K. South Vallco Master Plana conceptual guideline
SOU TH vallco M ast er Plan Acknowledgements C ommunity and n eighborhood g roups City of Cupertino residents Concerned Citizens of Cupertino (CCC)Cupertino Against Rezoning (CARe)Metropolitan Home Owners Association and residents Rancho Rinconada Recreation Association C ity C oun C il Dolly Sandoval, Mayor Orrin Mahoney, Vice Mayor Kris Wang, Council Member Gilbert Wong, Council Member Mark Santoro, Council Member p lanning C ommission Lisa Giefer, Chairperson Jessica Rose, Planning Commissioner Marty Miller, Planning Commissioner David Kaneda, Planning Commissioner Paul Brophy, Planning Commissioner C ity s taff David Knapp, City Manager Steve Piasecki, Director of Community Development Kelly Kline, Redevelopment and Economic Development Manager Gary Chao, Senior Planner David Stillman, Senior Civil Engineer C onsultants Ken Rodrigues, Kenneth Rodrigues and Partners Gary Laymon, The Guzzardo Partnership Paul Downs, Paul Downs Consulting Scott Schork, BKF Engineering Jason Nesdahl and Todd Henry, Fehr and Peers s outh V all C o p roperty o wners Apple Inc.Cupertino Property Development, LLC Hewlett Packard Menlo Equities Metropolitan Home Owners Association Orbit Resources Rockwood Capital 500 Forbes, LLC (an affiliate of Sand Hill Property Company)Santa Clara Valley Water District
SOUTH vallco Master Plan Table of Contents C hapter 1 i ntrodu C tion Executive Summary 4 Plan Area 4 Relationship to the City’s General Plan 5 The Community Outreach Process 5 Goals and Guiding Principles 6 C hapter 2 e xisting C onditions Land Use 7 Circulation 7 C hapter 3 o bje C ti V es Vision 11 Objectives 11 Improve Area Identity and Character 11 Improve Circulation and Connections 12 Promote Compatibility With Existing Developments 12 C hapter 4 C ommunity C hara C ter & a estheti C Landscape 13 Design Features 14 C hapter 5 C ir C ulation Future Pedestrian Circulation 15 Future Vehicular Circulation 16 C hapter 6 l and u se Future Land Uses and Services 19 Sustainability and Energy Efficiency 20 C hapter 7 i mplementation Implementation Steps 21 a ppendix Outreach Schedule 23
SOU TH vallco M ast er Plan Chapter 1 : Introduction e xe C uti V e s ummary On March 4, 2008, the City of Cuper -tino City Council initiated the South Vallco Master Plan process. The City Council defined this plan as a blueprint or “focused” Master Plan (“Plan”) to provide guidelines and a framework primarily dealing with the coordina -tion and interface of the properties in the area commonly referred to as South Vallco (“plan area”) (see Figure 1.1). The impetus of this action stemmed from the City of Cupertino General Plan Policy 2-30, Strategy 1 Prepare a Master Plan for this area to ensure continuity of mass, scale, connectiv -ity and adequacy of infrastructure and services, including schools.” While the focused Master Plan will not study or recommend changes within property lines, coordinating connections between the properties in this area will improve the overall character and identity of the South Vallco area. The City Council also directed Sand Hill Property Company, operating as 500 Forbes, LLC, to manage the Master Plan process, community outreach, and creation of the Master Plan document. Additionally, it was directed that the City Council be provided a progress report during the process. The project team has worked closely with City of Cupertino Planning Staff, adjacent property owners, and the com -munity to establish the goals for this area and an actionable plan to achieve those objectives. The South Vallco Master Plan reflects collaborative community involvement, provides and analyzes existing and future land uses, vehicular circulation patterns, and pedestrian circulation patterns. Additionally, the Plan includes recom -mendations to promote the creation of streetscape, crosswalk enhancements, landscaping, lighting, way finding, sig -nage, and street furniture. Implementation of this plan will bring several long-term benefits to the City of Cupertino and the community at large; including:Area revitalization Aesthetic coordination Property connectivity Roadway infrastructure optimization Identity recognition p lan a rea Figure 1.1 is an aerial photograph, show -ing the boundary of the plan area. The development framework of the area has already been established with com -mercial uses such a regional shopping center, office buildings, and high-den -sity residential. Additional commercial and residential uses have been entitled, pending construction on two properties at the corner of Wolfe Road and Vallco Parkway. It is anticipated that improve -ments to existing properties and devel -opment of unimproved properties in the plan area will also occur, further spurring the revitalization of this area. South Vallco is a regionally-oriented commercial district supported by its accessibility to Interstate 280, Stevens Creek Boulevard, Wolfe Road and Tan -tau Avenue. South Vallco is bounded by Interstate 280 to the north, Stevens Creek Boulevard to the south, includ -ing Cupertino Square shopping center (formerly known as Vallco) along the east and west side of Wolf Road and the office development along the east side of Tantau Avenue. The commercial nature ◆◆◆◆◆
