HomeMy WebLinkAbout0240.091•
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April 18, 1991
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
Palo Alt~, C.ltfornia
Cubber)e. Master Plan, 400Q Middlefield RQ.d
Members of the Council:
Prolect iD Brief
The p~ject h • Master Plan to be used by the City of Palo Alto over the next
2S to 3S years as an internal planning document for 9uiding remodeling and use
of the former Cubberley High School for community center purposes. The Haster
Pl.n was prep_red onder contract to the City of Palo Alto by Spencer
Associates. The Master Plan process was I vDluntary eff~rt by the City to
lnvolve t~e coamunfty in the future plans for Cubberley and the resulting
doc~ment ;s intended to be cDnceptual. The implementation Df tha plan will
require further discretionary approvals in the form of Master Conditional Use
pen&fts and Architectural Review Board approvals.
The plan proposes thit the tubber'~y Community Center continue to be ~sed for
tne next lS to 35 y •• r. by the City of Palo Alto, Foothill College, ehl1d care
providers, vtsual artists, dancers and nonprofit community qroups~ is it has
.1nce the City .ss~d the Ie.... Rather than l •• sing the .pace in •
piecemeal f •• hlon as has been done to date, the plan calls for campus
organization into ~neighborhoods~ f~r the various user groups. Necessary code
repair iteas, i~royesents to the parking lot. field improvements for
organized sports lnd athletic pro;rams. and constr~ction of a bathroom lre
proposed for the first phase, titled the Implementation P'on. Aesthetic and
f~nct1Dnal i~rovements are also m1d~ to ass'st the ~ublic i" uti'lzing the
community center and finding their wa) to the various functi~ns and
destinations and for making the experience logical and pleasurable. These
changes are enhanced through proposed landscaping. Parking 1S increased
throug~ restripinq ~th1n the confines of the existing paved areas. with only
minor expansions. Finally. the construction of some new facilities 15
propDsed, including a lobby and rest room fo;~ the existing theater, a new
gyanas1u.. two new two-story bui1dings in the place of t~ existing single
story buildings, i small amphitheater and acoustical shell in an eXisting
courty&rd area. , SO-eeter swimming poo1. and in addition t~ the .u'tip~rpnse
rOM.
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Tne plan's divided fnto two parts; the Implementation PTan which focuses on
the 1aproYeMents plan~ed for the next three to five years, and tne Master Plan
which loots .he.d to the potentl.1 on the sit. for the entire life of the City
lease agreement. The Implement~tion Plan and ~aster Plan ire described in t~e
Haster Plan report lnd fn the February 8. 1991 staff report, pages 3 through
6. The process fer developing the Master Plan has b~en one with strong
c~n1t1 outreach and involvement, thro~gh numerous noticed neighborhood and
community meetings. heavily attended by both the neighhorhood and ~ser groups,
and Is .1so described in the Febro,ry 8, 1991 stiff report (pages 6 and 7).
Planning C9mpjssjon Recommendatign
At their -.eting of March 13, 1991, the Fllnni~9 CommiSSion unanimo~sly
adopted a .atlon to approve only the Implementation Pl.n portion of tne Master
Plin , but not the entlrt document. Thefr motion included the following
..elflcatio"s to the [~l~ntation Plan, I} the bl.achers would remal. and
be maintained; 2) the fields would be rec~nf;gured according to Attachment A,
rither t~an the field configuration ShDWn on the Implementatfon Plan document;
3) the th •• ter lobby and rest roOMS would be .dded; 4} interior repairs and
the renoYitions to GymS A and B, anly w1t"in tn! par~ters of the
1~leoentation Plan, would be included. The motion was supported with the
staff-recommended findings and conditfo~s is shown in t~e report dated Harch
8, ]991. Chair.an ~arsh, in an explanation of her vote (refer to minutes page
90), was the only .ember of t~e Commission who ~ould haye been comfortable
voting for the entire "aster P1.n as recommended by staff.
The C~issiDn's reasons for adopting only th! Implementation PTan are
trans.itted fully 10 the .ttached mlnutos of the meeting of ~.rc~ 13, 1991.
In .sYmlHry, tke aajorit), of tile COlTlTlissioners fouf)d the plan to be Dyerly
ombitlous. They were concerned that t~e Cubber1ey Community Center commit~nt
is beIng .ade ot the tl .. when t"e budget shortfall situation Is likely to
lead to cuts i. existing tity services and CIP I~rovements that have been
long-awaited. This presents I negative impression to the public w~en certa1n
prograas and commitments are being ~educed Simultaneously ~th a ~jor
c~ltment {capital i~rDv~~nts and maintenance} t~ the Cubberley Ccmmunity
Center. Tne aspect of the Mister Plan which Commissioners found partic~'ar~l
bot~er5ome was t~e landscape ~serve fD~ parking and t~e en(roachment onto the
fields for c;rculatfon and parking around tne rear of t~e site at the tennis
court arei. All Commis$foners were iB agreement tnat tne fields and open area
should not be compromised, now or in the futur!.
Architectyral Rey~ew BUard (ARB) Recommendatipn
The ARB, at thefr .eeting of Rarc~ 21, 19S1, yoted unaniaously to recommend
approval Df t~e Implementltion Plan portion of th! Master Pl~n dOcUZ2nt, and
expressed sup~rt for the concept of a Haster Plan but contfnued the proposed
~.st.r P1.n for further design development. They based their recommend,tlon
on the stiff-recOMmended findings and conditions ~it" the following addit;onal
conditIons, I} traffic circulation adjacent to the Greendell School area
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shall be satisfactorily resolved; 2) p~iyat! fundi"g for specific projects on
the site s~all have i p~rcentage set I~!de for necessary genera' s;te
fmprovements, through a mec~anjsm sfmilar to a~ assessment d1strictj 3) the
landscape reserve for parKfng shall be deleted and no furt~er Encroach~nt
into tn" playing fields, beyond that shown 1. the Implementatio" PIa" shall be
i~lowed; 4J further development of the Master Plan shall be requ1red fDT
interface of vehicles, pedestria~s, courtyard$, iighting, landscaping and
colors.
The reasons that tne majority of the ARB appro¥ed only the Implementation Pl~n
are stated in more detail in t~e minutes of their meeting. In summary. the
Board felt that the Master Plan was "ot ambitious enough. The majority felt
that the eourtyard concept, cre.ted by the demolition of existing buildings
and reconstruction of new buildings, should logically be extended to
additional areas of the sit!. Tn! A~B also directed that there needs to be a
better blending of the proposod and existing facilities, and toat t~e
pedestrhn circulation should be fllrther explored and deoveloped 1n (onju~.(tjon
~ith the building .. dific.tlons and adjust .. "ts. Finally they felt that the
la~dscaping plan needs further development. Members Df the Soard were
gener.lly ent~usiastlc regarding the concept of augmenting the Cubberl.y
facility through the private fundra1sing cOI'!<:epts s<Jggested by Community
Seriices staff.
Discussjon
Staff continues to recommend adoption of tne f.l1 Master Plan for the
Cubberle1 C~unlty Center, based ~n modified findings and (onditians outlined
io this report. Staff appreciates th. financlal concerr.s expressed by the
Planning Commisslon; however, ultimate use of general fund monies lies within
the di$CretioD of the Council. Staff remains enthusiastic over the potential
fDr public/private partnership in implementing the various projects identified
on the Master Plan. These project ideas are likely to come forward from the
enthUSiastic citizens of the community through private proposals. The primary
advantage and p~rpose of the plan is to direct, focus and coordinate the
individual efforts of I variety of users and t~ assure that the plans of one
group will not negatively impact the plans of another. the vision of tne City,
or the qual;ty of l;fe of the neighborhood and community. Without the Master
Plan, tt.e process will occur illl iI pieceme .. i and uncoordinated manner.
Staff also appreCiates t~e comments and concerns of the ARB that t~. plan did
not go far enQu~~ ift transforaing the Cubberl!y C~nity C!nter to the
fa(ilit, it has potentiil to beco.e. Many compromises were aade during the
COMmunity ~eting process. Compr~ises ~re pri.aril, made in an effort to
.inlmize land use i~acts on the surrDu~ding neig~borhood and in in effort to
retai~ the existing fields and open spat!, to ~et the legal requirements of
the zoning ordinance is it relates to parking, and for financial reasonS. The
plans are ~er1 conceptual at this pOint, and it is t~e i~tent of staff to
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furth~r develop the plans for the Master Use Perm1t t ARB Ind building permit
proces!es to fol1Q~ in each stage of f~ture tmplementatfDn.
The following Issues were raised by t~e Planning Commission and ARB and
deserv& further d1scus!fon to tbis report: 1) landscape reserve for
f~lfilling tne parking requirement; 2) two-way circul.tion around t~e entire
stte and tennis co~rt relocation to accommodate circulation and additfonal
parking; 3) risk ass.ssment of t~e c~allenge course; and 4) revised fl.ld
loyout.
LandsCiDf Reserve for Parking
The Cubberley Community Ce~ter. upon comp1!tion of tne Master Plan. would
requlre 1,654 parting spates. There are now 715 spaces on site, and the
<.-pus is c"rrentl; operitlng with a defic,t of 463 sp.ces. The ",st.r Plan
will incr •• s. the d.flcit to 827 spaces_ B.c.use the cede requires the
applicant tc provide parting only for tbe incremental increase in parking
caused by tho proposed impro .... nts. the parking requlreoent far tn~ Cubberl.y
Master Plan is equal to the deficit it project build-out .Inus the existing
deficit, or 364 spaces_ Of that 364 spaces, the Mast.r Pl •• proposes to add
liZ spaces, l.aving 252 spaces unmet.
There are three ~rimary aechanfs=s in the code fDr handlfng t~at unmet parking
require.ent. The ,arking rfq~1re.ent can be: 1) deferred into landscape
reserve; 2) deferred into bicycle parking at a rate of 8 blcycl. spaces for
one autooobile space; 3) controlled through conditions of the us. pentit which
would ~ot allow certafn large occupancy factlft~es tD be used si.ultaneously,
thereby reducing the parking raquireaent at Iny given ti.e to I conforming
l •• el. Staff hiS recoomended that all three of these .. chanisms be engaged it
Cu!>berley_
HoweYer, the concept of landscape r.s.rve has been recommended against by both
the Planning CommiSSion .nd the ARB. Snauld the City Council select to
dispense witt! the landscape reSeT\le cDncept, the result will not be
significantly dlfftrent t~an ~av1ng the reserve, since use of tne res~rve has
nev.r been regarded as I likely occurrence. In any event, staff wfll need to
rely h •• vily on the other two mechanls.s; particularly control of overlapping
large~occupancy uses. tOlmUnity Services stiff is confident that they can
obtai. teaporarl off·site parking agreements and coordinate shuttle services
far special events if the canditfons of t~e ~aster use pe~it beco;e too
blndill!l_ It should be noted that it is not possible to .llow the parking at
Charleston Center to be counted tow.rd the Cubber1ey site through an off-sit.
agreeaent. as ~as be~n suggested in t~e publi' hearings on this item, except
through temporary us. pe""1t. Although it is a practice engaged i. by •
variety of ~sers of tne Cubberley campus, the snapping center is i retail use
~ich ~as Its own plrk~ng requirement, and the two uses are in operltion
during the sa.< hours. Th.refore the Shopping C.ot.r site would not qualify
for a p.noonent off-sit. parking ,greement_
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Twg-Way Cjrc~lit1on
While t~e Coemlsslo" and ARB agreea with staff that the c,rculatio"
faprovements i~ound Sreendell School were imperative~ they did not agree that
t~el were necessary around tne oth~r constricted area on tne 3fte near the
tenr,fs courts. Neither the Conmissfon or ARB cou1d justify the trade-off of
losing some of the field area that would' restilt Tn relotating ttle tennis
courts 1~ ~rder to gain widened travel lanes for twa-way traffic and
additional parking .10ng th~ new lanes.
Should the City Council decide to follow the recommendati.n of the ARB ana
Planning Commission in this regard, the result wouid be a net reduction in the
parking provided on stte of 67 spaces~ This would enlarge the deficit and
parking require5ent from 252 ummet spaces to 319 unmet spaces. Once this
reduction in parking Occurs~ t~e options are tG: J} proport!onitely decrease
the .-Gunt of additIonal floor are. to be added in the M.ster Plan; or
Z) further ,"strict the ability of cert.1n large-oceupincy facllitie. to
ope rite siaultaneously ; or 3) find another on-site location for the parking.
Snould the reduction of on·site improvements be the Method select~d. staff
recDmmends the elimination of the extra gymnasium. Tne extra gym generates
the need for 150 parking spaces. It should be noted that tne concept of •
pirting structure was examined duri~g the eourse of the ~aster Plan process.
but vas disregarded due to neighborhood input and cost consid~rations.
Risk AsseSSment of the Cba11enge Course
Thl$ type of function is a ·use-at·your-DWn-risk· situation. Signs indicating
s ... ,hould be posted at e.c~ stop along the course. Th. C1ty's liability
expos~re for this progra~ is mi~imal.
Alternative fIeld (lyout
The Plann1ng Commission has recommended that an a1ternative field layout be
used to that which Is presented in the Master Plan, Imple~entatiQn Plan phase.
Their re~sons are that t~e design shown In the Mister Plan docu~ent red~ces
t~e acreage of the open space and reduces the ~unt ~f field area available
for drop-iR and youth practice activities. The revised plan saintains the
same turf area and continues similar use patte~s to ~at occurs today_
Community Serviees stiff are comfortable with the revised field design but the
loss of the space does result in i trade-off of providing less parking~
STAFF RECOMI:NDATlOH
Staff recoamend. t~at the City Council adopt the Neg,tive Declaration and
approve the Cubberley Naster Pl •• , based on the findiog, listed below_ [n
addition~ t~e condition to use an alter~ative field design. s~9gested by the
PlannIng CoaIiss!on, 'as been aaded.
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FlNllINGS
1. The Master Ph" will ensure-constructlO" and operation of the use in .a
IIlnner that w111 be orderly, hannon1olJs. and compatib1e wit" tile:
exhtlng or pDtenthl tls-es of the ldjoi.ning Dr nearby sites, in that the
facility will be improved .nd "int'ined for coemunily center us. for
culturll and recreational purposes, I deSire expressed i~ the
Comprehensive Plan and re,ffinood by tn. neighboring residents during
the ~zster Plana commYnity o~trea(~ process.
2. The M •• t.r Plan will ensure tne desirability of investment i. tha s.me
ldjatent areas, because it will allow for maintenance and improvement of
facilities, which would otherwise be unable to be properly maintained
and i lip roved ~
3. The ~aster Plan ~il) ensure that sou~d prfnciples of environmental
design ind ecologicil balance shall be observed, as documented in tne
attached enVironmental detenP.1nation.
4. The llaster Plan "Ill ensure tnat the use will be in accord witll the Palo
Alto Comprehensive Phn. part1cwlarly Pol!c1es lind 2, arid Progra~5 I,
2 and 3 of the Schools .nd Parks Element.
CONDITlOliS
1 Any further proposols to require additional parking beyond that
indicated ;. the "a.ter Pl.n sh.ll be referred by tne Director of
Planning and Co.aY~;ty Environment to the Planning C~i5siDn for
recosoend.tlon and tlty Council for final oction. Tbls condition Is
intended to prevent tne conversion of requfred parking. shown in the
Master Plan 1$ landscape deferril 1n the field Irei~ to be converted
through in adal.istrot;ve process t. ,ctual parking without benefit of •
f.ll public bearing.
2. A Cubberley Adyisory Committe. sh.ll be appointed, compris.d of ~.bers
of the Green Meadow CORmunity Association, e~isting and potential
ten.nts of Cubberl.y, members of the community at large, a member of the
PJanning tommfss;on and Com.unitJ Services Oepirt~nt staff. This
Ccamitte. sh.ll hold open public meetings to develop recoaoendations for
future iople.ent,ti.o phases of the Cubberle, Haster Plan prior to "y
application for the Ka.te~ Conditional Us. Penait ~yo"d the
IMpleMentation Plan defined ;, the document. T"e recommend,tion. of the
Cubb.rley Advisory Comaittee and • summary of their process for deriving
the recoomendation will be trans.ittad to the Zoning Adainlstrat.r with
any f~ture applicatton$ for future Conditional Use Per.its an the site.
3. The iltemltive field design shown on Exhibit A shall be substituted for
that Included on the IMplement.tion Plan 'nd "aster Plan. TOi.
substitut@ design shall he conditioned with either I] i red~r.tIQn In the
proposed "ew 1~rDyeme"t$t i.e., the extra gymnasf~m; b) further
restrlction through the use pe~it on the $i~ltaneQus use and occupancy
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of certlia large-occupanc~ facilitiesj or 3) I substitute proposal for
providing additional spaces Qn-sfte.
Respectfully SU7baitted •
./J., .J.!.J/j-
NANCY MADDOX LYTLE
Zoning Adol.l'tr,t.r
~ 'p.?/-/
/wli1l£d 71. __ --kflutlt:;
KENNETH R. SCHREIBER
Director of PlannIng and
C7n
: ;z::~-~-
P~Tfr[-TGEN ---
~irector of Social and
Cooaunlty Servic~
I r--'/ V-~ UU--4~==>---
WILLIAM ZJI.NER
City "-nager
Attac~nt.: A --Alternative Field Design
B . Negative Oecl,ratlon
C . March 8, 1991 ,t.ff report to Plaroning Coomission o -February 8, 1991 staff report to Planning Commission
E Excerpt of Planning Commfssion minutes of Marc~ )3, i991
F Excerpt of Planning Commission minutes of February 13. 1991
& . Excerpt of ARB .inut.s of March 21, 1991
H -file Correspondence (Council Members and librarfes only)
cc: Planning CommissiGn
Arc~itectural Review Board
Cubberley Master Plan Steering Committee
Pal. Alto Tennis Club, P. O. Box 6~434, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Jlck H~ilton, Vice President, Green Meadow Community Association,
303 Park'ide Drive, Palo Alto, CA 94306
louise Herrins, Co~Chair, Civi~ Affairs Committee, Green Meadow
Co.munity Association, 303 Parks ide Orive, Palo Alto,CA 94306
Sandy Snodgr~ss, Save Cubberley Park Comm1tt!e, 362 Parkslde Drive, ,.10 Alto, U. 94306
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.ASTER Pt."" SITE" PLAN
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<n,ironmental Oocwoents -City of P,lo Alto
fNVlRONMENIAl ASSESSMENT
Project OescrfptfonjTftle: Master pTa~ for community use of tne CubberTey
High SchDol $ ite. 1ncJudirtg a flit increase of 2L.!2Q square feet of building
ildditi~'"-s, added garking. new pORl and landsc.aping. «located tennh courts
an~ circulation ~hanges.
loc.tion/Address: ~OOO Middlefleld Road. palo Alto
Sponsoring Agency/Applicant: Clt. of Pilo Alto I Faul Tnl1tgen
Address and Telephone of Applicant: 4000 Middlefl.ld Road. (4151 329-2188
Application for: approval of Master Plan
(e.g., zoning change! subdiv;sfon of property. arc~itectura' rE¥iew, use
pel'll1it)
ZonIng .t Project location: ...LJPFL-__ Fee Receipt No.:
NOTICE OF PfJERMlNaTION
Based upon review of the project fiTes, the undersigned ~mber of tbe Planning
Depirtme~t has conclu~ed:
IXI ~Itive Qyclaratton: The project has no sfgnificant environmental
impact~ No [nvironmental i~act Report is required~ The reasons for a
DeclaTitlon are:
In the attached I~itiil Study, A recqrd of Droiect action is avai~
for review jt the palo Alto Recreation Depirtment hetw!e~ the hQ~rs of
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. 10catod at 4QQC Mjddlefield ~o.d. Pal. Alto.
1:1 The prcject may have J significant enVironmental imp!ct. An
[r.vironmental Impact Report~Wi 1 be pre~a d~
Planning Department Official; ___________________ __
Planning oir,,!or: ~ .~ to: 2U (el/
The praj~ct bas been approyed.
The project has been deniea.
AMrNO[O JANUARY 31, 1990
Oat.:
1)ate:
file No.: 90-<14·54
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£nviranaental Oocuments -Cit1 of Palo Alto
[NV!ROHHENr~l ASSESSK[HT
Project Oescription/TitlE': Muter Phn for cornniJnih use --'tLnthe Cubberley
High School sjte. including f net increase of 2i.49Q sguar~ f~et of building
additions, added parking. n~ pool Ind landscaping. relocated tennis coyrts
and circulation changes.
tocation/Addre,,: 4000 ~iddlefi.ld ROld. PlIo Alto
Spoo,oring Agency/Applicant: Cit. of PlIo Alto I Paul Thiltgen
Addre" .nd Telephone of Applic.nt: 4000 Middlefield Road. !4lS) 329·2188
Application for: inproval of Ha!t.r Plan
(e,g,. loning c~ange. subdivision of prDpert1~ architectural review, ~se
pe .... ;t}
loning at Project Location: -",PFC"", __ fee Receipt Ho.:
NOTICE Of p£TERHINATION
Based upon reyjew of the project fil~$. the und~rsigned member ~f the Planning
DepartMent has concluded:
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fteqatiyt Qeclaration; The project ~as no Significant environmental
iMPact. No Enyi~Dn~ntal r~act Report is required. The reasons for a
Declaritl0n are:
In the attached rni i tUd. eco?'d f ro' ct action is available to?' review at the Palo Alto Rectcation DePlrtme" W R the h ~rs of
8:00 ~ to 5:00 ~. located .t 4000 ~jddl.fj.ld Road, Polo Alto,
~ Cubbe.ley Property ~oagement Office
The project may have i sfgnifican
En~ironmental I~pact Report wll
Planning Depar~nt OffiCial:
environeental impact. An
pr.p~
Plar,'ing Oir.ctor: ~ s.k4
Tna project has been approved.
The project has been de~ied.
Oa t.: {--5> ''11
D.te:
Date:
File No,: 90·EIA·S4
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[NVIRONK£NTAL DOCUKEKTS -INITIAL STUQY
I. Project Tttle/Address, 4000 Middlefteld Ro.d. Pilo Alto
II. Project DescrIption: Master plln for Community use of the Cybber1ey
H\~~ Sr~~l sjte. Plan (Ills for. net increlse of 21,490 SQ. ft. of
building Idd1tions. 1]2 additional parking spaces. relocation Df the
existing tennis courts, iotrelsed lAndscaping. circylation improvements
aad building uiXlrades. The plan is to be fmplepenUd over a nugr of
~ as funds Irt iv,11abl., Tb. currant 1pp1fmtntJtfon plln cills for
all bYilding upgrides. ]41 nrw parking 50ae's. new Jlnds,JDfng And in
800 sq. ft. storage/restrggl buildfng.
[II. Environ~ntil Setting: 35,4 acr. sSt! dcyt1QPtd yfth tvp l c,1 "'gh
School facility. wlt~ ZZ bUIldings tot.lllng 181.990 s. ft .. 694.500 sg.
ft. of athletic fields and 712 'Iistjng plrking ;PJbrs. Site 1$
5ur~ounded by single family residential Uses to nQrt~, south and past.
and shopping center to west.
IV. [nviroROent.1 l~.<t ChecklIst [[.plln.tion of .11 "yes" onswers are in
Section V)
I. fiill.. ViII the propo •• l res.lt 1.: ill !'1m[
a. Unstable e.rt~ conditions or c~.nges
1. geol09ic substructures?
b. Oisruptions, ~ispl.cements~ compac-
tion or oyereovering of the solI ...L
c. Change in topography or ground
$urface relief features?
d. T~e destruction, cover~ng or ~di-
fic.tlon of '"1 unique geologt~ Dr
Phys!c,1 f •• tures?
e. Any increise ia w1nd or water eroiion
of soils, either on or off the sit.?
f. Exposure Df people Dr property to
geologic ~Izards sue~ as earthquakes,
land,ltdes, .udslldes, ground fOllur •
or si.il.r hazards? ..L
g. Changes In ,iltltion, depOSition, Of
erosion whIch .. y .odlfy the ch,nnel
of • river or the bed of • b.y or
ill.t?
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2. !it. Will the propos.l result !n:
I. Subst&ntlll lir a.tsstons or de·
ttrlorltlo. of 1Mbi_nt air qUlllty?
b. The cr.ation of objectlon.bl. odors?
c. Alterltion of lir -av..ent, DOisture
teoper.ture, or any chlnge I. ell·
.. te, .It~r locll1y or reg!onal?
3. ~. Will the proposil result !.:
I. C~.ngos I. Ib,orptlon rlt.s, dralnlge
pltterns, or the rlt. and amou"t of
surfic. IfItor runoff? ...L
b. Alterations t. the course or flow of
flood w.t.rs?
c. Discharge 19to surf.,e wlterJ. or in
Iny Ilteration of surface w.ter
qUllity, Including but not liMited to
ta.periture, dissolved oxygen Dr
turl>ldlty?
d. Alter.tlon of the direct!on or rat.
of flow of ground water.?
e. [.posur_ of people or property to
woter rel.ted hazlrds such I' flood·
Ing or tldol •••• ?
f. Chlnge i. the qUlntlty of ground
.it.rs, either through direct
additions or .ithdraw.ls, Dr throug~
i.terceptlons of an I~u!f.r by cuts
Dr exc.aYiltiansl
4. Plant life. Will the proposil res.lt 1ft:
I. Change 10 the diversity of specl •• , or
number of lny species of pllnts (I.·
eluding tries, $hrubs. grl", trops •
• lcroflDr. Ind aquatic ,lInt.)? -'-
...L
_L
...L
...L
...L
...L
...L
b. Reduction of the • .-bers of ~
unique, rare or endangered I~r.,
of pllnts? -1_
90E IAS4B Page 2
. ,
\ .\
-J
. :...-~
/.
,"-
( . ':" r-.
ill !lAm. KQ c. I.troductlon of new specie. of "aftt. Into In Irtl. Gr In • b.rrllr
t. tM no,...' roplonlshloent of
Ixf,tlng .poclls! ..L
d. IIocNctlOll I. lcr.oge of lny
av!cwH ..... , crop! ..L
5. Anlllil..L1.fJ • Will t~ proposa' re.ult In:
I. (hInge 1. the dl.er.lt, of speties,
or of lny .pecle. 0' tnl.lls (bIrds.
lInd ani .. ,s 1n<lvdin; repliles.
fl.h Ind sh.llfll~. bent~!c orglnl ....
'osects or _Icrof.unl)? ..L
b. Ile<hl<:UOII .f tM nlllllbtrs .f .ny
....1"" •• rare or ondl"llered species
of lIIluh? ..L
c. '"troductlon of now s,..,l ... ,
,nSaals fnto In Ire •• or result in
• blrrle. to tho .Igratlon or .... -
... t of lIIl .. h? ..L
d. Deterioration f. existIng fish Dr
vncfl i f. habi ht? ..L
6. kill. Will the proposal r ••• lt 1o:
a. Incr •• s •• I ••• Istlng no'" It,els? ..L
b. Exposure of plOpl. t~ Severe noise
le.els? ..L
7. lIght •• d Gllre. VIII the propos.'
produce new light 9'"rt1 ....:L-
8. land Us.. Wil' tho ,rGPQSll result I.
I substlntl., llterltlon of tho preslnt
or planned l.nd use .f tn "",! ..L
9. En~rg~lftitU[j] RliQW~II~ 11m tho
proposil result I.:
I. U.e of substlntlal aoount. of , •• ,
or energy: J..
b. Substantial 'nert ••• I. 60alnd u~
ex1stiDg sources of anergy, Dr
9OElAS4B Plge 3
-/
•
\" " --
• --';~: c ...~" "';'
o
!!Am fjQ
require the develapoent of new
sources or energy? ...L
c. Incr.as. I. the rate of us. of In~
r.itur.l resources? ...!...
d. Substantial depletion of .n~ nonre.
newible n.tural re.ouTte? ...!..
JO. list Of Upset. Does the ,roposil
Involve. risk of an e.ploslon or the
reTeas, of hiZ~rdOUS sUbstances (1n~
clodlng, but not 11.lted to, all,
pesticIde., c~ .. icals or radiation} 'n the OYint of an .celdent or upset? ......L
II. fgRullt1~DLHQ~~jDg.
•• WIll the proposal liter the locltlon,
df$tributtOh, den~itYI or growth rat.
of Ue h .... n populo!lon of an area? .L
b. Will the propos, I .ffect ,xlstlng
bous1ng, or crute a demand for
additIonal hOUSing? ......L
12. T[jni~rlltIRnltj['K111!QD. IIfll the propos.l result I.,
a. Genoratlon of substantial .ddltlon~l
vehle"lar " .... nt? -L
b. Effocts C~ .xisting parking facili.
ties, or demand for new parking? ...!..
c. Alterations to present patterns of
cfreulltfon or .ovtment of people
and/or goodS! ...!...
d. Incre.se '0 traffic ha,.rds to .. tor
vehicles, bicyclists or pedestrians? ..1...
JJ. PUblic S.rvlc.s. 11111 the propo •• l have
an effect upon, or result I. a need for new
or .1tered gove .... nt.l services I. anI of
the following are •• :
a. fjre protection? ..1...
9O£1A548 Page 4
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b. Pell,. prote.tlon?
t. Schooh?
d. PITtS Dr ot~er recreational
htIHtle.?
e. ",Intenance of public flcllitles,
Including roads?
f. Ot~.r goverrJOental services?
14. Utilitle.. Will the proposal result In •
need for new "st.-., or substa.tl.,
.'teratlcns to the following utilities:
•• Pover or natur.l 9as?
b. C_unicltions sJ'stells?
~. Vater?
d. Sewer or septle tank?
•• Stona .ater drainage?
f. Solid w.ste Ind disposal?
15. Hu.an He!lth. Will the propo •• , result
In:
•. Creation of .ny health hazarel or
potential health hazarel (excluding
... nt.l heal th)?
b. E.po.ure of peepl. t. pot.ntlal
health huardsl
16. AesthetIc.. Will the prop.sal ro.vlt
in the obstructIon of In1 ,conlc Vlst.
or view open to the publiC, Or _Ill the
propo •• l res.lt In the or •• tlon 0' In
.esthEtlcally offensl •• sit. op.n to
pubic vlew?
17. Recreation. Will the propos.' result
1ft an I~act u~on the quality or quantity
of e.I.tlng recre.tlonal opportunltfes? -X-
-X-
-X-
-X-
J..
_1_
90ElA~ B P&ge 5
/ . '
-.
L_. ____
,
I .r'-"
0 . .....,
ill Mill t!Q
18. C,ltdral ResQurces.
a. Wlll the propo.ll r.,ult In the
.ltlrltlo" of/or t~ d.structlo~
of • prehistoric or hIstorIc
Ircha.ologlcal sIt,? l
b. Will the p,op~sll result In ad-
Vers. physical or lesthetlc .ffects
to I prehistoric Dr ~IstDric
bQlldlng. structure; or object? l
c. noes the proposil hive the potential
to cluse a physical change whIch
would affect unlqu, c.ltural •• lu.sl ...L.
d, WIll the proposil restrIct exIsting
rellglou. Dr sacred •• ~, wlthl, the
potential loplct lrea? ...L.
