HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-05-01 City Council (6)TO:
FROM:
City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING AN~
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT
DATE:
SUBJECT:
MAY 1, 2000 CMR:232:00
3000 EL CAMINO REAL, CHILDRENFIRST (99-PC-3). PLANNED
COMMUNITY (PC) ZONING DISTRICT AMENDMENT
APPLICATION BY CHILDRENFIRST INC. TO ALLOW THE
ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF CHILD CARE FACILITIES
IN THE PC ZONING DISTRICT (PC-2533), LOCATED AT THE
SOUTHWEST CORNER OF EL CAMINO REAL AND PAGE MILL
ROAD (PALO SQUARE). THE PROJECT HAS BEEN DETERMINED
TO BE EXEMPT FROM ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PER SECTION
15301OF THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
GUIDELINES.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff and the Planning Commission recommend that the City Council adopt the attached
Ordinance (Attachment A) amending the permitted uses forthe property located at 3000 El
Camino Real. The property is presently in the Planned Community (PC-2533) Zoning
District. Adoption of the Ordinance will allow child care facilities as a permitted use within
the PC Zoning District.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The.9.86-acre project site is located at the southwest comer of Page Mill Road and El
Camino Real. The site is known as the Palo Alto Square office complex and is developed
with six commercial-office buildings, including two ten-story towers and a movie theater;
the total building area of the complex is 320,468 square feet. The existing PC zoning for the
site was adopted in September 1969, with development of the existing structures completed
in the early 1970s. The site is owned by Equity Office Properties through a ground lease
with Stanford Management.
The existing PC zoning for the site, PC-2533, allows a variety of office, financial services,
and commercial uses. It does not, however, allow child care facilities. Therefore, the
CMR:232:00 Page 1 of 3
applicant, ChildrenFirst Inc., is seeking a PC Zoning District amendment that would allow
child care centers as a permitted use under the PC Zoning District for the site.
ChildrenFirst’s specific proposal is to occupy a portion (approximately 5,300 square feet of
the building’s 16,644 square-foot floor area) of the single-story building known as 3 Pa!o
Alto Square in order to operate a child care center accommodating approximately 50 children
per day, Monday through Friday. ChildrenFirst’s center will provide "back-up" child care
in that the facility will serve working parents whose regular child care arrangements have
temporarily become unavailable. Given the nature of ChildrenFirst’s proposed child care
center ("back-up" care in lieu of traditional care) and the configuration of existing
development at the site, staffhas determined that amenities typically associated with child
care centers, such as outdoor play areas and child drop-offzones, are not needed at this time.
The child care center is also subject to State regulations pertaining to such facilities, and
additional amenities may be required as determined by the State’s review. Existing parking
at the site is ample to accommodate the proposed child care center.
PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The project was reviewed by the Planning Commission at its regular meeting on January 12,
2000. The staff report for this meeting is included as Attachment B and contains a more
detailed description of the project and the issues associated with it. The Commission focused
primarily on the two items noted above: the potential for creating an outdoor recreation area;
and the potential designation of a child drop-off area along the west side of the building
proposed for occupancy by ChildrenFirst. The Commission discussed potential locations for
an outdoor play area and a drop-off!pick-up area closer to the main entrance but did not
believe that either of these issues needed to be acted on at this time and recommended (5-0-1,
Commissioner Cassel not participating) that the Council adopt the staffrecommendation for
approval of the PC amendment.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A:
Attachment B:
Attachment C:
Attachment D:
Ordinance
Planning Division StaffReport, January 12, 2000 (with proposed
conditions of project approval)
Planning Commission Minutes, January 12, 2000
Location Map
Prepared By: Luke Connolly, Senior Planner
Manager Review:Lisa Grote, Chief Planning Official
Ray Hashimoto, Acting Zoning Administrator
CMR:232:00 Page 2 of 3 2
DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW:
G. EDWARD~A~
Director of Planning and Community Environment
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:~ ~t’-} ~t
EMIL~-~ 7 - \~..
Assistant. City Manager
Susan Meaney, Stanford Management
Patricia Forbes, ChildrenFirst
Mindy Romanowski
CMR:232:00 Page 3 of 3 3
4
Attachment A
ORDINANCE NO.
ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
AMENDING SECTION 18.08.040 OF THE PALO ALTO
MUNICIPAL CODE (THE ZONING MAP)TO ,CHANGE THE
CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY AT THE INTERSECTION OF
EL CAMINO REAL AND PAGE MILLROAD KNOWN AS 3000 E1
CAMINO REAL (PALO ALTO SQUARE)FROM PC PLANNED
COMMUNITY 2533 TO PC PLANNED COMMUNITY
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as
follows:
SECTION I. Section 18.08.040 of the Palo Alto Municipal
Code, the "Zoning Map", is hereby amended by changing the zoning of
certain property at the intersection of E1 Camino Real and Page
Mill Road from PC Planned Community 2533 (Office and Hotel Complex)
to PC Plann~d Community ~
SECTION 2.¯The City Council hereby finds that:
~ The Planninq.Commission, after a duly noticed public
hearinq held January 12, 2000, has recommended that Section
18.08 040 (the Zoninq Map) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code be
amended as hereinafter set forth.
bi_b_h The proposed amendment is in the public interest and
will promote the public health, safety and welfare, as hereinafter
set forth.
_IS0_ Modification of the existinq PC Planned Community 2533
District to ~ermit child care uses on the site is consistent with
the Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan and is compatible with existina
and potential use on adJoinina sites and in the qeneral vicinity.