SOUTH vallco Master Plan of this area is evident by the types of existing and approved uses along with roadway infrastructure that supports high traffic volumes.r elationship to the C ity ’s g eneral p lan The City of Cupertino General Plan includes a requirement that a Master Plan be created for the South Vallco area. While this document fulfills that requirement, the plan is intended to provide a framework for discussion and may evolve over time.The General Plan acknowledges in Policy 2-30 that South Vallco is a regionally oriented commercial district and expresses the need for a Master Plan to ensure that the plan area is well con -nected and cohesive. This plan addresses the Master Plan requirement to ensure continuity of mass, scale, connectivity and adequacy of services. Additionally, this plan rec -ommends a program to continue and enhance the streetscape along Vallco Parkway and Wolfe Road as articulated in the second strategy in Policy 2-30. An implementation program highlight -ing specific improvements and action -able steps is also included.t he C ommunity o utrea C h p ro C ess The community outreach process encompassed a series of meetings with adjacent property owners, community action groups, neighborhood associa -tions, community members and the City of Cupertino Community Development Department. The project team held two community workshops that were open to the general public to discuss the vision and desired aesthetic qualities for South Vallco. There were over twenty Figure 1.1: South Vallco Planning Area
SOU TH vallco M ast er Plan (20) separate meetings with commu -nity groups, property owners, and City representatives: City of Cupertino City Council Community Development Department Master Plan Area Property Owners Apple Inc.Cupertino Property Development, LLC Hewlett Packard Menlo Equities Metropolitan Home Owners Association Orbit Resources Rockwood Capital 500 Forbes, LLC (an affiliate of Sand Hill Property Company)Santa Clara Valley Water District Community Groups City of Cupertino residents Concerned Citizens of Cupertino (CCC)Cupertino Against Rezoning (CARe)Metropolitan Homeowners Association and residents Rancho Rinconada Recreation Association The Community Development Depart -ment was involved throughout this pro -cess and provided input into City goals and values as expressed in the General Plan and municipal ordinances.The project team included a community outreach consultant, a Project Manager from 500 Forbes, LLC, a Principal from architecture firm Ken Rodrigues Part -ners, a Principal from landscape archi -tecture firm The Guzzardo Partnership, and a Principal from civil engineering firm BKF. The project team collaborated with adja -cent property owners Orbit Resources and Cupertino Property Development, LLC for the initial planning effort. Neighboring property owners Apple Inc., Hewlett Packard, Menlo Equi -ties, and Rockwood Capital were also contacted.g oals and g uiding p rin C iples South Vallco is an important district of Cupertino by virtue of its position as an eastern gateway of the City. The goals of the South Vallco Master Plan are to:Clarify and enhance the identity for this area Ensure that the community design and aesthetics of South Vallco are consistent and coordinated Improve flow and connectivity be -tween planned projects Ensure consistency with Cupertino’s general plan Involve the community A guiding principle is that the Master Plan balances the goals of the many stakeholders for the plan area including the City, the community, and the various ownership groups within South Vallco.�◆◆◆◆◆
SOUTH vallco Master Plan Chapter 2 : Existing Condition l and u se The largest and most visible property in this area is Cupertino Square, formerly Vallco Fashion Park. The enclosed regional shopping center is shown in Figure 1.2 . Several parking garages cater to mall visitors.Office buildings comprise a large portion of the plan area uses and are controlled by several ownership groups, see Figure 1.3 . These buildings are functional and service local technology companies. Buildings in this area maintain a variety of setbacks, styles, and scale. The office buildings are automobile-oriented ser -viced by parking fields and have different levels of pedestrian access.Currently, the only residential property in the plan area is the Metropolitan condominiums that front onto Stevens Creek Boulevard. The Metropolitan is an urban mixed-use, high-density project as demonstrated by its scale and limited setbacks.C ir C ulation Existing Street Network The plan area accessible to Highway 280, and crossed by major arterials Wolfe Road and Stevens Creek Boulevard, as shown in Figure 1.4 .The following provides a brief summary of key streets in the plan area.I-80 is a north-south, eight-lane freeway with one lane in each direc -tion designated as a high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane. HOV lanes, also known as carpool lanes, are restricted for use by vehicles occupied by two or more persons per vehicle or motor -cycles, as well as select alternative fuel vehicles, between 5:00 am and 9:00 am and between 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm. The freeway extends from San Francisco, in the north, to San Jose, in the south. Near the planning area, I-280 runs in a north -west to southeast direction and is the Figure 1.2 Current Land Use Figure 1.3 South Vallco Ownership Groups