]9. ~ndJt2[~ Eindjng~ gf ~fgnjfi~iD~.
a. Poes the project hl.t the potentIal to
degrode the quallt1 of the envlronoent,
,ubstlntllll, redUCI the habit.t of I
fish Dr vildHfe species, CIUS •• fish
or Wildlife pop.lotlon to drop below
self-sustaining le.els. t~re.t •• to
.11.I.lt. a plant or ""1 .. 1 ' ..... It1.
reduce the .umber or restrict the
ranse of ill ra re or end.angered p lint CI r
a.I .. l Dr elimlnat. loportlot .'Ioples
of t~ .. jor perIod. of Callforola
hlsiory or prehl5tory? ...L.
b. Poes the project ha.e the potentIal
tD .c~ieye short~teMl* to the dis·
advantage of long·tenl t enY;ro~ntll
goals? (A short-te, .. '1IpIct on the
en.!ro ... nt Is one which occur> I. a
relatively brlaf. defInItive Ptrlod
of tI .. ..toile long-te .. lopacts wi 11
...L. endure ... 11 Into the future.)
c. Ooes the project ha •• IOPICts whlc~
are Ind!.Id"ally II.fted, but
cu.ulatlvely considerable? (A pro-
Ject .'1 lopact on two .... IIOre
s.parate resources where the lopact
90EIA548 'agl 6
' ... "
;", .. '
., ,-?-~~~--; ~ yo"~ , .
D ••• th resourco Is rllltl,.l,
... 11, but wnere the .ffeet of the
total .f th ••• I~.ct. on the
enylro .... t IJ Jlg",rlelnt.)
d. Goes the project ~ •••• ~'Iro ... nt.l
.ff.cts whIch will el.'. substlntlll
ad'ers! offect, on huaan bol"9s,
either dIrectly or Indirectly!
.< .
ill
Y. E.planlt;on of 'yes' Inswer, 'n •• ,Iromoent.l ehlckllst.
See athehed,
!llJE1A54B '"g! 7
i ,
I
-'"".
0 "~"/
I (b,fl Earth. The buflding additions. de~'itfon$, e~pansion of parkfng
areas and creation of new lanGs(iped Ire.s propos~ in t~t ~ister Plan will
~.ve •• inor f~.ct on s!te 50115. Mlnl.al grodlng will be necessary .s the
sit. Is • level developed site. T~. gre.test .-ount of gr.1ing proposed will
be for creit~on of the new pool at SOle f~ture date. The cu~rtnt
I~le .. ntltl .. pIon wIll hi.e 0 neglIgible Impact .s only parking lot
I~roveaents .nd one s~all BOO-squlre·foot buIlding will be .dded. fInal
grlding plans for any sIt. grading will be subject to revie. and .ppro.11 by
the Public Works o.plrt .. nt.
\
Th~ project sit. Is loe.ted I. I s,I .. lc .re. of lOderlt. risk, .nd _III be
subject to very strong ground s~lklng In the event of In earthquake. Existing
structures will be upgroded, Ind new structures wIll be subject to c.-pllance
with the requireaents of the current UnIform BuildIng Code, portions of Which
ire directed it redUCing loss Df life or property 1~ t~t event of an
earthQuake. Thes ... asures will reduce seismic risk to In acceptable level.
l 1.1 Water, Th. site currently has approxlmatel1 683,000 squlro feet of
i~erviQus coverlge~ The ~a5tlr Flan will redute iepervicus coverage by
60,000 sQuare fe.t due to Ihe Iddltlon of sub.t.ntlll land,caping prlcipally
due to pl.ntlng of t~e preylous paved courtYlrds. This c~ange wIll have cnly
a negligible faplct on $ite and Ire. drafnage. final drainage plans for an~
sIte c~'nge. wIll be subject tD the review and Ipprov.1 of the Public Works
o.pa rtmen t.
4 101 Pl,nt life, The conceptull landsclpe plln shown on the sll. pIon shows
that • sub.tantill lmount of new landscaping will be Idded to the sIte as part
of the inili.l I~leoenlltion propo.al for the Ma.ter Plan. Hew groups of
tree. and land.c.pe pl.nters will be added with!. and bordering I~e existing
and expanded parking Ire... The f.ll "a.ler plan 11so cills for the
replace.enl of .. c\ of the existing paying betw •• n buildIngs wIth new
landscaped areas and Ihe cr.atlon of • new centr.1 courty~rd between buildings
"A" and ·C". The "jority of the existing tr •• s will be ret.ined. The
exceptions are the trees loc.ted e •• t of the PaVilion -"Ich wIll be removed by
the circul,tion I~roveoents proposed r. this Irea, .nd we,t of Buildir.g "l"
fer the proposed building expansion. The incre.sed landscaping on the site
will have beneflcfal iBpa~ts on the Ippeara~t~ and attractlvenes5 of the
facility. Gotalled pllns for III •• lor!or chang •• on the site, Including all
new landscaping and exterior llg~ting or archltect.ril elements will be
subject to revIew and approval by the Archltectura1 Aevle. Board.
6 Cal Noise. Sfte CQnstructfon activities will 1~crels! ambient noise levels
te.pcrarily. All construction ictiyltles will be subject to compliance with
the City's Nois. Ordinance (PAKC 9.IOj.
Future activttl!s to OCCur on the site may also fncrease ambient noise le~~ls
for the duritlon of the Ictlvity, 5uch IS us. of the new outdoor pool and
outdoor $tage and acoustic.l s~el1. Not5e fra. h~n yofces is not Iddressed
i. the City's Noise Ordinance, but Iny amplified .. sic would be subjett to the
ordinance. Such potential sources of nofse will not hive sig~1ficant .d~erse
i~.cts on Idjoiling neighbor., but 50nsltlylty s~ould be .-ployed by the City
9OElA548 Pige B
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•
\
, -j
~ ~
• t
1
tn luthorizing Ind controlling t~e 5ched~lfng of Iny outdoor Ict'vities Ind
aetfvitfes •• fng aoplfffed puslc, o~ other type of .-plfffe.tfon to .lni.;le
potenti., nols. loplct.. Suc~ tootrnl. ca. be established through the tlty's
leasing and use penalt proces.lng.
7 light and Glare. The new parking lot loprovements proposed .al fnclude n ••
lightIng for securltl purpose •• Such lighting should not adversely .ffeet
s.rrounding use •• provided that ft fs low le.el. low Illumination, directional
lighting. Any proposed lighting changes will require review and Ipprov.l by
the Architectural Review Board.
10 Risk of Upset. Mlfnten.nce of t~e new pool will require use of chlorfne
and there I. potentIal that s ... of tn. artl.t ... y use .inor .mounts of
mlterii1s such IS solvents whit~ would be classified "hillrdc~S. l~e cst
and .torage of these type. of .aterl.l. will b. subject to co.plfance with the
requirements of Tltl. 11 of the Pal. Alto Municipal Code {Storage of HaL.rdau<
~.teri.1s'.
11 I b) Po.ulotlo.mou, I ng. The eCHrIIIUnl ty act hit I es vhl e~ "ill occur on the
site .a1 result I. I .inor fner.a.e In loc.l o.plQyment opportunitfes but .ny
such Incre.se i ••• pected to have onll a negligIble IBplct on the local
housing demand.
It la,b) Tran.portatlon/Clrcul~
Traffic l!!OaeU
The .. ,ter plan result. I. I chJnge of 'QU'~ footag. from approxl .. tel,
182,000 square feet existing to 203,$00 squire feot·-an fnereas. of 21,500
square feet.
Trfp genoratlo. rites fr .. an elrlfer stud] of the Jordon Szhool Site and froro
the Institute of Transportation fngineers were applfed to the net changes in
site •• es ,s descrIbed on pages 14 and IS of the ~ster Plan, The follOWing
fopacts of the "aster Plan were found. relative to the .s. of Cubberloy at the
beginning .f 1990:
Incr •••• f. dilly trip' to/fro. C"bberley,
Rel.tive fncre.,. fn Average Dalll trlffle (ACT'
on Nlddlefleld north of Cubberley,
Rel,tive fnere •• e 'n ADT o. Nfddl.fleld
.outh of Cubberle],
Incre.,. ;8 evenfng (PM) pe.\ ~our trips
to/from tubberley:
1,415 trip,
5.5 percent
3.0 percent
76 trips
The fncr •• s. In PM p •• k hour trIps ••• distributed on Midd,.field north and
,~.t~ of the sIte for further detailed •• alysl. at the three signalized
9O£lA548 Page 9
o
'nters.cIIGo. nearest the .ito (Charle.ton/Mfddlefield, Hootrose/"iddleffeld,
Sa. Antonio/Middlefleld). The year 2000 and 2005 bulldout .0Iu .. , for the"
~ntrr$ections were deter.ined fro. t~~ Citywide lind Use ~nd T~in1portition
Study and represent construct'on of 111 sQuare footage under I ·re~11stic~
buildout scenario. The PM pe.k hour trfps fro. the .. ster plan were added to
the year 2000 vol ... , and compared to the 200; boildout volumes for e.ch
f.tersottl.n. Th. 2000 vol ... s with tho added traffic from the Master Pl.n
did not exceed tho 2005 bulldout volume! .t any of the threo IntersectIons.
'ndic,tfng no slgnlffcant !!pacts .t these fntersottlons (f .•.• proJect
triff~c does not caus~ the 1nt~rsectrons to exceed the volumes analyzed in the
Citywide Study fIR).
The increase 1n PM peak hour tr'ps at projEct drfveways is eQul~llent to In
approx1~te fncrease of one ve~icie per .fnute turnt~g left fnto t~e site and
on! ~ehitl~ per M1nute tur~inq r1ght 1nto the 51te during t~e heaviest part of
the PM peak hour. T~e fncreases in tr.fflc exiting the .Ite during the PM
peak hour are .iol .. l. The incr •• sed driveway actlvlt1 will not cre.t.
significant tr.ffic impacts. The Incr.ases In diil, traffic on Middlefield
will not be perceptible to the lverage driver or re.ldent. in summary, there
are no significant tr,fff< i~acts f~ the proposed .. ster plan, and thus, no
lIitigatioll me,a,sures Ire Tt'qufred.
On-Site CircwlatiRn
The Haster Plan ca~ls for a subs~lnt~ll reorglnfzation of the eXlsting parking
areas a~d 1mproved lite cfrtulat1on. T~e descriptIon of circulation and the
parking plan are provided on pages 20-21 of the Master Pl,n. The .. Jor
changes int~ude provisfon of two~wlY circtilatfon through the site. Tftis will
be accomplished by modifying the drop-off area t. Gnoondell School to
.I'.inate a sharp one-way right .ngl. turn and by .. lociting the tennis court;
to the .outh allowfng widening of tho drive.ay for two-way travel.
The nost common drop· off point used by parents of Greendell students is within
the Cubberle, parking lot at the northern conner of the sehGOI. The proposed
change to the Greendell School aCcess fs to modify the northern corner of t~e
site, to improve the safety of t~e drop-off whfch 1s ~s~ and eliminate the
existing Circular drop-off~ich is not DSed. Both of t~e cir(ulat10n changes
proposed will have ben~fic1al impacts on s1te Circulation and hElp ~uce
areiS of potential h~z.rd and conflict. Archltecturil Revi~w Board approval
cf a .are detailed parking and circulat10n plin w111 be required prfor to
lople~nt.tfon of any parking or clrc.latlon Changes. The apprOval process
for any circ.lotion c~anges which would affect 'r.endell school ... t include
approval by t~e '.10 Alto Unified School Cistritt.
,.rki1\9
'arking requirements .ory by type of use. Parking requirements for office
~$es such as nonprofit Qfffces ITe based on one space for every.250 square
feet of gross floor area. Parking req"lr.~nt. for school facilitfes are
based on t~e nuaber of te.c~lng stltlons. P,rklng requirements for coomunlty
facilitfes are based on the .. x!~ occupant load of the building. Parking
90ElA548 Fage iO
~~ ...... ---..... ----~-------~---~ --
•
re~ir.ents for b~cycles are b~~ed on I per~er.t~ge of vehlc1e spaces required.
ten percent cf parkfng reQ~ired for office us~s .nd 30 perce~t of parkiR9
r~quired for communit~ recreat1Gh uses. Under cu~rent parking reQuir~ments,
the 181,990 squire feet of building lrel at Cubberl., would require provision
of 1,178 vehicle parking .plC •• lnd 262 bicycle plrklng space,. The sIte n.w
hi' 715 vehlcl. parking Spices .mlth means th,t the Site Is operatIng with an
e.I,II"g deficit of 46) space,. The net Increase of 21,500 square feet of
additional b"llding are' and the new pool would Inc ..... the vehicle parking
requirement by 476 .pace. for l total of 1,654 spaces, and increa •• the
bltycle parking reqUirement to 395 spaces.
The Ko.t2r Plan will provide, ,et Increase of 112 .pace. to the 715 parking
spices currently e.tstlng on the ,Ite for a total of 821 spaces. The majority
of the new spaces will be added by the recooflgurlng of the exIsting parking
areas and i minor parking lot expansion into the playing fjeld. These
add1tfDnal spaces will ~elp to reduce tht increa,ed pirkin; demand which could
be generated by the proposed b~ild;ns expansions, but are not sufficient to
~it t~e full parkfng requirement for the l~crementll increase In deve10pment
preposed.
Based on f~ll occ~pa"cy of all facilities, the site wi'l operate with.
deficit of 327 pariing spaces under the "aster Plan. 'ar,tng under the
Implementation PI.n will be better as the additional parking would be odded
but the new building and pool additions would not yet have been added.
Farking under the Imple~ntatlon Plan would reduce the current deficit by 144
spICes.
Areis for bicycle park~ng ire sho~ on both tht "aster Plan and Imp1~mentit;on
Plan~ but the n~mbers of spa~es to be providEd are not speciffed. Additional
parki~9 areas ~i'l be n~cessary 1ft order to provide th~ required number of
bicycle parking 'paces Though the deMand for bicycle parking is not expected
to roac~ the lovels specified by the zonl"g regulations, bicycle p.rkl"~
opportunities ~hould be maximized to encourage use of bjcycT~s.
There;; sl'fficier,t iT"a to provide .11 required yehiculir and bicycle parking
on the site, but at the los, of , ,ubstantial portiO" of the playing fields
which wo~Td be considered a substantill loss to recreational opportunities.
It I. ackr.o.ledged that parking demand may exceed parking available during
peak periods and some spill-over parking will occ~r. However, the amount of
poter.tial spillover .hic~ would be considered <ccept,bl. to the City is •
policy issue, involving consfderition of t~e tr&de·offs of the ~ariDus parking
.lter.,tives --providing parking lnd lOOSing turf, putting up with some
spillover parking, or ",Hng blCk the project. Throughout t~e develop""nt of
the Master Pl~n! iDterested residents hiye aade It clear t~at the proposed
buildIng additlo •• should be constructed and playIng fl.lds s~o"ld be
preserved even if it me~ns I shortage of parking durfng peak ~se periQds.
Commu"ity fatilities such as Cubberley. present unique parking situations
which v.ry hourly, daily. and seasonolly and for which fixed parking rates .r.
difficult to determine. Though tho Zoning Ordinance bas.s parking
Page II
~: :
o
~1reMents O~ fw1l otcup~n(1 of all f.ctlitf.$. tht5 situation is likely to
OCCur on7y for Jf~lted periods, .nd can be controlled t~rough use 1imititions
1~Drporited fnto leise igree~r.ts and ~se perwtts. Not ill buildings or
'acllille, will be .,od .t the ,.me tiD! or Irt ,.11, occupl.d when they are
used. For t.xUlp1e the poo1 genentes a derund for 197 ,parking spaces, yet
will rarely be utllizod to "II clpacity exc.pt during the summer .. nth" and
weelends when ~ther site facilities. such is footht11 tl,ssroo=s. Ire not
~e'YII, ~sed. The tenant sthedultng 1nrormit~on for ex1stf~g us~s and the
"aster fla. u.o, (plge, 33 .nd 34 of t~o Haster Plan) show that occupant
level. It the site .ary throughout the day, Ire gre.test bet .. en t~. hours of
&-10 PM and re.ch a peat bet.e.n &-7 PM Monday through Thursd.y_ However, t~e
o.li.ated peak attend.nce on tho ,It. under tho Koster 'Ian or I~lementation
Pia. will not differ signIficantly fro. existing conditions and falls roug~ly
betwee" 1,100 to I,~OO oct"pants.
Parking survejs taker. by City Consultants Spencer ind Associates have shown
tbat ~eak parking demand is gener.tod on ~o"d.y throogh Thursd.y between 6:00
to 9:00 PM, due to FDothll1 Colloge's evening cl,s.o._ Howe,er, the parking
survey also showed that parking d~nd dr~ps off later in the Quarter bec2u~e
on average only 63 percent of the students enrolled a(t~illy ittend class and
not .11 of them drl.e (92 percont). Using this iofonoatlon it could be
<oooluded that on .verage only 58 percent of the regIstered foothill student.
would drive tc the site, and 42 percent would ,tt~er not Itiend ~r ~ot drive.
A. these 4~ percent of Foothill students are equivalent to 37_6 percent of the
tot.l Cubberley user" it can be estl~.ted that 37.8 percont or 454 of the
1.200 estj~t~ users durfng peak occu~ancy would not drive tD t~e site, and
pro'ides support for the possibility that the 827 parkIng spaces which will be
provided under the Master PIa. will be sufficient to .eet the ,ite parking
d ... nd the Daj.rlty of the time.
Provisions of the loning Ordi~~nce allow t~e Dfrettor of Planning and
COOROnit, EnvIronment to adjust the parking requlreoents {Section 18_83.070]
in cert~'n instances w~ere such In adjustr~nt will not create undue impact on
adjoining uses. [xamples of su,. adj~st~~ts w~fch could be conSidered for
this facility include: I) allowing deferral of providIng the f.ll parking
reqylreaent (up to 50 percent) where the •• peeted need for off-street parking
or b1Cycl~ ficilitfes is uncertain due to unknown or unusual operating
characteristics of the us~. and where the re.ai"ing spaces are plaCed 1~
·landstlped reserve-and can be provided 1n the future if f~ur~ necessary, 2)
a110.ing deferral of meeting the full parking requlnoent (up to 2D percent)
upon demonstration that effective alternatives to lutQRQbile tra~slt are ia
effect suc~ as ioaedi.te proximity to public transportation or u,e of car
pooling and other transpGrtation demand manageme~t programs, or 3j .llowing a
red.ction of the required packing (up to 2D percent) on Sitos with joInt
parking facilit\es and uses wh1c~ generate parking demand at diffErent times.
Of the possible parking sol~t1ons available. ws1~ • landscaped reservp to
allow deferr,l of full pariing rrquirements 1s (ons1dered to best ichfeve the
cDmblned community goals of assuring Idequate parking yet fmprowtng Ind
preserving I Viluible COMmUnity recr~lt1on resource. The fol1o~in9
90EIAS4B Page 12
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circ~tan(es support allow'ng for deferral of t~! full plrking requirements
for the Cubberl.y Haster Plan:
I)
l)
JI
4)
5)
51
7)
Addltlon.l par~'nq wIll be provIded over .xlsting conditions;
T~r a.x1.u. parking d~nd .il1 occur for 11.lted periods and can
be controlled through 11 .... l"d sc~ed"Hn9;
Parking requIrements blsed on ... 1 ... occupancy of all focllities
will provJde more SPlt.1 tha~ needed for average daily ~se;
'.rking surveys of exIsting us •• ~l.e .hown that actull parking
deeand generated by foothill College students drops subst.ntlally
.fter the beginning of .ach quarter due to a drop in .ttendince;
Public Tr.nsportatlon to the sltt Is aVII1,b1 •.. Sinta Clari
County Transit has three bus route. s.rvlng the Cubberley sit.
(Routes 35 and 84 on Mlddl.fleld Ro.d, and Route 88 on Chirleston
Road) and additional carpooling of Foothill students could be
encour .. g ed;
Frovlslon of all noraal11 requIred ,Irtlng wIll require removal of
a substlnti.l portIon of the playing fltlds which Is not In the
publfc interest; and
1~le .. ntltion of the f.ll Mester Plan will occur incr ... ntolly
over tl .. IS funds Ir. a.allable, bettor enabling the City to
DOnitor parking deMand Ind adjust sc~edullng control. as needed.
The Cit1 will have vltimate control of the .s. of the site through the ~.ster
Use Pe .... it ind leue agreements and "lrI' are I.vallablt tD ISSI!re adequate
parking is provided to the sIte I. tho f~t"rt.
UJc,d.el Publ ic $tnic ..
A Kaster Plan for communit, use of the vacated C"bber!e, High School site will
have a beneficia' impact on arel schools &1 assur1ng retention of t~e site,
upgrading the existing structures and providing TOntll Incose for the Palo
Alto Unified School District.
Improving the site for community us. will increase recreational opportunities
and Cit¥ aaintenance responsibilit1.s.
15 (i,b) HU~i~ HeJlt~, Use and storage of pool chlorine and solvents or other
similar ~ater;ils commonly used by Irtfsts could pas! risks to human health.
These materials are slmilar to those ca-monly found 1a l typical residential
garage .nd will not present signlflclnt risk, of exposure If stored and
handled properly. All us. and storage of h,lardouJ .. terral. will be subject
to compliance with t~e City's Hallrdous Material. Ordinance (PAKC Title 17).
11 Recreation. The building addltiof,s ind sitt f!Dprgvements propoud 15 part
of the ~aster Plan will increaSI c~1t1 rlcre.tfon.' oppo~tunities and
iapro~e existing recreitfonal flc111tfes~
9OElAS4B Page U
..; ;
"arch 8. ]99]
PLANNING COMMISSiON
Palo Alto, California
Members of the Commission:
/
r-t f 1~ 1 "1'11 1 .... i \.' 0., a 0 n LO ,
P :J .:' '~: ~ c
,/.,"~ .oi..-: :~_,:~-, ... <;~:;:
At the meeting of February )3~ 1991? the Planning Commission conducted and
clos.ed the ~ublic he.aorir.g for the Cubber1ey Master Pia" at 4000 ~iddleflel<1
Road. After receiving ~ presentation f~cm staff. the consultant, and public
testimony. t~e Commission r&ised ~ number of areas where the~ re~uired
additional information prior to taking action on the Master Plan. These
~ue~tions are recapped and answered in the foTlowing paragrapns. in the order
they were raised.
ISSUES RAISED BY iNDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS
RJ sJ _lliess~_f]Lf9_r the Cha 1 T er~g._IQ.ur$J~
('oHlnissioner Cu11en requested an improved description of the challenge cour50e
and a sUlMJary from the risk as~e.ssment officer en the l,ability issu-:,s related
to t~e proposal. A description is attached is E~~ibit A. Staff has contacted
Oor. West and t as of the date of this report, he has not formalized i re50ponse.
It is our intent to present his e~aluation ~erbally to the Commj5sion at the
March )3. 1991 meeting.
Pro.<::.i:!JS fer Oetenrdning Fie1..d....A1.1ocatlon to User Grou.p.~
CommlSsioners Beecham and Hirsch requested a f;.oller explanation of the ,pre-cess.
used by staff to allocate fields to various user groups thrD:J-ghcut tne
c.olTlTlunit)'. Tt1e Recreation Di'.(i,sion staff brok.ers fields for both the City of
Palo Alto and the Palo Alto Unifled ~hool District. fie1d m€etings are ~e1d
twice annually to assist in rr:ak.ing tn<lse alloc~tions., First, a "Field Use
Request-application is distributed to al' potential user groups wish'ng to
reserve space duri~g the season. The questlonnaire contafns a list of
a¥ailable fields, fe~s and charges for user~~ priorities for selecting some
~ses abo~e others. and an expianation of ho~ to reser~e fields. A sample
application is atta~hed is Exhibit B. The priDrities for u~er groups ar~ a~
fo110",,'s:
Cubb2
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b.
c.
R~creation Division ~nd School activitjes pro9rdln~
Palo Alto b~sed youth organ1zitiQns, 9rouPS Of individua1s
Pilo Alto hased adult organizations, groups or indlvjdu~15
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d. Seasonal sporti 'i.e., f.ll/~Qccer and rugby, spr\ng/~otlbal I and
baseball)
e. Non-seasonal sports
f. NO:'l·Palo Alto based organizations, groups or jr.di'olidlJa!s
On(~ the dead1in~ for sub~itting requests has e~pired. ~taff assembles all the
requests using the 'Worksheets [refer to Exhibit C) and identifies all
SCheduling conflicts. The conflicts are then negotiated between the competing
part;es at the biannual m~etings de· ... cted to this purpose.
Tne prJcess is comp~tit!ve end yields many ~ore requests tha~ can be
accommodated within current field re~~urces. Certain youth acti~ities have
bec~e nearly year-round sports. e.g., youth soccer, softball and baseball.
'o~leyba'l ~as also increased in popularity and has comDeted for year-round
s;pace_ As the IJse of faciiHies increases, so does the need for mainte-llance
and field renovati~n~ particularly during times of drought. This e~acerb3tes
the shortage of avatlable fjelds. Toe field renovation usually re~ov~s the
field from use for i two·month rest peri~_
Qne~Way versus lWQ-Way Circl,J.hlian at the Rear QJ_Jhe Facilities
CC1IIIIissioner B!echam requested t~at staff provide an aTlalysis cf us.ing one-..... aj
tircuhtion in the tennis court area ratner than ho-way circulation, as
indicated 1" the Master Plan.
Existing circulation is constrained to ane-way tra~el westbound in two
locations at the rear ~f the bulldings: 1) next to the dirt parking lot, and
2) next to the tEnniS courts_ Th! area next to the tennis c~urt 1S not
formally signed as one-way, but it is lntended to function as such.
The sit~ would be best served by having two-way circulation
all the Duildjngs~ as is propos!d in .1] master site plan_
coold circulate freel)' between al1 the park.ing areas_
.round the rear of
Tnus~ traffic
rt is important to have twa-way circulation between the parking lots on the
east and sout~ sides of the buildings, as these lots are l~rge, and thej
should be ac.cessible via the primary Signalized driVEway on Middlefield RClad.
It is easy to conyert th~ existing one-way driveway next to the dirt parking
lot to two·way in order to acc.omp1is~ this_ T~is is proposed for the
implementation and master siLe plans.
It is 1es3 important to have tWQ·way circulation between the small parking
lots on th! west side of the building and the large parking lut an the south
side. The former are adequately served by the eXlsting driveway on
MiddJefield. If two·way '~rcu1atton were deemed infeasible, it would be
de$irable to have one·~ay cfrcijlation ejstbound between the west and sout~
lets_ ThlJs~ driver.; who enter the site via the westerly dTlve"ay on
Middlefield ar.d who find tnat no parking is avaihb1e~ could connect to the
other parking rots, This would 11so provide an optional exit from the west
parking lots leading to the traffic signal on Middlefield. This one-'1II'ay dri~e
s"'ould be dearly signed as sud1~ There ilre many publ ic streeots and al Teys in
Cubb2
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the (1t1 w~ich ar~ cn~-way, e~en for shQrt sections, and tney functiDn
acc~ptab'). The implementation and master plans should insure that blin~
cor.n~rs are m1nimi~ed or ~lim;nated. with the bicycle racks (~B" on the
1mpl!mentation site phnj If,DYed ,f necessary. Road bumps cou',d be 'installed
if spefd control were needed. It is not recommended that the connection
between t~e west and ~outh parking lots be totally c1osed. This would
unnecessarily limit parking acce~s for those drjv~r5 ~ho enter the site ~ia
the northerly driveway.
Ir.iR. __ ~.t.rutr_ation Rates Used TOm_Determine Traffic Imp.a-:ts
(.Dfi1ni~sioner Chrlstensen requested that staff prcliide more 1rfonni.li.an
regarding the trip generation rates that were applied to this project.
Following are the trip yeneration rates ~;ch the Transportation DiviSion used
in the Cubber!ey traffic analysis.
Daily Trips PM Peak Hour
Us. flrips/l.OOO s.f.l a; of Daily
Gtmeral Office 25 16
Fine Arts/C~n;ty 50 14.3
Sen'c.e
Perforning Arts 95 7
Recreation/Athletics 8, I 8,9
Day Care 61 9.8
Foothi 11 Colleg. 12.9 9.5
IT[
AdCJl t fduciit101'1 11.9 9.5
ITE
Storage 2.8 11.7
Differentiation Between Projected Parking at Cubb~rle~
and that Ex; sting at Terman CQ.mrnynity C~nter
Tri ps I Source
fnst. of
Transp.
[ngrs.
Jordon EJR
Jordan EIR
Ross Rd, ~ML,!l,
ITE
Jordan UR,
Jordan EJR,
Jordan EIR
COMmissioner Chri~tensen also asked to know more about the parking demand
calculations for the Cubberley ~aster Plan, a~d a furtn~r explanation as to
why it ~'in function boetter for Cubberley tnan the parkir,g for the Terman site
now functlons. Her request was based on experience at Terman. which is
perceived to nave inadequate parllng. and a desire to ~ake sure that the 1s~ue
of parking is being adequately addressed.
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The Te~n Specific Plan pro~ides no calculations, ba~ed on the Zoning
ordinance regul~tions) of the parking requirement. Parking in the looin~
ordinance 1S calculated on the basis ~f size ()f tt.e facility. the use of
individoal areas. and the ma~;mum occ~pa~cy that the facilit1 wili generate
accord!ng to yse. The requirement for par~1ng for the Terman Specific Pla~
wa3 instead drawn from the section of the Plan titled ·Parking demand~ (~efer
to Exhibit 0) whic~ does not calculate the demand based on the use and square
fODtage of the various facilities pursuant to cede tequirements. Jr.e Terman
Spe'ific Plan imposes approJ(l.rr,ateTy 160 parking spaces on the facility. Based
on I recent Conditional Use Permit application to do a minor expansion at the
J~ish C~nit, Center, staff estimated that Terman is underparked. according
to cod~, and provides apprOXimately one space per 540 square f~et of facility
space (excluding recreational fields).
On the other hand, the parking requirement for Cubberley has been calcu1ated
and is documented in the rable~ on pag~s 35 and 36 of t~~ ~aster Plan.
Accorcihg to the code~ the facility will generate a ne~d for ],654 spaces~ or
ten t1mes t~at provided at Terman. 1t is propo~ed that tne existing Tots be
restriped to prowide 50 percent of that requirement, This equates to
approxj~ate11 one space per 250 square feet of facil ity sp~ce (excludjng
recr~atjonal fields). A table comparing the two facilities is presented
below.
,l.!l.OC"-.!!;tLi"o"'nL-_______ -"~ ... "c il it y S ; z e
Terman Specific Plan
Cubberley Master Pian
86,854 sq.ft.
203,478 sq.ft.