In particular:
~ Establishment of child care facilities in
developments such as Palo Alto S~uare is supported by the followin~
Comprehensive Plan Policies: ~
a. Social Service Policy C-II : Support and
promote the provision of comprehensive child care services in Palo
Alto by Public and private providers, includinq employers.
b. Social Service Policy C-15: In residential or
neiqhborhood commercial development projects, stronqly encourage
child care and/or senior care facilities, alonq with measures to
mitigate potential conflicts~ between these facilities and
surrounding uses.
000419 sdl 0090422
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(ii) Child care facilities are a Permitted use in all
commercial zoninq districts in the City. Palo Alto Square is well
separated from any non-commercial district.
SECTION 3. Those certain plans entitled "Palo Alto Square
Development Plan - 3000 E1 Camino Real, Palo Alto, California"
prepared by Stoecker and Northway Architects, Incorporated, dated
October 14, 1999, a copy of which is on file with the Planning
Division of the City, are made a part of this ordinance by this
reference. Said Development Plan is approved pursuant to Section
18.68.070 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code subject to the following
conditions:
(a)Permitted Uses.
(i) Financial services such as banks, brokerage
firms, title companies, insurance firms and’similar, uses.
offices.
(ii)Professional,administrative, and executive
(iii)Restaurants and cocktail lounges.
(iv) Theatres.
(v) 300-guest room hotel including support facilities
such as conference and banquet rooms.
(vi) Commercial service facilities incidental to a
major office and hotel complex such as barber shop, beauty salon,
smoke shop-newsstand, gift shop, parking structure and similar uses
for the convenience of the employees and visitors to the complex.
Major retail or commercial services to serve the community
at large shall not be permitted.
(vii) Child care facilities.
(b)Improvements :
(i) Buildings, offstreet parking, landscaping
including planting spaces within and immediately adjacent to the
parking area to accommodate a minimum of 400 trees, and other
improvements shall be substantially as shown on the .approved
Development Plan.
(ii) The office tower buildings shall not exceed
i00,000 square feet of net rentable floor area in each and i0
stories and 159 feet in height.
2
000419 sdl 0090422
(iii)The one and two-story buildings shall not exceed
a total of 85,000 square feet of net rentable floor area with
65,000 square feet to be on the ground floor.
(iv) The hotel shall not exceed 17 stories, plus roof
lounge and176 feet in height.
(v) Vehicle ingress and egress to E1 Camino Real and
Page Mil! Road shall be substantially as shown on the approved
Development Plan minus the egress driveway on E1 Camino Real
nearest Page Mill Road and except for revisions as may be required
by the State Division of Highways, the County of Santa Clara
Department of Public Works, and the City of Palo Alto Department of
Public Works.
(vi) Acceleration and/or deceleration lanes shall be
provided as required by the City of Palo Alto, .County of Santa
Clara and State of California.
provided.
(vii)No less\ than 1650 parking spaces .shall be
(c)Development Schedule.
(i)Start of construction within 18 months of October
22, 1969.
(ii) Completion of all construction and development
within 3 years of start of construction.
SECTION 4 The City as the lead agency for the. Project
determined that it is Categorically Exempt pursuant to State CEQA
Guidelines Section15301.
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000419 sdl 0090422
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SECTION 5. This ordinance shall be effective on the
thirty-first day after the date of its adoption.
INTRODUCED:
PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
ATTEST:APPROVED:
CityClerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Senior Asst. City Attorney
Mayor
City Manager
Director of Planning and
Community Environment
000419 sdl 0090422
Attachment B
PLANNING DIVISION
STAFF REPORT
Agenda Date:
To:
From:
.January 12, 2000
Planning Commission
Luke Connolly,
Senior Planner
Department:Planning
Subject:3000 El Camino Real, ChildrenFirst Inc. (99-PC-3): Planned
Community (PC) Zoning District amendment application by
ChildrenFirst Inc. to allow the establishment and operation of a child
care center in a portion of a single-story, commercial-office building
located at the southwest corner of E1 Camino Real and Page Mill
Road (3 Palo Alto Square). The project is exempt from the provisions
of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per Section
15301 of CEQA Guidelines.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission recommend City Council approval of the
Planned Community (PC) Zoning District amendment application subject to the conditions
of approval set forth in Attachment A.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The 9.86-acre project site is located at the southwest corner of E1 Camino Real and Page
Mill Road (Palo Alto Square office complex). The site is presently developed with six
commercial-office buildings, including two, ten-story office towers and a movie theater,
which were constructed in the early 1970s. The total floor area of the existing buildings
is 320,468 square feet. The site is accessible from both E1 Camino Real and Page Mill
Road and has a parking capacity of approximately 1,200 spaces, including both surface-
level and structured parking. Palo Alto Square is owned by Equity Office Properties
through a ground lease with Stanford University. ’
The applicant, ChildrenFirst Inc., is proposing to operate a child care center in one of the
S:Plan:Pladiv:PCSR:3000ECR Page 1
9
site’s single-story buildings (3 Palo Alto Square, nearest the E1 Camino-Page Mill
intersection). The child care center would occupy an approximately 5,300 square-foot
portion of the 16,644 square-foot building, slightly less than one-third of the structure’s
floor area. Smith-Barney financial services and Cupertino National Bank occupy the
remainder of the building. All physical modifications proposed by ChildrenFirst are
confined to the interior of the building.
The facility proposed by ChildrenFirst is described by the applicant as a "back-up" child
care center, in that it will primarily serve working parents whose regular child care
arrangements have become temporarily unavailable. ChildrenFirst already operates 17
such facilities in metropolitan areas throughout the United States; and, like the proposed
facility, the existing child care centers are "employer-sponsored," meaning that they are
located in close proximity to the major work centers that they serve. Given the site’s
centralized location within the City and its adjacency to Stanford Research Park, it is the
applicant’s intent that the proposed facility will serve a wide group of companies and
organizations in the Palo Alto area. However, the already-developed commercial-office
site precludes the establishment of amentities typically associated with child care centers.