SOU TH vallco M ast er Plan 8 northern boundary of the planning area. Main access from I-280 to the plan area is provided by an interchange at Wolfe Road. Northbound on-ramps have active ramp-metering during morning peak period and southbound on-ramps have active ramp-metering during the after -noon peak period. Typically, northbound traffic is heavier in the morning peak period and southbound traffic heavier in the evening.Stevens Creek Boulevard is a six-lane, east-west arterial with a landscaped median that forms the southern bound -ary of the plan area. It extends from the western boundary of the City of Cuper -tino into the City of San Jose to the east. Stevens Creek Boulevard is fronted pri -marily by commercial land uses, includ -ing retail, restaurant, and office uses near the site. In the study area, there are four (4) signalized intersections along Stevens Creek Boulevard – at Perimeter Road, Wolfe Road/Miller Avenue, Finch Avenue, and Tantau Avenue. In the study area, traffic is primarily westbound in the morning peak hour and eastbound in the evening peak hour. This broad road is fronted by commercial uses of all types. Stevens Creek Boulevard is lined by relatively narrow, but continuous sidewalks. Wolfe Road is a four-to-six-lane, north-south arterial located west of the planning area. South of Stevens Creek Boulevard, this street is designated Miller Avenue. Within the plan area, Wolfe Road has a landscaped median that restricts some movements from driveways along the roadway. It func -tions as an important link between neighborhoods and districts, and Inter -state 280. There are a wide range of uses fronting the road including shopping centers, service businesses, single and multi-family homes. Although the street is lined with sidewalks, pedestrian use is limited based on the traffic volumes. Vallco Parkway is a six-lane, local roadway that connects Wolfe Road in the west to Tantau Avenue in the east and bisects the plan area. Currently, the roadway is fronted by office buildings and a parking garage to the north and a park-and-ride lot and vacant land to the south. There is a landscaped median running the length of Vallco Parkway. The intersections of Vallco Parkway with Wolfe Road, Perimeter Road and Tantau Avenue are fully signalized; the intersec -tion of Finch Avenue is stop-controlled at Vallco Parkway. Vallco Parkway has tree-lined sidewalks, but the interface between the walkways and the six-lane roadway makes the environment uninvit -ing to pedestrians.Tantau Avenue is a north-south road -way located east of the planning area. Tantau Avenue extends from Home -stead Road in the north to Bollinger Road in the south. North of Stevens Creek Boulevard, Tantau Avenue is a four-lane roadway; south of Stevens Creek, Tantau Avenue is a two lane roadway with on-street parking. In Figure 1.4 Existing Vehicular Circulation
SOUTH vallco Master Plan the plan area, this roadway has signals at Vallco Parkway and Stevens Creek Boulevard. A median/bollard prohibits southbound vehicular through move -ments at the intersection with Stevens Creek Boulevard.Finch Avenue is a two-lane north-south roadway extending south from Vallco Parkway towards Phil Lane. There is a landscaped median dividing the roadway within the planning area. At Stevens Creek Boulevard, Finch Avenue is signalized; however, northbound and southbound through movements are prohibited. Perimeter Road is a two-lane roadway extending around Cupertino Square Mall. There are signals at both the Stevens Creek Boulevard and Vallco Parkway intersections. Right-turn-only driveways on Wolfe Road north of Vallco Parkway provide access to parking areas behind the mall. Perimeter Road is grade separated at Wolfe Road with no direct access between the two road -ways at that location.Existing Pedestrian Circulation Current pedestrian access in the plan area is not well delineated. Main pedes -trian access points are along public right of ways and into Cupertino Square. While the sidewalks through the plan area technically make the area “walk -able”, the lack of relief from the inten -sity of the roadways, on-street parking, and street furniture does not make it pedestrian-friendly. Pedestrian facilities include sidewalks, crosswalks, and pedestrian signals at signalized intersections, as well as multi-purpose trails and other dedicated pedestrian right-of-ways.Currently, sidewalks are constructed on both sides of Wolfe Road, Stevens Creek Boulevard, and Finch Avenue. Along Vallco Parkway, Tantau Avenue, and Stevens Creek Boulevard, sidewalks have been constructed adjacent to developed parcels (i.e. along the office develop -ments north of Vallco Parkway and east of Tantau Avenue). No sidewalks exist along Vallco Parkway east of the park-and-ride lot or along Tantau Avenue Figure 1.5 Existing Pedestrian Circulation