Park; ng
160 spaCl!S
827 spaCES
1/540
1/245
The remainlng r~qulrement, arother 827 spaces, will be r~~erved in landscaping
and the need for it will be ellminated through use restrictions on the
simultaneous occupancy of tertain fac1lities, ~.g .• the swimming pool.
g~asiu.. and theiters. ihe ~se of those large-occ~pancJ facilities is under
the control and administrati~n of the City Community Services Oepartmen~ and
Real Properties O;Ylslon, who will only issue subleases and ~11ow program
scheduling which complies wit~ t~e Use Permrt conditions. These restrictions
are not in place for tfle Terman Comunity Center and staff bel ie'{es the,)' \IFill
assure that the land~tape reser~e w1ll never be converted to parking. The
D1rector of P1a~n1ng and Community Environment has indicated a willingness to
refer to the Planning Commission a~d City Council the declsion on whether to
convert lny of the parking reserve tG actual parking. ratner than ~rlo~ing
future decisfons to be made administratively is allowed in the code (r~fer to
Condition I).
Accident History
Commissioner Huber requested thit an accident histor1 on Cubberley be
pro~ided. The Police Department researched accident records for ]989 and
1990. One accident was reported i" the main ~arking lot~ which was
attrjbutable to parking mareu~ers. Th~ Police Department considers Cubberley
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to be pr'~~te property~ hence acciaents may happen but net
records in the Sillnle manner is accident; O~ public streets.
James. lbora-tske, who provided the accident informotion. is
particular accident problems on the site.
be entered into the
1I1Iw('\,('r, Sgt_
not aware of an.v
Commissfoner Huber also requested t~at actual field dlmensions for the playing
fi!ld5 be prov1ded. These dimensions wll1 be presentEd on transparencies at
the meeting.
f~J1LRii i s i n9 Ideas
Commissioners Hirsch and Huber expressed interest in th~ issues of funding for
the prQjett. The finance Department commented on the public funding questions
at the last ~et;n9 {refer to minutes, page 103 through lOS}. however, the
idea of fund-riisi~9 is expl~red in the following paragraphs.
Early iB the Cubberley Master Plan pre<ess, it became tlear that the funding
for the implementation of the entire plan was uncertain. However~ staff felt
t~at (ubberle~ Commur.ity Center presented a wonderful opportunity te create a
lasting resource for the community. Staff visited Hutcnins Square in lodi and
fort Hason in San francisco to cbserve and speaK to these jurisdictions about
their projects as they relate to the Cubberley project. £ac~ jurisdiction
enco~raged th! development of a long-te~ ~ision even if the funding was not
currently available. They also encouraged staff to make it easy for community
groups to sh3re in the task of buildin; the c~unity ,enter. Th~y suggested
viewing the C~bberley Comrn~nity (enter as an opportu~itJ for i public/private
partners~ip, wnere interested 9r~ups wouid contribute what they were able to
contribute in terms of ti~. talents, f~nds and ~~lunteer labor.
As staff talked to various u~er and communlty groups during the pub1ic
process, the following groups expressed interest in supporting projects at
Cubberley through fund raising: Bobby Sox, Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra, Pilo
Alto Tennis Club. Babe Ruth Baseba11, the Challenge Learning Center Committee.
and Foothill College.
In addition, Theaterworks is already pro'.liding a great m.ode-l for ether groups.
To date, Theaterworks has contrihuted $27,000 plus labor to tnelr tempDrcry
State ][ facility which seats 110, iD the L ~in9. Each performance run is 5
to 1 weeks with 4 to 6 performances per week. These performances have been
sold out. Theaterworks also gives 10 readings per year at Cubberlej.
Another-source of funding woulrl be corporations and foundathms~ especially
those wh~ are interested in supporting the arts, both visual and performing
arts.
Flnally, a general campaign could be mounted. As the ca~~un;tl becomes
excited abo1Jt what Cubberley could become, t"';5 lIlight entail "bring a tree" or
~buy a brick-campaigns. Service c1ubs ire often lo~king for ways to
contribute to the comeunity. Tne Children's Theater addition will provide a
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good model fo, Cubberloy.
There have been some comment5 that fu~d rllsing is not consistent with staff
responslbilltles. To the coptrar~, Community SerY'c~s staff considers it
thEir on-gQing responsibl1ity to be aW4rt of the (o~nity's recreatior.~l and
cult~ril need5~ to look for ~ays to enhance and ma~imize community resources
and enabJe coamunitl groups to sha~ resources and make CQnnections for the
good of the entire community. Community Services staff is currently
respGnsible for fund raising efforts; either seeking grants, arranging
sponsors~ips or accepting donations.
r.r.otectfon of ODen Space. Publ ic .Intent
At the previous meetin9~ COlZlTlissi.on'!i'" Cullen requested a copy of the ballot
issue. Measure B~ which allowed for the utllitjl tJser~s tax. Upon relliewir,g
the language~ and findin9 that the ballot Issue did n~t refer to the
prot~~tion of open sra~e, she asked if the lea$e agreement with Palo Alto
Unifled School District was mor~ ~~plic1t about the co~itmer,t to open sDace.
According to Bill Fellman, Real Properties Manag~r. prote(t1on of open space
became an lssue in the past because, It that time, the Oistri~t was se1ling
surplus schDol sltes for redevelopment, a~d tr.e public discussions were to
prevent I loss of open space of a much larger magnitude than has ever been
considered dUTing the C~bber1ey Kaster Plan process. The lease and Covenant,
on page IS, item 4~ requires that the district agree not to 1) 5~bdjYlde. 2)
sell, OT J) develop wit~ addition,l square footage to ~ used for non-sc~col
district purposes for the t~rms of the lease any of the following sltes:
C~lone, Garland, Greende11, Jane lathrop Stanford and Jordan. The agreement
does not refe~ to Cubb~rley. and does not restrict the (it, from making the
additions described in the Mdster Plan for community center purposes.
Oemand ___ for New Uses iit (!1bberlev
Commissfoner~ Callen a~d Hirsch requested to receive copies of the public
requests for space that wer~ recei~ed during the Master Pla~ process. Co~jes
Qf all letters~ community needs assessment questionnaires. and comments are
attached in fx~ibit f~ distributed to the Planning Commlssion members onlJ and
are Dn-fiie for the public ~n the Plan~lng Department.
COITIDissior.er Hirsci'! ask-ed for a consol jdated ranking of the various uses b)
need. A qualitetive summary of the requests for space has been included in
Exhibit f i. the form of • table. The need for facility space by the
individual user groups was not quantttatively ranked. l3 sugg!sted by
Commissioner Hirsc~, because a .ethod and formula for doing so ~ould involve a
level of analysis of regional and locil facilities ~1ch ektends far beyond
the scope of the Cub~Erley assign~nt. lnstead, staff has utilizfd
qualitative indicators, as attached in the needs issessment questfor,naires.
and practical experience in making the program needs determinations.
Oar.ce spa(e in the City is ljmited. The en11 alternatives to Cubberley arf
t~e Mitchell Park and lucle Stern Community Centers. Both facilities are
multi-purpose ar,d n()t for exc~&lsive dance u.se. There is no other eQIJivalent
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arti~t space in the community_ Per({lnrling a.rts space is like~;se ;]t a
premium. (quiviT~nt facilities include Burgess Theater in Menlo Park a~d the
(enter for Performing Arts in Mountain View. Theaterworks. Stage II moved
from the Baylands Jnterpreth!'! Center where they shar{!d :!pace, to Jordan, and
final11 ta Cubberley. Gym space (ont1nues to b€ i problem cltr~ide, since the
l~S5 of the Terman facility. C~ild care space is iii. well+documented City need,
as identified by the Cnild Care Task force.
The need (or iii. ~O-meter s~i~in9 pool has been Quest;~ned by a member of tne
public. It is ttie general opinion of aquatic professionah and participants
that this area is sorely in nEed of a 50~meter pool. Tne closest facility is
Fremont Hills tountry Club 1n los Altos Hills, open to membErs and youth ~wim
teams on a limited basis. Foethill College js op~n to col1~ge atte~dees and
is ivailab7e for a few swim meets. Stanford's DeGuerre pool is restricted to
the Stanford community and those with current Stanford affiliatiQns.
Staff has recommended the pool at Cubberley (or the following reasons:
Cubb2
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3.
4.
5.
6.
There is not a SO-rret~r peal in this aru, and ""ith the exception
of the (ubberley Site, tnere is no real opportunfty for finding an
appropriate site far such a facility. land costs and the scarcit$
of sites exhibiting sufffc1ent areas from residential us~s are
severe constraints.
~inccnada pool is aging and requiring increasing repair and down
time. rt is used from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm every day except
Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Oftentimes, there are 5 to 8
people in ~ lane, partic~larly during adult swimming and Rinconada
Masters Swim. It is hea~ily used d~ring general swim in the
summer, espeCially by day care operations and summer camps. The
current ~ses at Aincodada include general swi~. Rinconada Masters,
adult conditionlng, water exercise? scuba? lifesa~ing, swimming
and diving lessons, generil rentals. and Palo Alto S~irn Club. A
requested water walkir.g program cannot be enacted due to lack of
space.
SItIo'imming as a form of exercise is increasing as many adults find
running an unacceptable fOrE of daily aerob;,s due to incr~asing
instances of body stress symptoms.
The closure of the O\uck Thompson poo1 i eaves greater d-emand for a
teaching facility.
Current pool facilities do not incorporate ~tate-cf-the-art
handicap acc~ss advances. The Cubberley facility would be an
opportunity for such a design.
Gunn and JLS are bolh well used in the summer for lessons, general
and lap SWimming.
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~from the A~Dustical Shell
Coamissioner Hirs," nised ill concern regal"'dirfg noise im;'lacts from the proposed
acoustlcal shell. The P.lo Alto Chamber Orch.str. celebrated its 25th
ann1verSilry this year and tne directors have upressed an interest in
cor.structing an ~mphitheater in t~e central courtyard at C~bberley. as a
'il'lt'thod of celebrating their anniversary ir'l.d donating a c<lnlnOlnlty asset. The
conditional us~ permit for the factiity would require an icoust~cal ar.alysls,
and the dEsign of the shell would need to be such that nOise im~acts would not
be experienced by the surrounding residential nei9~borhoods. These pctentia1
impacts are possible to mitigate through design and restrictions on ~5eJ but
specific me~surES can not be suggested until a conceptual plan is drafted and
a te(hnieal anal,Ysis performed. Jt is antic.ipated that the facility 'IIdll he
quite .adest, more on the scale of the fatility at JDrdan~ and that amplified
r~ck ~usic is an unliiely fyture use, distinguishing the C~bber1ey Maste~ Plan
proposal from t~e facility at Shoreline Park in Mountain View.
frees to be ReMOved
Commissioner Hfrsc~ raised a concern ov~r the potential loss of trees which
would DCcur with further development on the site. In response t~ neighborhood
opiDjons~ considerable effort has been ~ade in the (ubberle~ Master Plan, to
avoid iMpiitt to all existing mature trees on tne s;tE, and to lnclude
additional tree plantings (over 200 treesj as • ~ajor compo~ent in the
revitalization and upgrade of the Cubberloy facility.
The futdre uesign of facilities will need to work around the e~isting trees,
parlicwTirly the large oak and redwood trees which hive -heritage
significance. but also the Tess significant trees pllnted in former years by
children due to their sentimentil value. The oaks in the parking area will be
accomROdated 1ft t~e redesign and restriping of the parking lot. The
arborist's evaluation is summarized in Exhibit G.
Uses DroposlHf 111 the faplementaUon Plan ... ers~s Current U~_~§,
Cnairperson Harsh r~quested a summary of how the le~el of use at (ubber]ey
.o~ld differ in the implementation plan ov~r the current ~s~. There would be
very 1 itt1e .change in use, as dociJm.ented in tne use diagrams ;~ the Master
Phn document. As illl.lstration of SOflH! of the US'E!S wnfch ha' .. e b€-en taking
plac~ at (ubber1ey since the (itl took o~er the lease 111 January of J990~
atta~hed please find Exhibit G, Use Changes Since January 1, 1990.
STAfF RECOMMEHOATIO~
Staff rec~nds that the Planning (~ission recommend to the City (ouncil
approval of the Negative Oecl~r.tion and approvil of the CubberTey Master
Plan. based on th~ findings listed below. Due to public concern expressea it
tn~ previous p~blic h~aring. staff recommends t~o co~ditions regarding th€
public process for fut~re phases of t~e project.
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fiNDINGS
I. The ~aster Plan will ensure construction and operation of the use in a
~anner that will be orderly, harmonious, and compatible ~itn th~
e~isting or potential uses of t~e adjoining cr nearby sites. in that the
hcilit.Y will be improved and maintained for cOlTmunity center u.se for
cultur.l and recreational purpos~s. a desfre expressed in the
Comprehensive Plan and reaffirmed by the neighboring residents during
the Master Plan communit1 outreach proc~ss.
2. The Master Plan will ensure the desirabl1ity of investment in the 5a~e
adjacent areas, because it will allow for mafntenance and impro~ement of
facilities, which ~ould otherwise be unable to be properiy maintained
and improved.
3. ThE: Master Plan will ensure that sound pr:,ndples of environmental
design and ecological balance shall be observed, as documented in the
attacnl!'d en~ironll1.ental determination.
4. The Master Plan ~ill ensurl that the use will be in accord wft~ th2 Pa10
~lto (GilprehensT'oIe Ptan, particwlarT,)' Policies J and 2. and PI'ogroims 1,
2 and 3 of the SchQ~ls and Parks Element.
CONOITlONS
I.
2.
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An)' future proposals t, require additional parking beyond that indicated
in the ~aster Plan~ shall be referred by the Director ~f Plinning and
Community Environment to the Plar.r.ing Commission for recommendation and
Cit, Council for final action. This condition is intended tc prevent
thoe cornrersion of required parkir')9. shown irt the Master flail as
landscape deferral i~ the field arei~ to be converted through an
administrative process to actual parking without beneflt of a full
public hearing.
,~(ubberley Advisory (onrn;ttee snall be appOinted, comprised of members
of the (reen Meadow Community Association. existing and potential
tenints of (ubberTey, members of the community at large~ a member of the
Plar.ning Commissi~n and (omm~nity Services Department staff. This
COI'IIIHtee shall hold open public meetings to develop recolTlTler,dations for
fwture iaplementation phases of the CubberTey Master Plan, prior to any
application for the Naster Conditional Use P!r.mit bey~nd the
ImplemP.ntatiDn Plan defined in tne dncument. The recommendations of the
Cubberley Advj~Qr)' Committee and a summary of their process for deri~ing
the recomrr~ndatjan will be transmitted to the Zoning Administrator with
any futU're oIpplic:.atiofl5 for future ConditiClnal Use Permits an the site.
3/8/91
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otber than the upcoming Master US~ Permit for the lmple~ntation Pla~
described in the Master Phr, Document. which has alrea.dy rec.eilled broad
cOMmunity consensus.
Respectfully submitted,
a~ dt<Uv k
ANNE CRIBBS
Superintendent of Recr~ation
Division
jJ~J~
PAUL THILIGEN ~1'
Director of the Department
of COl!Wllt.lni t)' $er'ltlces
'fit, ilfJ1/1 (ld~~ {J)~
HANCY ~X LYTLE ~
Zoning Administrator
Attadlments: Negative Decla.alluh See 4/18/91 staff report: to Council
Staff report dated February a, 1991
ExI,ibi t A~ ehal 'illge ~il'ff'trnna"lTo-rr----
Ex~ibit B, 1991 Spring/Summer field Use Quests
For £xhibits A-B.
see original staff
repor~ in 3/8/91
Planning Commission
packet or project
file.
Exhibit (, Worksheets for Compilr11'l .d Resolving Field
Request D.ta
fxhibH 0; Parking Oemand .cerpt from the Terman SpEciflc
Plan
Exhibit E. S~ar Community Needs Assessm!nt
Exhibit F~ Us anges since Januar1 I~ 1991
Exhibit ~ borist's Evaluation
E~~ibit H, Public R~quest for Space, C~unity Needs
-~eo.mi • .;~.-emiyt-----------------------
cc: Senfor Management Group
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Cubberley M.ster Plan Steering Committee
Palo AT to Tennis Club, P. 0, Box 60434, Palo Alto, CA 94300
Jack Hamilton. Vice President, Green Meadow CGmmunlty Association, 303
Par'side Drive, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Louise Herring. Co-C~ajr, elV;e Affairs Committee. Green Meadow
Coamunjty Associ.tion. 303 Parks ide Oriye~ PiTa Alto , CA 94306
Sandy Snodgras, Saye Cu~ber1e'y Park COlTInittee, 362 Parkside Ori't/e
Palo Alto, CA 94306
Don West
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TO: PALO ALTO PLANNING COMMISSION
FILE NO.: 90·0-15, 9O-ElA-,4
PREPAREO BY: Paul Thiltqen,
Anne Cribbs, ~ancy lytle
Applicant:
PrDDertr ~ers:
DAn: F.bruiry S, 1991
4000 "fddl.field Road
Polo Alto, CA 94306
Cfty of ,,10 Alto
250 H .. ilto" A •• nu.
P.lo Alto, CA 94301
P.lo Alto Unified School District
25 Churchill Ayer.u.
P.lo Alto, CA 94306
PR~CT S~~R~Y~ ____________________________________ __
The project is i Master Plan to be ~sed by th~ City of Palo Alto over the next
25 tc 15 years as an internal planning ~ocument for gUlding t~e remodeling and
us. of the former Cubberl.y High School for c .... nity center purposes. This
is • 35-lcre site witk IBI,OOO squ.re f.et of buildings that include
classrooms, gvms and a the.ter plus IS ,cres of ,thletic fields. The f.cilit,
will be used by the Cit, of Polo Alto, Foothill (ollege, child car. providers,
Y15Uai artist5~ dancers and nonprDf~t cQmaUn1tJ groups. The Master Plan is
intended to be conceptual, and the fMPleaentation .f the plan will require
f~rther discretionary approvils 1& the fOnl of a Master Conditlonil Use
permits and/or Archite,lural Reyiew Boord Jpproy.l,.
illLINfORHATlON
Assessor~s Par(el Number:
hi st irtion i ng;
C_rehen$jve Pl an
]k.signiti9n:
E~fsting lind Use:
CubbFi.I/Nl
35.45 a,res
147-8-3
PF IPvblic Facilities)
Najor insttt~tiDns/special facilities
A surplus high school site t~.t is being
re-used as i comm~nit1 center ~it~ a
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Surroundina l&n~:
History:
~andatory Act jon Oates:
Enyir0nMental tMpact
Assessment:
ScMdule4 Reyjews:
¥Irfety of uses, e.g., commu~jty ca11ege.
c~ild care, recreation actiYitfes, fitness
classes.
T~e existing site includes 18l,OOO sq,ar.
reet of cllssroOfts J gymnasju.s and
theater; 355,000 square feet of
landscaping .nd pedestrian .rea.; 325,000
square feet of parting ireaj and 695,000
square fe.t of .thletic field space.
Northwest C ..... rohl
West -Nelson A~eflue, single·farr,; 1,)'
residenth.l
Southeast Child care and slngle
f .. ily residential
East . ~iddlefield Road, .ixed
slngle-fa.ll, and multlple
fomlly residential
Refer t. the 'Sackground' and 'Coanunltl
Outreach' sections of the text of this
report.
There Ire no .andatory planning per.its
required for this loternal planning
document. However, the City ha. opted to
follow, ·Site and Oe$ign-procedure to
usure that the general publfc. tf'le
planning advfsory bodies and policy .akers
~IV' adeaulte input into the document,
~Ich ;s Intended t& be used by staff I.
steering the future use and remodeling of
the Cubberle, C .... nity Center_
An 1nitiil study rec~~ding adoption of
I Negatl~e Declaration is lttac~ed.
After rev few ind COBae~t by t~e Planning
Co-missTon l t~e proj~tt will be reviewed
by the Architectur.l Review Boird prior to
fl.11 ad I"" by the CHy Council.
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ANAL Ys/s
8ackgroun~d: C!Jbberlev le,Jsl!.
In 1987, it was propcs2d t~at t~e City of P~10 Alto lease surplus schaol sites
fros the Palo Alto U~ified School District. Such a lease was to ac(omplisn
two goalS: 1) to pres~rve, in public hands~ th€ open space and buildings of
the surplus school sites; and ZJ to help alleviate the Sc~ool District's
financial problems. In November ]987. a comprehenslve finincial package for I
~tiljty users' tax was placed on the bi110t and was approved by i majority of
the voters. It was antiCipated t~at the ta~ revenues would b! used for a
variety of purposas including repair of sidewalks. street impro~~nts, and
lease payments to the School District. With funds provided for by the utilitl
users~ tax~ a lease was Signed ~11owing the City of Palo Alto to take o~er
operations of Jordan School and Jane lathrop Stanford School sites. In Ma~
1989, the Pilo Alto Unified School District determioed t~at it would reoccupy
these two site, and would substitute the tubberle, High School sito. To
accomplish this, the City and the School District Signed a lease for 0 teno of
2S years wit~ two S-year options, for a totll Qf 35 years. In January 1990,
tne Citl of P,lo Alto assumed occupancy of the CUbberley High School Site
located .t 4000 Middlefield Road ;0 Pal. Alto.
To proceed with the Citl's antiCipated occupancy of tne Cubberley High School
site, it was necessary to perform a s;te condition survey as required under
thE terms of Ue lease. CSS Assochtes .4.rdlitects "as autnorized i~ June ]989
to conduct the required survey of tne Cubberley site. The report, ~
Condition Survey of Ellwood P. CubberJey Hiah School, completed in September
)989, eval~ated the general condition of e~isting· buildings and related
syst~ but did not e~aluate landscapJng, athletiC fields or the parking lots
jl any de-pUt.
The condition ilSsessment by CSS Associate.~ Ardlitects was. tne first step 11\
the planning process. Following the co~letion of this study. the City
Council authorized the preparation of 0 Haster Plan, and the Cit, of Pale Alto
contracted wjt~ Spencer Assoclates, Architects & Planners in January of )99Q
to prepare a Master Plan for the Cubb~rley site.
O~er the next year. the cpnsultants and stiff jOintly worked with the
comaunity ind potential user orga~izitiQns to develop the rropos!d plan that
is before the C~1ssion. Tbls public process incJ~ded six advertised
(~~ity meetings plus another d6zen meetings with fndividuals a~d various
RSfr groups.
Pre;ect De __ ~_gj,Rtion: Master Plan
The M~ster Plan is designed to create a community center out of an existing
high school site through ~ppropriate syace allocation. campus organfzation,
renovation and construction of fac;ltt1es and aesthetic improveGents~ The
space allocation and campus organization reCOmMended in t~is plan are designed
to acc~ate the needs of the public and cr •• t. the feeling of communit!.
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The rec~nded flCility renovation and construction wlll reflect tne public
needs and serve to transform hf9h school factlities into useful commun;ty
(icfiitles. Ca~pled with aesthet'c iMProvements, the renovated and new
ficllilies will create a lighter, 80re friendly environment that will serve IS
• <.It"r.l, educational and socl.l center for the people of P,l. Alto.
PrRQr4!; The N,1ahborhQQd Cor6tpt
During the public 1nput process, nu.eraus requests were received for space
rental ot C"bberley on both hourly and long-te .. basis. The majority of
respons~$ were requests for continuance of existfn~ programs With the two new
additions being fine arts dance and visual art. With the goal of creating a
co.P'olt, c~ter ot Cubberley, a progr .. was adopted that would accoonodate
~any of the requested uses.
A unifying concept, Neighborhoods, w.s developed for Cubberley. Proposed
users were grouped f~tD Hefghbor~~Dds according to similarity of use and
si.ilarity of required facilities. T~is orson1lotion will promote the
de •• lopoent of .. all comMUniti •• of .sers witoin Cubberley. Furthenoore, the
c.-pus will be lOre logically org.niled and, with unifying ,rchitectur,l
ele .. nto for Neighborhoods, Yisitors will be able to loc,te facilities with
greater eolSe~
The "aster Pl.n propose. the following:
o I.,lementat1Gn of code and condition repairs of existing
structures as p~posed by C5S Associates Architects.
• Deoolltlon of Building AlB ~Ith a two-story classroom structure to
be built in Its place, including wing. that will connect Building
C to the tva-story strocture.
o oe.olition of • sm.ll wing between Buildings f & H that will open
up that courtyard space.
o Construct i on of an icoust i ca 1 shell and st a9f! on the wes t 5 i de of
BU11ding M to provide outdoor recital ireas~
IS Conversion of Buildings. U, r. I. f into visual artist studio SpiC~.
o Renovation ~f Bu11ding l to pr~Yide a fine arts dance i~struction
and reh.arsal studio space. In addition, a 5,000 square foot
expansion is proposed to pro~tde a Black Box Theater and aore
wisual artist studio space.
D R'novltlon of the Multipurpose Roa. and t~e kitchen or.a to
provide space for dance and lirge ~eti"g Ictivities.
~ Addition Df a lobby Ind TOJtro .. f,cilities i. the Tne,ter.
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D Tne Gymnaslua area will be upgraded b~ remodeling tne bOYi locker
ro~ to accom.odate ~les and f~ale$: the eXlsti"Q girls lccker
roa. will be de.olfshed to a,commodate l SO met~r swimming pool,
ind a s.ll1er 1nstruetfonil pool, and In additional small
gymnasiu. will be built between the Pavilion and Gyms A and B.
o Suilding Y will be demolished to proyide parking and circulation
for c~ild care uses in Building T.
o landscape will be Inst.lled bet.een the buildings, and trees will
be .sed to soften the parking a"ea.
o W1t~ t~e e~teption of t~e track area, the athletic fjeld a~ea and
t~e tennis cgurts will be configu~ to Dare efficiently use the
space. The bleachers ir, proposed tG be removed and rest rooms
installed.
o The centril courtyard wi11 be red~sfgned and a small amphitheater
will be built in relationship to the ocou,tlcal shell.
o The low·coyered .alkw.ys will be d~lished to open up the site
risllally.
D The parking areiS will be reconflg~red to provide in~reased
parking, two·way clrcul.tion will be proyided .11 tne w'y around
the .it~. and the c~lldren's drop·off .re. for Greendell School
site will be relocated to improve the tr.ffic circ.latlon.
The Master Plin is an internal planning docu.ent that fs consistent w1t~ the
Ca.prehensiYe 'lan. This project .111 require I ~$ter ~se permit. {Furt~er
det,il. are ,.,il.ble on page' ll·Z1 of the ~a.ter Pl,n document.}
Recommende9 I-olementation
It is envisioned that t~. ",.ter Pl,n will b. implemented over a period of
y.ars as funding beco.os ayoil.ble. The first ph ••• is hoped to be
iopl..ented within the next flYe yeors, if funding is o.'ilable.
II detenoining the .se priorities of thi, f.cl1lty, the follOWing criterio
were taken iDt~ considerition:
I. Repairs to meet safety and code require.ents;
2. Attempt to meet f,cility require .. nts of .xisting tenants;
;. Feedback fra. the ca.munitl; .nd
4~ What visual igproYelents could be ~d. to convert this site fro.
an ·old high school· to I ·new c~nit, center~·
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Tile fQl1o.iP'lg ire til! rec~nded priorities that Ippur to best l;ed Ute
.belt!' critert.fl:
,~ Code .find cortdition and interior repilrs on .11 structuresi
2. Renovation of Buildings E, f and U Into visual artist studios;
3. Renovation of Buildiog l ioto studio space for fine arts danc.;
~. Porklng ond Circuht'on;
S. Athletic fields and l1ndscaping;
6. f1eld restroom and storige; and
7. Gyoo A -Me .. Locker_
Again, this is a worki.g plan aod is .djust.~. based on the funding
capabilit, of the City. (further details on t.e implement.tlon stage .r.
a.ailable On pages 23-29 of the ~.ster Plan 60cooo"t). The totol costs for
c.epletio. of the Jeplementotion Plan ore bigher than the M.ster PI.n. This is
beciuse of construction timing and t~e need to re~lr facilities thlt _j11 be
i. use until the long-range construction for the ",ster Plan is completed,
i.e., the de.olitiDn and reconstruction of Buildings ~ an1~.
lve. though only a portion of this project will be '"nded at this tl~, it is
the jotention of the C..-unity Services staff to undertake a .ajor fuod
raising c~lf9n in t~e tODmunit) to be ible to implement is auch Df the whole
Master Plan IS posslble_ Thus, It I. e.sentlal to.t the full "aster Plan be
approved to prDyjde the f~nd rlisers I projttt plan t~lt t~&y can pro.ote.
Elch step of iapl .... tltlo. will be subject to further publ!c review through
the cond1tional use per.it or architectural review process.
Community Outreach
As • first step 1& the process, • progriA for the use of the Cubberl.y sit •
• as developed. Infonoatien for det,nol.lng the p"egra~ w.s collected from the
public at several tl .. s through s.vor.1 different means. A ,erles of site .,.
objectives were then developed which list ond disc.,s the preferred .s.s of
the Cubberley sit.. The Ka,ter Plan was developed by applying the objective.
te the site opportunities and constrifnts. The res~lt is a plln whic~
.llocates space and 'uo6log to provide for opti ... benefit to the eo..unit, as
a ""ole_
Throughout the public input proce,s, the public respoos. wa, positive. The
neighbors, curre"t users and potentill users of C~bberle1 were supportive of
the cbjectives the City had for the sit •• nd as • group were ple.sed to be
i.volved i. the procos. of shaping the f.ture of Cubberley.
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A series of sj~ ~eeting5 was held~ ~~ch of whicn ~as pubTicized in the Times
Tribune and t~e Palo Alto We~kly. Neighbors and current tena~ts of the
facility were notified by miil of the meetihgs. rn addition, at least a dozen
other meet1~s were held .~t~ jndivid~aTs and user groups.
In conjunction with poblic. meetings. the public wa:; encourag€d to respond 1"
writing. After the first public meetfng, 91 responded tc the lengthy
Q~estjonnairet and 56 responded t~ the abbreyiate~ que~ticnnaiTe placed ir. tne
P.16 Alto Weetly. Ouring t~e course of the process, over 2SC written
responses were receiyed~ incll1d'ing .any thoughtful and' lengthy letters • .It
aigh percentage of responses and requests for spac.e ~aw~ from Ballroom Dance
Groups, Educational Groups, Wisua1 Artists, and Fine Art Dancers. The
responses from the Questionniires reinforced the information gathered during
the public meetings.
Once the Master Plan is approved and the City ~yes into the implementation
5tage. staff plans to continue to include the p~blic as a part ~f the review
process during the next stages of the design process and throughout the entire
Master Plan deyelD~nt cycle. l3Ch step of implementation will be subject to
furt~er pl1bli( reviEW thrQugh the conditjonal use pefllit and/-or architectural
review process.