Specifically, the ChildrenFirst proposal does not include either an outdoor play facility
or a designated drop-off area (the entire perimeter of the building is a "no parking zone").
Should, in the future, the child care center change from .a back-up facility to a traditional
child care operation, staff believes that it would be appropriate for the project to comply
with all of the requirements of traditional child care providers.
As proposed, the ChildrenFirst facility will operate from 7;00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m,, Monday
through Friday, and will accommodate approximately 50 children per weekday, with a
maximum capacity of 65. The children will range in age from eight weeks to 12 years.
It is anticipated that ChildrenFirst will have a staff numbering between nine and twelve.
BACKGROUND
The Palo Alto Square site was rezoned from the then "C-3:S" and "L-M:S" Zoning
Districts to the Planned Community (PC) Zoning District by Ordinance No. 2533 on
September 22, 1969. This PC zoning designation has remained in effect since that time.
Ordinance No. 2533 (Attachment D) enumerates the allowable uses of the site, which
include: financial services and banking, professional and administrative offices,
restaurants, theaters, hotels and support facilities, and commercial services in support of
on-site uses. Any land use proposed for the Palo Alto Square site not stipulated by the
ordinance requires an amendment to the PC Zoning District. Therefore, since the PC
zoning of the site is silent on the matter of child care centers, ChildrenFirst is required to
amend Ordinance No. 2533 to allow the establishment and operation of their proposed
facility.
S:PlanlPladivlPCSRI3000ECRChildrenFirst Page 2
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POLICY IMPLICATIONS
The proposed child care center is consistent with the Policies, Programs, and text
contained in the "Community Services and Facilities" element of the Comprehensive Plan.
For instance, page C-6 of this element provides a sub-section under the heading "Child
Care," which acknowledges the City’s dearth of quality child care centers and recommends
that the number of these facilities be increased, especially in close proximity to key
employment centers. Also, the project is specifically in conformance with Policy C-11,
which calls for the City to "support and promote the provision of comprehensive child care
services in Palo Alto by public and private providers, including employers." Moreover,
Program C-17 states that the City should "facilitate the application process for proposed
child...care centers. Work with applicants or potential applicants to identify appropriate
locations for such centers."
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
Since no exterior alterations are included in the proposal, the sole issue is whether a child
care center, such as the one proposed by ChildrenFirst, is compatible with the allowable
uses and development of the Palo Alto Square complex. As noted above, the existing PC
zoning for Palo Alto Square allows a range of office and commercial land uses; and these
allowable uses are reflected in the current tenant-mix of the complex. Since-child care
centers are a permitted use in all of the City’s conventional commercial and office zoning
districts (i.e., Neighborhood Commercial, Community Commercial, Service Commercial,
Commercial DOwntown, Office Research, Limited Industrial/Research Park), the inclusion
of child care in the PC Zoning District for Palo Alto Square is consistent with the intent
of the City’s Zoning Ordinance. Additionally, the parking demand is considerably less for
child care than for office uses, so the proposed facility will not necessitate modifications
to the site,s existing parking configuration. For example, City parking requirements for
child care are 1 space per 1.5 employees; for financial services and office uses the parking
requirements are 1 space per 200 square feet of buildingarea and 1 space per 250 square
feet, respectively. The requisite "public benefit" finding that must be made when PC
Zoning Districts are adopted is not applicable in this case, as the subject project is an
amendment, rather than the establishment of a new district.
A likely reason for not allowing child care in the site’s initial PC rezoning is that the
provision of child care was not then a major issue. Today, 30 years after Ordinance No.
2533 was adopted, adequate child care is a far more pressing issue, as acknowledged by
the Comprehensive Plan. Therefore, amending the language of the original ordinance to
allow its establishment at the proposed location will not result in any land use or policy
conflicts.
TIMELINE
PS: lanlPladivlPCSR 3000ECRChildrenFirst Page 3
Following this Planning Commission hearing, the project is tentatively scheduled for f’mal
review by the City Council on February 22, 2000.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The proposal is exempt from environmental review
Guidelines.
per Section 15301 of CEQA
PUBLIC NOTICE
Public notice of this project was provided by publication of the agenda in a local
newspaper of general circulation and via mailed notifications to surrounding property
owners and occupants within 300 feet of the site.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Conditions of Approval
Attachment B: Proposed Ordinance amending Ordinance No. 2533
Attachmnet C: Ordinance No. 2533
Attachment D: Location Map
Prepared By:Luke Connolly, Senior Planner
Manager Review: Lisa Grote, Acting Chief Planning Official
Ray Hashimoto, Acting Zoning Administrator
LISA GROTE
Acting Chief Planning Official
S:PlanlPladivlPCSRI3000ECRChildrenFirst Page 4
ATTACHMENT A
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
3000 El Camino Real, ChildrenFirst Inc.
99-PC-3
Planning:
The project will be operated and maintained in compliance with the approved plans,
entitled, "For Palo Alto Square,3000 E1 Camino Real, Palo Alto, California," drawn
by Stoecker and Northway Architects Incorporated, and dated October 14, 1999. Any
subsequent alterations to the project are subject to approval by the City Council,
Planning Commission, Architectural Review Board, or the Director of Planning and
Community Environment.
Prior to commencing operation, the child care facility shall obtain all licenses and
approvals from the California Department of Social Services, Santa Clara County, and
any other agencies whose purview includes the establishment and operation of child
care facilities within the City of Palo Alto.