SOU TH vallco M ast er Plan 10 between Stevens Creek Boulevard and Parkwaythe Highway 280 overpass. A pedestrian walkway exists between the north side of the Metropolitan condo -minium development and Wolfe Road.The existing sidewalks vary in design – those along Wolfe Road, Finch Avenue, and Stevens Creek Boulevard west of the Metropolitan condominium devel -opment are separated from the roadway by a grass planting strip; other sidewalks are located adjacent to the roadway with no buffer between the roadway and walkway. All of the signalized intersections in the plan area are equipped with pedestrian activated crossing signals, except for the I-280 ramps at Wolfe Road where traf -fic must yield to pedestrians using the crosswalks. There are no marked cross -walks at the unsignalized and stop-sign-controlled intersections along Vallco Parkway.Existing Bicycle Facilities Bicycle facilities include bike paths, bike lanes, and bike routes. Bike paths (Class 1 facilities) are pathways, separate from roadways, designated for use by bicy -cles. Often, these pathways also allow pedestrian access. Bike lanes (Class 2 facilities) are lanes on roadways desig -nated for use by bicycles with special lane markings, pavement legends, and signage. Bike routes (Class 3) are exist -ing right-of-ways that accommodate bicycles but are not separate from the existing travel lanes. Routes are typically designated only with signs. Bike lanes are provided on Wolfe Road, Vallco Parkway, and Tantau Avenue near the site.Existing Transit Operations The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) operates bus service in Santa Clara County. Other transit agen -cies, such as Caltrain and ACE transit, operate shuttles within the County.Currently, VTA express bus routes 101 and 182 and VTA local bus routes 81 and 23 serve the plan area. Caltrain offers a shuttle from Lawrence Caltrain Station to employment centers in the area. There is currently a park-and-ride lot located south of Vallco Parkway at Perimeter Road.�
SOUTH vallco Master Plan 11 Chapter 3 : Objectives o V erall V ision Through the community outreach process, the project team received a wide array of comments and input providing a broad perspective of the community’s vision for South Vallco. Certain com -ments were consistently voiced that collectively form major themes. As an overall vision, the South Vallco area serves as a gathering place, a gate -way, and a focal point for Cupertino res -idents while holding regional appeal to visitors. Characteristics of this gathering place are best described as “downtown-ish” or, a Main Street-style setting that is pedestrian oriented, family-friendly, accessible, and well landscaped.o bje C ti V es The objectives help define input from the community, property owners and City into concepts that can be built upon and eventually turned into physical form. These objectives are categorized into three major topic areas and form the basis for the recommendations in this Plan:Improve area identity and character Improve circulation and connections Promote compatibility with existing developments I. Improve Area Identity and Character Objective (A)Downtown/Main Street Character Support the creation of a Main Street style environment with a downtown feel.This includes planning pedestrian oriented connections with good accessibility and attractive, high-◆◆◆quality design. The interface and streetscape between the properties should be inviting and have clear connections through the plan area. It is not anticipated nor contem -plated that the area look identical, but the quality of the area should reflect the character of the City. A Main Street style setting that is eclectic in nature with varying architectural styles, massing, scale, and uses should be embraced.Objective (B) Aesthetics Improve the plan area aesthetic. The area should be cohesive in terms of the “look and feel”. It should draw upon high quality materials and interesting design. The aes -thetic should be consistent through -out the plan area and should address streetscape, landscaping, street furniture, lighting, signage, and street treatment. There are a wide range of styles that can address the appropriate “look and feel” of the area including aesthetics that draw upon Cupertino’s history.Objective (C) City Gateway Identify the area as a gateway to the City .It should be clear that this area is a specific district of the City. Dis -trict gateways require signage or monuments to delineate this area as unique to the rest of the City. Objective (D) Quality Landscaping Encourage quality landscaping through the plan area. The overall landscape plan should be consistent in the plan area incor -porating existing landscaping areas. Maintain tree-lined character of