ISSUES Of CONCERN
Pre:Yl~.ll.S fhns and CO!!'!:!!Q.!lSQncerns
During the course Df the Cubberle~ Master Plan process, several design
alternatives ~re examined, fncllJ1:!ing adding additional parking in ttl;;: field
areiS, building a parking structure, and elimination of the track whidl would
~ave in turA Ted to the removal of s~ mature redwood trees on the site~
After community rEaction, tnese previous conc!ptual alternatives were
disregarded in the des19n. The ~ajority of public correspondence on t~e
project (.ttached) request, that the City maint,in the fields, preser.e the
redwood~, and keep the tratk. With the exception of a v~ry minor expansjon
int.o the field 3rea. for 3pprDxilllatt!ly 30 park.ing spaces, the goaT s Df
preserving trees, -turf· and track have been attained with the proposed ~aster
PI.n.
Hois~
Future actl'Witles to occur on t.~e site will increase Ml:Se 1evels~ but no
significant impacts are anticipated. Tne pri-ary use, whicn is likely to
reqyire desfgn measures to reduce nQise, is the aco~sticaj shell, particylarrj
if a~lifiCition of ev~nts is proposed. Fut~re stud~ Gf the noise and
acoustical ~ssues will need to accompany any specific plans for future
de~e'opment approvals, either b~ thf Architectural Review Board OT for the
conditiona1 use permtt. Design measures a~d sensitivity in scheduling future
events can .iRimize theSE potential impacts. NOIse from human voices lS not
addressed in the City's Noise Ordinance, but amplified ~sic would be subject
to tbe ordf~ance. Th~ swfmmfng pool is a sufficient distanc~ and well-
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buffeted fr~ sensitive receptors. O~tdoor events and act!~ities (an b~
scheduled with sensitivit1 to the surrounding residenti~l neighbors. and
contrQlled throu9h future use permit and le~se conditions. OutdDor
recreational ittiv1tfes ~ave been ongoing on tne site for many years; and the
neighborhood, t~rough the community meeti~g process which preceded the
d ••• lopoent of the Master Plan, strongly supported the continued use of t~e
facility (or these fun~tions.
Traffic and Circw~
Traffic was InilYled by the Transportati~n Division, and a summary of the
ana1ysis is c~ntilned i~ the en~irDnmenta1 assessment ittacned to t~is report.
lhe study concludes I"t the volUMeS of trip. t. be added to 10c.l roads, with
the additional Z),500 square feet of increased floor space on the site. will
not result fn traffic increases beyond those levels analyzed in the Citywide
lind Use and Transpcrtati~n Stud} EnVironmental Impact Report (EIR). 1rip
qenerJtlon r~tes froe the Jordan Schoal site studi~s .er~ &ppl,e~ to th@
various uses proposed i~ the Cubberley Master Phn to derille the traffiC
proj!cticns. No sfgn;ficant impacts are expected to occur to any of tne local
intersectio~s, thus no .;tigatian measure$ were required.
Site circulat10n will subst!ntially improv~ under the Master Plln proposil.
l~e major improvements are the provision of two-way circulation t~rou9h t~e
sile. This is accomplished by modifying the drop·off are. to Greendell School
and by relocating the tennis courts to t"e south, allowing ~idening of the
driveway for two-va) tr~~el arou~~ the feaT of the facilities. Archite'turi~
Review Board approval of a more detal1ed parking and circulation plan ~il1 be
required prior t~ i~lementitfo~ of any parki~9 and cir~ulition changes. Palo
Alto UnffiP.d Scnool Oistri,t ~;11 need to approwE tne circulati~n changes
proposed for the Gr.ende1l ~hool.
,~a:.rtiM
The major pr~blem with the (ubberley Sitf is the need for additlonal parking
and 1~rDved circYlation of vehicles. The circulation problem can be resQ1~ed
by recGnf;~urin9 th~ space layout, relocit,og the Greendell dr~p-off area and
relocating tne tennis ,~urts. However, t~e [aplementatior. Plan does not
include r~locati"g the tennis (ourts. because there was not sufficient mor;ey
to make tkat change and still do the needed building improvemeMts. The par~ing
requir~nts~ based on tht City of P)lo Alto's ·Off Street Pa~kfng and loading
ReglJli.tiQRS,-cannot be !let unless i substanth,l portion of the ~thlttic fiel~
qreen space is replaced with parking. This option was totally unacceptable to
the com&unity during tne review proc~ss, and was d~nstrited by Spencer and
Associates to be unnecessdry according to i user sur~ey they ccnducted,
provided that the f~ture ~aster Use Permit is conditioned to limit the
oVfrlapping wse of facilities which generate a major parling need.
The "aster Plan wt11 provide a net increase of 112 sPdces to the 71S spaces
now e~jsting on the site, for a total of 82} spaces. All of the increased
p~rl;ng to be added is reco~nded to Oc~ur in the ;MPleme~tation phJse~ The
aajar,ly of the new space, will be. added by reconfi9"rlng the existing parling
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ilreiS .and iI minor parkIng lot fll:pan:oion i"to the pliJying fi!ld. These
additional spaces wi)} help reduce th~ increased parking demand ~nicn could be
generated by the proposed building expansions, but wl11 net be sufficle~t to
.eet the fwll parking requfrement for th! incremental incrEase in development
prDposed. The tot.' parking requirement ~nder the "ast~r Plan is ],654
spaces. The current deficit .il1 increase fr~ 463 spaces to 827 spaces,
however the .ajoritJ of t~at deficit is ittT1~utable to large Qccupanty
facilities, i.e., gymnasiu.s, s~i~i~g po~l, ~u]tlpurpo$E r~omt and t~eaters.
The events taking place within these facilities will be conditfoned through
tf)e Jll.aster Use Permit so t",t the full occupancy cannot <lCCur simultaneously.
TnrGuy~ the Haster Use Permlt proce~s. it can be (onditian€d that the lxisting
parking deficit will o~t be in(reased.
T~ere is sufficient ar~i on the site to provide all the required parking,
however, it a substintiil loss of pl~in9 fields and recreational
opportunities. It is atknow1edged that parking demand may exceed parking
avai1abT! during peak periods. lhroughout the development of the Master Plan,
the broad majority of interest&d residents hay! 3ade it clear that the playing
fields shouid be preserved, even if it means a shortage of parxT~g during
peak-~se periods. This shortage is an existing condition and is not expected
to be significantly increased with the Haster Plan proposal.
Co.munity facilities, such as (ubberley, present uniQue parking situations
which yary ~aurl~, daily, and seasonal1J and for whfcn fixed ya~kin9 rates are
olfficull to determine and are an oversimplification of the actual
requireaent. Although the Zoning Ordinance bases parking requirements on full
occupancy of ill facillties. this situition is lik!11 to occur only for
limited perl~ds. The Master U~e Pe~it will be condttioned so that not all
buildings and fad 1 Hies wi 11 be used at the SUie time or are fully (Iccupied
when in u'Se.
Provjsion~ in the Zoning Ordlnance allow the Director ~f Planning and
Comeunity [nvlronment to adjust the parting requirements (Sectior. 18.81.070)
1Q certain ;nst~nces where suck adjustment will not create undue impact an
adjoining kSe$. The ~ster Plan recommends deferral of up to 50 percent cf
t~e required parking because tne ~xpectant need is uncertain due to unknown or
unusual operating c~aracteristic$ of the use. and becayse the remaining spaces
can be p1aced in landscape r!serve and can be proYided in the future if found
tc be necessary. Of the possible parking solutfons availabl~ and examined
tkrough the·co.munfty ~e~ting process, using land~cape reserve to allow
deferral of tne full parking requireeent is consid~red the best for achieving
the co.bined community goals ~f assuring adeq~ate parking t yet improving and
preserving a valuable community recreation resource. The City will ~ave
ultimate control of the wse of tne site through the Haster Use Permit and
i€iSe agreements~ and (onditions .i11 b! placfd on the various facllities
thro~g~ these mec~anjsms to assure that the current parking deficit is not
incre~sed. Other meas~res shou1d also be pursued to reduce the demand for
parking. including the provision of adeQuate bicyc1e faciliti!s and otner
fonns of transportaticn de~nd ~anagelent. (More details on the parking
sittiatiGn are included in the Master Plan document on pages ZOo 2J and 26.)
C"bbf io l/Nl Page 9
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Fencing
~ei9hbors of the Cubberley site ha~e expressed cancero about the inconsi~tent
and poorly ~a1Qtlined peri~t~r fencing which surrounds the site. The fencing
was originlll, constructed wjt~ the resldenti~l subdlvis;on. Hew fe~cjng
wou1d be r~quired with any ~ajor i.prove~nt to i pub1ic facility which abuts
residential wses. in accordancE with Section IB.3Z.01C (i){lJ of the lon:ng
Ordinanc~. The (ond1tional Use PerMit and Architectural Review Baard
processes would trigger this requirement for any .ajor improvi!ments, but would
probably not be nOTmally required for ;~roveme"ts identified in the
J~le.entat;on Plan w~ere no i"creases in sQuare footage are prop~sed.
Bleachers
The football bleachers on t." north side of the 440-yard track have been
reco~nded for de~lition. Tne structures are unsafe and in i poor state of
repair. They are unsightly. they create a Ylsual barrler for securitJ
purpQses and they ~ave 1;tt1e practlca1 progr~ value with the 'han~e in uses
of the Cubberley site. At the present time~ the bleachers are ~sed as a
resting or spectator area for track ~r football wsers, a p1ay irea for
childre~ ~hDse parents are ~sing the fieid or track and IS exercise equipment
for those who wis~ to run up and down the sta1rs. ~taff h~s proposed an
alter~atiy~ fDr eac~ of th~se uses. The e~i$ttng smaller bleachers on the
so~th side of the track wil1 remaln (or he replaced by new bleachers) and the
sp~ctatcrs can use these bleac~ers. The children shQuld nDt be playing on t~e
bleachers because they do not meet tbe federil health and 5af~ty codes for
play equip .. nt. The Exer,;,e funtlion could be provided by the bleachers on
the south side of the trick or a piece of eQuipment could be included as o~e
of the par ,o~rse stations t~ se~e this purpose~ MOst Df all, staff is
concerned about the security and safety issue and the lon9-ter~ ~aintenance
issue on a facility that kas limited program use.
Par Co~rse Sta~~
.At the present ti., par course stations ne located around t~e 44C-yard track
and around the perimeter of tne li~ger athletic field areas. During the
public review process, it ~ad been prop~sed that the 44Q-yard trick be
eliminated. Tbis was met with fnler.se disapproval; and numerous people spoke,
stating t~it jogging and baseball do not .i. beca~se of the fear by runr.ers
that the, might be hit by a t"rown or hit ball. for t~at reason, ,taff is
proposing that tne stations be relocated within the confine, of the area
surrounding the 440-yard trick. Some of the community disagrees wit~ t~at
decision, but stiff felt that this safety issue was articulit~11 defined
during l~e re~1~ process and should be fol1~ed.
HanditapDed Access
Handicapped ac~ess improvements Jre clearly defined in the (SS Assoclates
Architects study that was done to tdentify tne code and (o~dition repairs t~at
are reQuired on t~e site~ Tnese are t~e it~s that are the number pne
priority on both the ~a'ter Plan and the Imple.entation Pl.n. By completing
CubbF i n liNt Page 10
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these improvements, all the buildings v11l be brought up to current code and
handicap accessibility stlndards required by the City and tne State.
(omprehensiv~ PI," CDmpliance
The reuse of tbe fOrMer Cubber~ey Nigh School _s i community ce~ter 1S in
coepliance with Policies 1 a~ 2, ind Progrim5 1,2 ind 3 of the Comprehensive
Plan, Schools and Parks [le~~nt. Tnese pclicies and progrims are as follows.
Policy I:
Progr ... I:
Pol to:), i!':
PrograJI 2
Progra. 3;
Cooperate and actively de~elQP w1tn the Palo ATto Unified
Sc~ool District I long-range plan that identifies scnool
sites to be preserved for community ownership or use.
rstibl;s~ a prOC!S5 with the Schoo; Oistrlct to decide on
and implement the r~-U5e of specific c10sed school sites.
Sive priority to affordable hou5;ng~ parks, community
facilities and existing c~~ity us~s in ccns1derfng the
fut~re of f~ture closed school sites.
f~a1uate school sites for affordable housing and park,
cultural and recreatio~il fa(i1it;e5.
(Doperate with tne School Oistrict t. find ways to .. intain
public use of closed school sites where appropriate and
feasible.
The City. tnrough the utility users~ tax jOint leasfng agreements with Palo
Alto Unified School District and through the Master Pl." process* has
£wlfilled the above objectives for a cQ~njt' center a~d existing community
uses at the Cubberley s1te.
RE COl1MiNilA TI ON
Staff rec~nds t~at thp. Planning Commiss;nn recommend to t~e City Council
appro~al of the Negati~e Declaration and approva1 of the Cubberley Haster
Plan, based Dn the findings listed below_ Conditions Dn the futUre
dpvelopment and us. of the property will b< applied during the Naster
Conditional Use Penlit trod Architectural Review Board proctsses.
fiNDINGS
1. The ~aster Plin will ensure construction and operation of the use iD a
minner th~t will be orderly~ harmonious, and compatible w;t~ the
existing o~ pot!nttal uses of t~e adjoining or nearby sites, in that t~e
flei lit)' will be improved and maintained for cDfIIIIUnity CEnter ~Si! for
cwltural and recreational-purposes, a desire expressed in t~e
C~rehen.lye Plan and r.afflrmed by tho neighboring r •• ldents during
the Master Plan COmMUnity outreach prGcess.
Cubbfinl/Nl Pige II
:
2. The M~stEY P1ln ~il1 ensvre the desirlbilily of inv~stment '" the sa~e
idjacent lreas, b~CaU$E it wi11 al1~ for maintenance an~ impro~ement of
f.cilltle. which would otherwl •• b. unable to be properly •• ,.t.lned and
'""royed.
3. The ~ster Pla~ ~ill enSure t~at sound pr\ntiples Df enYironmtntll
design and e,ologic.l bal,nce sh.ll be observed, .5 docu .. nted in the
ltt~c~~ enyir~ruaenta) deterMination.
4. The ",ster Pl.n .ill .nsure th.t the use will be in accord with the P,l.
Alto ComprehensIve Pl.n, particularly Polic!., 1 and 2, .nd Programs
!,2. and J of t~e Sc~Dol. and Plrk. Element.
An ACfII!E!lJ'
Negative Declarition
File Correspondefice
Dr.ft Moster Pla. (PI,nning C ... 10sion and City C.uncil ~mb.rs only)
COPIES ~NliT_f~aL-__________________________________________ ___
Senior Kana9~nt 'roup
tubberl., " •• tor Plan St •• ring C..-ittee
Pal. Alt. Tennis (lub, P. O. Box 60434, P.lo Alto. tA 94306
Jack HaailtQn~ Wice President~ Green ~adow Community A5sociation~ 303
Pirkslde Drive, P.l. Alt., t~ g4306
touise Herrl"9. Ca-C~airJ Clvic Affairs Committee. Green Meadow Co~nity
As,ocl.tiDn. 303 Porkside Dri ••• Polo Alto. C~ 94306
Sandra Snod9r~ss, Save Cubberley Plrk Co.mittee, 36Z farks,de Orive.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
Cubbfl.1/Nl Pige Il
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t'LANNING COMMISSiON MINUl'~
'-1JfMd 1:1, 1'191
AGENDA ITEM 5 PUBlIC HEARING -4000 MIPDlE>IElD RO~D: Master pl.n foy
community center us~ of the Cubberley High School site,
including a net increase of 21,490 square feet of
building additions. added parking. new pool and
landscapfn9t relocated tenr.is (ourts and Circulation
changes. (n~ironme~ta1 As~essment: ko Signiflcant
Impact. A negative declaration ~as been prepared. File
Nos. go· riA-54, 90-0-15. Zone Oistrict: PF (Public
facD;ties).
Chainaan ~arsh: Tbis itea is listed as a public hearin9, however, tn!
public hearing portion of this it ••• ctual1, took place .bout • month .go
When we first discussed the proposed m.ster pl.n for the Cubberley
03/13/91
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Conaun1ty Center. At t~at tfme. ~e held the pyblic hearing and closed
it. We cDntfnu~ o~r discussion on the item until tonight.
Before us is a sfgniffcant item. a proposal tD create a community center
It the former Cubberley High School site. Sjn(e ~e concluded the pub1fc
test!mony list MOnt", we will begin with Questi~ns from the planning
com.ission. When they haye all been answe~. we _ill mo~e to comments
and action orr the proposed ~ister p1an. Hany of our questions of a mont~
ago haye been answered fn the staff report befDre us tonight. We again
welcome Paul Thiltgen and Anne tribbs to our ... eting.
Comrni§s1pner Glazier:
hearing on this item.
written testfmony so J
] was not in attendan(e at the Febr~ary
J have had t~e benefit of reviewing the
feel Qualified t. partitipate tonight.
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extensive
ComaissiQn~r Hirsch: On page 8 of the staff report, 1 ~ave a question
about the s~ction entitled ~Uses Proposed in the Implementation Plan
Versus Current Uses,· the statement is ftade that there would be very
little change ia use~ [t seems hard to believe that this amo~nt of money
and this amount of effort could be put into this project. Can that be
explained? ] cannot 1mag1ne gOing through all of t~is effort and
realignment but n~t really changing the uses on site.
Ms. lytle: Since taking over t~e Cubberle~ site~ we ~aye been trying to
move people in and utilize t~e space, even on an interim basis, adopting
use permits to allow nonprofit organizations and artists to get in and
occupy as much of it as possible until tt'l.E code imprQ~elf'ents take place,
at whIch point they will be doing some musIcal chairs, moving people
iround~ The facility is not IS intensivel~ used as it is planned for 7 but
the uses theMselves are all approx1mately the same as they are proposed to
be.
CQ!liiSioner Hirs,h; So this 1S a qualitative statement, not a
quantitative statement~ In other words~ if Uses At 8 and ( are on the
site now, they will be there afterwards, but in terms of numbers of people
it ~;ght be 2A, 1-1/2 Band 3(; presently you have not addressed
yourselves to that partlcular aspect of it.
~St lytle: Yes. that is correct.
Chairman Marsb: If I could add a note of clarjfjcation. This applies to
t~e 1aplementation phase, which is a proposed. first portion of the entire
master plan4 The concluSlon we nave come to is that the intensity of uses
on tne site today are not a lot different than they would be ~t the end of
the Implewentation plan, becau,e tne implementation plan is l.rgely code
~pgrades, not significant ~hanges to the fa(ilities.
Cgamissloner Hir,ch: Thank you. I did not fully appreCiate that. On
Page 6 of the staff report, ·Demand for New Uses it CubberleYt· I had
really asked for a needs asseSSAent, anc ] am a littl~ disapPOinted to see
that that was not reilly done I. the form I was looking for. lIll.t I
wanted to look at was, if we were g01n9 to select particular improvements
to be made to the site to acc~date us£s that are either not there now
or vy1ng for space in the future, haw would an intelligent selection be
made? I ~as looking it getting SoDe data on fo<illtie, that were within
Palo Alto, not necessaril~ ~ithi" the tot~l region. or services or
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fac1lit1~$ lacking ift Ptlo AHo. and ther--efo'l"e, beg the r.eed far SQ~
invo1vement on this particuiar site. I am a little disaPPointed to see
that this was nat flanged out. little further. I retognize that there
was some dtsCLlssfon. I particularly iSked staff for some informaUon {In
baseball fields, a~ r do not see any of that here. Can ~e get that
tonight?
~f Jbj]tgen: ~at partly ties into tMe issues of how we schedule the
fa,1l1ties. No. we did not do an~ther needs assessment. I can tell you
froa the use pattern. and I think we we"t through and gaye you the
indication as far as the fields are cancerned about the reservation
process. I can tell you right "0'0 that If the tubberl.y fields were not
there. we do not have enough fields to accOi'lrno<iate the Lise pattern II/i th
what we have elsewhere in the city. 1hat goes for socter, little league,
softball. Babe Ruth, or whateyer~ So we djd not do a needs assessment on
that. because ~e ilready knov ~hat it is~ As far as the need for the art
stlldio space and for the dance studio space. the "eason they ha'Ji!' been put ,n t~ere ,s that they do not exist it th~ present time. They do not exist
at the cultural center nor at Lucie Stern nor at ~itchell Park. That is
the purpose for includinq them h~re. These two i$sues were brought up way
back ~en we were putting together the ut~ljty use tax. The ~ther issue
of the $wimmin~ pool ~as be~n included because we have no 50~meter
swimming pool in the city that tan ~ used for the ~ses ~ are talking
about here. There is a demand there. Those of you .to swim and go to
Rinconada pool (an tell that it is open from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m., and
there is not a time t~at someone is not i~ tne pool, sometimes up to eight
in one lane. That was O~e of the reasons we have proposed this. to
relocate some of those wses that were better sYited iR a SO-meter pool.
We could t~en fnvolve the swim club. which now uses a smaller pool at
Rinconada, and they could open ~p for more public use because we ha~e it
waiting list of people trying to use the pool.
The other issue is the gymnasium. The gymnasium situat'~n has changed.
Ten.an's closfog caused less spate available to us. It is available only
one day a week. Palo Alto High School g~asiums are basi~ally not
available for community use. They are boo«ed all the time. The Gunn
gymnasiums ire OTll.)' a'Jailable one day i ..-eew. for COTnr.iJnity \.lse. Then 'We
have JtS and the other is Jordan. Jordan is available f~r use. but once
it ~ent to I closed $ch~cl site, th~ fee for the use of that gym drives
t~e fees up that it is not f~asible (or us to us~ it even for adult
activit'es. The co~t of the spice ;s very high. The reason for a couple
of tnese c~anges are it couple of things that have been very positive in
the physical educati~n situation of the schaal. One is that Title 9 has
come along. and the 9rowt~ of new sports ~as made g~asium space in even
~re of a crisis situation~ even for the schools to be able to i~commodate
their own neP.ds. When tnat happens and they have higher needs, we are
second on t~e lfst but we move further and fu~ther down the list. Those
are t~ings we live with from day to daY9 and that is why we did not go out
and do another needs as~essment. I am sorry that perhaps we did not
understand Jvur question clearly.
Commissioner Hirsc~~ I will just ~ave some difficulty of making
recommendations among various uses later this evening. J will have to
take i ·seat of the pants approach.-1 was looklng for a little ~ore bard
doh.
03}1l}91
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My last Q~est1an is. whit ;s the future of the CubberTty site in terms of
the City of Pilo Alto ha,'ng it? I keep hearing reference to the fact
t~at we.ay reach o~r Gann li.it. and if ~e do tnat, we may not have the
. DOney a.,lllb1. to pay the rental fee to the school district. What is the
trutll of that?
Mr. Th1Ttg§o: Eml1y Hirr1son CQul~ prDbably answer that a little better.
but I will answer is best I can. I .. not r.olly Invol,.d in that part of
it. Ve have not reached our Gann limit it t~is point, so we do not have
to go out for an electlvn in Novemb~r, The reason for that is something
an accountant would know about. To go beyond that Is pure speculation
Insohr is ""at would happen. If we h,ve to go to the ballot to get 0
Gann 11.ft extended and it fails, there are i couple of things that could
happe •. Ih,t does not Meon that the utility users tax would no longer
exist. What that would mean Is that we cannot spend beycnd a certain
1i.it. The .ay the leise is written for the Cubb.rley project, it
indicates that if we exceed the Gann limit, we have to take another look
and this contrar.t has to be changed. So a couple of Dptions could occur.
One is that you could go back to the school district and say, Dkay~ we
'have I problem. We need to renegotiate. Or Ue other extreme is to Sd.l't
here is YDur property back. Thank you very muc~t we appreciat! using it
far three Dr four Jears l ~t it is yours. My best guess i~ that knowing
the school fund sftuatlon, they .fll probably say, let's renegoti,te,
beciuse we ire really dependent upon those dollars as a part of your
budget, ond I suspect that .. y happen. ~ couple of other things that
could occur 1S that if you remembeT f~ the utillty usprs tax. it not only
inc,uded the ~ney for the school district, but it included money for
streets and side_alks is well. There could be a decision mad~ to look at
~ diffe~nt source of revenue for streets and sidewalks or c~t back that
progra.~ There is I wh01e bunch of alternatives that the council could be
looking at. My personal opinion is that they will probably try to
reneqDtiate.
toIpfj51oner Hirsch: Renegot1ate about what? You cannot give thee more
dollars.
~, Tbiltgfn: You renegot;ate how much we ~ould g;~e to tn! schaal
district.
Ca.1u1or.er Hirsch~ [am IlOre pEssimistic about that than you are. My
e~per1ence wit~ the school district is that under the guise of ffduciary
responstb11ity, they basica1ly hive gone out and sO~9ht eve~y dollar they
cDul~ get. I h~~e seen it happen too many times. I ~~ve been at too many
seetings wit~ the people. J would be very concerned tnat ultimately. they
would seek to hove the prop.rty back for s,le.
Mr. Tbillgen: That is an option the city would have to face. lf they
could not re~egotiate, then the city would have to walt away from the
contract.
CDlmissfcner (ij)len: The staff report $ajS that the risk assesSm!nt will
be delivered to 's tonight. Don West dld not Ilave time to make a formal
report. but the risk assessment on the chilTenge course will be given to
'5.
~s, Cribbs: Don was ca11ed out of town, and when I talked to his office
03/13/91
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tod~. It ~ld not bee" ffn1shed. $0 we do not ~ave it. I can tell you
that when we started the whole discussion of the c~al1enge course, the
first thing r did was to contact Don a~d say, will YGU l~ok at tMis
course? Would you say we should even pursue this? Will there be in
insurance or liabilit~ issue? He said, no. it looks fine to me, and go
ahead. On a ccuple of occasions, he said he did not have a problem with a
challenge course. As you (an see, the insurance can be provided.
Nt, Tbfltgen: We will certainly male sure that Don does get trois to you
in vrttfng as a part of the record. We will continue to pursue that, as
It I. I~ortant that It be on record.
Com,jssioner CulTen: I .auld bope so, as it nas been several weeks slnce
we asked for it. I appreciate the fact that he is out of town tonight t
but maybe he could hafe g~tten to it earlier. I am still rather leery
about it, I can still remember when we had an accident at Palo Alto High
School and the school district was self· insured for a mll1l~ dol1ars.
The ,uit wound up with. lot =ore than that. Given what Is happening with
insurance companies toda) and the fiil~re of a number of them~ 1 think we
must look at t~is ~cn more carefully before I would even begin to
consider a ch.l1~nge course, 1 was relieved to see it was a low level
co~rse rather than a high le~el one that is being proposed, but I would
rat~er have some other areas take the responsibility for it, There is one
up at Fort Mason and some other places. I do not knew why we have to have
one locilly for a city as small as this. So I will not be much in favor
of I challenge course untll perhaps the whole risk assessment has been put
to bed.
Commissioner Christensen: I would like to have a picture in my ~;nd of
what H looks like. I tJad one picture, until J read the information we
were given thfs week, and now I must say I cannot picture it. 00 we ha~e
anything?
Ms. Cribbs: If you could tell ae a little about what you ~eed, maybe we
can pro~ide that, It is. i sftuation where you haye a leader, and some
structures that are relative'y low. It can be something like a bridge,
and the partiCipants oi90t be blindfolded. The bridge might be just a
foot off the ground. and the partiCipants bi.e to solve a prc!>lem: given to
the. by the leader. Because they are blindfold,d, it makes it a little
difflc~lt and involves a lot of tfamwork~ There are a couple of ~ther
descriptions in the addenda of tne structures themsel~es.
Commissioner Huber: ~s. ~ribbs, I am not sure what it looks like.
eith~r. If one were to fill from the highest point of one of these
courses, how far would tnat be?
Ms. CribbS: FObr feet.
C9m81ssjoner Christensen: I am having
should 90 up to Fort Mison to see one.
cli~ing structures, ropes. etc.
trouble visualizing it. Maybe we
The onps I think of have big
Mi. CribbS: The ones yo~ have in ~ind ife the anes we have all seen up in
trees with ro~es and pulleys and people wear helmets. The ones I haYe
been 1~volved in as part of group eXercfs!s are really very safe. I am
rather frightened of neights, and tney were only four feet tall, some even
03/13/91
.g.
one foot tall. It really had tD dD wIth. group participation sItuation.
Perhaps we should provide SOmE dia9~ams instead of written verbiage.
Commissioner Cpllen; If you have been involved with ene, there surely
.ust be photographs of such. facility. I have seen photogTapn. of the
one in t~e city, whic~ is ~hat J was p1cturipg. rt seems to me that if
there is 1 low level cha11~n9. course, there ~ust be photographs and
descriptions of it, as ;t 'is obl/lous},)' marketed. YO(.l went to one~ and
unless it was a temporary facil~t). why cannot we get a littl' more
conc)"et~ dati?
Ms. Cribbs: The one I was involved in came to ~s at a conference and was
set up as • teoporory display. We ~an get something for you.
Commissjoner CuJlan: A followup qcestion on the answer that was given to
me on Pige 6 of the .tiff report on the copy of the ballot, which 1 did
receive, and J see that ;f we had read the legal language t we ~ould hav~
known th~t ~t;lity tax was going into the generil fund and had no specific
earmarks. Then the response by Bill Fellman. Real Properties Manager,
about the lease and covenant for the square footage refers not to
Cubbcrley but to t~e other schools that were i part of the site. He
spectfically SlYs it does not refer to Cubberley, and the lea~e and
cavenant agreed that the district wou1d not sabdivlde. sell or develop.
wit~ additional square footage to be used for oon-school district
purposes~ Admitted1't he is S,,1n9 that f!strlcts the school district,
but it seems to ~ there must b~ a corresponding r~striction to the
lessee_ the Cit,. Certainly the spirit of t~e original lease and CJvenant
should have trlnsfe~red o~er to tht Cubberley lease. Seve~il ~embers of
the public have Quoted from t~e Cuhberley lease. Unfortunately, I have
not been able to ~l¥e l~cess to that and staff wa~ unable to pTDduce it
to"ig~t. but 1 would 'i~e to go on record that I thin. thot longuage
should be p.l1ed out from the tubberley 1 •• s. before t.i. item goes to the
council .. If it fs .as restrict;""e as the le;,se and covenant for tfle other
school Sites, it certainly seems to me that it restricts the addition of
developable spoce other than open space. So that i. a rea' problem I h.,.
with the onswer to the question that I posed to the staff at the end of
the last meeting.
thainPan Marsh: let's clarify that tbe Cubberley lease has been slgned.
Commissioner Cullen: That is true.
Chainqan Marsh: You wanted langua9~ taker. out of it?
Ccmmfssiontr CqJlen~ Ho, I wa~t to see what the language is.
Mr. IhiTtgen: T~i~ m~ not answer your question, and the one t~ing Bill
did not talk abcut, and I do not know .11 the details or the legal
language to be honest with you, but one pottion of it that upon the end of
the leise, whether 1t is th! 15-year period, or there Ire ~irlOUS
dlffere~t time fr..es. 1$, la, 5 and 5, and when it is returned to the
school, it has to be rettJr-ned in I way that it car. be returned in the form
that it was when ~e took it over. 1ft ~S$en~e, it restricts ~s fro~ ta~in9
space and developing it as housing, for instanC!7 and then gi~e it back to
them. What .. have to do Is leave it in the fono that it is so th.t they
can take it back and use it is i school, if tney wis~.
