CC 12-10-74
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cm OF ctìPERrINO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
l0300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, California 95014
Telephone: 252-4505
lIl1IulIIS or TIlE ADJÚI.dtþ IIEGIILAR MEETING or THE CITY COUNCIL
BLD (I( -""-11. 10, 1974, IR THE COUNCIL ""'MRI'Ii, CITY BALL
UInuaIRO, CALIFODIA
SALUrE '10 TIlE PUQ
KayO!' Sparks ~-l1.d the _etinl to order at 7:40 p... with the
Salute to the n...
IØ.L CALL
CouDc. preaant:
CDunc. -"MDt:
Prolic:h, Jec:kson, Heyer.. ReUis, Kayor Sparks
B_
Staff pr..ent:
City Kenager Quinlan
City Attorney Adaas
Direc:tor of Adainistrative Services Ryder
Direc:tor of Planning and Development Sisk
Di~c:tor of Public Works Vi.kovich
Aasiatant Planning Director Cowan
PUBLIC IŒARING
1. General Plan Prolr. Description and Standards of Land Use
Designations for the Stevens Creek Flood Plain, Upstream
from Stevens Creek Blvd.
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Kayar Sparks introduced Board Member Jam~s ~enihan and staff
-.mbers of the Santa Clara Valley Water District.
The Planning Dir~ctor stated this was a continuation of the Genera
Plan discussions. In its deliberations of the Valley Floor Infill
ing portion of the General Plan, the City Council deleted their
decision of this portion of the Flood Plain in order to allow the
staff time to prepare additional data regsrding the impact of the
Planning Commission's land use policies on the owners of these
properties. He referred to the December 6, 1974 staff report on
this aatter.
The Asst. Planninl Direc:tor reviewed in detail the Decemb..r 6th
ataff report. A sketch placed on the bulletin board showed three
variati~ns: a natural flood plain, 4 Qodified flood plaIn, and
an excavated channel, explaining the pros and cona of each approac
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HlIIITrES :, rHE DECEMBEIt 10, 1974 ADJOUf.:;r;¡ CITY COL-:iCIL !lEt-ïING
The Assis~t Planning ~rec~or said the PlannIng Commission dete~ned the two
lolt COQrs<!S shoule! retaiJI ~rc1al/open space zoniD8. In addition,
tbe Støc:kbeir, C.,., ... Si8a pro»!rties should be given 4.4 .esie!entlal
zoning ...ith provisiOD for .....i<y transfer. The five badc aa....ptions are:
1) That the City d..~ to retain the natural character of tbe Stevena
C~ envi~t ."Cre8a from Stevens Creek Blvd.
2) Tba the flooe! protecUOD aolut1on is an important cons1cleration
10 t;" dete..1nat~ of lane! use in the Stevens Creek area because
solutions otbar th8D the Datural flood plain concept involve the
cocstructloa of eartb levees and/or a concrete or rock line channel.
3) Th~: the use of . aatora! flood plain ;eneral plan designatIon
foll~~ by a floo4 plaiD zoning regulati~n is constitutional.
4) Fr;:a" technical poiDt of view, a co=binat1on natural flood plainl
~:::i~ flood plain project could be dev~loped. However, the
c~=:~3tion project would af{~ct t~e extent of flooding on flood
pl.:= prop~rties on the opposite side of thp. channel. A modified
c~~=~te rock lIne channel cannot be alternated.
5) T~.: the Santa Clara Valley Water District's cdlculations for the
1: ::~od are correct.
The As5~~:~~t Plannln3 Director next re~i~ed the series of tables included 1n
the De~e~¿r 6th staff repo~. The decision has to be made whether or
not th~ ;::~~rty owners should be compensated.
Counc. :~~~s~n asked, if there Is a fee purchase, what would be the
restri:::=~s =ade on the e~ement. Mr. Gecrse Korbay, Design and
Constr~=::~n Manager of the Santa Clara Valley Water District, said the
flood t!.&.S~ent would be :auch the same as z.:"ning restrictions. When ve
talk ~:~: alternatives, the District has a list of priorities and
the Ste'e~s Creek ar.. is scheduled for Odny years in the future.
Counc. ~~:~is was answered by Mr. Korbay that this area does not have
the pc:t~:ia1 for d8œaa. as have some ether areas such as the low lands
in Palo ,\:to.
