staff his a phone conference ~~~ith Lark >~~1cI\reil and Paul R~IcDougall of HCD to discuss sorze Housing Element comments. The City e-mailed a response to HCD and is awaiting the arrival of a formal. comment letter on ~-1ugu5t 25~'. '7. l`NE'~4' SIJSII'+t~ESS Presentation from the Housing In:dustry Found.atian Debbie ~TJade from the Housing Industry Foundation (I-I~II~} made a presentation to the Housing Commission an ~=rhat her foundation does in the community. HIF vas started Icy a gxc~up of apaiiment owners and expanded ovzr time. They serve the counties of Sou Ivlateo and Santa Clara with t1uee programs. They allocate ~2;;O;OQC? for emergency assistance through contracts t~rith commuzuy age~~cies. ~VVCS i.s one of their pai-iner agencies. They also here a Sheltzr Rehab Pro4ra._m where agencies like Senior I~Iousul+~ Solutions can re~;eive assistance in repairing or improving then shelterftra_nsitiona111ome. Finally is-tl~e Disaster Relief Program that assists families `v3ih relocation costs .if. they need to relocate duz to a natural disaster. $. C~1VL~~LI7'TEE lY~NIBER REI'EORTS Chair.. Radha Kulkariu was unable to attend the last ?vIa}tot's trieetiig. 9. aNi°ZC)UNC'E1~VTS The Comnussioncr's Dinner 5vill lie bold on September 10, 2Qf)9 at the Cozn~nunity Hal]. Please be sure t~ RSVP. 10. !~D,T~IJRN1~~iEi`I'I' Mezting adjourned at 10:3Q a.m. to reguIa:r meeting on September 1Q, 2009. SU~3lvIITTED B~: Vera Gil, Staff liaison to the Cupertino Housing Conulzission prQ-I~ CITY OF CUPERTINO Call to Order Roll Call Written Communications ADENDA Oral Communications This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons wishing to address the Commission any matter not on the agenda. Speakers are limited to three (3) minutes. In most eases, State law will prohibit the Camrnission from making any decisions with respect to a matter not listed on the agenda. Minutes: August 13, 2009 minutes (Acfio«: Make cot'rections and approve) Unfinished Business None New Business . Request from Cupertino Rotary Housing Carporatian to enter into a Mernarandum of Understanding with the City of Cupertino to develop affordabie senior housing an the Mary Avenue right of way. (Action: Make recommendation to Cify Council) Comrmissioner Reports Announcements Adjournment Adjourn to Regular Meeting of the Cupertino Housing Committee on October 8, 209. In corrtplinuce with tfte Arrtericatts rvitli DiscrGilities Act. (ADA), t/ie City of Ctrpertirio" rwilC rrtttke rertsr~rrcrble efforts tv accorrurzorlate persvrts with qualified disrrhilities. If you require special assisttrncc~, please corttczct tl:e city clerk's office rtt 4118-777-.223 at least 48 leorrrs irr artvrrrtce of fire rtteetin~; Meeting of the Cupertino Housing Commission '[03t?Q Torre Avenue, Cupertino -City Ha11 Conference Room C Thursday, Sepfiember 10, 2009 at 9:t}Q a.m. f~ I'Q- 13 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT CITY HALL 10300 TORRE AVENUE • CUPERTINO, CA 95014-3255 (408) 777-3308 • FAX (408) 777-3333 CUPERTINO September 29, 2009 TO: David Knapp, City Manager FROM: Aarti Shrivastava, Director of Community Development SUBJECT: Association of Bay Area Goverrunents (ABAG) Projections 2009 The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) is responsible for making long-term forecasts or population, housing, and employment for the nine-county Bay Area. ABAG produces updated forecasts every 2 years and publishes them as Projections. ABAG released the final Projections 2009 document in August 2009 and hard copies were sent to cities in September 2009. The forecast makes projections regarding population, jobs and households through 2035. By 2035, the population in the Bay Area is expected to grow by about 24% for a total of 9 million people while jobs are expected to increase by 47%. Santa Clara County is expected to grow in population by 33% while jobs are expected to increase by almost 56%. Santa Clara County is one of three counties expected to see the most change and will account for nearly one-third of the regional growth in jobs and population in the next 25 years. With a focus on sustainable