SOU TH vallco M ast er Plan 1 area and support new tree planting if existing trees need to be removed or are no longer alive. II. Improve Circulation and Connections Objective (E)Pedestrian Connection Improve pedestrian and bicycle environment on Vallco Parkway and Stevens Creek with accessibility to on-street parking. Fostering safe pedestrian walkways and convenient on-street parking along Vallco Parkway are critical to making the area welcoming and supporting retail viability. Pedes -trian and bicycle connectivity must be enhanced to provide improved access between properties.Objective (F)Vehicular Connection Improve connections for vehicular access.Create logical, safe, and attractive automobile connections within the plan area. Both existing and new streets should be visually appealing and inviting. Traffic calming ele -ments that slow traffic to promote pedestrian and bicycle safety should be supported.Objective (G) Traffic Minimize traffic impacts on local neighborhoods.Seek to minimize impact on adja -cent neighborhoods by optimizing vehicular circulation plan.III. Promote Compatibility With Existing Developments Objective (H)Development Compatibility Promote compatibility with existing and new developments.Proposed projects should be com -patible with uses as described in the General Plan and it would be preferred that buildings in the plan area should engage the street. Objective (I) Services Ensure adequacy of services.Proposed projects should analyze existing service levels to ensure ser -vice networks are adequate to sup -port a respective project or require enhancement.Objective (J) Sustainability Encourage and support sustainability and energy efficiency.Proposed projects should study opportunities and constraints to implement sustainability and energy efficiency measures.�
SOUTH vallco Master Plan 1 Chapter 4 : Community Character & Aesthetic It is anticipated that changes to the plan area may occur in the near-term based on the number of properties under redevelopment, cooperative ownership groups, and the community’s desire for an improved pedestrian environment. The character and vitality of the plan area is and will be influenced by many considerations, including the existing street experience, buildings, and open space areas along with the desired “look” and “feel” defined by the community. The purpose of this chapter is to express policies to ensure that the character and objectives for the area are realized. The following policies and guidelines are intended to define the design style and aesthetic quality, and should be used as a general reference as the guiding concepts for the proposed implementation plan.Policy .1 Establish consistent, pedes -trian friendly landscape and streetscape to promote a downtown and Main Street style setting.Policy . Identify the style and design features for lighting, street furniture, and way finding to promote a consistent aesthetic.Policy . Enhance and supplement current landscaped areas with quality landscaping.Policy . Support a variety of architec -tural styles, heights, massing, and uses to create an eclectic Main Street style character.Policy . Support gateway features, signage, and/or monuments.Policy . Include native vegetation and drought tolerant landscaping.The community was involved is defining the “look and feel” of this area. Qualita -tively, the area needs to be high in qual -ity, safe, pedestrian-friendly, tree-lined, and attractive. No one style embodies the entire plan area aesthetic and there are many ways to appropriately address the character of the area including draw -ing upon Cupertino’s agrarian history. Practically implementing an area-wide plan that addresses overall landscaping, street treatment, lighting, signage, way finding, street furniture, and district monuments is an effective strategy to achieve the desired qualitative outcome.l ands C ape Figure 1.6 describes the overall land -scape plan for the plan area. An exist -ing feature is the ash trees that line Figure 1.6 Overall Landscape Plan
SOU TH vallco M ast er Plan 1 the major arterials traversing the area. While some of these trees are in poor health or are no longer alive, the tree lined setting establishes an important tone for the area. The plan is to main -tain the tree lined character of the area and enhance it by providing secondary street trees where possible. In addition, the area should include California native plantings and drought tolerant trees and landscaping to reduce water usage and encourage sustainabil -ity. All existing and new streets in the plan area should be lined with continu -ous sidewalks and street trees in order to provide a comfortable and attractive walking environment.d esign f eatures The imagery shown in Figure 1.7 dem -onstrates the “look and feel” of the light -ing, street furniture, walkway features, and way finding. The design features are the basis of setting the quality and tone of the plan area. For this to be con -sidered a Main Street style setting, the design needs to be of high quality and lend itself to be “pedestrian-scale,” warm, and inviting. Current design features in the area are industrial and utilitarian in nature as exemplified by the lighting along Stevens Creek. The Master Plan recommends design features that serve two purposes. First to serve as a use, whether in lighting, way finding, benches, but also to serve as a design aesthetic that sets the tone for the area. The Plan recommends blend -ing existing modern-oriented design ele -ments with “old-world” design elements that allude to Cupertino’s agricultural history. This approach can serve as a template that can transition well into adjacent neighborhoods and districts.Collectively, the plan area needs to have various design elements to create an interesting pedestrian experience. Typical Main Street style environments change organically over time and are eclectic in nature with varying styles, heights, massing, and uses. This will also hold true for the plan area as much of the area is already established. Supporting new gateway features to promote plan area businesses and/or community and city events will further help identify South Vallco as a vibrant district within Cupertino. Gateway features may include Cupertino monu -ments, banners, and signage.�Figure 1.7 Design Elements
