CC 02-02-01 APPROVED MINUTES
CUPERTINO CITY COUNCIL
Regular Adjourned Meeting
Friday, February 2, 2001
CALL TO ORDER
At 8:30 a.m. Mayor James called the meeting to order in the Blackberry Farm Retreat Center,
21975 San Fvuxando Avenue.
ROLL CALL
City Council members present: Mayor Sandra James, Vice-Mayor Richard Lowenthal, and
Council members Don Burn~tt and Michael Chang. Council members absent: None.
Staff present: City Manager David Knapp, Community Development Director Steve Piasecki,
Public Works Director Ralph Quails, Parks and Recreation Director Therese Smith, City Planner
Cynth/a Wordell, Senior Planner Aarti Shr/vastava, and City Clerk Kimberly Smith.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - None
NEW BUSINESS
1. Establish the scope of work for the General Plan update.
Community Development Director Steve Piasecki explained that the General Plan is
composed of two components. The more technical side addresses scenic highways,
noise, hillsides, etc. The substantive side addresses elements such as land use,
transportation, and housing. Those substantive elements will be the subject of the
General Plan update for 2020, and will reflect the community's vision for the city.
City Planner Cynthia Wordell reviewed the General Plan process flow chart, which was
distributed at the meeting. It reflected the background work, public review process,
environmental assessment, issuance of a draR pla% and additional hearings before thc
Environmental Review Commission, Planning Commission, and City Council. She
explained that that the background work would probably be completed by November, and
the final document adopted in Spring of 2002. Piasecki explained that the Housing
Element would follow a separate but parallel track, since state law requires that it be
adopted by the end of this year.
Piasecki highlighted the General Plan growth alternatives chart (Exhibit B to the staff
report) and the list of 12 issues (Exhibit C). Lowenthal asked that the list be expanded to
include Fiscal/Revenue considerations.
Discussion followed regarding the list of issues, the jobs/housing balance, and addressing
local vs. regional issues.
February 2, 2001 Cupertino City Council Page
RECESS 10:20 a.m. -10:30 a.m.
2. Consider the conversion of the Santa Barbara Grill to a new use.
Piasecki highlighted the latest proposal for this mixed use project located at the
intersection of 280 and N. DeP, n:,a Blvd. It would include 20 residential units, 2 .
stories of office use, a restaurant and commun/ty meeting facility, subterranean
parking, and pedestrian and bicycle connections to the north and west. There will
be a high identity water/art feature in the public plaza on DeAnTa Blvd.
Applicant John Shelton and his partner Alex Siedel discussed the amenities and
layout in greater detail. Shelton said that the coramunity meeting room would be
free to non-profit orgsni:,afions. The one-bedroom units in the residential portion
would be about 750 sq. fi., and the two-bedroom townhouses would be 1150-1200
sq. ft. The applicant also proposes to make a contr/bution of about $100,000 to
Cupertino Commun/ty Services housing program.
Lowenthal asked for documentation of the verbal offer to provide funds to CCS
housing and free community room use for non-profits. He also asked to see a
diagram of this project with a 500 fl. radius to better understand how it integrates
into the neighborhood.
Bumett liked the design, but felt that the only additional development which
should be allowed is housing. Chang agreed that more housing was needed.
Lowenthal said he would like the city to make progress on more mixed use and
some urbanized centers, and develop some new housing ideas. This project would
worsen the jobs/housing balance, but it is a step in the existing direction.
Piasecki said that this project would pull 20,000 sq. ft. of existing General Plan
residential square footage out of the pool of commercial square footage. This
would result in the elimination of some retail footage, which would now be used
for office space. The developer would pay an in-lieu fee of $3 per sq. i~. to offset
the loss of retail sales tax, in addition to providing the 20 units of housing.
James also liked the design, as well as the community room, underground
parking, and public art features. She said she would appwve it with all rental
housing, but asked the developer to consider some for-sale units.
Discussion was held on finding space for large community events. James noted
that Apple, Symantec, and Portal Software all been generous with their space, but
most members of the public are not aware of the availability. She suggested that
the information be provided on the city's web site.
~e{}ruary ~, ~1001 Cupertino City Council Page 3
Council members agreed that the applicant should proceed with thc usc permit
process and not a General Plan amendment.
NEW BUSINESS (continued)
1. Establish the scope of work for the General Plan update.
Council discussed at length their desire for a walkable community and how that might be
created. The discussion included: walkability versus ease of traffic movement and
parking; reduction in the level of service (LOS) at intersections; commercial vs.
recreational walkability; creating destinations; improving existing sidewalks and
pathways; and' requiring developers to connect their developments to adjacent centers
through paths, lighting, markers, an, fountains, etc.
City Council agreed that they would:
(1) Hold a full-day visioning workshop with the city staff
(2) Decide later if a second, technical workshop would be held with an outside
consultant such as an urban planner.
(3) A small General Plan committee will be formed, to last about 4 months. The
outcome of the Council's visioning workshop will be used as a ~uideline to focus
the discussion.
RECESS - 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION
3. Closed session regarding performance evaluation - Government Code Section 54957 -
evaluation of the City Manager.
At 2:00 p.m. the Council recessed to a closed session. They reconvened at 3:30 p.m. No
action was taken.
At 3:30 the meeting was adjourned to 5 p.m., Monday, February 5, for interview and
appointment of committee and commission candidates,
Kimberly Smitli/City Clerk