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C.inioo,r Cullen: th:en whlt ab?ut the-add~tiolli!l' bui1(iing 'We would PlJt
in tnere ~nder the ~lster plan?
Mr. Th11tgen: Our intent is to take any building plans to the school
distrtct and get their approval, that it co~'d be used as a part of a
scbool. If we go to the master plan and did the t.o-story structure, it
would be desig~ed in the fOnl of a school tlassroom situation.
C9'!issioner Christensen: J have a question about the baseball field. My
experience with them is that they tend to be more limited. in terms of
ge"er~l ~se, than other kinds of fields, even ~re so than softball. I
wondered if you could describe the baseball field that you envision a
little more, and the users.
Mr. Thiltggn: You are rlght, it is more limiting. because it has a grass
Infield. We have WQr~ed with both the Babe Ruth and Metovey league
folks. As long as we maintain a field that the~ can use as a baseball
field, pulling the turf up and .110wing it to be "sed for softball at the
times it is not being used for baseball, they seem t~ be willing to deal
with t~.t. They would not like it. but it would work. That allows us
.are flexibility to use the fields. They got ~ad at me last ~ear because
we took the turf out of the b,s,b.ll field to l.t it be used ror
softball. After _e talked about it and they fc~nd that we were not moving
the .aund or the base pegs, they .ere more equitable a~ut it.
CommissiQner Chrjst~nsen; You do not fores~e an outfield fence?
~. Iblltgen: None of the,. fields will have an outfield fence, as I
foresee the. right now. They .ill have outf;~1d p!rimeter lines. or th~y
.ight bring f& some temporary fencing that would be there just during the
se.son. but it VQu1d go down after the game, or it _ou1d be out at the end
of tbe season. It won't work as a soccer field and a baseball field if we
bad outfield fences. The only fencing WQuld .be around t~! baCKstop areas
to protect the fans a~ players sitting on the side. The soccer fields
were designed to accommodate those fenc!s.
CpmmissjQner Christensen: Aren't the soccer fields us~d in the 5pring at
C~bberley even in the spring?
Mr. T~i1tqen: We definitely have stheduling problems. No question about
it. But without ha~ing any o~tfie1d fences. we are able to accommodate
that. The o~" place 1 see where we might end up with a temporary fence
is at one of the Bobbysox!rs wno use one of the two small softball
fields. Again, we could figure out a way to accommodate that. Those are
scheduling problems that we ~aye tD deal ~itn on a regular basis.
Commissjoner Huber: I a~ interested in the fundraislng aspects. There
~as ~ response to a ques~ion that George and I both had on fundraiiing.
It says, in ,art, that the ca.munity service staff already partiCipates in
arranging sponsors~ etc. My sense, however. is that the type of
fundra1sing proposed for C~bberley is considerably more extensiwe than
anyt~ing the c~~itJ service staff has previousl, done. ]s tnat
correct?
Mr4 Thiltgeo~ Yes. it iS4
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Comal,.IQn.r Kuber: Tell me how you propo.e to d. it? J have a little
bit of tro,ple w!t~ stlff doing t.at. I I~ trying to flgu,. out ho. you
.r~ going to go about it. You Ire going to ha.e to raise hundreds of
thousand~ of do11&~Jt or ~ven millions. which is • majo~ undertak'ng for
.n already ~hort staff. ~ow do we do it?
My, Ib11tgeni 1 c~~ld g1 ye you I very (~nc1st lnswer ~~ ju~t ~ork
h.rd~rl But I will give yO" a little more th.n that. ~rob.Dly about ten
ye~r5 Igc> When ~e started in recreatiofl, ve tame to the reaTizition that
if ~ wore 90i09 to continue to functlo. io t~e way tnat .. va.ted to,
f~n~rii$1ng and spon$Dr$h~p$ and extr~ outside monies wer~ essential for
us to continue tc pr.vlde m.xieuM stevlee t. t •• community. So we
e~.rked upon ~ generi' ~l.n for '.~kin9 for ot~er re,enu., •• t~er
scurt~$t and h~ we wo~'4 9~t contributions from other community groups.
1 o9ree with you that th~t was sMall potatoe ••• , we were only tilking
.bo.t several hundred thousand dollars • y~.r. On the other hind. we hive
a re.l need to accomplish that. and we look ot eyery new progr~ and
~.rv!c •• ~ bein9 s.lf-,.pportlng.
As regard. generating large dollars. we .. ould hay. to set up a campaign
i.vohing comunity groups, lnv.hing a .c.min •• th.t would b. set up fer
the pri .. ,y purpose of fundrli,ing ror 'ubberley, ~u<h the S~ a. the
_1mb1. Garden (lub did, and we would follow th.t 'a~ patter. of going out
to residents and to cOTporit1ons~ werking with the tOmmun1ty to have t~)$
h.~pen. W. would not ossign this tas' to one staff per,.n. Our vision "
t. "SO the comounit1 to help build. campaign that would probably take
$everil rears. It wo~ld be an ongOing campaign to s~arch out indiYiduals
.nd c~rpor.tlo •• that nave an iotere.t in spending some money on that
site, leaving a token in Palo Alto that repr~s.nts them in the future. It
would be nO different th.n w~at the (hildren's Theatre ~.s presentl!
done. They raisea alao.t a half .illio. dollars to put on in addition.
It vould b •• 0 dtffert.t frOM the Gamble G.rde. Group, ~hi,h put tQget'er
alaost one =111Jo. do1lars fnr t~.jr 9.,kagt. WE real~1 belie.e j. the
fact that we have something to •• 11, $~thing of .alue t. tn. community.
and that people wou1d be out there t~ r.i •• the doll.rs, Our jo~ i. to b.
the sale. people tc Initiit. the proSect, t. get It r.lling •• n~ to be
there i.S ~ hell ib:to.r a.nd as an encourager whet'! the going gets t'ot.lgh~
Mot an •• ,y task. W. have had. lot of success with smaller·so.l.
projects, and 'we .auld like to ~ave a $hot it this one.
Commissipner Huher! A$ regares the ~ole of your staff in the C~ildren's
Th.atre and G~le 'arden fundr.ising prolects. what Wi. th.t rol.?
Mr. Tbiltg •• : l~ the Gl~ble Sarden proj,ct, we mere1! actea .s 1i.ison. ro the ClS' of the Children's The.tre, we ~er. th.re .s ,"pport. We were
not tl\, f."draisers. We were th"e to previde assi,tance ,opport. This
would be i slightly different role, h~t within the commun1ty $t~~ices
de-partment right now. ~t ~a:ve i foundatioJ1 that E:)(is.ts ,,, the recr'i!-a.ti()!1
depart .. nt, we ~ •••• foundation that exists in the arts and cultural
department, ond we h,ve the friends of the library thit already •• i,t. and
the friend. of the CMldr.n', Theatr. that already exists. In ,v"') "'$0,
~taff provide. support ind will ..... th ••• provide le.dership in »rogr ....
and .cllvit! •• to help 9~n.r.t. f"ndralsing. This YQuld be no different
t~." ~h.~ we already do. If ve d\4 not 'ave t.e ability to r.ise funds,
you would not have a May fete p.r.d~ nor a Bl.ck and White S.11 nor a
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whole bunch of other progr&MS thlt op2Tite in the recreation department
that exist today. Ve have go.orited about S200,ooO-S300,OOO in ir.-kind
services last year t~at wert not hard dollars, but were services provided
by other groups. r. addition, we raIsed approximately S200,OOO in other
hard cash contributions. We do this O!'l a day-to·day basis. It fs part of
'Our job.
Commissioner Huber: We are g~fn9 to haye to send you do~ to the budget
hearings for fundraisfng for the city is a whole!
Mr. Jbiltgen: That is w~y my budgets fn recr!ation do not get talked
about very ~CA, because we do generate t~ose dollars. It is hard to cut
our budget.
Com,is.$1oner~: Tna funds ttl at you raise go toward running
progr~s. Is that correct?
Mr. Thiltgen: res , tnat ~s correct.
Cpmmis$tQ"er Hirsch: They would not go toward payment of the rental if
the city could not do that? I doubt that you could raise 13 million or
soae portion of that ann~'11J to pay the rent~
Mr~ Th11tgen: No, [ do not see us raising money for operating expenses.
We can probably get equi~nt. as we do get aon!y for eQUipment, but I
look ~t this as a capital campaign for capital dollars.
tQIDljSSiODBT Hirsch: You mentioned before that we are approaching the
Gan" limit this year. What are the projections for when we might appr~ach
it. and thus haye to go back to the electorate for tnat?
Mr. T~11tgen: Again. I cannot answer that question really well, as it is
EMily Harri50n~s irea. It wo~ld be pure specylation 00 ey pa~t, as that
Gan" limit has fluctuated for the last few years_ It .11 depends on w~.t
directions ~ get from the state. There ire changes in the calculations
and i§ the rules, all of which I do not understand.
CO!mfssioner Hirscn: But it sounds like we are close to it and flirting
with It from time to time.
Mr. Thl1tqen: Yes, we ir~ flirting with it~ and there is i projection
that we will ha~e I loss of revenue tnis year~ which if you remember
correctl] i~ the newspaper tkat we have a ~illjon and i half to two
.illfon dollars loss in revenue, which means a budget cut. If we take a
budget cut. t~at just brings us furt~er away from the Gann limit+ It
gives us aore room.
Compj$sioner Njr5~h: But it sounds like what people were talking about,
or it least as reported in the newspaper~ that we would have to be looking
at cutting services at the s~~ time that this progra5 might be increasing
services. It seems like we are going in two directions it tne same time.
Mr. Th11tgen: That is i diseussion you should have with somebody besides
me.
C~afr!@n !ar$~: T~e fundrafsing campaign that you have outlined in the
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,,,",) -stiff report, ~~ic~ I found to be a really good summary and r appreciated
11, antfclpates goIng out into tne conounfty and loo.iog to communIty
Sroups and corporations or other people ~~o would be fnterested in f~ndfng
one or lOre sections of the plan, icti~tties they aTe especially
interested 1D. T~e question ! ~ave for YOy is this: does this approach
to fundrafsfog, tn.t fs, fundr.isfng In chunks, .ffect the Integrity of
the plan i' • whole?
Mr. Th11tgcQ: If the master plan is approved, the answer is no.
Chairman Kars~: So we could iMPlement various pieces of l~fs plan in,
perhaps, random order, and not undenmir.e the plan itself.
Mr. ib1Jtgen: Yes. In fact, it could be a real ir.c.entive for us if we
find somebody really e.clted abo,t paying for the renovatIon of the
buildings, for instance. If we get some work done that needs to be done,
even though ft is further dawn the list, just to have some action on t"
site would give further incenti~e fDr us to go out to otner people and
say. this hiS been done, can ~ou match it? It is the same is ~ou find
with universities which put this together all the time. We are trying to
do the SaMe thing. We recognize the shortfall of funds lA tn~ city and
are looking for other ways to pro~ide i great faC11ity for the community.
N$. Cr!bbs: It really comes, too~ from going up to lad; and seeing what
they were doing up there. When we walked 1"to the art room. it was ndm~d
after I partictilar individual; we walked into t~e Black Sox Tneatre and it
was the VeIls Fargo Black Bo. Theatre.
Chiitllft Mirsh: The list that is lA the .aster plan of it~s that would
be i~leaented after the implementation p~ase you would say is not in a
partictilar GrOer of priority.
Hr. Th11tgen: If J had to do t~is aaster pla~ over again, I would not
have put numbers on t~ose items.
Chairman Marsh: My second questfon is th;s. When the master plan was
writte", you belfeved that we wo~ld have enough money to pay for the
fllpleeentation phase. My understanding is that tnat is how we arrived ilt
the implementation phase. We chose t~e projects that werE the ~st
important and t~at see~d fundable under tne projections tnat we have
sfnce thrown in t~e trash is the ~ney we would have from tne utilit]
tax. How, then, wo~ld you go abDut making priorities within the
t!8plerwentatfon plan. or how much of the implementation pTaIl r.etds to be
co.pleted before we ~ould be in a position to go to the projects t~at are
on the second list?
"r. Tbfltgen: Let me talk a bit about wnat tne implementation plan is~ so
that maybe it wIll help explafn It. I .. not sure I ha •• a good answer to
your Question. The basic code and condition repairs are Items 1 and 2.
We have to do those first, no matter what.
(haftlan "arsb: So we have to da th~se before going to anything els~ on
til. list.
!Ie. Thlltgen: That Is absolutel, correct. All of Nos. 1 and 2. If you
loot it Page 24, Code Repairs and (ondition Repairs, those have to happen
03/13/91
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before we do anything else. These ire set in priority order based on what
we pey,e~ved is the need and part of th~ condit'ons for the elect,on f~r
the utility users tax. ftem 3 represents the visual artists groups~ Tnis
wou1d allow us to 1Ak.~ the cl;'ss'r'ooms i.nto artist studio space. We felt
that tnat let the intent of t~e original election.
Ite~ 4 has to do with the dance communfty. Again, the arts communit,
really feit that this was the otntr area where there was a r~al need. We
cannot f1nd _n1 reason to say they were wrong+ We cannot find any dance
studio space around an}~here else. So those two met what we felt were the
n~s of the arts and cu,tural commur.ity in Palo Alto tnat W~ could not
respond to w1thin our exfsting facilities.
1t~ 5 is tne upgrading oT parking and circulation. If we do not do any
of the improv~nts anywhere else, we can go along with what we ~aye4 We
are basically not changing the site. If all we are doing is fixing tne
buildings that are there t so we can go along ~ith the park~ng that is
there whic~ is ~nadeQuatet but we can go along with it, is it doesn't fit
eyerybod~'s needs. but we are not changing a~ythins Jet. Ve are not
changing tbe uses, just Dperating~ so that was the reason we put that
there. It is a majo~ cost item, and that is why. wh~n I found that our
funds a~iilable dropped to under S4 million. [ about had a heart attack,
because it basically said. I don't know what we are going to do with this
plan.
The next ond wher! we felt we should spend some money was the at~'etit
fields and the landscapiog. AQii~, based on tne needs whic~ we know exist
out in tne community for ~ximiling the athTeti~ space and to get th~se
fieTds back into good condition again and the sprinkler system back into
good condition, to do soee work Dn the track, thi s was an area wt! Pljt 1"
there because we felt it would be ~ighl, used by the community. The last
one was the need to have i restroom ayailable when we are uSlng the
fields. That was i request that came up time and time again that there is
~o restroom wnen they play on the weekends. bRcause the building~ are
locked. The closest restrooms are in the middle of the campus. Those of
you who have dea1t ~1th coachin9 kid~' teams, know th)t ~Qmetimes th~
middle of the campus is a long ways away.
Item 8. the gym and the 10cker rGom~ when the school district shut down
Cu.bberley. they basfcally c.leaneri out the mE.1'\'S locker room to allow that
equipment to be used someplac! else and to fT. other s;tes~ so we have a
shell there with pipes sticking out of the •• 11. To make it usabl., we at
least haye to put some facilities in there~ and that is just a partial,
minimal upgrade of it. Tne rest of the locker room impro~ements are in ta
balance the plan. That takes you throu9h as to how we got to the
iaplementatlon pTan. At that time, those dollars seemed to be t~e amount
to.t we hid available.
Chairman ~jr$n: So is it i fair issess~nt to say that we would need to
implements Nos. 1, 2 and S, t~at lS code repairs~ condition r~pairs and
parking and circulit1on, before .e would be in a position to implement any
of the list of projects not inc~uded, that 1S, tne swimming pool, etc.
H.t.
Mr. Tblltge.: Most definitely. You .ould have to do those thr.e before
anythIng else.
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Chairman ~ars~: 8~t it does~'t look like any of these other items on the
fmpleeentatl~n list, besides those three, would be structurJlly necessary
1~ any sense before yeu moyed on to some of the items in the lon;er term
~ster plan. They are more items that were chosen for their particular
relevance for the Cubberley sit., for e~a~~le, the artfsts' studios and
the dance studios, etc.
Mr. Ib1lt.en: Right. If you are saying tn.t If we ~.d moved into on. of
the other items, 1t ~s not dependent upon one of the ~ther items in the
impl ... ntatlon plan. Yes, th.t Is correct.
Commissiqner Christer.sen: ~y concern about financing is from a little hit
dl ffe-rent perspective. [ill approat:hinq this project is a user of othel'"
city facilities, s~ch is the Terman library, where the hours nave been cut
so that It .ight as well not be open, or the Gunn High Sc~ool pool which
fs available in the $ummer~ and last summer, the hours for general swfm
were so restricted th,t .y kids finally gaye up trying to go there. It
did not open .arly enough and did not stay open late enough. ~y daughter
is on the Pi10 Alto Youth Counc~lt and there i§ not sufficient funds to
tabulate a survey th.t the youth council has put together of all tho bigh
school students ,. Palo Alto. So [ look at this and s.y, we are not even
doing a yery good job of meeting and providing the services and stafffng
the bundlngs that we have ... nable now. Th"e are no city programs at
Te~an yet. otner t~an the library. Wing 30 has not been completed? so
how can [ justify to ., constituency. southwest Pilo Alto, this very
elaborate plan that we know Is going to use up a significant number of
c1ty 60110rs and staff time, when the things they look to are being
squeezed and squeezed, cut back and cut biCk. So r ~ trying to Jook at
t~f$ from the perspective of i citywide recreational, arts community need,
and how does it fit into the picture of what we have, and have the MCney
and ability to take care of now~ That 1s ~ approach to this. My sense
is that we have not dOTIe that. Perhaps you have. and can help me.
Mrr IhjJtgen: You have several questions there. I will us~ the same
ans~er as [ did to Joe for one of them, relative to where to spend th~se
dollars and wheth!r to pr~eed with this project or not vers~s what our
financial situation is in the rest of the city. That is reilly not a
Question that I can respond to. It is a question for the city council and
how they priorItize the dollars. The operating bud~et for Cubberl.,
alreadY exIsts. It 's 1. place, so what is happening at Cubberle, .,11
not take iWiY from otner progrims, relative to the operating budget. The
capitil budget, 15 YGU ~now, i~ separate from th~ operatfng budget.
The issua of the swfmming pool it Gunn is • very good example of why we
ended up going with the pGOl it this site. One of the reasons you have a
lillited schedule at Gunn is the fact t"at we ~_a¥e such a ~eiivy use pattern
for Rinconada that durfng the SUamEr. when we ope~ up Rinconada for public
swimming, we shift some of tne programs at Rinconada to the other poo1s.
Also, Inotner reason is tnat Gunn, being the kind of pool t~at it is, it
is not is good I teacbing pool is Rinconada is, so we concentrate our
teac~ing programs at R~nconada, ~1ch pushes some of the existing programs
out, whie~ are year-round programs. The depth of the poel makes it not is
good I teachiD9 pDo1. We do not have the ability to take care of yo~nger
kids, as well. fa that sjtuat;~n. So those are a couple of reasons why we
do t"at. That is ,1so one of the reasons. why we looked at the 50-DIeter
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03/]3/51
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pool with 1 teaching pool 110n9 with it. The other reason we lixe i
teac~ing pool is that ifter the clos.e of Chuck Thompson's sw1lT1l1ir.g pool.
we looked at tnat as I possibility for conversion to a teaching pool.
T~at Is not feasible, so we wanted t~ ~xtend tnat opportunity to Cubherley
and put it t~erE.
As far as the yout~ council is concerned
Comm1ssjgner Chr!stensen: I dQ not need to know exactly ~y we have not
~pefit money this wa) or that, it is just a perception thit 1s ~ery
widespread tnro~ghout the commu~ity that we are not able to provide the
services and staff the facilities that we have now. The programs have
been c~t back and cut back, yet we are embarking up~n this new program.
People keep coming to me a~d asking. ~ow can we be doing this? J ha~e to
$i1, I donrt know, and that f$ what I am asking you.
Mr Ih11tgen: A11 rein say is, when the opportunity first came to us at
JlS and Jordan, it was an even more exciting opportur.ity, but when It went
to Cubberley, it does not provide ~s with i5 much of an opportunity as
before because of the 160,000 square feet, there was onTy 42,000 square
feet that were ivai lable for uses otner tnan whit was al ready on site
there. So we had ~uc~ fewer sQuare feet aYailable to us. B~t we Tooked
at it as a real opport~nit1 to expand ~nd enhance what we ha~e. I still
t~ink t~at co~ld ~appen. That 1S one of the reasons we went after this
project.
The second reason Is that there is no place anywhere in the co~nity
where we can put the dir.ce facilities, other than at Cubberley. There is
no place where we can put all the artists' studios that are n~eded to ~et
those two needs, which were two cf the prjmar~ issues raised in the
campaign for the utility users tax. There is nD place tTse to do it. SD
just accommodating those two needs alo~e. which do not cost the cfty any
staff tiae nor money to lease the space out. They take care of
the.selves. That is the plan. So we are looking at this as an
opportunity for them to provide a service for them and for them to be able
to tike care of themselves and provide an opportunitJ for the~ to proceed
w;t~ their arts activities.
Commissioner Christensen: And those are part of the init;il stage of the
project, the implementation portion?
Mr. Thiltgen~ Correct.
kQmmissioner Cg'Jen~ J have two POlctS. UsuallY9 ~hen we see the cap1tal
iMprovement budget. as we do every year (and note .. as "lade this year that
this partictilar capital impro~eaent had been excised from the capital
improvement budget). there is ~lwaYi a line underneath every single
proposal of tne ongoing r.aintenance costs. If we were to look at this as
i miai capital improvement, r do not see anywhere the ongoing maintenance
costs. I know you ~ave taU:ed about the fact that there ;s a current,
Cubberley maintenance budget, but that only envisions what is currently
there. not what is proposed under this mini capital impro~ement. That is
one poi~t, and the other one is t~at [ am reilly puzzled why, on Page 24,
you have put in two brand new uses before you hive taken care of the uses
t~at aTe there. I would call the visual arts and fine arts dance
community not needs, but wants. If you read the ~aterial t~at y~u
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supplied us wit~t it certiinl} comes throug~ like that~ ·W! wouid love to
haye t~fs ki~ of thing, and by the way, _e want to be sure we ha~e a
dance floor t~at floats and we want t~ have office space and we want to
have lavatories and we want to have this and tnat,-Those aT! wants.
Those are not needs. [would feel muc~ more comfortable if you were
upgrading t~e curre~t uses that are there in the recommended
i~lementation p1an, leaYing t~ese other two uses in t~e future. They ar~
not currently there. and i lot of the people are from out of the citYt so
I •• really puzzled why those two items are In H,e i""lomentation ph., •.
I would feel .. eh more eu.fort.ble If they came liter. The other thing,
that aro i. this I~lementatfon phase do speak to upgrading the current
facilities •• lthough I do want you to speak, little more to the athletic
field and landseapin9~ Those are two of my concernS.
Mr. I.;lt90n: You pro,ided us at the last meeting wit. the ballot
proposal. Wit~lo that ballot proposal. it 'ory specifically spoke to the
need for arts and cultural facilities. T~at was one of the arguing pOlPts
for it. It was Q~e Df the argLling pOints that council r~ceived from
public input during the time that we went f~rward with this ~ole thin9~
and it was one of the arguing pOints that came forward as we were looking
for uses and needs on that Site. We also know from being a part of the
arts and culture department t~at there is no space for these uses. These
are the only areas where we do not provlde~ w1thic our arts and cultural
plan. the facilities. If you remember, way back wnen we were talking
about Jordan and JtS, they were tal tfrlg about a mini Fort Mason. Mini
Fort Mas~n was that whole concept of art stYdios. da~ce studios and Dther
arts and cHltural activities. Bec,use of the fact tnat t~is was such a
reduced available space, we could not do some of the t~fngs that the mini
Fort Mason w;nted to do, so we are dOing these is best we can. We look to
the areas and the uses within t~e arts and cultural department that had
ine need the most. Tnese were the two areas.
Coarnissjoner Cgllen; How about t~e maintenance and ongoing costs of this
capital ImproveDent project?
Mr4 Jbiltgen; Again, we are locking at a master pTan here. We are not
lODking at working drawings ind constructi~n plans. The mast!r plan, up
through the fmplementation plan, does not take into consideratior. any new
SQUire footage, except for the one restroom. The Existing staff is at
full st.ff for the CubDerley site. [t can accommodate the square footage
that we have tbere. Or.e of the agreements of the addition of the dance
studio is that the people will mai~tain th!ir own facilities. Jt is the
same for the artists' studios. So those t~ new additions will be
acconaodated by the users. Beyond that. we already ~ave staffiog
capabIlitIes. Ve designed. staff capability for a 181,00 square·foot
facilIty, and we h.,. a 181,000 square· foot facility. As we get into the
next stages of this plan, whic~ is where we go into different phases and
we actually go i~to construction, and our building construction drawings~
when we start to design those. yes, that ~aintenance fssue will come up at
that tIme.
Coro.'$sioner CtilleG: 1 am very familiar with Fort Mason, ind [ don't
t~fnk there are any dance studiOS there. Of course~ it serwes a much
w;der couounity than Palo Alto, although I guess the attempt here is to
serve. regional c~nitJ rather than just Palo Alto.
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Mr. Tbfltgen: Ho, that is not really so. The artfsts are local artists
and the dancers are local dancers. They just don't have surge space. The
cost of sQ~are footage in t~is town is so high that tney cannot find space
and J place to do business, so they do business iq Mountain View and in
Sunnyyale and elsewhere in order to ply their trade. We are trying to
provide an opportur.ity to keep the. in this to~nity.
Commissioner Hjrsch; J share Commissioner Christensen's concerns. Her
words were carefully chosen. yet the emotion and fr~stration were clear in
her Yolte. Sh~ reflects the frustrition in the Terman tommunity in the
City's not haying met its sbare of the Terman Specific Plan obligations
enacted f~ 1983. Are there any plans for ~~e of the Terman Wing 30 ~h1ch
has sat vacant for the past eight year$?
~ Th1ltgen; The CIP docu~nt has it listed for a design phase next
year.
Commjssjoner Hirsch: What was listed for this year?
Hr. Tbiltgtn: Nothing this year~ but the design phase is scheduled for
next year. with construction to follow tne year after.
C9!pjssioner Hirsch: I seem to recall t~is being a one-year. move-out
into the fwture every Single year, which is frustrating for D~r
community. There is I letter before us that indicates in bold letters
that 'The Cubberley Kaster Plan should 1M! controlled to stay wi thin the
capacity of the present parking area,-What would be the effect of that,
jf it were fol1owe4, on the implementation plan?
Hr. TbJltgen: Tne implementation plan does keep it within the area they
ire talking about.
Com.issipner Hjr$c~:
feet. 20,000 square
landscaping.
1 thought it showed a resurfacing of 30,ODO square
feet would ~! paved. ~ith the remainder in
~t Thiltgen: One of the areas that would be paved is already a dirt
parking lot. Tbat is tne Irea next to Greeodell School+ It is a1ready a
parking lot. and we are taking it fram dirt and gravel and making it
paved, and we are dOing some realignment of the trafflc pattern there to
make It s.fer around Greendell School. The other are. is the little
section at the other side of the tennis courts. We plan to put parkfng in
there. bYt those ire the onl~ two areas. Tnat right no~ used to be a
cOIaUnity 9a~dEn, and ~as become a compost area. [t is an odd little area
as tt does not fil into the athletic area. [t is a nice little space that
we cauld use to alle~iate the parking problem. You have a parking probl~m
there. whether _e like it Dr not, so we are trying to do that without
impacting the area that is used far athletic fie1ds.
Cornmissior.er Hirsch: The staff report referred to a landscape preserve
parking reserve of approximately 827 parking spaces. Is that generated by
current uses? By uses under the implementatl0n plan? Or is it by the
vlti~te master plan?
P!s~ Lvtle: Tne landstape preserve quoted there is the maximum that would
be permitted under the current code. The implementation plan actually
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red'-lce$ the exfs.ting parking deficit by the number of new spaces that
would be added under the total plan. lhe parking, as )OU re.d in the
parking int1ysJs t would not be what the code requires, but would be
cQn~1dtrab1, .ore than ~hat was prov1ded at the Terean center. for
e'upl •.
COIIi$$jongr Hirsch: What wo~ld the implementation plan reduce the
current defieit down to?
Ms. lytl.: Tn> eurrent deficit at tn •• ite i. 463 space.. lhe
iaple .. nt.t;on plan and master pl.n will incre •• e that by lIZ spaces,
brii,ging the total to 621 spaces, which Is about half the required p.rlting
under the .aster plan. In other words, we are providing 50 percent of
what is required.
tpmm;~§19ner Hjrsch: In the fmp'ementltlon p1an, it will be reduced by
112 space ••• 0 it goes down to • 3SI·space deficit. If you go for the
f.1l ... ter plan. there would be • d.fieit of 827 .pac.s.
Ms, lytle: ihat is corr.ct.
CQlDissjpner Huber: Regarding th~s parking o~ficit that currentl, e~ists,
assumi~g it i$ a true deffcit, these cars must go somewhere when they all
arrive and it is f~ll. Where do they go?
Ms. lytlt; They park at the tharl.ston Shoppl"g t.nt.r .nO Dn the
street~ •• ueh is Middlefield Road and into the neighborhood.
Cgmmi$s1ootr Hybgr: Is t~ere any reason to believe that If you increase
the avall.ble parking on the 5it., p.ople will then not park on those
resldenti.l street.?
"5 Lytle: [feel that if there is convenient parking for them, they will
.se it. It win be illuminated.
Commissioner G1J2ier; What is the total number of visual irtists and fine
arts ~sers t~at Renovation Humbers 3 and 4 will accommodate when
c .... l.t.d1
Mr. Thilt ••• : It is between 28 and 32 for the vi,y.l artist.. The dance
ea..unity i. diffie.lt to n.me a figure for. Th.re has been a group of
about 16 different danGers that ~ave been worktng on ; proposal as to how
to use that place. T~e reason it is not as easy is for the visual arts is
that they nave a studio, and the dancers share that studio space_ So we
ire looking at about 16 different dancers. pl~s their stude~ts and the
people who work with th ••.
Commissioner GlazieT: Any idea h~v big that population of dancers might
be?
Mr. IhjJtgen: It Is probably between 250·3QO. Tou ire talking about
YDut~ dance classes and rather large numbers. 1 would not want to be he1d
to a specific number.
eo.miss1Q~er GlAlii!: Suffice it to say that it is a substantially
greater nu.ber than for the v'sual arts people,
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r,bJipPiD Nar$~; I have I Question about the bleachers. One of the
questio~s we asked last month was in regard to their structural
stability. J did not see an anSW!T to that.