SOUTH vallco Master Plan 1 Chapter 5 : Circulation The character of an area is influenced by the scale and quality of its street system. The existing roadway network in the planning area was developed with little emphasis placed on the non-vehicular elements of a roadway. The Plan calls for creating a more interconnected and pedestrian-friendly circulation system by scaling streets appropriately for the future uses expected to develop on the surrounding parcels. To accomplish these goals, individual projects will make focused improvements to the local road -ways that connect the planning area.This chapter describes the automobile and pedestrian circulation system, as well as design and access considerations for roadways within the plan area. Emphasis is placed on creating safe, effective, and attractive streets. It should be noted that existing roadway elements, crosswalks, setbacks, and sidewalks are constraining factors affecting the degree of change that can be implemented. It is anticipated that circulation improve -ments will be proposed in conjunction with property redevelopment.Policy .1 Establish consistent, pedes -trian and bicycle friendly streetscape improvements throughout the plan area. Policy . Develop an area-wide pedestrian circulation network including enhancing existing, and future cross -walks to promote safe pedestrian access.f uture p edestrian C ir C ulation The connections shown in Figure 1.8 demonstrate a connected network of pedestrian and bicycle paths along public right of ways and within private developments.This section describes the location of new and existing pedestrian and bicycle connections in the plan area and identi -fies how the pedestrian network touches the public right of ways. For South Vallco to have more downtown-like attributes, consistency for pedestrian and vehicular use is necessary. Connections between properties and to offices, shop -ping, neighborhoods, and schools will enhance the accessibility, usability, and viability of this area. Bike paths that connect South Vallco to neighboring districts, in particular the major employment centers, will greatly aid in reducing vehicle trips and serve to enliven South Vallco with greater pedestrian activity. There are opportunities to develop bike paths within the plan area and they may be studied including contacting the Santa Clara Valley Water District to discuss potential opportunities. Figure 1.8 Future Pedestrian Circulation Patterns
SOU TH vallco M ast er Plan 1 It is intended that improvements to existing and future crosswalks will improve the overall pedestrian circula -tion in the plan area. Desirable char -acteristics for safe, marked pedestrian crossings include:Convenient locations to cross Slow or controlled vehicle speeds Excellent visibility for both pedestri -ans and drivers Signage directing pedestrians to the safest and most adequate crossings Signage alerting drivers to pedestrian right-of-ways where appropriate Appropriate striping patterns or pavement Informational signs, signals or mark -ings ADA accessibility Creative options should be explored for pedestrian activity and flow when the district activity warrants analysis. Items that can be studied include:Lighted cross walks Countdown pedestrian heads Diagonal crosswalks ◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆Calabazas Creek is an important ele -ment to the plan area in identity and connectivity. There may be opportuni -ties within the plan area for new devel -opments to connect to and support the implementation of pedestrian and bicycle connections along the Calaba -zas Creek trail. Subject to input from various community stakeholders, and surrounding landowners, and evaluating flood protection, security, and liability issues, the trail implementation may provide access to Vallco Parkway, High -way 280 underpass and Tantau Avenue.f uture V ehi C ular C ir C ulation The Plan calls for the creation of an interconnected street system that will allow for convenient access throughout the plan area and into adjacent areas. The appearance and character of these streets should be equally attractive and designed considering their surround -ings. The streetscape plan includes locations of vehicular ingress and egress access points. The Plan includes street treatments at select locations through the plan area, not only to signify and mark where the area begins, but also to make the area more visually appealing and updated. If possible the streets in the plan area should be lined with tree shaded sidewalks, allowing safe and convenient walking opportunities.Policy . Support street front retail and street designs to enhance pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular circulation and parking access.Policy . Modify or enhance existing streets to create an interconnected and cohesive street system in the plan area.Figure 1.9 Future Vehicular Circulation Patterns
