Director's ReportCity of Cupertino
10300 Torre Avenue
~_~~~~~~ Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 777-3308
C U P S RT I N O FAX (408) 777-3333
Communih~ Development Department
Subject: Report of the Community Development Director
Planning Commission Agenda Date: Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The City Council met on February 16, 2010 and discussed the following item(s) of interest to
the Planning Commission:
1. Heart of the Citti Specific Plan -The City Council conducted the first reading of Ordinance
No. 10-2055 and approved the amended Heart of the City Specific Plan (SPA-2008-01). The
amended specific plan was approved with the pre-2005 General Plan Heart of the City
boundaries. We are working with our consultant to format the document with graphics.
The second reading of the ordinance will be scheduled in March 2009.
Miscellaneous Items:
1. Housing Element Update -Staff recently heard back from the State Department of Housing
arid Community Development (HCD) regarding our Housing Element submittal. Per
Housing Element law, HCD is requiring ordinance changes related to emergency shelters,
transitional housing, flexible parking standards for senior, affordable housing and transit-
oriented housing. In addition, staff is working on four remaining comments which must be
addressed prior to HCD issuing a letter of compliance. One of the four items is the rezoning
of the Valley Green and N. De Anza Employment Center area, which staff is beginning to
work on and the Planning Commission and City Council will see in March/April 2009. The
three other comments are relatively minor such as providing more description on how the
maximum height and FAR in the R3 are not development constraints, discussing residential
capacity on several mixed-use sites and to remove the requirement for conditional use
permits in Planned Development zones if the uses are permitted. Staff hopes to receive an
expedited review for the next submittal and have City Council approve the final draft along
with the N. De Anza rezoning in Apri12009.
2. Grant Award - We received approval of two grants, submitted in partnership with regional
agencies, to establish a Municipal Financing Program and a Comprehensive Residential
Retrofit Program. The awards were made to the lead agencies of Sacramento County
($16,499,050) and Association of Bay Area Governments ($10,750,000), set to cover the full
cost of Cupertino's participation u1 each of these programs. Colleciaively, the pr-ograms will
help our City towards reducing community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by offering free
resources and services to assist residents in implementing energy efficiency improvements
and installing renewable energy technologies in their homes. Participation in the Municipal
Financing District program was authorized by Council on Jan. 19, 2010 and a resolution to
join the Comprehensive Residential Retrofit Program presented to Council on Mar. 2, 2010.
Upcoming Dates:
Mar 24-26 League of CA Cities -Planner's Institute conference in Monterey
Enclosures:
News Articles
G: ~ Planning ~ Aartis ~ Director's Report ~ 2009 ~ pd2-23-10. doc
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)AY, FEBRUA42Y 5, 2010
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CUPERTINO
January's storms likely toppled 100-year-old oak
Heavy rain and wind could have
been the tipping point Jan. 28 for a
massive 100-year-old oak tred that
tell and injured three pedestrians
at the Oaks Shopping Center in
Cupertino.
James Scott, a local arborist
whom the center's property own-
ers called in to inspect the oak,
said the tree's threadlike root an-
chorage had become chronically
rotted over 30 to 40 years.
The heavy wind gusts and
downpo>.u•s last month may have
been enough to split the tree at
the trunk base and topple it.
"This has been working un-
derground for some time. This is
nothing that anyone could have
easily seen," Scott said.
"High wind, wet soil and a
chronic condition during a storm
surge is all it takes and then -
bang -down it goes."
The tree crashed across the
sidewalk about 6:49 p.m. near
the Shane Co. at the intersection
of Stevens Creek Boulevard and
Mary Avenue across from De
Anza College.
Two women and a man walking
on the sidewalk were struck and
injured by the tree's branches, ac-
cording to Cheryl Roth, anopera-
tionssecretary for the Santa Clara
County Fire Department.
All three victims were trans-
ported tothe hospital. The severity
of their injuries remains unknown.
Surprising rejection
of housing proposal
The Cupertino City
Council has said no to
an ambitious affordable-
housing development for
seniors that the Rotary
Club of Cupertino was
proposing to build on a
harrrna~ ctrat~h of rity-
Joseph Durante, attorney fot• said the arbot•ist is set to investi- to make sure all of the trees are
Homeland Management Group, gate the condition of all trees on safe," Durante said.
which owns the shopping cen- the property. "~lVe're~ iooking at ~ -Matt GVilson
ter on Stevens Creek Boulevard, the entire shopping center dust Bay Area News Group
Crash injures one,
covers freeway in dirt
A wrong-way driver
from Saratoga collided
Thursday with a big rig
hauling 4L,000 pounds
of contaminated soil on
eastbound Interstate 580,
seriously injuring one
narsnn and r]mm~inu dirt
Library marks
branch's reopening
The Santa Teresa
Branch Library will hold
a celebration Saturday
to mark the opening of
the newly expanded site,
which has }den closed _
for nearly two years for
rPnnvati~ns_
D
Council votes down
hospital rezoning
The Campbell City
Council voted 4-1 this
week to not allow hospi-
tals to be built in the city's
industrial district.