Hr. Kcr:~y said they believe preservation of the natural channel Is
prefer.::~ to any structural changes to the chann~ls.
Hr. Kor~~~ said the Di.tr1c~ has undertaken a study of the daœ structure..
He sai': :'~.ere are falÙt:a allover this area.
Mayor S;:'.IrLs asked for c~t. from the audience.
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KI1mTES OF !HE DECEKIIU 10, 1974 ADJOOR!lED CITY comrClL IŒETING
a.ee.. _ eal1ed haa &:40 to 8:58 p...
.. Louis StoctI.eir. 22120 Stevena Creek Blvd., Cup.rU_,
na1Disced about the 1906 ad other eartbquakes. 8e ffAde no
."etaatisUon for the ~r flood as it pertainll to his propert
.... Stock1adr ....... pr.......L7 on tbe e..t aDd tbe _t eidea of
Scenic 0\_. He..1œd wiry thia property vaa not 1Dc1udet~ ""en
the __ wre _de up. Iø relaUO\I to the lOO-year flood, the
property ill queation ia ... tbe a.e elevation .. his ~ aite.
rbis is 17 feet above the bottoc of the channel of tbe creek.
Be -Xc! lne to aee thet line straigbtened out a bit, for
practical reaaons. 8. baa DO objection to the flood plain aa far
.. the City is concerned. IIovever, be would like to eee aOOll!
8Odif1cati~. As to the ..tter of den.1ty, he would like to defer
diacusa10n on that ..tter.
Attorney S.. Anderson ..id there is a small ovan that could be
very e~s:¡y filled in ~o make developable prope~ty. He also
requeste~ ~onsideratlon of 11.55 a~res east of Scenic Blvd., of
which J+ ~~res are developable, and he would like to add 1.5 acres
on the ~e.t side. He alao asked for reduction ot 302 ¿c.~ to 190
contou!'. rhis would have the effect of squaring off his property.
The Pla=~:~¡ Directcr said the 1.5 acreS have been determined to
be d.~.::,~òle pruperty.
Counc. Se:lis would like to know what
.vail ".C'-"':': have on the f 1001 plain.
directly At this time.
effee< the filling in of the
This was not a~swered
Attorney :~hn Karlals, San Jose, on behalf of the Crump property,
said t~~: ~" July 30th the last meeting was held on this matter.
Studies ~~ve been made since that time. Anyone of the alternatur 5
that mdY >~ adopted would affect the Cruap property. This propert
v.. ac~_:~.d in 1968, and development ~as initiated .n 1969, It
Vas sta::ðd because of flo~d control problems. He said it Is
apparent :~~t some measure will be adQpted and it will affect the
Crump rr:,erty. This property is assessed at $25,000 per acre,
They fe.: At this stage that the six-year delay in decision has
a subst~::41 and perhaps irreparable effect o~ the development
of this ,~~;erty. They vould like the City Council to reach a
declsi~~ ~ they know vhere they stand. Ne does not believe there
1. a nee': ror further Studies.
Attorney ~~ster C. Sachs, San Jose, representing Blackberry Farms,
.a1d they .et on Deceaber 6th v1th the Assistant Planner in regard
to this &Alter. He then referred to his written report. He said
Blackber:-:o- f~rll wishes to continue as a golf course and to reta1n
ita coaae~c1al/recreat1ODal use. They believe in the concept of
density trAnsfer, which vould Ferm1t continuation of the present
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ES OF THE DEX:EIIIEa 10. 1974 ADJOUJlNED CITY COUNCIL MEETING
of che properc,. TIaeJ -.1.. 11... to o1t doom ..... worlt with the .uff
Co allow this. '!be, 8ft Jaun.c.d in ..nednl their J4 .cr... The,
.ted tile Clt, of ~Jao to ....ct aoøina ordilUlDc. to penait
chis .... as . _c1a1 ...U coan. rich c_~dal ..... hiab <l=o1t,
zoainl of 6 ecr.. ,n. nl)' lx.ed oaUid. tile U.iu of. the n.taral
flood pl.in, ad t.... ..... 2Ofo un. to b. dao1l...ted -.lined
flood plUD. The)' tit ,n" tIIat con.truction or atructare. in the
......rcial/rec...tioaal ...-r-.t, DOt to lie inhabited b, peopI. CD b.
allow.d. The,......teII the 6 acn. be liven. u.. penait antil the
.....o1ty tr....f.r .n.lla an ..... oat. T!tey reqa..cad that the City
of Cupert1no DOC obJ...c to doe ViU_n kt duIln.Uon on the 28
.cr... He odd Ilac:ltberry f.... 10 wUUna to porcha.. ..y adj aceat
property. He ..i. t'" 2.6 acre. or re.I property pr..eatly ovnad by
the Santa Clara eo..ty Veer D..trt,.! and .·,bj.ct to the .:Jdlfied flood
plaln is c..-patlble wtth ebe lol~ , a.. and c~rc:ialír.c:r.atio!\al us..