Fire:
As part of the proposed tenant improvements, a fire sprinkler system shall be provided
which meets the requirements of NFPA Standard No. 13, 1996 edition (PAMC,
Section 15.04.160). Fire sprinkler system installations require separate submittal to
the Fire Prevention Bureau (PAMC 15.04.083).
o As part of the proposed tenant improvements, an audible sprinkler-flow alarm shall be
provided in the interior of the building. The type and location of the sprinkler-flow
alarm is subject to the approval of the Chief Building Official and the Fire Chief. The
sprinkler flow alarm shall include manual pull stations, heat detectors, and Smoke
detectors. Fire alarm system installations or modifications require a separate submittal
to the Fire Prevention Bureau (PAMC 15.04.083).
Any proposed underground fire supply system installations or modifications require
separate submittal to the Fire Prevention Bureau (PAMC 15.04.083), Public Works
Department, and Utilities Department.
S:PlanlPladivlPCSRI3000ECRChildrenFirst Page 5
Building:
1.Prior to the issuance of any building permits for the project, the applicant shall submit
detailed plans of all interior alterations proposed. These plans are subject to the
approval of the Chief Building Official.
2.The proposed child care center shall comply with Section 305 of the 1997 UBC, E-3
occupancy-change of use.
s:Plan/pladiv/pcsr/3000ECR.childrenfirst
S:PlanlPladivlPCSRI3000ECRChildrenFirst Page 6
Attachment B
ORDINANCE NO. "
ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
AMENDING SECTION 18.08.040 OF THE PALO ALTO
MUNICIPAL CODE (THE ZONING MAP)TO CHANGE THE
CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY AT THE INTERSECTION OF
EL CAMINO REAL AND PAGE MILLROAD KNOWN AS 3000 E1
CAMINO REAL (PALO ALTO SQUARE)FROM PC PLANNED
COMMUNITY 2533 TO PC PLANNED COMMUNITY
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as
follows:
SECTION 1 Section 18.08.040 of the Palo Alto Municipal
Code, the "Zoning Map", is hereby amended by changing the zoning of
certain property at the intersection of E1 Camino Real and Page
Mill Road from PC Planned Community 2533(Office and Hotel Complex)
to PC Planned Community
SECTION 2.The City Council hereby finds that:
~ The Planninq Commission, after a duly noticed public
hearinq held January , 2000 has recommended that Section
18.08.040 (the Zoninq Map) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code be
amended as hereinafter set forth.
b_~ The proposed amendment is in the public interest and
will promote the public health, safety andwelfare, as hereinafter
set forth.
c_~ Modification of the existinq PC Planned Community 2533
District to permit child care uses on the site is consistent with
the Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan and is compatible with existing
and potential use on Adjoininq sites and Jn the qeneral vicinity.
In particular:
_~ Establishment of child care facilities in
deve!opments such as Palo Alto Square is supported by the followinq
Comprehensiv~ Plan Policies:
a. Social Service Policy C-ll : Support and
promote the provision of comprehensive child care services in Palo
Alto by Public and private providers, includinq employers.
b. Social Service Policy C-15: In residential or
neiqhborhood commercial development projects, strongly encouraqo
child care and/or senior care facilities, alonq with measures to
mitigate potential conflicts between these facilities and
surrounding uses.
000106 sdl 0090422
(ii) Child care facilities are a permitted use in all
commercial zoninq districts in the City. Palo Alto Square is well
separated from any non-commercial district.
SECTION 3. Those certain plans entitled "Palo Alto Square
¯Development Plan - 3000 E1 Camino Real, Palo Alto, California"
prepared by Stoeckerand Northway Architects, Incorporated, dated
October 14, 1999, a copy of which is on file with the Planning
Division of the City, are made a part of this ordinance by this
reference. Said Development Plan is approved pursuant to Section
18.68.070 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code subject to the following
conditions:
(a)Permitted Uses
(i) Financial services such as banks, brokerage
firms, title companies, insurance firms and similar uses.
(ii) Professional, administrative, and executive
offices.
(iii)Restaurants and cocktail lounges.
(iv) Theatres.
(v) 300-guest room hotelincluding support facilities
such as conference and banquet rooms.
(vi) Commercial service facilities incidental to a
major office and hotel complex such as barber shop, beauty salon,
smoke shop-newsstand, gift shop, parking structure and .similar uses
for the convenience of the employees and visitors to the complex.
Major retail or commercial services to serve the community
at large shall not be permitted.
(vii) Child care facilities.
(b)Improvements:
(i) Buildings, offstreet parking, landscaping
including planting spaces within and immediately adjacent to the
parking area to accommodate a minimum of 400 trees, and other
improvements shall be substantially as shown on the approved
Development Plan.
(ii) The office tower buildings shall not exceed
i00,000 square feet of net rentable floor area in each and i0
stories and 159 feet in height.
000106 sdl 0090422
2
(iii)The one and two-story buildings shall not exceed
a total of 85,000 square feet of net rentable floor area w±th
65,000 square feet to be on the ground floor.
(iv) The hotel shall not exceed 17 stories, plus roof
lounge and 176 feet in height.
(v) Vehicle ingress and egress to’E1 Camino Real and
Page Mill Road shall be substantially as shown on the approved
Development Plan minus .the egress driveway on E1 Camino Real
nearest Page Mill Road and except for revisions as may be required
by the State Division of Highways, the County of Santa Clara
Department of Public Works, and the City of Palo Alto Department of
Public Works.
(vi) Acceleration and/or deceleration lanes shall be
provided as required by the City of Palo Alto, County of Santa
Clara and State of California.
provided.
(c)
(vii) No less than 1650 parking spaces shall be
Development Schedule
i)Start of construction within 18 months of October.
22, 1969.
ii) Completion of all construction anddevelopment
within 3 years of start of construction.