Bay Area Surgical
Group wanted to build
a 70.000-sauare-foot
Veterans contend
hall should be open
Veterans with the
spirited Bill Motto Post
are disputing the count3
claim that the Veterans
Memorial Building shou
be shut down.
The group is refusing
to be relocated from its
JACQUELINE RAtiISEYER - EA'! AP.EA NEWS GROUP
An oak tree at Mary Avenue and Stevens Creek Boulevard in Cupertino fell Jan. 28, injuring
three people. An arborist says the 100-year-old tree's roots had rotted over 30 to 40 years.
Habitat for Humanity taking extra steps to prepare
potential buyers for Cupertino project
By Matt Wilson
Cupertino Courier
Posted: 02/04/2010 10:42:56 PM PST
Updated: 02/04/2010 10:42:57 PM PST
Habitat for Humanity Silicon Valley is putting out a call to anyone in Santa Clara County who has ever
wanted to own a home in Cupertino, but couldn't afford one.
The nonprofit housing group is set to build four low-income homes on Cleo Avenue near Highway 85 in
Cupertino next year and is looking to prepare as many qualified buyers as possible before the application
process begins in late 2010. -
For the first time, Habitat will hold a workshop to provide counseling for prospective applicants on how
to deal with such common roadblocks as credit issues, tax returns and paperwork mistakes that can often
lead to disqualification in the early parts of the application process.
The Home Ownership Preparedness Workshop will be held will be held on Feb. 22 at 6:30 p.m. at
Cupertino Community Hall, 10350 Torre Ave.
"Our goal is to get as many people to qualify [as possible]," said Erin Spaulding, marketing and
development coordinator. "We noticed one of the main reasons that [families] don't qualify is because of
small things that could have easily been cleared up well beforehand."
Historically, the process to become a final candidate for affordable housing projects in Silicon Valley has
been competitive.
Qualified applicants must be legal U.S. citizens and have adebt-to-income ratio of less of than 40 percent,
and their income must be between 30 percent and 50 percent of the average gross income in Santa Clara
County.
"When [families] come to us as applicants, there may be something in their credit history or in their
income that just kept them from being able to qualify," said executive director Jennifer Simmons. "It's
often a fairly easy fix that could have been taken care of three to six months earlier."
The workshop will assist interested people in proper preparedness for completing the lengthy and
thorough application.
The upcoming workshop will include assistance from a variety of specials-*_s such as credit experts, legal
counselors and tax assistance representatives.
The application process for the Cupertino project will begin at the end of this year. Four qualifying
families are scheduled to be selected by early 2011 before construction begins so they can assist in the
building process.
The build is expected to take about 18 months. The city of Cupertino approved the project in 2007. The
city contributed $246,801 to the project and purchased the land from Caltrans for $615,000 with the intent
to build affordable housing at the site.
The city later awarded the land to Habitat for Humanity Silicon Valley to coordinate the project.
For more information about the workshop, ca11408.942.6444 or go to Habitatsiliconvalley~.
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~~ ~~~~~~
Mandarin-speaking class in Cupertino helps entrepreneurs
translate
By Matt Wilson
Cupertino Courier
Posted: 02/10/2010 02:41:32 PM PST
Updated: 02/10/2010 02:41:32 PM PST
A business class just for Mandarin speakers is making sure that the seriousness of starting a business does not get
lost in translation.
The city of Cupertino and the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring a free one-day class on the things
Mandarin-speaking entrepreneurs should question if they want to start a business.
"Should I Start a Business?" will be held on Feb. 24, 9:30-11:30 a.m., in Cupertino Community Hall, 10350 Torre
Ave. All materials, lectures and presentations are in Mandarin.
Vicki Tsai, owner of Dry Clean Pro and an instructor at an Oct. 7 class, said that offering such a class can help
some Chinese residents understand the nuances and early hurdles of starting a business.
"Some people really want to start a business, but their.English is not quite good enough. They don't want to take
that extra step unless they are really sure what they are getting themselves into," Tsai said.
The class targets the emerging entrepreneur who is looking to start small. Beyond language, the class is unique in
that it focuses more on the feasibility of starting a business than on tips on how to launch a business.