growth, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing access to transit, Projections 2009 forecasts concentrate growth around transit. In Santa Clara County, San Jose, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara will remain the largest population and job centers in the county. Smaller cities with limited transit opportunities such as Cupertino have lower growth projections. Over the next 25 years, Cupertino's population, households and jobs are expected to increase by about 4%, 8% and 18% respectively. Table 1 (attached) provides details and a comparison for the Region, County and some neighboring cities. D~2-I ~ TABLE ABAG PROJECTIONS 2009 Cities 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 Po ulation Cu ertino 50,546 53,500 55,200 55,800 56,300 56,700 57,100 57,600 4.35% Mowltaul View 70,708 71,800 72,100 76,100 80,200 84,100 87,300 90,600 25.66% Palo Alto 58,598 61,400 61,600 66,200 70,400 73,400 80,400 84,000 36.36% Cam bell 38,138 38,300 40,500 41,800 44,100 45,200 45,900 47,200 16.54% Santa Clara Coun 1,682,585 1,763,000 1,822,000 1,945,300 2,063,100 2,185,800 2,310,800 2,431,400 33.45% Ba Area Re ion 6,783,762 7,096,500 7,341,700 7,677,500 8,018,000 8,364,900 8,719,300 9,073,700 23.59% Households Cu ertino 18,204 19,250 19,830 20,030 20,360 20,720 21,100 21,480 8.32% Mountain View 31,242 31,860 32,110 34,090 36,090 38,100 40,120 42,120 31.17% Palo Alto 25,216 26,750 26,700 28,440 29,910 31,550 34,890 36,500 36.70% Cam Uell 15,920 16,050 16,890 17,590 18,360 18,830 19,350 20,030 18.59% Santa Clara Count 565,863 595,700 614,000 653,810 696,530 739,820 785,090 827,330 34.74% Ba Area Re ion 2,466,020 2,583,080 2,667,340 2,784,690 2,911,000 3,039,910 3,171,940 3,302,780 23.82% Jobs Cu ertino 38,510 31,060 31,780 32,550 33,340 34,260 35,880 37,620 18.38% Mountain View 65,480 51,130 51,990 52,510 53,650 58,890 65,310 72,470 39.39% Palo Alto 86,960 75,610 76,480 76,740 77,010 78,550 80,320 82,160 7.43% Cam bell 25,530 22,470 22,910 23,880 25,100 26,490 27,490 28,900 26.15% Santa Clara Count 1,044,130 872,860 906,270 981,230 1,071,980 1,177,520 1,292,490 1,412,620 55.87% Ba Area Re ion 3,753,460 3,449,740 3,475,840 3,734,590 4,040,690 4,379,900 4,738,730 5,107,390 46.94% fi t (1~ ~~ , . I~kw~'i+.Y ,. a qq~,.,, . ' k' .R.. r. ~ , III` ;s.~_.s. I p?~. d4' V n ~ S ;~~ f ~° $e~h~ .~... vn~r+w~., Fw (A ~faw° M tx 0, + .. !l ~ `'' a~ r i ~ b. ~. ~YYq ~! energy efficient Mock fixture demostration at City of Cupertino Installation On Wed, Sept.Z3 and Thurs, Sept. Z4 contractors will be installing demonstration streetlight fixtures on Pacifica Avenue between S DeAnza Blvd. and Whitney Way. - City Hall . _ . Installation Location - _- ` Streetlight Viewing Event Tuesday, September 29, 7:15pm Pacifica Avenue Provide your feedback on the demonstration fixtures! If you have any questions regarding the details of this effort, please contact Erin Cooke at: (408) 777-7603 or erinc;c~cu~ertino.oro D~-/b - r~s.~ Ln _' _ _ ' S T r IC Iii I~: ~C •I 1= fi' r~ Induction Fixtures on the North Side G ~~' CUP 6243 CUP 6245 CUP 6254 Sun Ind. Enlight SLS CUP 6256 ~, 100 Watt 100 Watt 100 Watt Collins ^ O ~ 100 Watt t; , ~ Poclfica Dr Pacarca Dr PacJ6ra Dr P, r _ ~a ica Dr ._ paciGc:q D, O CUP 1$21$ CUP 6244 CUP 6246 CUP 6255 • Sun Ind. Enlight SLS Collins ! i 200 Watt 100 Watt 1 DD Walt 100 Walt 1 . - -- - LED Fixtures on the South Side i i ~~ a ~ SiNeradc Ave Srlvmadn P.va W ~i C 7 Sdveradv Ave 2 - - ,„i n c a Somereel Dr -.__..___ iil~ S 4 m ~~ 0 i F;r_ihca Dr Prrr;•rTn_Dr i~ . ~Q Suyun Dr ~. ~I i ~ ~, i ~ 1' t. ~ - .2:: i, n <.~GGm ~owh -Grab oe:a ;'2GG5 -rw u:ws - . ,~_ ~ ~ 1~ CUPERTINO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT CITY HALL 10300 TORRE AVENUE • CUPERTINO, CA 95014-3255 (408) 777-3308 • FAX (408) 777-3333 SUMMARY Agenda Item No. Application: M-2009-07 Applicant: Catherine Chen Property Owner: Catherine Chen Property Location: 20130 & 20132 Stevens Creek Blvd. Agenda Date: October 6, 2009 Application Summary: Modification to an existing Use Permit (U-2004-01) to amend the conditions to allow commercial/office uses where only retail had been allowed. RECOMMENDATION: The Planning Commission recommends that the Council: 1. Modify Use Permit U-2004-01 (see Attachment A) to allow General Commercial uses as defined and limited in Cupertino Municipal Code Section 19.56 (CG zoning district) in the commercial building space instead of requiring retail only. (See Plannuzg Commission Resolution No. 6563). 