Mr. TbfltDeD: When we originally did the CS5 study and Public Works was
working on that, they came b~(k witn the recommenditj~n that they were
un •• fe_ Bill Fellman worked wjt~ them, and that is where .e got that
infont.tion. They mere than 11 •• 1y could be beefed up and put in pro~er
condition if we wanted tD spend the money on tnem. It was a decision. on
QYr part, that since we only have so many dollars t we wo~'d rather spend
t~em someplace else than on bleachers. It would take a lot of dollars to
brfng it back to a safe condition. We just did not have those dollars
available. Another reason Is that for me and for the people working on
the plan. it took away from the concept of creating a park, getting away
frOil Cubberley High School. We wanted i. better-visual situation. That is
th~ reason for the chang~.
Chairman Marsh: ~i second question is in regard to the par course. fs
there I par course iD the master plan. and where is it?
Mr-Thllt9'.: Th.t is the one thing in the Sister plan. the words 'par
course-got left out. I dfd not pick it up until it was too late. When
we originally talked about eliminatiog tne track. we offered an
opportunity to have a par course fnstead of a track~ and put the par
course around t~e whole site. When the decision was made to incl~de the
track. one of the bl9 objections that people had was the safety issue by
putting that peri-ater running area around the athletic fields, putting
tn~ in a position they did not feel comfortable with balls flying around,
etc. So at the tiDe. we decided t~at jf that is a proble. what we would
do is to !lfminate the run~ing trick aro~nd the .hol~ field, but we would
still bave i 440 track ther~, and to take the par coyrse $tations, the
exerc~se stations~ and relocate them around the running track so we could
combine two uses with one. Tnat ~ay we could work out a better use of
spaee and provide a safer position for both the people running t~e track
and people running the p~r course~ Par-courses come in r.any
configuritfons. Tnere is also the ~oncept where y~u nave a running area~
and then you ~aye all the par course stations located at one site. Peeple
can either run and use one staticn, then r~n and come back again, or-use
all the stations at one time~ Frankly, that was brought up to ~ by
several people in the c~nit}~ I told them that we had not made i final
decision Dn thfs, ~s this would come along when we were doing the working
plans of the renovation of the athletic fields. Then we would see how it
best fits, and we are i step ahead of tnat at this pOint. That is our
intent --t~ locate the par course stations in and around t~e t'3ck.
There are on1y three par-course stations not now located in the general
viclnlty of the track. They are located out in the gr~ss .rei~ and thos~
three would be r.located.
Chairman ~arsh: Is that under the item -Athletic Fields"?
Mr-Thiltgen: That is correct.
Chairman Marsh: rf we left the tennis courts i~ their current location,
that is, we decided not to make the road behind them a tw!)~'Wa)' road,
leaving it ia the current circulatioh patterc that 'We have. wo~'d you tnen
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•• c~nd relocating the softball ffelds?
Mr. Ih1Jt9~n: Yes, we would slfde thee back closer to the tennis courts,
fn fact, we antfcfpated you ~ight ask that Question, and we did a slide to
shOll you what it looks 1 f ke. (Slide Is projected)
What we have done is to slide the tWG softball fields c10ser to the tennis
courts and h.ve slid the baseb.ll field over. little bit. The rEst of
t~e soccer fields ire in the same position.
th.i .... n Mirsh: Is that pri .. rny to .11ow the baseball field to have as
large an area as it needs?
Mr. r_il!qtn: Yes.
Chairman Marsh: One final questl~n. One of the changes in the staff
report fro. list bOnth to this DOnth Is the odditlon of • Cubberley
advisory conn1ttee. J wonder if you would say a little about why that was
added, and how you think that might work.
Mr. lbiltgen: It was obVious that there was a lot of CQncern i~ the
coanunity that we, loS stiff. might sneak some things in Of\. them ..,hich tney
were not 2 ~.rt of. We felt that this would be one way of having the
community fDvolved every step of the way. F~ankly, it 1s no different
froe what I thought we would hav~ to so anyhow. There is no way that you
take on I project this size wjtho~t having community lnvolwement. Th~s is
I way to fo~lize it, and it allows us to have regular inpyt. I welcome
it, because it keeps us abreast of what the community wants and k~eps us
involved w1th the community. Soaeti~s we head off towards l~ft field.
and the, are In right field. The best example of that is the track. W.
really thoUQht orlglnalll that the most efficient way to use that field
and .. xi~fze fts Use was to aake the changes tnat ~ did. We were wrong.
and we weT(Dme tna fact that the c~nitJ came forward and said that. J
suspect we would want to do the same thing with t~fs. too, so we really
welc ... the opportunity.
~ss1oner Christensen: I have a question about the configuration of
the soccer fields. I know it is now possible to hive three large soccer
fields ther2'. Is this alignaent of the two 1 lTge soccer fields and the
one youth-size soccer field to accommodate the Babe ~uth field? If w. did
not haye the Babe R"t~ ffeld, would it be possible to have three larger
SOCCer fi~lds?
Mr. Tiiltgeo; No, it Is to 'ccommodate the two softb.ll fields. At the
present time, we only have one baseoall and one softball fi!ld o~t there.
We have 5~ch pressure for Bobbysox softball that it has really grown in
that area, plus otnet softball uses that ~e wanted to do that~ We still
will have t~ree soccer fields, but one is $~lle~ and the other two are
larger.
'missIoner Hirsch: J ... ant to returJI to the parking deficit. I am
having t~uble finding it 1m th! staff report. Can Ms~ Lytle please
direct .. to it?
"so Lytle: Parling is discussed on Page 4 of the latest report and Page
11 of the previous report.
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'opnh51C!ner Hirsch: I looked it PagE' 11. In the first full paragraph,
ft says, ·The ~aster plan will provfd! I net increase of III spaces.-
"'s. tytJe: It is the same for Ute implerr.enhtion p1a~ and for tne master
plan. Th! parking gets add~ 1n the implementation plan, and then it gets
juggled IrD~nd a bit in the ~aster plan phase.
Cggmiss10ner Hirsch: [n the paragraph befor! that, it 1ndicates that
there will be • net incre.se of 21,500 square feet of additional building
area. Won't t~at add a requirement of at least 86 new spaces it
250 square feet per space?
Ms. Lytle: The parking summary is actually at t~e back of the Cubberley
~a5ter plan, street parking requirement, Page 364 It all depends on the
type of square footage that is being added. tvery type of use generates a
different parking ratiD. C~1ld care, for example, has a very low
generation rate, whereas, office uses, artists' studios, nave a higher
one. The gymnasium, the swimm1ng pool and the theitre have a very nigh
occupancy requirement ~ich generates i l.rge amount of parking. This is
how we plan to eliminate the increase in the deficit. Alth~ugh the
deffcit is doubling in the master plan implementation~ throug~ th~ use
permit we have the abilit1 to restrict simultineo~s occupancy of those
parking-generating facilities. such as t~e gym~ the theatre, the 5~imming
pool, Black Box Theatre. t~e dance halls4
Commissioner Hirsc~: But in your most recent staff report, where you
contrasted tne Terman Specific Plan ~ersus the CubberTey ~aster PTan. you
used an iiIIverage of one space for roughly 250 square feet of building.
Ms T Lytle: That was simply a IJiet~od of comparing the two. It 'Was
requested that we give i comparls~n between the parking at Terman and it
Cubberley. But that is not t~e way the parking was calculated at
Cuhbe~ley~ It was c~1cuTated by tne zoning ~rdinance.
COmmissiQner Hirsc~: So you are saying that adding 21,500 square feet on
either the i~lementition plar. or the master plan at Cubberley wl11 not t
i~ fact, increase the parking reqUirements at all?
"54 lytle: It will. b~t J am just saying that we will not know the e~act
aao~nt until we get into the specifics of tne use of the sQ~are fODtage.
It is <,lcwl.ted i. the table at the back of the document. Could you
repeat your question?
CQlQlissjoner Hirs.ch: Well. the paragraph to which you referred me said
the .aster plan will provide a net increas! of i12 spaces. Was t~at over
and above the number of spaces that would be required for the
21,500 sq~are feet of new building area?
N$. Lvtle: That is thp total amount that is being provfded in the entire
.. ster plan. It is not the tot.l amount that would meet the additional
square footage that is being added. In fact, the deficit would increase
1n the master plan phase. It ~11 diminish during the implementation
plan, but it will be made up and it will increase in the master plan. 1t
will go well beyond what is required. The way we are propOSing to deal
with that increase in deficit is by limiting the simultaneous use of those
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facilities that generite ~~ge ~unts of parking reQu1rement.
'omm's$fQner Hirsch: How much sQuire footage is being added during th~
fmplelentation pla~ stage?
Ks. lytlt: Just the re,trooms. 800 sQuare feet.
ftr~ Tb1JtgtD: would l1ke to comment on the parking issue. Those ~f ~s
who went through the commu~fty input sessions. this was probably the most
Interesting d.nce you have ever gone through. We talked. lot .bout the
parking issues and a lot of concerns about it. Then we started talking
about that and how to de.' with it. The only pl.ce we can deal w;t~
really gofng beyond what we can provide is to move o~t into the athletic
fields. The community s.id they did not want to change the .thletic
fields, so we found olJrselves in iI real interesting box about how to use
t~at sfte. Our decfsfon was to use tn~ deficit issue and to dea1 with it
through scheduling and to use the facility In such a way that we would not
hive all of the uses at the same t;~. At lot of the ~o"cern that the
c~n1ty raised was that even though there was a requiremer.t for more
parking based on the square footage in the zoning ordfnarrce, in reIl ity,
the yse pattern out there does not reflect all of tnose parking needs, so
t~at was one of the major arguments they rats~ during communjty input
sessions. That is when we said. let's enhance what we have. let's provide
some more wh;c~ wo~ld help to solve a trunc~ problem that we usually ~ave
for t~e first three weeks of foothill College sessions, and then,
hopef.,ly that will solve itself through scheduling and how we use that
site. Then, if we cannot resolve the problem with that, then we look to
.. ybe taking fields at I later date, but we would have to come back and
tIlt about th~t at • later date. We are trying to .eet • couple of
different needs when we went through t~is parking issue, and knowing full wen Uat we ~ere going to have a major deficit, based on tM zoning~ We
knew that.
CPmlissjgner Cnristensen: I can see fn the implementatfon plan wnere the
new parking is coming frQ3. You are taking out '13 and putting that into
parking space, and you ire putting the parking lot behind the tennis
co~rts and making the parking lot better at the north end of the
building. Then when we go to the master plan. some of those places have
been take~ ever with buildings. Tne north end of the building does beccme
artists# studios. The swimming pool ~as replaced parking. so it 1S not
clear to ~ where that parking has now gone to~ ~ou say we nave the same
amount. pl~s we ~aye added 112~ and in tne master plan we will also have
the new 112 and tne same old amount.
Mr. Ibfltgen: What happens i~ the Raster plan over the implementation
plan fs that we slide the tennis courts out into the turf area, ~h;ch then
provides some ldditional parking w~ich was nat t~ere before to offset the
loss that we have witn those two new facilities, the swimming pool and the
extension of the l·wing. Again, we get to dollars and sense is to ~hen
t~ose OCCur. If we were to b~ild those without moving the tenniS courts,
tnen yes, you do have i loss in parking capabilities.
Commissioner Chrfstensgn: So in the master plan, more than just those
turf areas tnat yo~ are talting ibo~t are b~1ng taken over by parkinS t
e"entfilly.
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Mr. Th11tgen~ Yes. Commfss~oner Hirsch~s questio~ had to do with the
iNPlement~tfon plan. Your question is about the master plan. Yes~ the
ter.nis courts sHde out into the turf c,rea, arid yes, that is a lass of
9'"ISS area.
tQl7l!!injoner-ChristensEn: So that is l!I{)re thin bec.orniag a two-way
street. rt is addfng parking facing into the tennis courts.
Mr. ;gHtgEf!; That is cor-rect. That was spelled out in the plar. all
alang.
Chairman Mjrsn: Can you tell us how many parKing spaces ar-e fr-eed up h~
that ten~1s court move? I understand that it would eliminate the parKing
spaces that YQU would hav~ fn the implementation plan on the end ;0 the
compost area.
Mr. Tblltgen: ~ memory says t~at there are .bout 110 parking places t~.t
we pic~ up by moving the tennis courts, so it is almost a push as far as
the gifn fn plrking places by deing that. It balances off with the ot~er
two areas tnat we lose with the addition of the swimming pool and the
.extension of Wing L.
CommissiQner thristensen: Commissioner Huber was asking me about an
amount that fmily 9a~e us as far as ~hat we ha~e available to ~s right now
to spend. Hi memory was that it was in the neighborhood of
$350,000·$400,000. Is that correct?
Mr. T.iltg~: That f. correct for t~is year.
planned on ~ow to do thi$ was that they .ould
revenues o~er the next seven or eight years.
$3.5 .i11100 at this time.
The projection tr.at was
borrow from projected
Those project out to about
Chajrman Mars~: We have now completed our question per10d and will begi~
our dfscwssion on the ~aster plan.
I have several coaments on procedu,'e. It is very clear that the Cubberley
Master Plan brfngs up I number cf issues before the planning commission,
ind event~alT1 before the city council. They really fall into three
different categories. The major Qne~ and the one implicating the planning
commission. is the land use aspects Qf the plan .-t~e elements that ar-e
proposed to be within the m!ste~ plant bot~ ;n the implementation phase
and ip f~tur! phases. The second major tategory of Questions which has
arisen here and whit~ we haw! touched upDn tonight are the finanCial
issues fnygTved in implementing the Cubberley M4ster Plan. The t~ird
.ajar category is tne political issues. Fortunately for us, it is an area
we tan safel} say is the domai~ of tne C1ty council~ and not an area that
we need to louc~ upon tonight. We dn~ h~ever, have before us lar.d ~se
f5sues~ which should be the major emphasis of our comments ton;g~t. To
the extent we want to get feedback on financial issues t ~e can certainl~
do t~at. I suggest that we proceed by focusing t~e flrst part of our
discussIon on those land use issues and on the master plan tnat ~as been
proposed to us t~nf9ht. Then, na~ing dealt ~ith those issues~ we can move
on I secondar-y basis to a disc~ssi~n of fundraising or finances Dr
implementation to the e~tent that people would make comments in that
area. let us take up the master plan as proposed.
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CQllis$ioner Cqllen: [would prefer to take the implementation plan
fir~t. beciU$e everything 1 a. going to 5i1 about the master plan is not
going to sound ver~ affirmative. Since t~e fmpiementatfon plan is
Phase \, If yo •• i11, of the master plan, I .o.ld f •• 1 that I could talk
.are pos;tf~el1~ but if you wish to talk about the master plan first, I
1I'i. 11 dQ SQ~
Cnaitlan Narsh: I do not see th~m as being t~at separate. The master
pl." Is the plan as • ~01.. The imple .. ntation pl.n Is that portion of
the plan th.t i. proposed to be pliced into effect in a more immediate
ti~ frue. If you hive C05IYIents on that specific part of it, I would
find the. to be perfectly appropriate.
Co:gis.sioner Cullen';" ] feel that the master plan is overly ambitious. [
tftinx that part~ of it~ particularl, the first portion, is well withi~ the
scope of what could be done in a reasonable period of t1~~ and well
~Ithi. the .cope of the expectaticns cf the community. Beyond that first
phase, ] feel we are getting into dicey territory. We are trading things
I do not caTe to tr~de. We a~ trading open fi~1ds for more parling. We
are trading dollars spent on 9ne item vers~s dollars spent on another. Of
course, I am perfectly 10 agreement that whatever monies we have to be
oble to "s. this focllity should b< spent en the high priority of code
upgrading and the ilq:lfOvement of the circul atio!'l~ but not on any more
parking than what can possibly be done_ Many of the members of the public
nave spoken about paving over wh:at has been reasonably open space. The
less of t~at we can do~ the better use ~ can make of the land. The land
itself 15 irreplaceable. If we pave over it or build over it, we are
never 901n9 to 9ft it baCK. The ~nderstindiog. if not the literal wording
11 the ballot lleilSure in the (.onmtJnlt1~ was that it was to preser'le, as
much IS possible, the open space around the school Sites fD~ po~sible
reopening of theo.
I appreciate ~at Pau1 had to say about the arts and cultural portion of
the b~110t "'s"re, but the fact ,s t~.t It •• s only is part of the
argUMent, and then it was on11 to prowide additional. affordable space for
P,h Altg's a.rts and c;ultLlral organtzattons. I think we ire going. a lot
further beyond that~ We are providing space for anyone w~o is in the irts
community and the c"lt"r.1 community, .hich is pretty wide. Those 300-500
friday night dancers come .11 the way from Soratoga on up, and the 300-500
squar~ dancers also come from a ~C" wider community. So I am not in
fayor of pushing that particular -need-which r call a -want-into th!
imp1eoentatlon ph.s.. So I approve of everything in the orlgin.1
fmplementation p~ase, except for those two improvements for dance
facilities and .rt f,cl1ities. I would project those further back, if and
when the next phase comes up. 1 would like to see t~is done differently.
I wou1d like to see it i. phoses, r,ther than t~is tot.1 master p1.n and
this imp'e.entation. So 1 .. in favor of the initial implementation~
.i~us t~e dance and art studios~ and holding off on those, the er.tire
.aster p1in, espe,i~lly ~th some of the t~ings li~e moving tennis court$
ond getting rid of tne bleachers. That I understand is in the
impleRe.ntl.t~on phase, a.nd I am not in fly~r of removi:ng those. b1ea,~.ers.
J hive been over there and examined t~eR, and one does not have to be too
much of an expert to see that they are in perfectly good condition, with a
little renovation.
The uses that the communit1 is currently making of that site must be
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preserved. A lot of 1t is the use of the open space th~ flelds and the
track and bleachers. and th~ tennis courts, even ~nere they are now. So
tnose Ire ~ co.ments fo~ now.
CQml1ssjQner Huber: I~ part, I agree with Commissioner Cullen, and ~n
part. I do not. ] think there is a need for some type of master plan. The
reason I think 50 is because when t~is ballot measure went thrnugh. there
was some sense t~it something was g01ng to be done at Cubberley. a~d that
it was to be a co.munity use, not just lotal neighbors. It was a tity of
Palo Alto tax, end thlS was to be used cit~de. So some sense of w~ere
we are going 15 important. We clearly do not ha¥e the money to do e¥en
t~e iapTementatlon part of it, and certainly anytning with regard to the
projects not included, the S11 Million there. may just be a dream that
will never come true, irrespect1ve of taxat1o~ or fundrais1ng, etc. So I
do not really know how to do this. My inclination is tnat you need $ome
kind of pl.n, but I don't know how tight it has to be, because the reality
of it is that a lot of it we Bay never see. So some sense of where we are
gOing, without tfle specifics t would be fine with me. It seems to me that
this plan would get tuned as we go 'rong, trying out what we can do, an~
see how it is working. Those are ~y general observations on the plan
itself.
In terms of the implementation p'an~ obviously code r€pairs. etc. have to
be done or it fs unsafe and probably should not De used. r disagree with
Commissloner Cullen, however, 1n that somebody thought t~ere were some
promises ~ade to do $omet~in9 w1th dance and the arts duri~g that tax
campaign. It is a polfttcal issue, and the city council can say yay or
nay to it, but] thtnk those are items that sh~uld be done. Personally
would move th~ around a little bit. I would mo,e up in priority the
at~letic fields and landscaping. but I would include dance and ~is~al arts
subsequent to the restroom and storage areas. There is a tremendous
dema~ for the it~ietic fields and la~dscapin9. It is an area that is
used ~eiviTy all the time. 1t needs some upgrading. and 1 surel~ w~uld
proceed .it~ that ~ne first~
fol1owtng on what Commissioner CulTen said, I do not see any need for any
additional park'~g in any of t~e green space areas~ I see absolutely no
need for a parking reserve. ~y sense is that the deficiencies that will
exist under the best-case scenario will do nothing to free up the
surrounding streets fro~ parkjn9~ so I do rot think we gain anything
except for a fe_ more spaces on site. It does not relie¥e anjthing off
site. and all you are doing is co¥ering up some more la~d. So I ~o~ld not
do it. and would not e¥en leave it in as a reserve. I would dedicate tne
park plan aspects of what is there now.
Commissigner H1rsc~: r have approached this wit~ the idea fostered upon
~ own ~rsonal experience that my wife and 1 are going throu9h right
now. We are remodelli~g ~ur fami;y room and kitchen. and we can justify
the expense of that because we own the facility and the property. 1 would
not undertale thit expense if ] was renting the property under a
relativeTy short-ten. lease. Unfortunately, J view this as being that
type of situation. We do not 'now how long the City of Palo Alto wIll be
able to retain this property. Hopefully, it would be for the period it
deSires, but that is not an assured fact.
tend to concur witn C~issioner Huber that some type of ~aster plan is
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destr,bTe, but i~ ~ mind. t~e implementation plan could. in fact. be that
~ster pli~. 1 t~ink the ultimate ~steT plan, is proposed. i$ too
gra~diose. It has a price tag associated with it that is astronomical. in
view of today's u.sh crunch w~th ttl!' cit,)' that we read abollt al1 the
ti-a. Commissioner C~risten$en ~ntioned that we are hiYing difficu1ty
providing for current services, yet we are '~oking at taking on iii monster
project and tninking abo~t additional ser~ice$ and additional maintenance
expenses that would ~ave to be provided. I am particularly concerned
about the loss of green space and turf area, so J ~ould not support some
of the concepts fncluded in the current master plan. 1 sU9gest that as a
lOBg-tena plan, the implementation p1an ~ ~1.!b$tHuted in Us place. With
that in .ind, looking at the various elements of the implementation plan,
I think it is essential that the code repairs and conditio" repairs be
undertaken. if for no other than legal reasons.
Onte those are tompleted, we will have a much better handle as to what the
long·tono prospects are for ret.ining this propert, in the hands of the
city. At that point in time. we should take .nother loot .t and decide
what are the needs that are truly unmet in the community. We have he~rd
tonight ind earlier that the dancE studios, the fine arts areas, the
risual arts areas represent facilit1es that are not met in the commun;t}~
To the extent that that contlnues to be try! on dOWTl the rc-ad, they sholJld
be supported, and every effort made to implement them on site.
To that 1 would add ,ace of the athletic field ,""vamping. in terms of
providing additional facilitIes needed In t~e area. Baseball (hardball)
trwl] is unmet I. this area. My sons have gone through tno Babe Ruth
progras. and the type of fields they had to pl.y on were deplorable. We
~ave generited good baseball players from this city, one of whom still
plays fn the major leagues, and we cannot do that witho~t the right
facilities. So I would put hardball b"eb.ll •• lbelt as • shared
facility, which Babe Ruth is willing to do. if the proper alignment is
implemented.
T~e other facilit1es are lower ticket items, althQugh the field restroom
and storage is needed, and the ~pgradfn9 of the ~enrs locker room, but
those are not as significant as the other Items. Once ~E get past the
code repairs and the condition repairs, w~.ich are pretty mud, mandatory,
one could then look at the other needs en the s~t! in term$ of a current
ass!ssment , ind make i ranking at that pof~t in time. Once aga~n. the
base1ine I would foll~ is, whit nefds are ~n&et in the community, and
depending on ~at funds ar~ available, proYid! them on the site to the
.xtent possible.
(oMiss-ioner ctlristensen: 1 concur with IOOst of what has been said by m~
fellow comaissioners. I concur with Commissioner Huber tnat we do need a
pl&n t~at gives a sense of ~here ~~ are qoing, 1 attach the hlghest
prlorlty to the open space areas and to maxi.izi~g general use of that
open space area among the variety Df groups that use it~ So the desi9ning
of the open space facilities to maximfZt tn! number of groups that can use
it is tho bi9hest priority 1. ~y mind for the first part of the
implemer.tatlon plan.
J do believe that there was a commitment made to the arts and cultural
gro~p$ in the cit1. As a member of tn! committee~ the S&C committee,
those community groups wor~ed very hard to get the utility tax passed,
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with th! unde~standfn9 t~at there would be some benefit for them i~ terms
of affordable space for artists and for tne dance community to stay in
Palo Alto~ J also see an advantlg! to ~avi~g those facilities on site,
because for the most part, they are low parking generat~rs. low intens;t~
of use. Artists' studios and most dance studios that involve children
have about 25 c~ildren attending. So it is a large publit benefit but a
low fnte~sitJ of use.
I. too, feel that the master plan, as pr~posed, is wai too ambitious,
partfcularly as someone coming frei"!! a part of the city "'here there are
still unmet promises from years past. We ~ave been trying to get a
com.unfty center in the southwest corner of the city, and I am not ready
to put my 5UPP<lrt behind yet another promise of a Inajor new facility in
the southeast corner of the city.
As regards parking and c'lrculation issues, [ agree-with staff that a
two-way driveway from the back parli~ area near the bleachers and fields
out to the front 1. r •• lly critical. I do not feel that tne two·way drive
is essential be~ind the t~nnis courts and out the ot~er side. for the
most part~ the parking and uses at the nortn end have nothing to do with
the park'n9 and uses at the south end. But there are many times when you
go fD and park at the fields, and it would be preferable to exit the site
at the stop light on Middlefield. So the staff's suggestion and that part
of the fmpleMentation plan should be carried out.
Comrnf$sjoner Glalier~ I agree with Commissioner CulTen that, given the
recommended fmp1ementation plan, [ ~Q not feel tnat 30 j OOO new square feet
of paved area is desl~able er appropriate. I also agree ~itn what I aa
bearfng fr~ i n~mber of otn!r commissioners tonight tnat there was a
COMmitment .ade to the arts a~d dance community a number of years ago, and
we do need to live up to that. However. given the usage patterns that we
see tod~ at the sitp. t~e athletic fields and landscaping and field
restroom and storage are probably a higher priority than the dance and
arts facilities. What that boils down to is that it is really a financial
decfsion --how much money do we have, and spend it on the priorities.
1" terms of whether or not thfs is an appropriate master plan, I would
come at it frem the angle of the im~lementation plan is proposed here
probably addresses t~a majority of the needs of most of the people who use
this today. I tend to believe in the 80-20 rule, and once we complete
this, there are going to be a lot of folks who will consider the Cubber1ey
site a lot more usable a facility. So lC that sense, I feel that it is a
good p'an~ J would love to see the rest of this implemented. I look back
to the planning commission or whatever body looked at the lucie Stere
COIIIlunity Center plan y-ears ago, and they were probabl1 .fry concerned
about how large an undertaking it was. I am glad the-y made t~e decision
that they did, as it is a great resource. But now [ find myself saJ;ng~
if you look at finances (which I know we are not really looking at),
ultimately we may firld ourst1ves., as a city. faced with the issue of
whether we spend DOney on this or sperd money on sidewalks and road
repair. If we accept the master plan i5 is, we send the ~es.sage to the
city counctl that we recommend this as an appropriate use of resources. I
am not certa1n that I want to send that message. I would love to see all
of this ~.ppen, and I hop. that 25 years from now, when r am 'till 11'ing
In Pal. Alto, th.re will b. something here that resembles this pl.n. But
the furthest I ~ant to go tonight is to approve the c~rrent implementation
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pTan as some fona of master pTln.
~fssioner [pllen: [would like to clarify that I was not thinking of
the dance studios or the lrt studios, currently it Jordan and will have to
be moved to Cubberley. I was thinking more of tne assessme~ts we received
for the friday oight dance groups that have 300-500 people and the sq"are
dancing groyp, also very large, for ~om an add1tion of 500 square feet ;s
proposed to be bUilt, admittedl, postponed, but J am not sure what the
almost SI .;11;on for the Building l renovation wouid go for except to
.. ke it usable for very la'ge groups. J admit that we did .ake a
cOimitment to individual artists ind Individual dance studios wit~ small
groups of ~tudEnts in the campaign.
tblirean ~ar$h: ~r discussion tonigrot is particularly difficu1t. is we
have tOIlCt.ed on many Questions tnat we Simply do not have the capacity to
a~swer tonight. We ~av! looked back on the election that occurred almost
four years ago, and we have tried to recreate the sense that was in the
coaoun1ty at that ti~ to 9uesS what it was tn.t voters actually tnought
they were voting on; what messages were given to those folks; w~y did t~ey
vote for Measures Band C; and how can we satisfy what they were looking
for. Our answers to those questi¢ns ca~ onlJ be theoretical here tonight.
We are also looking into the future~ at I potential Sann election. We are
askfng when is the Gann election going to be; w~at happens if it fails;
when will it have to be held again; what will h.ppen at that point.
Those, tOOl are theoretical questions that we are not in a position to
answer tonight. So I find ~self looking .t the Cubber!ey Naster Plan
with a much narrower focus tha~ I t~ink other planning commissioners do.
I .. Jookfng at it 5ly1ng, here we are in Harc~~ ]991~ and we ~a~e fn
front of us • facility for which the City of Palo ~lto has signed a
2S-year lease. Haw can ~e best use that fa(1lity to serve the community?
That is the specific and narrow questfon that r t"ink is particularly
relevant tonight. I found it particularly icteresting wne~ Trina
Loverchecl ~ame to us tDnig~t and talked about hu~n services priorfties.
She described to us the cit1 council's p~iorjtie$ for the ne~t year, and
.he used the phrase ·public/private partnership.· At the time, 1 found
that to be yery fnteresti~g, because what we were going to talk about
later was the creation of possibly anot~er public/private partners~ip.
There are very exciting possibilities in the Tong-term master plant as
preiented to us tonig~t for users 1n arts and culture, in edUCAtion and in
recreation. Clearly, I am ~C" more comfortable with that long-term
vision than are ot~er members of the planning comaissio~.
I want to talk abo~t seyera' specific objections tnat ha~e arisen
tonight. The first i. the que.tion of whether dol Tar. in,ested in the
Cubberley site are dollars that ~i9ht otherwise be spent on services.
Again. ] want to emphasize what has been pres~nted b~ staff. which ;s that
publfc/private partnership. Cl.arly, the city would b< asked to pay for
some of the items on the list, such as code and condition repairs.
However , ma"1 of the other items contained within the ~aster plan --the
theater lobby and restrnoms, the .ddition of. new gym, the swimming pool,
just to .. ntion a few, are items t~at the staff proposes w< go out into
the co.aunit1 to seek funding for. Clearly, there is a definite message
if yau go to the community and say, what do you think about a swimming
paol, and sa.ebody saysl we really ne~d t~at and we ~ant to pa~ for it,
that is pretty good proof th.t it i. a facility not .vailable elsewhere in
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the c~nity. Tnat, alone, woul~ be a test of whether or not that
servfce Is important to the people who li~e Dr work In Palo Alto. So
see the master plan as being one iD wh1ch the city invested limited
amounts of public funds, with the bulk of the pl,n belng funded by private
.aofes. If those private monies _ere not fortncomlng. those would s;mp1y
be portions of the master pl., that would not be implemented. That would
be my recOAnendation to the city counc;).