Counc. Ke:n~r. qu..c1oaed if the VilllM180n Act does recogniz.
co.Dercial recreation.l usa &ODin, .. upen space. The Pl~nDina Director
.aid t~t it d1d.
,Counc. Fr~:i~h ~.. ansver.d by Mr. ~orb~y that the Water District
fconSider~ :~e flood tn. ..-..eat a. beins very restrictive.
IAttomc}· ::',¡.:!1s said that. ...saln. the City i~ willinl to .agree to
j the I~~~r~: ~utlln.. of his ~~tter (the ar~d within th~ ~úlf rour5e)
that the ~:.:y would have ~ pt"ltectll'1n that there would be a I.:Ont¡nuN
: :.ae of t~e ¡....If course an::! the cœ-.erci.alin,.-rt.".Jt tnnal use. Hh cl if'nt
~s ""t g: .10nl with t~t Itaff's ;'Irop")s.tl. Th... Pl.anni:1i( Direct~r
I :;.ue5t1or~.! ..·h~th., 100 unit. on tho.. sLx .a.:res would fit 1:. with the
¡ .:haracter ....f the ar...
Counc. Xe~:i" .aid thl1 would COIN to ablJUt 16 unit~ per .a..:re. It is
t.portant :~ k~.p the c~r.ct.r of the surrounding area in mind.
CounC. Fr~:1ch ,_14 tbe Flood Control District haa indicated they are
nat re~y :~ adelce.. thi. yet iD ttrIP of their priorities. H. noted
that the ~istrlct haa beeD .xtr...l, cooperative with the Cit,.
Counc. Heyer. a:keet about cI.- operation and stream flov. Even if the
daa did n~t exllt, the ~~tUAl flood daaage possibility must be asse~sed.
Coone. Frol!ch ..id be !1m'. it h.rd to .ccept the Idea that a 2o-ye.r
flood is indeed .. ct..cr1bed on the ..p when p,~ople who have aChlatly
liv.d here .1~e before the turn of the century challenge thIs stat~m~nt.
Perhaps the Diltriet aboald re.--.ln. whether their .approach 1. too
COG..rvatift..
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IIDIUTES OF THE DECEllllEa lO, 1974 ADJOURNED CIn couøCIL HEETINC
Ifr. JoIm aicluord_. of the EngiHeering staff of the Santa Cbra
Valley Vater District, Save a detailed explanstion of the doc.-nt
with the design c:dteris for the 20-year flood. They baae their
-.lyais on atr_ flow records. They plot th18 icfo...tion
atatistieally. The dedgn flow is the best eaU.ate on which they
can baae their decisions.
Counc. Nellis asked why the District chose to use lhe lOO-year
standard for deterain1ns what protection is needed here.
o Mr. Korbay said the courts have generally found th18 to be a good
atsndard.
Mra. Nancy Hertert, San Juan Road, said she 18 concerned about
erosion and about earthquakes from the San Andreas Fault.
Mrs. Mary Gonzales, 10461 Stokes Avenue, said they are consider ins
a demonstration orchard on the property adjacent to H£Clella~ Rane)
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Psrk. It appears this is the property Mr. Sachs was interested in.
Civil Engineer John Finnemore, 22374 Riverside Drive. asked how I
far downstream we are going to take th~se levies. Mr. Korbay said¡
the alternatives were offered on a broad basis. The n1~trict
wishes to find out what kinds of approaches to this problem ¡.re
acceptable to the City.
Moved by Cou~c. Meyers, seconded by Counc. Frollc~ to ~lose th~
public hearing.