SECTION 4. The City as the lead agency for the Project
determined that it is Categorically Exempt pursuant to State CEQA
Guidelines Section 15301.
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000106 sdl 0090422
SECTION 5. This o[dinance shall be effective on the
thirty-first day after the date of its adoption.
INTRODUCED:
PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
ATTEST:APPROVED:
City. Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Senior Asst. City Attorney
Mayor
City Manager
Director of Plann±ng and
Community Environment
000106 sdl 0090422
~8
ORIGINAL
ORDINANCE NO. 2533
ORDINANCE OF TIIE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PAL. ALTO
AMENDING SECTION 18.08.040 OF THE PALO ALTO MUNI-
CIPALCODE CHANGING THE ZONING OF CERTAIN PROPERTY
A%~ THE INTERSECTION OF EL CAMINO RE’AL AND’PAGEMILL
ROAD FROM C-3:S AND L-M:S TO P-C (OFFICE AND HOTEL
Attachment C
COMPLEX)
The Council of the City of Pal. Alto does ORDAIN as follows=
SECTION 1. Section 18.08.040 of the Pal. Alto Municipal Code,
the "Zoning Map", is hereby amended by changing the zoning of
certain property at the intersection of E1 Cumin. Real and Page
Mill Road from C-3:S and L-M:S to P-C (.office and hotel complex).
Said property is shown on a m~p attached hereto, incorporated
herein by reference and entitled "Change of District from L-M=S
and C-3:S to P-C (office and hotel complex)".
SECTION 2. The diagrams attached hereto entitled "Development
.Plan" are incorporated herein by reference. Said Development Plan
is approved pursuant to Section 18.68.070 of the Pal. Alto Muni-
cipal Code subject to the following conditions: .,.
Uses:
a.Financial services such as banks, brokeraqe firms,
title companies, inpurance firms and simiiar’uses.
.b.Professional, administrative and executive offices.
.c.Restaurants and cocktail 10unges.
d.Theatres.
300-guest room hotel including support facilities
such as conference and banquet rooms.
Commercial service facilities incidental to a major
office and hotel complex such as barber shop, beauty
salon, smoke shop-newsstand, gift shop, parking
structure and similar uses for the convenience of
employees and visitors to the complex.
Major retail or commercial services to serve the
community at large shall not be permitted.
-1 -
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Improvements :
Buildings, offstreet parking, landscaping including
planting spaces within and immediately-adjacent to
the parking area to accommodate a minimum of 400
trees, and other improvements shall be substantially
as shown on the approved Development Plan.
b. The office tower buildings shall not exceed I00,000
.square feet of net rentable floor area in each and
i0 stories and 159. feet in height.
The one and two-story buildings shall not exceed
a total of 85,000 square feet of net rentable floor
area with 65,000 square feet to be on the ground
floor.
3o
Thehotel shall not exceed 17 sto~ies, plus roof
lounge and 176 feet in height. <
Vehicle ingress and egress to E1 Camino Real and
Page Mill Road shall be substantially as shown on
the approved Development Plan minus the egress
driveway on E1 Camino Real nearest Page Mill Road
and except for revisions as may be required by the
State Division of Highways, the County of Santa
Clara Department of Public Works, and the City of
Pale Alto. Department of Public Works.
f. Acceleration and/ordeceleration lanes shall be pro-
.vided as required by the City of Pale Alto, County
of Santa Clara and State .of California.
g.No less than 1650 parking spaces shall be progided.
Development Schedule:
Start of construction within 18 months of City
Council approval.
bj Completion of all construction and development
within 3 years of start of construction.
SECTION 3. This ordinance shall become effective upon the
expiration of thirty days from its passage.
INTRODUCED: September 8, 1969
PASSED :
AYES :
}ES :
~SENT : Beahrs, Pearson
~enzor ~ssistant City
Attorney
September 2Z, 1969
Arnold, Berwa, ld, Clark, Cems~ock0 Dias0 Gallagher. Norton, Spaeth, Wheatley
None . .. : *!.
APPROVED,
~4ayor
20
CHAN~. FROM C-3:S AND L-M:S TO
CHANGE L-M:S
69-ZC-I1
ZONE CHANGE BOUNDARY
~ EXI.STING ZONE BOUNDARY
SCALE ~oo’
2.1
22
Attachment D
The City of
Palo A1 to
PLANNING DIVISION
File No(s):
99-PC-3
Proposed Action:
Amend existing PC Zone to allow Child
Care Facility.
d:\Gloda D~Artwork\Haps~StaffReports\ECR_3000.al
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Date: 1/6/2000
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Attachment C
¯ -~_____MOTION PASSES:
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Chairman Schrnidt: Commissioner Schink has moved and
~onded the staffr~ommissioner Schink .
has added that we sho~ety from the policy department when this
~se~~~ say aye? All those opposed? . .
tentativ eduled to go to the ARB on February 17,th .an..d.to. the City
~ 27. Again, thank you very much, and good luck with this project as it continues
along. ¯ " ,
3000 El Camino Real (99-PC-3; 99-UP-50): Review and recommend approval of a
Planned Community (PC) Zoning District amendment and Conditional Use Permit
applications by ChildrenFirst, Inc. on behalf of Stanford Management Board of
Trustees of Leland Stanford Junior University to allow the establishment of a day
care center in a portion of a single-story, commercial office building located at the
southwest comer of E1 Camino Real and Page Mill Road (Three Palo Alto Square):
Commissioner Cassel: I am not going to be able to participate in this item as I may have
a conflict of interest.
Chairman Schmidt: .May we have the staff recommendations on this,.please.¯
Mr. Connolly: ,Staff is recommending that the Planning Commission recommend that the
¯ City Council approve the Planned Community zoning district amendment, subject to the
conditions contained in Attachment A. Staff also has a clarification on this item. The ad
reads that there is a use permit. The use permit is not part of the. application. This is just
a straight zoning amendment, and a use permit is not required with this application. ¯ That
oncludes the staff report.