,he other issue I want to speak to is the parking lsstle and patent ill
parkfng deficit. We have had presented to us a use permit process t~at
would be ,ugmented in the staff recommendation tonight by the tubberley
Advisory Committee. That comm;ttee, as indicated by staff. would meet on
a regular basiS. Tbat committet~ along with the 20ning adm1nistrator,
would f.lfi11 the role of monitoring changes to the Cubberley site, .s
those changes are i~lementedJ so that ~e tDu1d have a good look at a~i
pot~t in time at the iS5~es t~at were going on at the site, at tnt leyel
Df usage at the site, and at the potenti" for "~ growth at that site. 1
am \'erl comfortable ill believing that that is a process that would enjoin
users, neighbors and city staff in making some very good decisiDns as to
what kind of future additions might be made to the tubberley site and in
mc~itorin9 the ongoing usa9~. Obviously, th~t process ~ould st,'l be
appealable to the planning commission and the city counc;l, but [ do not
believe we WOUld see that process come alon9 very often.
finally, I ~ant to pick up on a phrase that Cvmmissioner Gla2ier ~ide. He
said that he believ~d that the imp1ementation phase would probab1y satisfy
;ost of the people involved today at the Cubberle, 'it.. 1 think that is
true. HoweYer, I feel it 15 in(umbent upon us to wiew C~bberley in a much
more lon9~te~, broader perspective. We h,~~ here the pot~nt,a' for i
com.unityw1de facllity t~at meets i numbe~ of needs nGt being met in other
loclti6ns ~it~ift t~e community. We may be sat1sfying people ~hQ ire the~e
now. but the potent1al is out there for t~at facflity to be used and
enjoyed by .anYt many more people in t~e broader cGmmunity. I think W~
would be remiss if we eliminate t~at PQisibi1ity.
1ft listening to comments tonight, I feel I am probablj in the minority in
endQrsing the larger master plan. 1 would like to attempt a summary of
what I feel ;s an eaerging consensus from the rest of you. Tbat is to
perhaps focus the master plan on the items that are contained partially
within t~e implementation phase of the current plan. That is w~at 1 have
~eard from at 1.ast thre. of you.
What we want to do 1S to layout the stape of the plan. and then tall
about the specific items that might be in it.
Commissioner Huber~ In looking at the original staff report~ we were
asked to consider approval of the negative declaration and of the master
plan~ Then it gDes on to state that the master plan is in harmony witn
ill sorts of things. It strikes me that what we are really dOing, ic
essence, if i read this torrectl~, is to rewrite the master plan, in part,
.fter whIch r suspect all of these findings will fall into place.
Ms. Iytl.: If .hat you .re saying is that you would be adopting the
implementation plan is the ~aster plan, the same findings could be used
for doing that.
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Cha1rmtn ftjtsb= let us proceed on that basis, since I belie~e there is
consens~s up ~ere for generally focusing on the implementation portio~ of
the ~ster plln~ Are tnere speclftc comments regarding t~e ittms ~ithin
that Implementation plan as presented by tne staff. We nave code repairs
and condition repa1rs listed f~rst. Is there any disa9reement ~;t~ that?
The next two items listed that would fill withIn the i~lement.tion pnase
wo~ld be renovatfans to accommodate visual arts. fine arts and fine arts
dance.
Commissioner Hjr$ch~ ~. Thtltgen, how long do yo~ think it would take to
actually illple.ent Items 1 and 2, assuming the mney was l't'anable?
Mr. Thiltgen: Assu.1ng the city council approves gQing ahead in April, ~e
wo~ld then ask for authority to proceed with going to bid fer a designer
to design the work, which would t.ke two or three montns to get the
consultant Dn boa~. At that point, we wo~ld go into the design process.
Just dQing the cede and candition repairs would probably not take as l~ng
as if we were doing the whole implementation plan as a packaQE. You are
probably talking .bout six to eight DOnths to get t"at ready, which me.ns
we would be looking at going to bid fn the spring of 1992, which means
constru~tion would be9i~ in the summer Df 1992 and the work would probably
be completed in one year~ We will have to move people around to do the
work. We ha~e tenants there and we will ~aye to work in em~ty spaces and
then .ave tenants ioto them. We are probably looking at July of 1993 for
completion.
[DmI'ss1oner H1rsch~ [suggest that if we conceptually feel that the
f-rlementltion plin would reflect a tetter master ~lan on a long-term
basis, then juggling between It ... s 3 .nd 8 .t this point in time is really
not going to be .eaninqful. The finances of the futYre, whether the ~oney
Is available, whether the site ;s still available to the city, will be
more deterefnatiYe at that time, maybe two or two-and-a-half years dDwn
the road.
("airman Mir$h: My intent vDuld not ~ to set priorities, but to see if
we haye a b~y-1n O~ including all of t~ose items within the implementation
plan~ Does anyone ~aye I problem with any of the items currently ;n~luded
in the impleNentat1Gn plan?
Commissipner Cullen: If the it~letic fields and landscaping are to be
reconfigured as $~own lU the diagraa in the implementation plan, then r do
ha~e • few prDbleas~ I am very grateful for Sandy Snodgrass for givirg us
this comparison $0 I do not ~ave to flip back and forth with these
l.youts. I f •• l strongly about the bleachers. We hare heard from the
neighborhoodi we haVE ~eard from the usersj we have been over tner~ and
observed thee fn ~$e; and for th~ to be removed unnecessarily. [ feel, is
really a .istake. So if the athletic fields and landscaping project
includes the ~val of the bleachers. [ would take Exception to that
aspect of it. Also. if it includes the loss of some of the atnlttic
fields by what he claims to be 15,000 square feet, although I am not Quite
where that c~ from. I am against that, as well. If tne oak trees are
being re.Qved» I am against that~ The~ Ire not shown on the
i~leaentatiQn ,lan. Soae of the redwood trees are shown as being
re.oved, too, and J am against that~ The parking lot reconfiguration can
be rethought. The circulation m~ not have to be exactly as shown in this
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site plan. So if ~ are approving the Slt~ plan as the plan for the
fMplementation, I am hiving some problems ~ith it. If.e ar~ ippr~vin9
the fact that the athletic fields and the lancscaping be reconfigured,
then that 15 okay, if we are doing it on i general basis. 1 see tonight
t~at we nave come back in with I different reconfiguration. I would like
to see that one substituted for the configuration that is in the
implementation plan.
C~airaan Karsh; There are a nUJRber of s.ub~ssues within the athletic field
It .. , and we do need to deal with them separately. Vhat I have noted here
is: discussion of the bleachers, potential use of the compost area for
parking, rEtention of trees on t~e slte, and reconfiguration of the
softball fields. They are all implicated in the athletic fields and
landscapfng item. let us take th~ one by one. First is the bleachers
item. Commissioner C~llen has spoken to retaining th~m.
Commissioner Hirsc~: Paul. why ~as it recommended that the bleachers be
eliminated? Or to put it conwersely, ~h1 car.'t they be retained?
".1'. Tbiltgen: You ran de anything you want to do.
Cgmmissioner Hirsch: I concur with Comm~ssioner (~llen.
Chairman Marsh: Again, I will play the mfnGrity here. I would take out
those bleachers. I do not feel they are in very good shape. I have stood
and looked at them. The seats are peeling off; they are clearlJ aoing to
take SOIOe maintenance ove-r the years; and the whole look and feel~of that
greater area would be enhanced by haVing it opened up, so that you can
stand at one end and look down the field and see what is ~appening at the
other end Df the C~bberley park. 1 also frank1y think there is a security
Issue there. The ability to b< able to stand on that fiold and scan all
the iIIcthit1e.s taking place from: one end to the. other I feel is important?
particularly ~s the use of the area intensifies.
Cgmmfssion~r Glazler~ r agree ~ith you one h~ndr2d percent.
Ccrnajssloner Hirsch: I have played on that soccer field that t~e
bleachers face (or ~any~ many years in my younger days. They seemed to b~
totally ad~qilate, as best I could tell. We sat on them while watchlng
games; we sat on them after games, and [ don't know if they hawe become
more dilapidated with years, but just a co~ple of years ago, they seemed
to be ;A more than adequate shape for the vast number of purposes.
Mr. Thtltgen: They have not been maintained i~ the last five years, and
their condition has deteriorated. In that respect , everyt~ing that
Chairman Marsh said i$ exactly the rationale that ~ ~ied.
Commissioner Hirsc~: I assume that would require some of the maintenance
that CGmmissfoner C~llen was tal ling about. Once that was done, they
would be back in shape.
~~: [t wo~ld require some capltal dollars, ijnd again, we are
trying to spread these capftal dollars as far as we can. We are trying tc
spread t~em to other facilities that we feel would add to the site. A1so,
we are trying to change the image from an old hi9~ school to a community
center. You don't need a football field with bleachers anymore.
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C9MIi$s1ocer Hjrscb: It is &150 ~ socc~r field, and it is used
extensfve1, IS such.
Mr. Tb'1tqtn: I know, but you don't need the old high school
conftguratton that you ha~e there. We can put bleachers anywhere that
could accommodate the crowds that you get tbere. Yau don't get tne large
crowds.
Cglmi,slgner Hirsch: The consensus recommendatjon~ as 1 understand it, is
to sa.e about $11> .illlon, In terms of downgrading the master plan to the
i~lementatton plan. if .1 numbtrs are correct. We are suggesting that
maybe some dollar. should be put into the bleachers.
Cha1rman Marsh; Can we ~aye I mot ton on the bleachers issue?
HQI1Q8~ Commissjoner ChristtDSfn: [move that we put money into
maintenance of the bleachers. My kids pl~ on those soccer fields_ I
ha.e played on those SOCcer fields. Rugby players use it. It is one of
t~. few places .~.re you actually have. field where there are bleachers
where people can came and watch the ittiYity that i friend or relative is
participltlng in. Vou can't .s. the high school fields. Obviously. tt.ey
are I value to the community, The bleachers t~at tend to get put in, if
put iQ at al1~ are terrible. The replace~nt bleachers are metal things
t~at If anything, J think ire more ~azardou$.
~: By ComMissioner Hirsch.
HQlION PASSES: [haiMa'" Marsh: Is there any further d;sc~ssion on this
.at10R? All those in fayO~, say Aye? All oppos~? That passes cn a vote
of 4-2, ~t~ Commf$~joner$ ~arsh and Glazier voting nc, and Commissioner
Seech .. abse.t.
Chairman Mars~: The next issue is the com~ost area and its conversion t~
I slal1 parking area. It is the small, square area to the north Df t~e
tEnnis courts.
Comm iiS10ner Ch~'stensen~ 1 WQ~ld s~pport that. it has been a compost
area for as long as 1 can remember. You (snnot even walt across it. They
have ~raped off the compost and people are now using it to park. I do
not see it IS an extension of the athletic fields, and feel it would be a
useful pl.oe to nave some additional parkIng.
Cgam1$$ioner Cullee: I WiS questioning the additional 15,000 square feet.
and now I see where it is. It does se~ to me that it is a valuable area
for puking.
C~ajrmtn MArsh: V~ have consensus on thit. Ve will move on to the next
item --trees. Commi$sio~er Cullen has expressed opposition t~ the
re.o~ll of trees, as indicated on Sandy Sn~d9~ass' dra~n9s. Th@ stiff
did speak to this in the staff report.
COIIissipner Chrjstensen: Jt spoke to it, but it is not clear to me what
trees ~ are t.l<lng about.
Cha5Tmin Mirsb: tan we hl~e clarification on thlt to see if, i~ fact.
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tnere are significant trees anticipated being removed from the site?
Nc. Th11tgen: The answer to that is no.
C9llissioner Cullen: I see that tne arborlit has recommended retainlng
the rf:dwoods. The prhets is l waed anyway.
Mr. Ib11tgen: That. agafn, fs one of those t~ing5 ~-this is just a
general plan, a general concept. The intentian is to never take dawn
tr~es. We wouid not be in the parks and retreat ion business jf we were
takiog out trees.
Chaimrl Marsh: men we have conSen3U$ on trees. The last ite,' is the
reconf;g~ratton of the softball fields. We did have a new configuration
suggested tonight. If we are in ag~eement that we will leave the tennis
courts where they curr!ntl, are_
CqmIDis$igngr Christensen; The only ~oncern J hav~ ;s about the basebill
field. I tan support it with the idea thit it be a more general use
fae1lit} thin baseball fields tend to be. It sounds like the staff is
designing it that way. My concerD is that baseball fields tend not to be
~sable by other groups. We want to leave the fields as wide1) usable as
possible by • whole variety of groups.
!t. Thjltgen~ We are not ~ilding a baylands baseball fields there. We
are building. site that will accommodate baseball. Those lines that you
see on the sheet are to give you an indication of what will fit there. It
is i~ortant to know whit can go there. Obviously, we will have I
backstop and those things on the baseball field, but If we were to build
something that was a dedicated baseball field and that were the onl1 .se
we could get out of itl the rest of the ball field users fD town WGuld r~n
us out of tOVll.
COIpisstonfr Cqllen~ It is not clear to me about the par cours!. I see
that the track 'is bei~g retained i~ the implementation plan, but what is
happening with the par course?
Mr. Tbiltgen; As I said earlier, when you look it the master plan, yo~
won't find the words there because tnat is the one thing that got left
out. The par course is defined is a runnlng area with stations. We have
no intention of eliminating the par course stations. W~ will just be
relocating thea. We will relocate the tkree that are now out an the
at".tic field to some place around the track and try to coobine the par
course activity and track together on one site.
ChairP@" Hars~: [t~ink we have satisfied the concerns regarding at~letic
fields and landsc~pinq.
Cgmmisslontr Christensen: I do wa~t to strong1) support the idea of the
restrD~ facilities.
Chafrman Hars~: Tbis commission has gor.e Qn record several times recently
as befDg in favor of restrcoms.
Cqalissicner Hirsch; I want to second Commissioner Cnristen5en~s
camaent. I do favor ~ygiene on t~is site.
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!c, I~jltgen: Even though the restroom facility right now is located dc~n
~t that e~ in this plan, we want to retain the ability to look it .here
the best location for it Is on the who'. site. ~e do not want to ~
.aying that it has to be on that spot. We are not quite sure at this
stage. We have not done all the studies for where the sewer system is,
etc. We will get into that in the ~ext stage. There may be i better
locltlon for it.
tpmpis)1oneT Hirsch: The cha11tnge coyrse is, i~ fact, sho~~ on the
'mpletlentation site pl an. Is tnat a part cf it, in your !find?
Hr-ThJltgen: In our Rind, yes.
Comminioner Hirsch: I would give that a very low priority. It is
included in No. 11 .t the south end of the oval.
Cqmmj$sfon~r Cu1len: 1 will speak MOrt strongly against its bei~9
included. I al sorrl that we do not have tne risk assessment factor. It
does seem to me t~at it brings another ~se into it which does not
necessarily need to go 1n t~at locati~n. If t~ere is a need for this kind
of thing, there are other p7aces in our park facilities where it wculd fit
in and not be in conf1 iet with sa many things.
~: Commissioner Cyllen: I move t~at we eliminate the challenge
course~
Commissiqner Chrjstensen: I do not feel that I hive enough information
.hoyt 1t to vote an it tonig~t to el1minate it or not eliminate it. 1 am
a little shy of supportio9 it.
Chain-an Marsh: There is not a second to the motjon~
Cp!!1ssioner Hir$Ch: I would add i ComMent that I do not feel it is
necessary to look it every ne~d that ~s available or necessayy to be
filled i. the City of Palo Alto, and put it on the CUbberley site. If a
ch,11enqe course is needed, there are Dth~r parks in to~~ where you co~l~
put it.
Chainaan Marsh: Then we ~aye dealt with the challenge course. At this
pOint, It is still wit~i. the implementation plan.
I have a question about the athletic field. [, the children's play are.
that is withia t~e redwood grovE included ;~ the athletic field item?
Hr. Thiltgeo: I will .ay th.t I thin. it is included in the •• ster plan.
But it ~ also come later. I cannot give you a real straight answer,
because the act~alit1 is that the improv~nts in the plan where we are
gofng to ~ake so~ changes with A and B wings, that ~ans ~e are going to
relocate the day care program. When w! do those ;~rovements, I thlnk
t~at is when the pla1 are~ is supposed to go in it that time. I cannot
tell you the exact ti.iog of that at this point. It may be able to go
earlier or it may not.
Chainman Marsh: Since it looks like we are going to limit our discussion
tonight to the iaplementation phase primarily, I want to 90 on r~~ord is
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uy1~ J think t"at would be a w('Ioderflil pl ar:e for i play area. I have
looked.t It, and It could just be terrific --magical. If it Is not In
the t~lementitlon phas!, and 1f less than the ~aster plan is approved, I
would certainly suppDrt moving that play area into the park.
Hr. Thiltgen: I do hi'!e an ans:~eT. Ms. Cribbs look.ed it up. Jt is in
the i~Teeentatton p1an.
(hairaan Mar$~: Good. The Tast item to deal with is the gym and men~s
locker room.
Mr. Thiltggn: Could I ask a QuestiQn, and maybe give you a couple minutes
of background to show you ho~ we got to where we got? In approving the
implementation pTan, there are i couple of things that if JDU were going
to do less than the master plan, I might s~ggest might be moved ;~to
that. When we first started out on this master plan, we were given a
whole bunch of dollars that we could look at as the amount of money to be
able to work wlt~, and that ~as slowly whittled ~o.n te the point where we
are it now, wnich is less t~an even ~at the implementatlon plan~ But at
one point in time, t~e implementation ~lan was going to be about two or
tbree .i1110" dollars more than in the plan now. So there wer~ some
th1ngs ~ow in tne project not included that originally were in th~
implementation plan. What I would say to you and to the council is t~at
if you were going to do a ~roject tnat is less than the master plant there
are a couple of things I would include in there. One is the theatre lobby
and restrooms. whic~ is, if we are trul, going to ~se that tneatre, f
would move that up. The other is tne interior repairs to Building A, F.
H, H arid H tl"lat fit:s with what you were talting about. Joe, ibout taking
care of t~e existing facilities. The third one would bE the renovat~on of
Gyms A and 8. whfcn would be s~ remodfl1ing on the int~rio~s of those~
which are not incl~ded in the lmplementation plan. Those were all
orlginall, going to be In the implementation plan, but the dollar changes
CiUSed us to Dike it Jess. Then the dollars changed again after we got to
U1at. POlOt. So for IDe, if ycu are going to do t~at, I wDuld try to
Include those in that part.
Chafnaan Marsh; let us take t"o~e items in order. first _as the interior
repafrs, which is listed ~nder Itea 12 und!r Projects Not fneluded.
Commissioner Huber: Did [ hear you say it was interior repairs to A, F~ H
• H?
Mr. Ibiltgen; If you look under the list of projects not included,
It eo Z. all of th.t Item.
C~ainman Marsh: Does t~at include the relocation of th~ child eire
f,,1lit;e,?
Hr. Thilt •• n: We will ha,. to look that up.
Chairman Harsh: letls go on to n~w theatre lobby and restrooms. Any
cONtents?
[Dlmjssfoner Christtnsen: r would agree with Mr. Thiltgen1s analysis on
thfs~ I ttlink that is a pfoject that ycu c.ould also ra~se mon€y for.
That is another incentive to include it.
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tDmli$sfoner tgllen:
page 171 (Yesj
/
Is that the one that is budgeted for 5395,000 on
Commi$sioner H1rsch: Ooes that add any square footage to the site?
Hr. Ibjltgtn: Yes, but it is ver) .inJmal~ There .re no rest roams in the
theatre at all right now. so we really need to prc~ide s~thing if we are
going to try and DIke that usabl. for the c_unity.
Commissigner Hjrsch: Does that facilitate a greater intensity of use on
the site?
Hr. Thtltgen: ]t fs a part of our sch!dultng in the master plan. It is
included is a part of that. The use of that is .lso scheduled into the
lRPlementation plant as well.
[gpmissioner Hirsch~ [see thfs as a purely financial issue, and that
-akes it the p~vlnce of the city cQuntil. it is part of the s(hedu1ing
th~j are 901n9 to go through; it does not add a significant amount of
square footage; it does not take away from the turf area. The C1ty
council can decid~ where they want to put the city's mo~ey.
Mr. Ib1ltgen~ In response to Chairman Marsh's Question. it does include
the cbild care improvements.
Chairman Marsh: We have consensus on new theatre 10bby and rest rooms to
be fncluded. Ve will ret~rA to interior repairs of Buildings A. F, H. H,
M, etc. Are t~ere comments?
CQmlisJfDner Christensen: lt is really hard to know what it is that we
are .pprov;ng, which Is • probl .. I had in gen.rol with this master plan.
Commissioner Callen: All I see are Buildings A and B for S3 million, and
I see Gyas A and B.
Mr. Thi1tgen: When the CCS did the plan and code repairs. condit~on
repairs. and they used the tenm aestnetic, but it re4111 was a bad cholce
of words~ What the code repair5 ~o is basically bring us up to safety
code. The condition repairs basically take care of the exterior of the
buiidings. The aesthetic repairs. as they termed them. were ill the
lnterlor repalrs to the buildings. So this is completin9 the C55 pl.n.
It Is sort of spread out ;. the master plan where •• talKed about each
wing. What we did was to consolidate it as one ~nit f~ the implementation
plan.
Chairman Marsh: T~ere is a cost to Item 12 --SJ ,181 ,000 --on Page 25,
List of Projects Not Included.
Cogmissfoner C~ristensen: Tn! prob1em I have is that becayse it is spread
throughout the master plan. when they talk ibout the multipurpose room,
they talk about i Major renoyation of the ~ultipurpose room slated for
51.S .fi11on. They alsD ~ave the multipurpose room stuck into these
interior repairs.
Mr. Th11tgen: f can explain the difference t~ere. What we are dofng is
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that the expenslve ane you Ire talking about at th! bottom is the
expi~sion to increase tne size of it, taking out the stage and mak1~g it
~ntc 1 »uch larger facility. What t~e repa'~s ire in the ~nteriGr of the
multfpurpose rooll! on top is bas1cal1y the upgrading. If you wEmt through
the titc~en o~t there, you .ould find that it also was cleaned out, just
like the locker roem was cleaned out. There is no capability to use
anyt~fng fft there, and also to repair the floor, to do some ~orK on the
cetlfngs, and do soae things with curtains. None of that ;s incl~ded in
the cade,and cond1tton repairs at the beginning, ~ere we are basically
trying tc get ·the bl.lilding safe a~d useful. -The interlors a'Te a: secondary
Issue rIght now.
Comrni$sioner Chrfst@n$@n~ ] do not feel like I know what I am voting for
.he. I VQt. for that bIg ,ategory of tnlngs. I oould recommend that they
spell that out more spec1fically before thiS goes to the cit1 council in a
w~ that makes it clear what that category includes as a category by
itself •
Mr. Tbiltgeo: We can dQ that.
Ch.tooa" Marsh: 1 think the s.ense of the planning COlmlissio1"l is. that this
is on! ~e would be happy to include, if there was more information
provided as to exactl, what it ~as. I am ~ery comfortable ~ith adding
interior repairs to the im~lementation plan.
The last item is renovattGns to Gyms A a~d B. any (omments?
Commissioner Christensen: The problem [ am having ;5 that because cf the
financfal issues, I am attac~ing priority to these tnings. The more items
that go into the lmp1eaentatiOO plant particularly ones that 1 do not see
the ease of raising outside financial support for, 1 get untomfortable.
There do they flt? We .1reid) ~~o. we do not na~e the S6+ m,11ion to do
the implementation plan; at 1east the circumscribed one. Now we have
added t~e theatr. lobby, whic~ has a good opportunity to rai,e outside
financial support for. But we also stick iB the interior repairs. ~e
4150 stick in the renovations for the gyms, and we are even further down
tne line in terms of having money to do these tMngs. We have not
att.ched aoy prioritJ to them.
Mr. Thiltgen: ante yo~ go away fro$ the master plan and decide to go with
z lesser plan, then all of a sudden, all of the connections we had put
together .nt~ this plan all change. So if all you are going to approve is
sOlethf~9 less than the master pla~, ~e have to hAve s~~thin9 to ~ork
with and to be able to develop a development plan as we go dow~ the line
and deyelop I funding plan is we 90 down the line. If you do the mastpr
plan, they all fit. and are 111 'interconnected and they all work. Once 'you
deYiate from that, we hay! to ~ake some changes to bring some things iA,
because otv1ously, Ve cannot even 9~ out and promote for outside funding
anythIng that is not intluded in the master plan, because it does not
exist on any type of plar. anywhere. It won't exist at that time; it won't
e~ist for the future. What ~e ~lve to do at t~at time is put the things
that ve t~ink, maybe they dDn't fit into OUT first phase of tkis, but the~
Ire iMPortant and are critical. The other ones are maybe not as critical,
and .. will just have to let them go.
Cbajt!@n Marsh: In other words, the implementation phase was a reasonable
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first step, but not I cohesive whole. Jf we aTe going to move away rro~ a
master plan. tnen we may need to add back in items for the implementation
plan to gfve that plan integrity is i whole.
Mr. ThlJtqen; Thank you!
Commjs$jon~r Glazier: It seems to me that a lot of what is pTan~ed to
take plac! h~re in te~s of repairs is driven by other activities that we
ire not approving here tonight. The first comment is, -Gyms A and B will
provide the fo~rth sfde of the central courtyard meeting area t the main
entran~e and north fa~ade will be renovated to match the three new
fa;ades.-We are not approving the thrEe new fa~ades, SD why wo~ld be
approve ooney to build the fourth f.~ad. to Ratch the three that we never
did? A second comment would be, it says, ·Upon construction of the
proposed swioming pool ... • a bunch of things will happen. If we are not
approving that, I personally would feel a little uncomfortable approving
renovations based on other thiD9S t~at we are not approvin9. We are Dn
kind of a slippery slope.
Nco Tbjltg~n: You just ~ade my point again. When yo~ ~on't approve the
~ster plan, then everything starts not being integrated as much. That is
what ~ have tried to do at t~is stage. All ~e are trying to do now when
1 suggest these three thin9s to you, these are things that we need to do
that were not included in the first phase of the construction on this t~at
we need to have there so we can start movlng forward and looking at it.
The rest of it is a dream t~at may never happen. because it 1sn't tnere.
Commissioner Cullen: I, too. would like to see that paragraph on Gyms A
and B rewritten so tnat those items that you say are critical to using the
~s now be included .• havin9 that be a part of the recommended
implementatlon, and leave out the t~1ngs Commissioner Glazier was
referrlng t~ as future develo~nt growth possibilities.
C~afrman "ars~; We could say, -Inter10r repairs consistent with the
revised ~aster plan.-
Ms. Lytle: If only the implementation plan is adopted .s the master plan,
tf'len the document W<Jllld have to be rewritter'l in final form.
Chairman Marsh: The list item Is the renovation of Gyms A ar.d 8.
Com.issioner Glazier has spoken to that a little in terms of fa~ades. Now
let me try and paraphrase what I think you all haye agreed to. That would
be to add a new theatre lobby and rest rooms to the implementation plan; to
add lnterior repairs consistent with the revised master plan; and to add
rer.ovation of Gyms A and B consistent wtth the revised master plan. fs
that. fair statement? (Ves)
Can 1 talt any of you into a new gymnasiu~ facility? You have heard that
COMmissioner Hirsch's children play baseball. Commissioner Christensen~s
children pl.y softball. My child practices at 8 o'clock on Friday nights
for basketball. It seems to 50 that this is one facility that is
absolutely necessary wlt~in the tommunity~ I think it has been documented
f~ .any different places t~at we have i real shortage of gymnasium
faellitles~ This Is not something that is available it other sites. and
there is an opportunit1 there to place a new gym fn a location that wo~'d
not gr •• tly impact the neighborhood. Syms ar. not generolly things that
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03/13/51
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draw a lot of people or a lot of cars, that car. serwt a very significant
constituency many, ~any hours of the day.
CPlgissigngr Chr1stenien: Oh, 1 agree, that WE need more gymnasium
facilities. I, too, have. daughter th.t plays b.,ketball, and they
practice It 6 o'clock on F~iday nights, just before yours. 1 am sure.
know that the Y is currentl~ out trying to raise money to build a new
gymnasium. [do not see SAY having the ·where-wltha11· to raise the money
for a new gymnasium. I do not see the city having the money for a new
gymnasl 1lI!. -
Chairman Mars~: The question [ would pose ~ere is a land use question.
Would I new gymnasium at this site sign1fitantly impact tn! land use
issues that are raised in the Cubberley facility? If the answer to that
ts no, a~ the answer to the question is yes. it is i needed facility in
the c~nity, then it ts certainl, possible to appro~e it with the
addendu. tnat It snould only be implemented If it can be paid for by
prhate funds.
COmmissiongr Christensen: I do not agree that th~ land use impacts of a
gymnaslUil ue .iniDlal t beca1Jse [ know that the 9ymnasilJlD at the JCC is one
of the biggest generators of traffic iD and out of the Jec. That facility
is used constantly, from six o~clock in the marning Yntfl all the h~urs of
the day and evening.
Cbairman Mar5~: Whic~ is i~dicative of tne need.
Mr. Thiltgen: J hafe one other comment. since you are talking about
funding of both this and the swimming pool. I was going to br1ng up the
swimming pool, but said. don't press ~our luck, but I will anyhow. The
reality Is tnat Foothill College is applying for this to be a campus
situation t~at will allow 1t, within a few years, to be able to go to
state funding for facilities. Both the new gymnasium and the swimming
pool are facilities that they would like to see and would help to pay
for. So 11 bot~ of those cases. there is potentill for funding that would
allow these, and both of them fit into the integrity of toe plan. Those
two items have the greatest potential for getting funding in the future,
if t~at is an issue.
Chairman ~arsk: We nave proposed here the potential addition of (lJ a
gymnasi .. and (Zl a swimming pool.
C~is£ioner Hirsch: I am opposed to both of t~ose. I thi~k they will
fnherent1, increase the intensit, af ~se on the site, and clearly require
the Deed for additional parking~ which can onl~ come aut of the landscape
preserve, and 1 clearlY do not wa~t to support that. r support t~e
implementation plan. because it maximizes the turf area and ~in1mizes any
new asphalt or new construction. That is tne route J want to take and the
message J want to send.
CQRllssloner C.11en: I am opposed to it at this tiMe. I think that down
the line, if they ~ant to come back with it after some of t~ese other
things have taken place, and we see haw the implementatl0n plan is
working. because tney are desirable facilities. I would be willing to tike
another lonk at whether ttley belong on this site. and! how it can be dealt
with. At this point, 1 am opposed to them.
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Comg1ssicner G1azl,r; I do not have a proble. with the land use
fmpTications 15 far is the gymnasium and swimming pool are concerned. But
I do think if we kept this up, ..., would probably approve the who' 0 thing
before the night is out. I would like t~ hold off on this and wait and
see. EYen if we did approve it tonight, there wou1dn't be the dollars for
it for qulte awhil.. I would like to hold off.
Chaf~an Marsh: Clearly, I am in the .i~orjtll b~t it is a useful
exercise to 90 through. I would make one ffna1 cOlilTlent,-and !Mat is. to
the extent that we do not pull these ite~s into the master plan, we do not
.ake it possible for staff or voluntoers or anybody .1s. to go out lnto
the co .. unlty at large and solicit support for pl., ... nt of those items at
the site. That is a possibility we are eliminating w~p.n w! choose to not
1ncl tide these ttHiS fA tf'le lnister plan. If \lie sit arolJnd and w,ait for the
citJ to pay for the whole 1mplementition pl,an before we go out and ~olicit
c~unity support for some of thos! majo~ itemi, we will be sitting here a
long ti ....