SOUTH vallco Master Plan 1 Policy . Modify or enhance exist -ing public streets to create pedestrian friendly and retail serving street systems in the plan area.Wherever it is safe and appropriate, as determined by professional traffic consultants on a project specific level, the Plan calls for on-street parking along Vallco Parkway accommodated by narrowing the roadway. The pro -posed modification, in conjunction with intersection-level improvements, will facilitate a pedestrian-friendly environ -ment by slowing down traffic on the street. The on-street parking will accom -modate the demand for parking and the future planned retail developments along Vallco Parkway. On-street parking will help slow traffic which translates into a safer pedestrian environment and pro -motes viability for retail shopping along street frontages. While the design of some streets in the plan area are not oriented towards pedestrians due to a lack of on-street parking to shield pedestrians from traf -fic, there is an opportunity to improve the interaction between motorists and pedestrians in the plan area. This can be achieved by implementing several design solutions that more effectively delineate crosswalk areas and increases on-street parking along Vallco Parkway to transform the street into something that is more approachable and accessible to pedestrians.Additionally, when appropriate new and existing properties should share ingress and egress access between properties to facilitate greater connections and cohesiveness throughout the plan area. Professional traffic consultants will need to verify the feasibility on a project specific level.�
SOU TH vallco M ast er Plan 18 Chapter 6 : Land Use The General Plan describes South Vallco as an area to be retained and enhanced as “large-scale commercial area that is a regional commercial (including hotel), office and entertainment center with supporting residential development.” Cupertino Square, the regional mall fronting both sides of North Wolfe Road, and the office buildings lining Vallco Parkway comprise the pre -dominant uses in this area. While the commercial tone of this area is set by the mall and office buildings, greater devel -opment intensity is also demonstrated by Metropolitan condominiums, a high density residential project which has frontage on Stevens Creek Boulevard (see Figure 1.10 ).Policy .1 Support proposed projects that conform to the General Plan and that fit with the character of the plan area.Policy . Ensure the adequacy of core infrastructure and services for the plan area; evaluate additional impacts associ -ated with specific projects on a case-by-case basis.Policy . Explore methods to ensure new buildings on the South side of Vallco Parkway that do not propose retail shall demonstrate that those build -ing’s frontages along Vallco Parkway can be converted to accommodate future ground floor retail (e.g. adequate ceiling heights, access etc.). In the event that there is significant redevelopment and use conversion to retail of the exist -ing office developments located on the North side of Vallco Parkway, South Vallco Parkway property owners shall either implement the conversion or provide City Council the status of the market feasibility.The community voiced their desire for the plan area to serve as a positive focal point for the City, appeal to a regional audience and have Main Street type characteristics. Planning for a setting Figure 1.10 Future Land Uses
SOUTH vallco Master Plan 1 that addresses these goals starts with creating a pedestrian-friendly and acces -sible area and continues with creating a dynamic and complementary mix of uses that holds regional appeal.f uture l and u ses and s er V i C es Future South Vallco land uses are depicted in Figure 1.10 which shows how the envisioned uses are comple -mentary and serve various purposes. Cupertino Square is the regional mall for the area and because of its size and location has the potential to be an agent of change. Offices in the plan area create a tremendous base of patrons requiring community-serving retail, restaurants, and services. Existing resi -dential and future housing uses generate evening and weekend activity. In order to achieve the community’s goals and “complete the picture”, the area needs a high quality mixed use proj -ect that sets the standard and spurs plan area improvement. The center would create a mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented shopping experience with main street style retail, office, senior housing, hotel, and possibly an athletic club. Collectively, the plan area serves a diverse set of purposes. The hous -ing work balance is addressed through existing and future residential and office. There is a wide range of retail uses that are supported in the plan area including a traditional mall experience in Cuper -tino Square and community-serving retail and restaurants in pedestrian-friendly, open-air formats along Vallco Parkway and Finch Avenue. Hotels, athletic clubs, and parks complement the other uses offering a wide range of com -munity serving services and activities.