Chairman Schmidt:’ Are theie any questions for staff at this time? (None) I will then
move on to the public comment portion of the public hearing. ’
Patricia Forbes, 75 Federal Street, Boston, MA: I am the Vice President of Real Estate
for ChildrenFirst, Inc. We appreciate the opportunity for consideration of our application
and also appreciate.the assistance of staff, particularly Mr. Connolly, in assisting us and
guiding us through this process. With me this evening is my colleague, John
Cassagrande, the legal counsel for ChildrenFirst, also based in Boston, plus Sandy Sloan,
our local counsel located in Menlo Park.
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I have also provided some materials for your review at your convenience that I will
distribute to staff, but I thought I would take perhaps two minutes to introduce
ChildrenFirst and backupchild care to you, and then entertain any questions that you
might have.
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ChildrenFirst is a privately held company.that was established in 1992 for the exclusive
provision of what we refer to as backup childcare. Backup child care is care that is
provided when the primary child care opporttmities break down -- when a care giver is ill,
unavailable, and a parent looks for other opportunities by which to provide child care for
their children at that time. The company was established by a young woman, Rosemary
¯ Giordano, who was looking for an opportunity to provide the highest quality child care,
and make sure that the child care that was provided was not limited by the opportunity of
parents to pay for that child care. She looked at a unique in partnering with businesses in
order to be able to provide employer-sponsored childcare. We provide only backup
childcare. We are not a full-time or a drop-in child care provider, but backup child care,
which is provided through memberships with local employers who offer this as a benefit
to their employees, either as a fully subsidized or partially subsidized benefit.
Membership is sized based on the size of the employee population and anticipated
utilization of the center by each of those employers, again providing access to their
employees on an as-.needed basis. Currently, we have nineteen centers throughout the
country -- in Boston, New York, Minneapolis, Chicago, and we are very proud of three
centers in California in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and recently in Irvine:
We refer to backup childcare as a very unique type of childcare, and we. call it "The first
day of school every day." What happens, because of the random nature of the need on
the part of our employee participants and their families, is that the age groups of the
children differ quite widely from day to day, so our teachers need to be extremely
experienced: Our ratio of teachers to children is quite high, compared to what is required
by the State Community Care Licensing Division in recognition of the unique
circumstances that a child is experiencing when they come to a center for backup child
care. That ¯maybe their first introduction to center-based care, and it is incumbent upon
us to make sure that that is a very positive and rewarding experience for those children.
Our operation protocols address every aspect ofmaking that day for that child quite
successful. Again, as I mentioned, this is a subsidized benefit and is dccessed through the
employee’s membership, so it is not a necessarily a public service in terms of the
interactiofi of ChildrenFirst and the individual parents, but again, through the
membership through the individual employer.
We are quite challenged in each marke~ that we enter into by the vacancy rates in local
real estate and the high growth demands that challenge us to find appropriate real estate
convenient to our clients. We are quite excited about our opportunity, at Palo Alto
Square, and have received some very positive feedback as we have talked to potential
participants about that location and their interest in participating with us in a backup child
care center at that location. Our really driving and overarching goal in looking at sites is
to provide a safe, secure and convenient location for our children and their parents. Some
of the employers we have spoken to who have already indicated an interest in this center
include Cooley Godward, Fenwick and West, Wilson, Sonsini, Ernst and Young, and
Morrison and Foerster. We anticipate that once thecenter beginsconstruction, we will
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see quite a few more interested participants between the time construction begins and the
time we are ready to open the doors.
The centers typically operate ha California on an 11-hour day, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Again, the capacity of the center, as mentioned in the report, anticipates at its maximum
65 children, but we typically see-about a 50-75% utilization of our centers, again based
on the random nature of the need and use as an average capacity.. Our peak demand days
are those days when we have Monday holidayS, school vacations, when school closes and
before camps begin. Those end up being very busy times.for us, and we make every
effort to be able to address those needs, as well. We look forward to your positive
consideration and recommendation~ and are happy to answer any questions that you
might have.
Chairman Schmidt: Are there questions for the applicant?
Commissioner Byrd: Do you provide care when the regular care is unavailable because
the child is too ill to attend school or its other regular child care location?
Ms. Forbes: No, this is a well child program. It does not respond to sick child needs,
primarily based on the regulatory requirements around providing sick childcare..Typical
circumstances where we would provide care would be when the baby sitter calls at 5:30
in the morning and says, I am ill and will not be able to attend. We have so many parents
who have been in that situation where husband and wife stand with their’DayTimer side
by side and say, whose turn.is it? That is a very typical occurrence, and I am sure many
people have had that experience. Very often, we respond to non-center-based primary
care, the type of care that can break down when a relative is taking care of a young child,
or an at-home spouse may require an extensive hospital stay, a variety of circumstances
that make that primary care unavailable, again on a well child basis. That is when we
have the opportunity to sei’ve those children.
Chairman Schmidt: How long do children come to this facility? Obviously, there is a
one-day drop-in, but what is the range? From one day to how long?
Ms. Forbes: Usually we see a maximum stay of five days. There may be a school
closure fora week. In circumstances such as that, we can see anywhere from one to five
days. There might be some extenuating circumstances. We certainly have seen
situations where parents have approached us and said, I need to change my primary
childcare today. Is there a way that you can help me in that interim, until other primary
childcare is found? We will go to the employer and make sure that that is an acceptable
arrangement to them. Typically,. what we have found that employers will limit, the
opportunity to access the backup child care center to about 20 times per child per year in
order that it does not become a temptation to become their primary child care, thus
creating a situation where we have some contention for the available membership spaces
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in the center. So we will typically see a short duration of one to five days as the typical
attendance at the centers.