2. Require a covenant be recorded on the property stating that the property is under a special Planned Development Zoning district. The property owner(s) and future successor(s) shall check with the City to find out the specific restrictions under the P1aiuled Development Zone and related permits. p~2- i~ M-2009-07 (Catherine Chen) October 6, 2009 BACKGROUND: On March 1, 2005, the City Council approved a Use Permit (U-2004-01) allowing the construction of a mixed- use development (a.k.a. Adobe Terrace) consisting of 2,395 square feet of retail space and 23 residential condominiums, located at 20128 Stevens Creek Boulevard. The project was approved with a condition that limited the commercial spaces to retail uses (see Attachrrlent A for the approved conditions). Currently, 50.1 % of the commercial space is occupied by Max Muscle, a retail health food store, and 49.9% is vacant (previously occupied by Alexa Eye Wear -see picture below). Ira ! ....d _t'«~ i. '.,4. r. .mom.. r.- - ~~ -- - ;, ,. .~,.t_. ~~~, ..~ f ~.`~he ~• ~. ~1 '~' ~ -- ql _ I ~• ,. ~~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~ it 6~~:ari:T~~Y~ i,~- •-- ~ .~ ~If L ~- tr, ~i. J~~ -J • Retail Conunercial Use r^^^..~ ~c 1 C IJ -~ e~:awess~mv amr~ .~ r~ The applicant, Catherine Chen, recently acquired the commercial portion of the mixed-use development with the intent to locate a State Farm Insurance office in the remaining vacant space. The applicant was not aware of the retail limitation on the property and is requesting that the condition be modified to allow 49.9 % of the building space to be allowed to be used as commercial office (Attachment B, Request Letter & _ _ _ the City Council has previously allowed less than 100% retail uses at other mixed-use developments such as Villagio (at De Anza Boulevard and Town Center Lane) and the Monica Sun Villas mixed-use project (at Stevens Creek Boulevard and Bret Avenue). DISCUSSION: Intent of the Original Council Condition The Council originally approved the mixed-use project with the retail use only restriction for the following reasons (Attaclunent C, City Council minutes dated November 16, 2004, January 4, 2005 & March 1, 2005): 2 ~~-I~ M-2009-07 (Catherine Chen) October 6, 2009 The former land use was a restaurant and the proposed land use was predominantly residential The desire to produce sales tax-generating land uses The presence ofpedestrian-oriented retail/restaurant uses along the street Similar use restrictions have been implemented in other projects in the City, such as: • Verona (corner of Stevens Creek Blvd. and De Anza Blvd.) • Villagio (De A.nza Blvd. and Town Center Ln.) • Metropolitan (Stevens Creek Blvd., close to Finch Ave.) • Rosebowl • Travigne Villas (Stevens Creek Blvd. and Blaney Avenue) General Commercial vs. Retail The applicant requests modifications to her Use Permit to remove the retail only restriction and allow approximately half of the building to be used for "commercial offices." In the City's General Commercial (CG) Zoning District there is a use category (CMC 19.56.030(D)) that is commonly described as "commercial offices." It includes: "banks, financial institutions, insurance and real estate agencies, travel agencies, photography, and similar studios which directly serve the public." There are many other uses allowed in the General Commercial Zoning District. A summary list of the non-retail uses allowed in the General Commercial Zoning Ordinance can be found in September 8, 2009 Planning Commission staff report (Attachment D). The City has in the past lessened retail use restrictions for mixed-use projects. 