"Starting a business is often an attractive opportunity, but sometimes it is not for everyone," said Kelly Kline,
Cupertino's economic development coordinator. "If you decide to go down the path of starting your own business,
then you really need to take the steps necessary to see if this is the right thing to do."
The class was first offered last October, and Kline said the seminar was a huge success, drawing triple the number
of participants that organizers anticipated. About 60 people attended the class.
"Our personal desire is that this class reinforces Cupertino as both abusiness-friendly places and as a center for
Asian American commerce," Kline said.
Kline said the class is interactive, with lots of small group discussions. Participants go through a checklist of
questions they should ask themselves before starting a business. Topics such as reading economic climates,
requirements for initial success and targeting specific markets are covered.
"It's kind of a tough love class. It walks the fine line between encouraging and giving them resources to start a
business and letting them know the real challenges they will face," said Kline.
Cupertino resident Priscilla Wey attended the Oct. 7 class and was so impressed that she volunteered to put together
the translation materials for the upcoming program. Wey appreciated the added benefit of having a class in the
language she's most comfortable with.
"When someone uses a specific term everyone is familiar with to prove a point, it can have a much stronger impact
on you," Wey said.
Wey, who has a degree in instructional technology, wants to start a teaching service for adults learning how to
speak Mandarin.
"I may riot have the guts to start a business now, but learning all the details and nuts and bolts gave me much more
information," she said. "I still want to dream big, but I know that there are baby steps that need to be taken one at a
time." "Should I Start a Business?" was developed by SCORE, asmall-business mentoring and training association.
The free class is put on with assistance from the Asian American Business Council, SCORE and NOVA, a
nonprofit federal employment and training agency.
To sign up for the class and reserve a space, contact Becky at the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce at
408.252.7054. 4 - D R
Panasonic doubles space, adds staff in new Cupertino location -Silicon Valley /San Jose ... Page 1 of 2
Silicon Valley /San Jose Business Journal -February 15, 2010
/sa n joseJstor es/2010/02115/story 5 htm I
B~S~iesSJ~unwu
Friday, February 12, 2010 ~ Modified: Wednesday, February 17, 2010. 9:38am PST
Welcc
Panasonic doubles space, adds staff in new
Cupertino location
Silicon Valley /San Jose Business Journal - by Katherine Conrad
After io years, Panasonic Research and Development.Co. is
...................................................................................................................... ....
leaving Winchester Boulevard in San Jose and heading to Cupertino.
The consumer electronics giant will double its space from 25,000 square
feet to 50,000 square feet and plans to increase its work force from the
current i35 to 200 employees after it moves in early May.
Panasonic's corporate communication office in Secaucus, N.J., could not
be reached for comment due to the winter storm. But its broker, Nancy
Morse of Grubb.&.Ellis, said the company was attracted to the newly
developed Cupertino Crossing because Panasonic could put its entire
division on one floor in a building awash in light.
"One of their big criteria was they wanted very open and light space,"
Morse said.
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Also, the two-story, ioo,ooo square-foot building on North Tantau Avenue is "green," meeting
the silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards outlined by the U.S.
..................................................................... ..
Green.Buildin,~.Council.
Panasonic can design the floor specifically to meet its needs, since the project was built a year
ago on 6.6 acres by developers Ralph Borelli, John Salera, Ron Tate and Larry Wallerstein.
"We're brand new in Cupertino, which is a big plus," said Patty Mc~uigan, a broker with
Cornish & Carey, who represented the developers along with Mary Blaser and Todd Shaffer.
"Laying it out yourself saves you all kinds of headaches -you're not accepting someone else's
shoe size."
Lots of space in right place
And given all the space on the market, Panasonic was able to drive a hard bargain in Cupertino,
one of the pricier areas in the valley real estate market.
"This is a good move from a financial standpoint -they got $2.i5 a square foot in a market
that normally goes for north of $3," Blaser said. Free rent for several months was also part of
5 - DR
http://sanjose.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2010/02/15/story5.html?t=printable 2/17/2010
Panasonic doubles space, adds staff in new Cupertino location -Silicon Valley /San Jose ... Page 2 of 2
the seven-year lease deal.
"It's one of the best tenant markets I've ever seen," said Morse, the veteran broker. The final
factor in Panasonic's decision to move to Cupertino was the city's assurance that permits to
build out the space would be issued in a timely manner. Kelly Kline, economic development
director for Cupertino, said the city will meet Panasonic's Apri123 deadline.
"We coordinated a meeting with the right players to assure them we could meet their time
table," she said. "Our process is pretty fast to begin with, but we want companies to know what
the pitfalls are. Now everybody knows Panasonic is coming and knows what to expect."