Chairman Schmidt: The regular, long-term childcare facilities always have outdoor play
areas. I know that this facility does not have the opportunity to do that. How do you.
cope with children inside all day?
Ms. Forbes: It is interesting. We have been very fortunate. When we come into markets
(and this happened to us when we came to California in 1995), very often we are
considered as a pilot program under the State Community Care Licensing Regulations.
We have been fortunate in that they.are a group that is very interested in innovative ways
of approaching childcare. We talked about the unique nature of the care, the short
duration of the care and how we could meet the intent of accessing what the regulations
around full-time chiidcare are contemplating. In each location, they have looked at it on
a case-by-case basis, and we have been able to provide access to the outdoors, not
necessarily a structured playground, but to go on an agreed-upon walk group around the
property, which we again do in conjunction with Community Care Licensing to make
sure that it is a safe route from the standpoint of traffic. Very often, on some of our
properties, such as Palo Alto Square, there is a fair amount of green .space that we can
access, not putting up play apparatus but beingable to take toys with us to access the.
outdoors. At many of our centers, we have an activities room that allows the children to
engage in what we call gross motor activity. In climates that are not quite as sympathetic
as California, we very often find that we are doing that due to inclement weather. So I
feel that the licensing authorities are quite comfortable with our combined approach to
meeting that intent of the regulations.
Commissioner Burr: As a follow-up to Chairman Schrnidt’s comment on the outdoor
area, or lack of it, in the courtyard, there is basically a cutout of the low-rise Building #2
where you would be locating. Have you discussed with the owners of the property any
potential use of that area as an outdoor space for the childcare?
Ms.. Forbes: Not specifically. We have talked to them about our typical protocol, but
very often, we will defer to the conversations with Community Care Licensing as we get
closer to the submission of our application as to how we .will approach the outdoor area.
Typically; what will happen is that the Community Care Licensing Division has granted
waivers from the outdoor play requirement, and has accepted in its stead the combination
approach that I have described. So we have not anticipated talking about erecting any
kind of playground in that area.
Commissioner Burr: Would you welcome that space it if were available to you?
Ms. Forbes: That is a good question. I think that it is always wonderful to be able to take
the children outside. I think it is a consideration of both the landlord and the tenant to
come to a consensus about the communal use of the property by all tenants. So we are
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looking for an opportunity that will serve the children but not provide any type of
disruption to the other tenant uses that are on the property as well.
Commissioner Burr: Has that discussion occurred with the landlord and the tenants?
Ms. Forbes: Not specifically.
Commissioner Burt: But you would desire it if it were available? You are not sure.
Ms. Forbes: To tell you the truth, I am not sure. I think that we would certainly be happy
to engage in conversations with them. I think that again, because of the nature of our
care, there may be one child in the center on one day, and there may be five children in
the center on another day,and there may be25 children on another day after that. So we
are looking at what is most appropriate for the types of children that we will serve on any.
given day.
Chairman Schmidt: We have one more speaker.
Herb Borock, P.O. Box 632, Palo Alto: I have justone concern regarding the amendment
of a Planned Community zone that was adopted before on July 20, 1978 when a public
benefit became required for PC zones. That is the standard to say, when is something
considered to be an amendment that does not require abiding by the current PC zone
regulations and when is something to be considered a new.PC zone.
I guess that is because there is no new develoPment or because it is such a small piece of
it. I do not.. really see a standard by which I can judge another applicant, so this is the first
time I have seen it before the commission. Usually what I see are minor amendments
that do not come before the commission that are made by the Director of Planning. There
are certain standards there that have to be met to be considered minor. This one, because
it is a new use, had to,come before the commission. I would ask the commission to be
cautious, and the council as well, since there are other PC-zoned properties that were
zoned before 1978 that may be wanting to come in as redevelopment as Planned
Community zones, so where do you draw the line? Thank you.
Chairman Schmidt: I will now close .the public hearing and return this item to the
commission. Are there any questions for staff?.
Commissioner Burr: There is a lack of a dropoff zone, and t saw in the report that the
curbside is a No Parking area. I notice from the drawing that there are curb cuts there.
Are those possible dropoff areas?
Ms. Grote: That is correct. Those are all existing parking spaces that would be available
for short-term, either dropoff or pickup, or for short-term parking if the parent were to go
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inside the center. So all of that area that is highlighted in yellow would be available for
that.
Commissioner Burr: If a little more space were needed for dropoff for a child care
facility, could those curb cuts be expanded?
Commissioner Bialson: I think Pat is referring to cutouts on the curb adjacent to the
building, not the highlighted portion, which is the parking lot. Is that right?
Commissioner Burr: Correct.
Mr. Connolly: I would say there is room, since you have a 25-foot drive aisle, which.
would normally accommodate two-way traffic going at low speeds. You probably would
have room for a dropoff onthe Page Mill side of the building, I believe. Iris not
proposed with this part of the application, however, and staff also felt that given the
nature of this facility, it would seem that the parking is ample. It does preclude a dropoff
specifically being designated. I would assume that if the use of this were to change to
more of a traditional type of child care center, that, in fact, would occur at that time.
Ms. Grote: I believe there is ample room there to explore that possibility if it were to
become a need that they have.
Chairman Schmidt: If there are no other questions, is there discussion or a motion?