1111998, the City Council approved'the Monica Sun Villas mixed-use project at Stevens Creek Boulevard and Bret Avenue, which allowed General Commercial zoning uses in the commercial space (Attachment E , 12-U-97 conditions). Later a Use Permit Modification was granted by the Planning Commission in 2002, allowing a dental office to occupy 45% of the commercial space that was previously restricted to 25% professional office (Attachment F, M-2002-02 conditions). In 2006, the City Council permitted Villagio to lower their 100% retail/restaurant restriction to 50% (Attachment G, M-2006-03 conditions). Further, the Council allowed vocational and specialized schools in Villagio with up to 50% occupancy of the Town Center Lane frontage (excluding the buildu1g corner locations) in 2009 (Attachment H, M-2009-01 conditions). Planning Commission The Planning Commission considered the request on September 8, 2009 (Attachments D & I, Planning Commission staff report and draft meeting minutes). Comments expressed by the Commissioners are summarized as follows: • Empty tenant spaces do not benefit the City. Such spaces could fill up with retail uses when the economy is stronger 3 p-~-~o M-2009-07 (Catherine Chen) October 6, 2009 • The City has been flexible in the past about allowing non-retail uses in mixed use projects • Forcing retail in small commercial centers is not working whether the economy is good or bad • The City's long term goal to encourage retail along streets is understandable, but landlords need to be given more flexibility with leasing their spaces • The City should require recorded covenants on the property notifying property buyers to check with the City on allowed land uses in planned development zones The Commission recommends (on a 4-1 vote, Lee nay) that the Council approve the Use Permit Modification, removing the retail-only land use restriction, and allowing General Commercial zoning uses (as defiled and limited u1 the CG Zoning Ordinance) for the entire commercial building with the following added condition: ~ A covenant shall be recorded on the property stating that the property is under a Cupertino Planned Development Zoning. The property owner and future successor shall check with the City to find out the specific restrictions under the Planned Development Zone and related permits. Public Comments 'Three members of the public spoke i1 support of the applicant's request to modify the use permit and enable her to move her ilsurance business to the project location. The applicant also received five letters supporting her request (Attachment J, Public Comment Letters). COUNCIL OPTIONS The City Council has the following options in considering this project: 1. Approve the modification request and allow General Commercial (CG) uses in the commercial building area without specific limitations per Planning Commission resolution no. 6563; or 2. Approve the modification request and allow General Commercial zoning uses with limitations. The applicant has requested that about 50% of the buildu1g space be allowed for "Commercial Office" uses; or 3. Deny the modification request, which would retain the requirement for 100% retail use. Prepared by: Colin Jung, Senior Planner Reviewed by: Gary Chao, City Planner 4 p-2-~ I M-2009-07 (Catherine Chen) October 6, 2009 Submitted by: ~~ Aarti Shrivastava Director of Community Development Approved by: David W. Knapp City Manager Attachments: Planning Commission Resolution No. 6563 Attachment A: March 3, 2005 City Council Action Letter (with conditions of approval) Attachment B: Proposal Letter from Applicant and Modification of Request from Applicant's Potverpoint Presentation Slide. Attachment C: November 16, 2004, January 4, 2005 & March 1, 2005 City Council meeting minutes Attachment D: Planning Commission staff report dated September 8, 2009 (no attachments) Attachment E: Conditions of Approval Letter, file no. 12-U-97 Attachment F: Planning Commssion Resolution No. 6135 -Conditions of Approval, file no. M-2002-02 Attachment G: Conditions of Approval Letter, file no. M-2006-03 Attaclvnent H: Conditions of Approval Letter, file no. M-2009-O1 Attachment I: Planning Commission Draft Meeting Minutes dated September 8, 2009 Attachment J: Public Comment Letters G:planning/PDreport/CC /2009/M-2009-07 CC.doc 5 ~ -~-a a