Kotion carried, ~-O
Counc. Meyers reported on the meeting he and Counc. Frolich had I
with the staff and the Water District people. The most acceptable,
at this point were the nonstructural channelization and .ltern~tiv 5
3 and 4 for density transfer. There is the strong potential for
the District to assist in making the taking of :and an equitable
situation. The City, in enacting zoning, should allow the flood
plain and a certain density transfer. lie is not willing to say
there should be pa>~nt as well as d2nsity transfer. Alternate)
sppears to be the most equitable solution co him. It addresses
itself more to the character of the area.
Counc. Frolich stated that if we took the original approach and
put in the trapozoidal channel and no flood plain it would have
been the DOst costly. We have gone through the entire County and
aolved the flooding problem, for the most part.
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CIC-242
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!lot ion ""
Stevens Creek
flood ¡t:a1A
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HlII\JTES OF THE DEC1!IØEIt 10. 1974 ADJOUR.'ŒD CITY COUNCil. KEErDlG
Couac. Frol1ch &aid be feela it aight be worthwhile to eatabUsh a
cooperative diatri"t ro solve these types of probl.... The district
aight waat to purc:hase SODe right-of-way for at least parr of tbis
flood plain zone aDd the rest be realized with dedication by the
developer, with _ acljuac.ent in density to make up for it.
The City and the District could share the responsibility of the property
owner. lie would Uk., __ policy statement from the District.
COUQc. Frolich noted that the State is finding themselves in the
situation that they are unable to follow through with many of their
projects. Mr. Jaaes Lenihan. Board l1ea~er, said this is a very complex
area. He said he will pass these comments on to the Board. They are
assessing their probleas with priorities.
Counc. Nellis said she would be in favor of the nonstructural alternative.
A rock lined channel 15 not viable because a creek sho~ld be natural
and in addition, the co~t wculd be exnorbitant: some 1 ':lillion 200
thousand dollars for a 3"!dl~ied channel. By doing this we ·.·culd have some
38 additiùnal acres. ~~e no~ed that we are talking a=cut ~axpayers'
money. She said the ~its per acre in alternative 3 are ~:ill ~ bit
high, but she would co~si~er going that route.
~ounCa Jack30n said t~e :.c g~lf courses are in the Ge~era¡ Plan as
open spd~e _h~ther or ~ct .~ ~ave fl~od plain proble=sa ~e fully
¡agrees with the non5tr~:t~ral approach a The trend no. ~5 to take
the land ~s we fInd it ~~ë accocccdate ourselves to 1t. As to density
transfer, he would cc~s~~er 5.4 units per acre c~:5ide the flood
plain are.a.
The City ~nager said if the District uses a cost benefit formula, as
used by th~ Cor? of Eng1~eers. the cost a1~ays comes out better because
of the benefits gained. He suggested a restudy of the District's
mechanics of prioritising.
Moved by Ccunc. Jackson, seconded by Counc. Meyers to adopt the revised
City of Cupertino General Plan Program Description and Standards of Land
U.. Designations for the Stevens Creek Flood Plain Upstreaa froM Stevens
Creek Blvd.. as set forth in Exhibit D-l of the Planning Cocmlssion. The
-.ended first sentence of paragrpah 3(b) shall read: "Area within the
natural £1000 plaiD can be credit~d in an amount not to exceed one dwelling
unit per acre to de~era1ne tbe total number of dwell:.ng units permitted on
each property.". The aecend seatence of this same paragraph substitutes
the words ''n\Drr ,'411 rang.- for "numerical designation" in reference to
n....er of units ,loved on each property.
Motion carried, 4-1
Couac. Frolich gave dissenting vote
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IOJIUTES OF THE DECDIBEa 10, 1.974 ADJOUR1\'ED CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Counc. Heyers proposed a 8f e order uUng the staff to write
to the Wner District to 8rp it to evaluate devdoplleDt ri&Jats
~ .ease.eDts as a flood aatrDl position.
lit - 4_ carried, s-o
aJCIIJlOOŒ.."T
Coaac. Ndli:. requp.sted _ eze.cutive session for the purpose of
.t.scu8sion r€signation of . PubliC Safety Commissioner.
The Council adjourned ac 11:23 p.a. for this executive session.
The .eeti~& ~convened 1D opeD session at ll:40 p.m. and vas
_journed i=ediatcly thereafter by Mayor Sparks.
AP'i'i.CWED :
::
1st Reed Sp~rks
Ka7or. City of Cupertino
ArrEST:
/s/ wm. f. ~vder
City Cler>:.
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