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The planners still aren't happy with 49-unit apartment abutting freeway
Commissioners pushing for more 'community benefit'
Noise, air, design still issues
By Nathan R. Huff
Bill Errico and the Cupertino Development Corporation may have felt they had addressed all the problems previously identified with their project, but the planning commission heartily disagreed.
The 49-unit apartment complex off Blossom Hill Road and abutting Highway 17 received mixed reviews from planning commissioners on Aug. 16. Concerns over noise, access from neighboring apartment complexes, air quality and repetitive design led the commission to vote unanimously to send the application back for more tinkering.
Project designer Rodger Griffin and another half dozen representatives present at the meeting agreed to work on the commission's concerns, but frustration was visible. They are scheduled to return to the commission on Oct. 25.
In the last year and a half, the project has undergone four planning commission meetings, three development review committee meetings, two conceptual advisory committee meeting and a slew of neighborhood meetings. In that time, the number of units has been reduced from 56 to 49; large units have been broken up; open space has been increased; and a soundwall along Highway 17 has been proposed.
Commissioners still aren't enthused about the sound wall, but the reality is that the complex of two-bedroom units won't meet the town's noise standards without a wall. The wall has also been redesigned in a "serpentine" style, and has been pulled back from the property line to allow landscaping and berm that would lower the visual height of the planned 16-foot wall. Commissioners asked that story poles be erected to show the proposed sound wall.
The noise issue was discussed at length, as well. Commissioners want more detailed decibel studies of the entire project area, as well as adjoining complexes.
"There are a number of things I still have concerns about on this application," Commissioner Jim Lyon said, before running through a laundry list of issues he wants the applicant to address.
That list included concerns brought up by several neighbors of the project. The proposal provides access to the signal at Blossom Hill and Roberts Road for Oakview Terrace apartment dwellers, allowing residents to make a previously illegal left turn onto the busy road. Still, neighbor Beverly Newton, who presented a list of the neighbors' issues, said there were a number of concerns neighbors still wanted developers to address.
The commission also responded to planning commission regular and Blossom Hill area resident Ray Davis' concerns that the town hadn't adequately considered the effects of putting residences in a "gasoline alley" next to Highway 17. "How could anyone allow children to live here?" Davis asked the commission. An air quality study was added to the list of requests for the developer.
Commission Chairman Paul Bruno asked that the applicant also provide a more detailed description of community benefit for the project--outside of what is specifically required by town code. "I'm not yet convinced on the community benefit," Bruno said.
Griffin agreed to come up with a more detailed description, but reiterated the benefit was clearly there. "This is an opportunity for you to provide needed rental units and seven below-market-price units," Griffin said.
The commission also asked the applicant to better integrate, or consider removing, the third story loft elements on some units, and to reconfigure the proposed garages to fit two cars under the units.
Assuming Errico and Cupertino Development Company are successful in getting the General Plan amendment and zone change from low density residential to medium family residential, the developers are still a long way from home. The project still must clear the architecture and site hurdles.
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