Kline said it was clear that if the city could not meet the deadline, the firm would go elsewhere.
So a process that would normally take about six months was compressed into just more than
three.
Kline said another concern voiced by the firm's executives was about Cupertino's ambience.
She said her team has worked to reassure Panasonic it was not moving to a suburban-style
community that lacked amenities, after spending so many years located next to Santana Row
and Westfield Valley Fair.
"They were particularly interested in their surroundings, particularly restaurants," she said.
Eateries are just afive-minute drive away, Kline said.
For Kline, Panasonic's move is a sign that the economy is finally picking up after the yearlong
lull.
"Everybody knows the climate is slow, but out of nowhere, I've gone from making cold calls to
having i3 voice mails," she said.
Kathertne Conrad can be reached at 408.299.1820 or kconrad@bizjournals.com.
All contents of this site O American City Business Journals Inc. All rights reserved.
6 - DR
http://sanjose.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2010/02/15/story5.htm1?t=printable 2/17/2010
~~ ~~
Pilot program could bring more solar panels to cities such as
Cupertino
By Matt Wilson
mwilson@community-newspapers.com
Posted: 02/16/2010 06:03:03 PM PST
Updated: 02/16/2010 06:03:03 PM PST
Financing renewable-energy projects, such as the installation of solar panels, could become easier for Cupertino
residents.
Cupertino is among a select group of cities in California participating in a pilot program intended to help property
owners finance renewable energy, water and energy-efficiency projects over time. Through the CaliforniaFirst
Program, residents can finance projects with state-issued bonds that are repaid through property taxes over a 10- to
20-year period. Unlike most private loans, which are due when a property sells,~the CaliforniaFirst program
transfers the obligation along with the property upon sate. This means the cost of the project transfers with a home,
rather than with the homeowner.
The city plays no role in repaying the bonds or assessments levied on the properties. To participate, Cupertino will
pay a one time start up fee of about $12,500.
David Kaneda, a Cupertino planning commissioner and business owner who specializes in alternative energy
projects, said a common barrier to doing energy-efficient projects on a home or property is the long-term
investment required to see cost-saving benefits. He sees the program as a benefit for residents and the city.
The program, developed by California Communities and sponsored by the League of California Cities and the
California State Association of Counties, will be tested in counties and cities throughout California by summer. A
statewide program will take root in the fall.
Some Cupertino residents who have done photovoltaic projects said they like the idea of having more creative
options to finance solar projects.
"Anything that can simplify the process is better," said Brock Carpenter, who installed a 16-panel, 3kw system to
lower his energy bill last month. He financed the system with a home equity line of credit and "arduous saving" for
a year.
Resident Don Disney also supports the program. He financed his own PV system at home by putting money away
and using a home equity loan. His church, St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal, installed a $43,000, 48-panel system,
which offsets about half of the church's energy use. The church could not afford such a project on its own and
financed it through charitable donations.
Cupertino city leaders have expressed interest in partnering with the county on a shared solar energy project. On
Feb. 2, the city signed a memorandum of understanding, giving tentative support to Santa Clara County in
exploring a regional approach to financing renewable energy projects.
The county is looking at a power purchase agreement where athird-party developer would own, operate and
maintain a photovoltaic system. Cities would share the cost of the project.
The county and its partner cities would house the system properties and then purchase the system's electric output
from the solar provider. The agreements allow cities to obtain solar power without the up-front capital investment,
as the power generating system is designed, provided and financed by a third-party source.
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"What it does do is allow the city to participate in a larger bidding pool then what we might get if we participated
alone," said Rick Kitson, environmental affairs director, at the Feb. 2 meeting.
Cupertino would see cash benefits from capped or slower increases in electricity rates as the energy will be
purchased from a third party rather than through the standard utility bill.
City staff says group-purchasing agreements also bypass other barriers to using solar, such system performance
risk, design and permitting process.
To date, the county has met with solar vendors and researched similar projects by other state and national
jurisdictions.
Cupertino is one of 22 jurisdictions in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties that have indicated interest in the effort.
Interested parties include Valley Transportation Authority, Sunnyvale, Los Gatos, San Mateo County and Silicon
Valley Waste Management Authority.
The county is working with Joint Venture Silicon Valley, whose staff has identified about 90 sites, including public
buildings, parking lots and empty lands as places that could house equipment for generating'40 megawatts worth of
renewable power.
By the end of February, Cupertino will have to prepare a site survey of where renewable energy devices could be
installed. Quinlan Community Center, Community Hall and the city's service center have been identified as
possible sites.
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