SOU TH vallco M ast er Plan 0 Retail uses along Vallco Parkway, from Wolfe Road to Tantau Avenue, are encouraged in future significant rede -velopments. The opportunity to place retail along all of Vallco Parkway is subject to each proposed project and will most likely depend on the amount of vehicular and pedestrian activity, parcel configuration, and site accessibility. There is an existing infrastructure and services network that supports the plan area including, but not limited to sewer, water, electricity, gas, fire, police, and schools. As new projects are pro -posed, associated impacts compared to the baseline should be assessed and determined if the service and infrastruc -ture networks are adequate or needs enhancement.Studying the impacts to existing ser -vice and infrastructure networks on a case-by-case basis enables more accurate assessment and better data to manage actual impacts to the area.s ustainability and e nergy e ffi C ien C y Sustainability and energy efficiency are increasingly becoming important ele -ments when evaluating a project and its impact on the community, the city, and the environment. While further study and analysis will be required to establish and implement a citywide environmen -tal certification system and standard, the goal is to encourage and support sustain -ability and energy efficiency. Policy . Implement sustainable and energy efficient measures within individual developments and address the level of green building certification goals. Policy . Promote recycling by install -ing receptacles to collect recyclable and non recyclable trash.Each project within the plan area will have a different set of opportunities to reduce its environmental impact and implement sustainability and energy efficiency measures based on location, product type, and project scope. Proj -ect sponsors will need to study their respective opportunities, constraints, and methods to incorporate sustainable measures.�
SOUTH vallco Master Plan 1 Chapter 7 : Implementation This chapter provides implementa -tion steps to help weave the plan area together as a district. The implementa -tion of the Master Plan is focused on the connective tissue between the properties including streetscape, lighting, way find -ing, signage, and street furniture.i mplementation s teps Sidewalk Lighting Supplement existing lighting elements with new pedestrian-scale lighting for Stevens Creek Boulevard, Tantau Ave -nue, Vallco Parkway and Wolfe Road. The current lighting program works for vehicular traffic, but the large scale canopy shields the light from illumi -nating the pedestrian areas making the area feel inactive and foreboding. New fixtures would add light to the ground and pedestrian activity area which would create a distinctive upscale look to these major streets. The light source would be shielded to prevent glare and light pollution.Median Improvements Enhance landscape design in medians to create a strong fresh landscape presentation. Existing planting looks dated, is not consistent in theme and scale. Specific improvements include:Keep existing trees of value Enhance shrub planting to provide color and interest Reduce paved areas in left turn lane pockets Develop new paved material palette unique to this district. Add uplighting to median trees.Gateway Features Create new gateway features on Stevens Creek and Wolfe that identify entrance into this new district of town. It is anticipated that the gateway feature be managed by plan area property owners contributing to the Plan improvements. This could include:◆◆◆◆◆Figure 1.11 Improvements: Lighting, Median, Crosswalks
SOU TH vallco M ast er Plan Cupertino monuments (replace entry sign on east median) Community banner presentation (replace current banner location west of district border near Portal) A textured roadway pavement “threshold.”New Street Tree Planting Draw upon Cupertino’s history as an agrarian community with orchards and wineries, by planting new flowering pear trees to extend and fill in the existing tree canopy; this will build upon the tree-lined nature of the plan area which is a distinguishing design element in this district. New trees should complete the block between the Metropolitan and Finch Avenue and along Vallco Parkway and Tantau Avenue where applicable. Incorporating the flowering pear trees allows for transitions of scale at these activated frontages and further beautifies the area with a common tree feature that is more “pedestrian scale.” Crosswalk Treatment Provide improved crosswalks at select intersections along Stevens Creek Blvd., Wolfe Road, Vallco Parkway and Tantau Avenue to enhance pedestrian cross -◆◆◆ings into the Master Plan area. These improvements will need to support high intensity vehicular use. The material may be stamped or colored textured concrete.�Figure 1.12 Improvements: Gateway, Lighting
SOUTH vallco Master Plan Appendix: Planning & Outreach Schedule March 4, 2008 City Council March 5, 2008 Community Development Department March 13, 2008 Orbit Resources & Cupertino Property Development, LLC March 17, 2008 Community Development Department March 20, 2008 Menlo Equities March 24, 2008 Orbit Resources & Cupertino Property Development, LLC March 28, 2008 Concerned Citizens Of Cupertino April 1, 2008 Rancho Rinconada Recreation Board Association April 1, 2008 Cupertino Against Rezoning (CARe)April 7, 2008 Hewlett Packard April 7, 2008 Community Development Department April 10, 2008 First Community Workshop April 14, 2008 Apple Inc.April 18, 2008 Rockwood Capital April 21, 2008 Community Development Department April 23, 2008 Second Community Workshop April 24, 2008 Rancho Rinconada Residents April 29, 2008 Metropolitan Homeowners Association and Residents May 9, 2008 Orbit Resources & Cupertino Property Development, LLC May 12, 2008 Community Development Department May 13, 2008 Metropolitan Homeowners Association Board Member May 20, 2008 City Council