Commissioner Byrd: I think this is a very clever land use. For someone who is often on
the losing end of those 6 a.m. negotiations with the two DayTimers, I can see why there
is a huge demand for this thing. When I first moved to Palo Alto, I worked for Cooley
Godward in Palo Alto Square and still have a lot of fi’iends there who are parents. I am
guessing that they are largely going to fill up their center from the surrounding employers
that you have described, all of whom are either in the Square or right near it. So I think it
sounds terrific. As a parent, I appreciate the concern about the lack of outdoor play
space, but I do actually think it would probably not be appropriate in this location, given
the other office and adult uses that are the dominant use. It would also primarily be a
negotiation between the landlord and the tenant. If they wanted to bring it to us, they
probably would.
On the dropoff, given the unique.nature of this child care use and the ample parking next
to it, I am not sure there is really a need for that zone. Parents routinely navigate large
parking lots when they bring their kids to grocery stores, etc., .and because it would not be
a regular clientele that they have, the clientele might not actually understand or correctly
use the dropoff zone, even if it had appropriate signage; So rather ~han creating the
circulation complexity inherent in a dropoff zone, I would be inclinedto use the adequate
parking that is there. At any rate, I think this sounds real clever.
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MOTION: Commissioner Byrd: I move the staff recommendation to recommend to the
City Council approval of the Planned Community zone district amendment application
subject to the conditions set forth in Attachment A of the staff report.
SECOND: By Commissioner Bialson.
Commissioner Burr: I also think it is a great use for this location, and I am very
encouraged by the precedent being set by having this in the community. I hope it is not
the last such facility of its type. I also appreciate that at this location, it may not be
appropriate to have the outdoor play area, and that that decision would primarily be one
for the tenant and the landlord. I would hope that they would at least explore that
possibility and make a decision based on pursing it as a desirable goal.
As far as the dropoff, I am more concerned about that. Negotiating a parking lot with
kids in tow is problematic, and it is one of the reasons why we try to have dropoffs at day
¯ care centers. It looks like there are opportunities to have a dropoff site almost directly in
front of this facility. In my mind, the circulation of the lot, as it.currently exists, would
not be harmed or be detrimental to a dropoff area. You would just pass along the Page
Mill frontage of the main buildings there, and have a cutout. I would think it would be
beneficial to the parents and to the operators of the facility. I would like to encourage
exploration of that dropoff area.
Commissioner Schink: I will be happy to support the project. I would say to Pat that I
travel to this facility a couple of tin~.es a.week, and the bulbouts along the side that you
were referring to as dropoff areas are now used mostly for commercial loading and
unloading. They are almost always vacant except when I pull in there to do my quick
banking. I think that any parent that needs to use that is probably going to find it
relatively easy, especially at 8 o’clock iia the morning. Early in the day and late in the
day, this parking lot is pretty open. I don’t think there is much to worry ab6ut here. It is
a great use, and we should do everything we can to help themalong and encourage them
and minimize the requirements. I hope they can open soon.
Chairman Schmidt: I, too, support the application. I think it sounds like a great idea. I
was just curious to find out how youdo indeed deal with keeping kids inside. I am sure
that with all of the other facilities that you have, youhave become experts at doing that.
There is such a great need for child care of all kinds around here that I am very happy to
see something like this come in, something unique. It seems like it fills a market need
’that is probably not very well met. I am on the board of a child care facility in Redwood
City, and there are always at least 200 people waiting to get into the facility for fulMime
care. So any kind of child care is much needed around here, and I am extremely happy to
support this, and look forward to seeing it.
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MOTION PASSES: Chairman Schmidt: The motion was moved by Commissioner
Byrd, seconded by ’Commissioner Bialson, to approve the staff recommendation. All
those infavor, please say aye? All those opposed? That passes on a 5-0 Vote with
Commissioner Cassel not.participating. Thank you very much. We look forward to
seeing the facility.
As noted earlier, the next item on the agenda has been continued and is tentatively
scheduled for January 26. That item is 2825 E1 Camino Real.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES - None.
REPORTS FROM OFFICIALS - None..
COMMISSION MEMBER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS AND/OR
ANNOUNCEMENTS.
Commissioner Bialson: I want to remind my fellow commissioners that the League of
California Cities will be having their annual Institute for the Department of Planning and
Community Development on March 1, 2 and 3 in Monterey. I do not know how many
other commissioners have attended that meeting, but it is very worthwhile. There will
probably be about 2,000 other planning officials from throughout the state present. So it
would be a little embarrassing not to have other members from the Planning Commission
of this area attend. It would particularly nice if you would join me at the Institute, as I
plan on being there. ..
Mr. Calonne: I cannot resist the opportunity to peddle this also. I have been doing a hard
core sales pitch on the new council members to attend the counterpart, new mayor’s and
councilmembers’ orientation that is held. I would say that my experience is that while
some of it is "feel good,,’ mos~ of the material is "nuts and bolts," and it is a great
opportunity to get some cross-breeding, so to speak, from around the state. I really think
it is time well spent. It is a tough time to make available often, but it is worth doing.
Chairman Schmidt: If you have information on this to pass around or forward to us in a
packet, that would be helpful
Commissioner Bialson: Does the department receive information that it could then send
out?
Ms. Grote: If you could get it to me, that would be helpful, and then I could distribute it.
I have not received that information.
Commissioner Bialson: I don’t believe it has been sent out yet. I will be very involved in
this Institute, since I am the president of this department, and I wil.1 see if we can squeeze
in everybody from this commission.
City of Palo Alto Page 26
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Attachment D
t-Term
for Parents
Th~ C~ty of
Pa lo A1 to
o
o
Site:
File #:
Proposal:
Proposed
,~Child
%
3000 El Camino Real
(Palo Alto Square)
99-PC-3
Amend existing PC to allow
ChildrenFirst Child Care
Center
This map is a product
of the
City of Pale Alto GIS
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This documenl Is a graphic represenlalio~ only of best available sources.
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