Commfssioner Chrjstensen; What] am saying is that without a lot of tne
items t~at are in the implementation plan, [ would ~ot want to see these
otner things done anyway. Besid~s the £i,t tnat there was not enolJgh
parking at Terman J one of the eistakes we made at Terman was that we tried
to do too much on the site. There are toe many things there. There ~as
~ever going to be enough room for them. We tried to cram everything in
tt'dt e .... erybooy w3nted to have, but it is really too much for the site.
That is what [ see the potential of happe";ng on this Cubberley site. All
of these things Ire great, ~ndividually, but taken all together, it
becom!s i very fatens've use. Until we find out whether it is really
supportable an the site or not, and until the parking is restriped and we
see that that is working, and until t~e fields are take~ care of and the
needs for t~e fields are accommodated~ ] am not willing to do the other
things.
Cha1rman ~r$h: r do not war.t to sit and argue this subject, because I
think. we are on I VeT) clear path here, however, ] do want to not!' that
what the staff has told LlS is that t~e implementat ion phise wi 11 have a
~evel of usage very lfttle different from what we ire experiencing today.
It is mostly an improvement project. We are not doing anytning with t~e
list of items we have before us, with the possible exception of the new
theatre lobby, wbich might inte~sify theatre use, to significantly chang@
the pattern of use which is at the site today.
~e ~ave an impleaentation pla~ that I think ~e have agreed upon. We have
a staff report that ask.s for appro'ial of a negative dec1 arat ion and
approval of the Cubberley Master Plan as we have amended it tonight. We
have findings and conditions that I believe are consistent with the
revised plan, unless t~ere are specific comments frOG staff.
How ~o you feel about retainir.g the CUbberley Advisory Committee In the
absence of j broader master plan~ since that was primarily suggested for
the longer-term master plan?
Mr. Tnjltge~: My Sense is that I personally do not have a problem wit~
~aving In advisory committee, but you basically take away any
decisionmaking process that we wo~ld be going through. I am not sur~ we
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need to waste people~s tt~ in g~ing to meetings when there is nothing to
talt about.
ComnissjontT N1rsch~ rt 1s a certainty that ther~ wi11 be problems. As
Commissioner Christensen has said. yo~ are creating I very intfnse use on
t~e site. The uses are 111 here, but I am conwinced that t~e intensity
level will go ~p, and there will be I number of years for a sha~!out
process to occur, during whjc~ I think it w~uld be helpful for the penple
who are affected to have an effective w~y to make their feelings known to
the c'ty. This is is good a way as any.
COiTIllissioner Christenst": It is also a way for some of these
are in the mastEr p1an to come forward agaln the second time.
time fer people to say, this is wor~lnQ out great and we have
opportunity. Let's 90 back to city and take advantage of it.
see what we have done tDnig~t as shutting vff anything at all.
jd€as that
rt is a
th;s
I do not
CbajODao Marsh~ The only other issue I think we need to address briefly
before moving 00 to a metion is thiS: I noted it the be9~nning of our
discussion that we disc~ssed land use, ind then ~ discussed finances.
think we found out that it was impossfble to separdte the two. Most of
our financial comments have been folded into the land use discussion, but
I will pause now for additfonil comments on fundralsing jf you wish to
pass a~ on to the council.
Commissiontr Hjrsch~ [just think the city has to go extremel, slowly on
tnis. I WDtlld encourage SOIOO prel imfnary discussions 'Iii th the school
district to really determine what will happen if, !Q fa~t, tne Ginn limit
is reached and the city cannot Make the payments for whatever reason.
What would the school district decide they would like to do ~ith this
property and whether they would want it to revert to tn! school distritt?
~ experience has been tnat they use the guise of fiduciary resPG~s;bility
to extract every single dollar that they ca~. I have seen it too many
times; I have lived through it in the Terman process; the price ~ent from
S3 million to $9 ~il1;OD to the city over the course of t1me. and they
wanted every single penny of it. One agency of the government ownlng a
piece of property that was bOU9ht by the citfzens cf thfs city had to give
it over to another agency and p~y for it again at a vastly increased
price. I and others in tn! community fcund that to be offensive. I
frankly do not trust the school distrlct. If ~ can~ot make th€ rental
fee, they will want the property back, and will try to sell it. I am not
trying to be a doomsajler. but that is my experience "'ith them. J
recognize that they have a new superintendent now. The one r dealt with
iD the ,ast, whom I found to be totally inf1exible, has gone, and maybe
t~e ph;losop~ies have changed and I am not aware of it. But this is a
rental piece of propertYi it has the right of reversion to the school
district if we cannot make the payment. It behooves the city to be Sure
it is Dn ~ery solid ground before it puts more than the legally required
amounts of money forward to fix up t~e facilities.
Cnaj~an Harsh: We are ready for i mQtion.
~: CQmmissloner Huber: r will ~Qve the staff recommendations as
-adified by what we ~ave new created as a master plar., and further
modified to include a Cubberley Advisory Committee~
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~; By Coam1ss~c~er thriste~s~n.
CDm!~ss1oner Cgllin: I w111 support the mot~on, .'though 1 vas afriid 1
was go;og to have to say I could oot Bake the findings as listed "n Page 9
for the .aster pl.n as pre$e~ted. 1 wa~t to m3ke i coup1e of comments on
those ffnd1"gs. It ref~rs to a community center use for cultural and
recreation.l purposes, a deSire expressed in the Comprehensive P1an, an6
reaffirmed by the neighboring reSidents during the community ou!re.ch
process. Vel', DOst of the letters ~e got were for keeping the open
space, and the o~tre~ch process d~d not seem to include very many
neighboring residents. I do nat krow why. It did include a lot of the
cultur.l and art groups. So I have a little proble. with the word
-neighboring-there4
Also, on the Comprehensive Pian policies that are mentioned, housing is
one of the very first ~ses that ~as re,o.mended fn Pali,y 1 and 2, and of
course, that WIS n!ver even considered. Program 1, 2 and 3 ~f SChools and
parks does not seem to tilt as much Ibcut what was presented in the master
pTan. It says. ·Gi~e priorfty to housing. parks, community facilities and
exjsting community uses in considering the futYre of closed school sites.
E •• luate school sites for affordable housing and park .nd cultural and
recreational facilities.-1 guess we eln go along with this, but I feel
it is a l;ttle broader than wh~t is actually listed in the Comprehensiv~
Plan. It would ha~e removed some open space, which ~ould hG~e be~n
contrary to one of tnEse policies. Now that we nave c~angEd the plan.
can go along .It~ these finding •.
tD!m1ss;pner Hjrsch: I would like to ma~e a comment regarding Finding '1.
~ich states thit t~e master plan, i.e .• essentially the implementation
s,te plan. will ensure operat1on of the use in a manner that wili be
orderly, harmonious and compatible. etc. What r have heard tonight is
that the Department of C~nit! Ser,lces And Paul Thiltgen, the director,
~a$ said to;,lght that his d.part~nt will schedule the uses of this
facility l~ a w.y to aake s~re t~at it is orderly. harmonious and
compatible. That is a commitment t~at has to be made. otherwise tnis
whole tnfng will blow up. [am confident that yo~ will do so.
Mr. Tbiltaen: That is tne way we came to our parking needs.
COlmljssioner Hjr5ct!: Yes. and' that is ttl.e crUital part of it. Not just
parking, but greater intenSity of use on the site it hours it is nat
nonaa1TJ accustomed to ~aving such usage. Tn!y will be later t~an nO~il
and they will be louder than expected.
Mr. "~iil9ll: lie -.ill follow the sa ... rul •• that we follow in .11 of OU"
other parks. as far as ti.es of opening and closing and starting and
endin9~ tertainly the h~aviest user we have on that site is Foothi11
College. ~e have basically limited their capacity to use that Site by
1 iaiting tne allOunt of square-footage they tan take. The~ are thE' prime
heavy users of that site and are tne ones who create tne parking problem
and the density problem. We are sc~eduling other things around them,
because they are primarily Honday/Thursday users.
Commissioner Hirsch: ! don't think it is specifica11y stated here. but it
fs the underlying ass~tjon. in ~iew of w~at y~u have stated tonight,
that we are re1ying upon.
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ChajC!a" Marsh: I would comment that this operation by the department ir.
an orderly. harmonious ~nner is what is going on right no~. As we ~ave
pofnted out many times, the uS~ge it the end of tne fmp1ementation plan is
gOing to differ very little from the current usage. So we are not talking
abo~t changing c~rrent patter~s.
Commissipner Hirsch: What r heard before [and correct me if I am wrong)
is that the types of uses will be the $~, but there may be some
IntensificatIon of them. That is the balancing process that they must
continue to go t~rough_
Chairma~ Marsh: I a~ trying to decide whether t~ ~ott yes or no on this.
It is always difficult in these situations. If I vote yes. I do not want
that to be interpreted is a yote for a limited master plan. If [ vote no,
I do not want that to be fnterpreted is i vote against any activity at
C.bberley. So I .. going to vote yes on this project, but I do want to
put an .sterisk by that vote, noting that I would be very comfortable .ith
the f"ll .. ster plan, and J hope the council will ta~e a 100~ at th.t.
HOT10N pASSES~ Chajrman Marsh: Tne IOOtion is to approve the master plan
as amended. I will q~ickly summarize those amendments_ The master plan
would be revised to those 1t~$ listed under the imp1ementation phase of
the project; bleachers would be retained; the compost area would be tUrned
into a parking area; fields wo~Td be reconfigured as indicated tonight; ~e
wo~ld add to the list of eight items under the implementation phase a ne~
t~eatre lobby a~d restrooms; i~terior repairs consistent with t~e revisp~
.aster plan; and renovation of Gyms A and B as consistent with the revis~d
master plan. Tne aotfOD also incorporates the findings in the staff
report and the conditions, including the addition of i Cubber1ey Advisor}
Com.1ttee. All those in favor, say Aye? All opposed? That passes 6-0,
with Coanissioner Beecham absent.
Ms. Lytle: Tbis will go to the city council on April 15th.
Chairman Marsh~ Thanks to the staff who have ~orked Tong and hard on
this. Thanks for coming to two late-night pTann~ng commi$sion meetings in
the last ""'nth.
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AGENDA nEM TWO
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4QQQ MIpotEFIElP ROAD: Master plan for community center
use of the Cubberle~ High School site. inciuding i nEt
increase of 21,490 square feet of buiiding additions,
added parking. new pool and landscaping, relocated ten~is
co~rts and circulation changes. Environmental
Assessment: No Significant rmpact. A negative
declaration has been prepared. file Nos. 90·EIA·54.
90·~·15 Zone District PF. Public Facilities.
Chairman Marsh: I have had a suggestion that the commission discuss and
agree to defer our disc~ssion on t~fs item to a futurE meeting p so that
tonight, we wouid hear staff comments, we would hGld the entire public
hearing. and at that point. ask staff Questions. Then we would reschedu1e
our discussfon to another meeting.
,
CQmmissiongr H;r~: I think we should comment as to why we would do
this. It is important that we synthesize what I would imagine to be v~ry
diverse public comment. I do not know 1f any of us have been a part of
the public process. to date. It has been going on for quite some time.
Instead of making a rash decision , we need to get y~ur lnput. We need to
go back to the site and look at it agai~, and try to put it all in
perspective.
Chairman Harsh: Ibis commis~ion bas rarely been accused of making rash
decisions! That is not a precedent we wish to start with this item.
Also. it will most likel, be close to II o'clock by the time we end the
public hearing, and t~at is a good enough reason not to start our
discussion. With t~at agreement~ we will move to staff comments.
"5. Lytle: I will introduce. in a moment, Paul Tbiltgen. Director of
Social and Community Services, who was the project manager for the
Cubberley Master PTan. I h3ve been asked to give an explanation Qf some
terms that have bee~ used in the staff report and in the master plan
document t~at might be conf~s;~g to people because they are ~5ed in this
process I 1ittle differently than we nave seen the. used in the past and
because they are very general tenms. I will move to the overhead
projector to show ~hat is i master plan, what is the imp1ementation pla~.
and ~ow ao those two things fit in with ~Ur normal conditional yse permit
process, our ARB approval process, and I will IJse box~s to explain it.
This shows a mastel· plan. In general, it ;s a conceptual document for
guiding the future ~se and for phasing of improvements of the Cubberley
s~te over the next 25 to 35 years, which is t~e tera of the city's lease.
Tnis voluntary process was undertaken by the city to provide a vehicle for
community involvement in the preparaUon of this pTan. rt is not a
specific plan, as was the Terman pTan or the Palo Alto Medical foundation
plan. lt is also not i part of the Comprehensive Plan, although it is
consistent with itl but it is not referenced as the 8aylands ~aster Plan
is. And it is not ~ development approval.
So ~ithin our master plan, ~e have tne implementation plan, which is a
subset of the master plan. It is reall~ Phase 1 of tne master plan.
lmprovements proposed ir. the ~aster plan that are deemed suitable for
implementation over approximately t~~ next five years have been defined in
t~e document as the implementation plan. The other phases have not been
defined in tnis document. They are longer tenM; there has been a list of
priorities given, but future phas!~g hlS "ot ~een embarked upon~
'LA.NNING COMMISSION ML,\,UTES
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Once we ~ave our Pnase l~ we havp i concept ~f Phase I. The next step is
to work it into ~ real dev~lopment proposal. Finally, once wE get the
defined de~elapment proposal for pnase 1, or the implementation plan, it
will go through another set of processes. The flrst is what we have
c.lled I master use permit proc~s$. It 1S the same process is a
conditional use pen.il. We are callfng it a ~aster USE pen=it because it
is covering the entire sit' and r~c11ities and a variety of uses. The
Cubberley facility 1S currently befng used in w!ry similar ways as it is
proposed to be ysed ic the &aster plan, but those individual uses ha¥e
come as a series of little, IndiVidual decisions and cPlaices. One of the
reasons for g~ing through the master plan @~ercj5e was so t~at we could
look at e~eryth1ng together~ The m!ster use permit allows us to control
the uses of everythfng s'~ltaneously and in i more comprehensive
fashion. The ~aster use permit is gne requirement. The next wou1d be the
.ar~h1tecturil review board approvel. That would be necessary for ani
. exterfor modlfications to the facilit.v~ including parking, including any
bujlding modif~catjons or chinges ind landsraping. FinaTl1~ buiiding
permits would be required. That would be necessarJ for Phase I, which we
told you ;s the implementation plan in the document as recommended by
staff or any subsequent phases. rf we were to go on and implement later
port;o~s of the master plan, the same process would take place. This time
we would call it -an amendment to the ~aster use permit~· b~t it would b~
the same process as a conditional use pe~it. It is the on~y one we
have. T~at process, by the way, is a notification to al} neighbors ~~thin
300 feet, I zoning administrator de(is;on~ but appeaTable to the city
council. coming first to the planning commissfon for a recommendation in
case of an appeal~ Agai~, for any subseQuer.t phas!s. if they affected any
exterior portions of t~e project, they .ould be subject to the ARB, ind
any building c~anges on the interior or exterior ~ould require a building
permit. I .. ill turtl this over to Paal Thiltgen.
Mr. T~iltgen: My part of the process is to deal with the process. To
t.lk .bout tne design will be Jan Stypul •• od Steve Bowers of Spencer
ASSOCiates, the consuitants on this project. Before r get into my
presentation. I want to state that] hawe conSistently said to the
community, as we have gone through t~is process, that this is basically
the master-plan~ When we get into the Nre detailed planning of the
balance of the project further do~n t~e line, I intend and would reco~nd
that we continue to hawe the same public ~nput process that ~e ha~e gone
through for the master pian throughout the project. so that they are also
a part Qf helping ~s to desfgn a~d pla~ what we do within the working
aspects of the process. I do not want the public to feel that the fermal
process fs all that is there. That is not the way the Community Ser~ices
Department operates. When they put their facilities together, they work
w;t~ the community directly.
The second portion is, how did we get to where we are? ~en the city to~k
ov~r the CubherTey facility, this was looked upon is an opport~"jty for
the community and the city to dream about what they could put together is
a really comprehensive community center to accommodate a multiturle of
uses. Tkat dream was envls laned as the council put together the agreement
wit~ the school district, and later 1 is tn21 put tog!ther the propcsal far
staff to ~ire consultants and get started on putting the plan together.
The fir.t thing t~e city council did was to autnorize the ~iring of
Sp!ncer ASSOCiates to help staff wit~ putting t0geth~r the master plan.
Our first step was to hold meetings with all of the tenants, with
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potential users~ and with the neighbQrnood. asking the~ about what the)
enwhioned for tnt site, with no dollar limitations it tPtat poir.t. We had
no gener.l directfon is to what monies were 51oir.9 tc t:~ fr.¥01\'iOd iit that
stage~ We wanted to get the dreilms Dut on the table, and then see what
would fit or. the site, and later on, what we could afford.
Once these first meetings were held, we took those ideas ind put them
together fn some con,epts, which we again took back to th~ commur.ity.
O"ier the r'lut several months, we 'ha.d several meetings in whic,", those
concepts were ~orked and reworked, based on the input tnat we received
from the community; also based on tne input we had regarding f~ndin~.
because that has an impact. Some of the major is~oes that we came ~pon
were (J) the retentfon of the 440·yard track. (2J increasing the ~arking
without a major impact on the turf area; in the implem€ntation plan. there
is no real impact on the turf area, but in the master plan~ there is a
ZItOOO square-foot impact on it; (3) to retiin all the trees ~nd the
incorporation of a~ additional 160 trees not on the sitej (4) to maKe sUl'e
that the turf area was retained and tnat the parking did not infringe upon
it. w~ic~ was i real critical issue; WE had 10n9 discussions about parking
at these meetings" what our nee~5 were and how they would be
accommodated; the basic message we heard was to do the best we could .... iUl
wtlat we bave t and retain the turf area; (5) we were ask.ed to try and
;mpr~ve t~e traffic circ~latl0n. botn from the city traffic cons~ltants~
as well ~s some Df the users on the Site; (6} t~ey ~lnted us to retain the
six tennis courts. which are included; (l) retention of the fellce along
Nelson Orf~e, as at ene time, we proposed t~at it not be there, ~aking it
more] ike a park; that was considered by the peopl e 1 iving flearby that the
fence was very important.
As we went thro~9h this process. the funding became more of a concern.
This caused us to create the implementation plan~ which is the first phase
of the master plan. Th~ balance of the project not included in the
implementation plan are projects n~t to b~ done at this time. They were
left Oyt because they ~ere to be done as funding became available either
from government or nongo~ernmefltal sources.
One of the issues we talked about all th~ way tnrough this is that we want
it to be a true, community project invol~ing the whole community which not
Dnly helps in designing it, but also in helping to implement it, as well.
SD we have talked with groups and individuals who might investigate some
fund-raising c~aigns and make this a true, cDBmunity effcrt_ Some areas
th~t Ann and I have seen and have used as examples are Fort Mason in San
Francisco and the lod; Communit1 Center in lodi_ Now I wDuld like to
iDtroduce Ann Crtbbs~ who will talt about the fund-rais~~g strategies that
we have in mind.
Ms. Cribbs: As Paul said, when we embarked YpDn this project. W~ were
inspired both by the lodl High School model which was converted into a
cD~unity center and by Fort Hasan. There has been a lot Df talk in the
community about the artists' groups especially being able to have s~
type of Fort Mason I. Pilo Alto. The thing we thought •• 5 incredibly
important was to help commun1t, groups to be able to work wit~ the C1ty to
raise money to enhance facilities. rt has been our e~perience in
Recreition and Community Services that p~ople really do ~ant to
contribute. They place i great value on art and recreation in tAis
community, and given a c~ance, they will contribute. We would Ifke to
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~ake it e~sy for them to do t~~t) so we made several field trlps and got
advice from t~e directors of bot~ lodi and fort Maso"_ That ad~ice was tc
encour~ge the ,ommunity ta dream about wh~t the~ would rellly like to ~ee,
durin9 the planning stages~ EverybGdy t~at we talked to at the t~o sites
that we whited thought that this was a great opportunity for Palo ~.1to.
It was one of the last sites that could be utilized for J community
center. E~eryone envied us the opportunity to work bn C~bberleYi and we
iTe quite excited.
In o~r journeys about the town. we have talked to many 9~ouPS ~ho are
using Cubberley. 1 w~uTd lile to nate ~ couple of them at this time -
people who have come up to us and sa1d~ our g~up would like to ,ontribvte
in some way and help yij~ to make sQ~tn'nq better there. One is the Palo
Alto Tennis Club. Bobbyso. ~.s also ind1c.ted that they would be helpful
to us. PACO wouid lile to ce1ebrite their 25th ann,~er$ary by donating a~
acoustical shell for outdoor perfo~an,es. foothill College has indicated
tome interest i& help~ng with som~ facilities. Tnere is a good model up
at foothill College where Hewlett-Packard gave some money to foothill to
d~velo~ some basketball facilities t~at ~ere needed by t~e corporate
community. So: feel t~at the corporate community mjqht want to
contribute to Cubber1e~ also. 1 will (onclude by say;ng that I feel it
Wai apprcprfate to inciyde the w~ole notion of outSide funding in the
master plan. Un1ess ~e 9i~e peop1e the idea that th4t 's l possibi1ity.
it might not happen.
Mr. lbiltgen: If we g~ back to the model that we loo~ed at in LDdi, we
lOOKed at an example ~her! they took an cld big~ school and con~erted it.
The little town of Lodj, which has less tnan 20.000 people, raised over
~4 million in the first two years to implement the plan. That gave us i
real incentive for Pal, Alto to do it, Ilso. So we went int~ this with a
lot of enth~siasm and t~citement, say~ng. let~s make a real effo~t on
t~is. r~at is why we have continued to talk con~istently about some type
of fund raising to go beyond the implementation plan, and not depend
strict1, on government funding. The best example herE in Palo Alto is the
(hi\d~en's The~tre. They raised almost a ha1f million dDllars to help
~ith an addition tn the tneatre. They did that Dver a two'year period ~f
tirre. so it can ~appen. ~ow I wo~ld lixe to introduce J~n Stypu1i, ~ho
'-'ill dis'U'~s the master plan and give YDU an overvie'lt.1 of the document.
Mr. StYDu1a: When W€ joined tne st~ff and the community in wnrling on
this, through .an), ~etings. and 'lII1orkshops. and public forums. the main
charge was to transform an agf"g hfgh schaal faci1ity fnto a new community
center whic~ is f~nct;ona1t esthetically pleaSing, and fosters the
educational pursuits. both physfc.l and cultural. of t~e community. It is
truly a multi-use fa"lity_ 1 ~~u'd like to put up the existing pian ~n
the vfewgraph. The E:'xistirlg structures are in variOUS, states of needing
repair~ One of the concepts we wanted to do is to Mike sure there was a
good bal~nce between the functions and the uses of t~is facility. The
other thing we wanted to do was that we felt. esthetically. Cubberley
cou1d use some greening. by means of l~ndscaping. As you walk around
there, it is all asphi1t between buildings. We ~ave indicated On the plan
tnat ane of tne concepts was to remove asphalt and replace it with
landscaped pat;os that would be adjacent to the facil;ties they served.
The light green trees are new trees tnat we propose to put in. T~ere are
about 260 of them.
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A"otn~r concept is that when you approach Cubberley, to give it oil nice
entrance, keeping the parking area about the same "U~beT ~f sQuare feet,
but by restriping the area, increasing the number of spaces.
Additionally, where you see the red structures, adding a small 9ymnaiium
next t~ the existing one for aerobics~ etc. Also adding a lobby and
rest rooms for the theitre, an addition to the mul ti-purpose room to expand
it (or dancing and other dctivities, and replacing Buildings A and B.
which are two buiidings that were the costliest on the repair iist. So
they were the best candidates for future repla(~nt by I little coffee
shop, i gallery, and rejuvenating the main courtyard. which is a good
S.oci.a1il~ng area, and putting in a small barld shell there. Also adding to
t~e l scheme is a new space for the black bOK theitre and also ~or arts.
The other addition is a 50-meter swimming peol and i teaching facflity;
restr~oms, garbage and storage ~ut in the athletic fi!lds, leawing in the
440 track that is there i repositioning ball fields in the turf area ta get
more use out of the same SpfCej moving the tennis courts up and to the
right whfc~ alleviates the bad situation between tne l-~;ngs and
Circulation pattern.
Now I will go to an e~isting plan to demonstr~te th2 changes, by means of
an overlay of the master plan. The y~llow shows the new gymnasium
addition. The maj~r impact on the playfield is the addition of t~e
restrooms and moving the tennis courts. The ot~er changes are the
structural changes proposed for additions and renoyation~ in tne master
plan.
The first pnase of implement,tion plan includes adding tne restroom and
garbage ~"d storage areas, a~d also adding parking to the side of the
tennis co~rts. That would be tne physical impact.
Commissioner Hirsc~: HDW many parking 5paces are in that area?
Ms.JlLt~; About 30 spaces.
Mr. Thiltge~; One t~in9 [ might ze~tion ~bout that stGrage area is that
it is located there on the ~lan, but as the CO"c~ptual plan, one of the
thlngs we ire lOOKing at is that it is gOing to be located out in the
athletic are!, and depending on the use t w~ether it is tfed to the tennis
courts or the ball fields or to the track. W~ want to retain some
flexibility as to where it fits ~est.
Commissioner C~1l~n: Ho~ many square feet of turf does t~at re~ve?
Mr. StlruL1J.; There is no turf in that area. It is a compest area.
Mr. Thiltgen: The only thing 1 would like to add is that the reason we
are asking for approval of the master plan is that it t~e document we need
to use iD order to facilitate the fundraising program we wish to
initiate. We are Toe-king to you to heTp keep the dream alhre.
Chairman Harsh: Tonight. we also have a number of staff experts present
tonight. We nawe EmiTy Harrison, Director of finance. Bill Fellman from
Real Estate and Carl Stoffel, Transportation Engin~~r. We will now op€n
the public hearing.
'Ken Crittenden. 342 Parks ide Drive. pilla AHo: J havi! a letter addre~sed
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to you whic~ J will read. -Dear Commisslcner5~ I live within a block of
(lJbberTey. I ae very much concerned with what tlappens at CubberTey, both
for our own neighborhood and for the city it large. I have bet?n follotJlling
the planning process and attending meetings concerning Cubberley for over
three years --meeting$ involving zoning (ons1deritions. leising
arrangements with the Soard of Education and the community input ~eetings
chaired b.)' Pau'j l",t1tgen. I am very pl~asE'd '\!fHh tne effort and
conslderatio~ shown by the Gity employees in~o'ved in this precess.
belie~e they ~aye generall, shown considerable tho~ght and effort in
developing the plan for tubberley to meet the needs and wants of
interested citizens.
There are two areas which I bel;e~e need mod1flcatior.. 1he first concerns
tne o~erill pla"nlng process. Changes in the site beyond those included
in the implementation plan need to b~ reviewed according to the fij11
planning process (planp.ing commission and cfty counefl) at the time the
city decides to proceed with the construction of tnose items. Sucn
changes should not simply reQuire the granting of a speciil use permit O~
the approval of the architectural revie~ board, is outlined in the
Cubberley Master Plan. Possible changes in future site usage, city
finanei)l condition, is well as unforeseen events t make this extremely
important.
My second conce-rn involves parking and roadway surfaces. The mdster phn
creates a parking reserve co~erin9 the entire turf area. 1 understand
that the Director of Pl anning and COfMlunit.1 Environment can convert any or
~11 of this reser~e to hardtop ~arkio9 splces by his unilateral declsion.
I strongly believe any changes i~ the amount Qf parking area should be
considered in the regular p1anning commission process. ! vant to sal
agaiD that 1 gr!atly apprec1ite ~hat is ~lanned for Cubberley. I think we
all will be very fortunate to have this artistic, educ~tional and athletic
faci1ity in our cfty. I am also appreciati~e of the considerable plannlng
process invol.ed. Very truly yours, Ken Crittenden.-
louise Herring. 3945 He-lson Drive, Pil0 Alto: My property backs up
against the Cubberley field, but I a~ speaking tonight on bohalf of the
Greenmeadow Association. We. as an association, recognize and appreciate
the considerable effort on the part of the various city departments to
develop t~E Cubberley site as an educational. cult~ral and athletic
cenl~r. As a neighborhood, we have been following this situation for
yea~s. We recognize the val~e of the propos~d ~sage under the city lea~e,
both t~ GreenmeadGw and to the city is a whole. rn August of 1990, a
ten-poii'lt petition ... ·as. circulated in the Greenmeadow area regarding our
suggestions for the development of the Cubberley ,ito. A copy of thi,
petition, sigred by 50S people of all ages, is. in your packets. Hine
pojn~s of our petition are encompassed in tne implementation plan.
Point_IO of our petition reads, -Grant approval on11 for present site
mediflcations; require additional hearings for f~ture changes.-Although
people were g;~en the option Cof \IIithholding approval on any of the points,
this one point ~as unanimously appro~~d by all 505 people. The intent was
that an initial. affordable group of adjustments shou1d be ma~e first apd
put fully into effect. Then following t~at, ~sage and reappraisals would
shew whlc~ aspects of further development might be warranted, based on
experience, new demographics and availab1e funding. We are concerned that
if the full maste-r plan is adopted now 9 there might not be sufficient
publit awareness before later implementations occur. The conditional use
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permit spoken of 11'1 tfle staff report entalls i kearingl by the zoning
admlftfstrator, which is held mid-week at a time which is not con~enient to
the public during people's normal business hQurs. If a permit is granted
by the administrator and the public objects to th~ ruling. there is a
substantial fee invol~ed. The architectural review board, which ~ou'd
approve the des19n of new buildings and facilities t also meets at i t;~
which is incon~enient to the public. and its agendas receive even less
notfee than those of the zoning administrator. The whole field area,
marked on Page 26 of the master ~1an. is marked as parking reserve.
Parking reser~e can be changed to paved parking by the untlateral de,ision
of the Director of Planning a"d Commun1t~ Environment. rt is easy for the
public to aiss a single notice in the newspaper, and it is expensive to
appeill a dechion. We ask that you go no further tonight than tne
imp1~mentation plan. We need to live with some of t~e change~ f~rst.
Although th~ implementation ~lan does not involve new buildings, it does
;nvol~~ new building uses and iI dlfferent mix of tenants. Jt does involve
additional peak period triffic and parking requirements, which need time
to be absorbed and evaluated before the planning is done for still ~ore
bullding.
We believe there is an item, too, in the plin that fie~ds very careful
thought. namel" the ·challenge (ourse.-This activity w;~ added after
the conclusion of the public hearings and after the Circulation of our
petition. On Page 18 of the master plan, a challenge course is described
as a -ropes course which provides space and EQUipment for supen"i sed 9rotJp
activities.-We u~derstand that specfally tri1ned s~perwision, safety
helmets and harnesses are involved. and that high platform po~tions of the
equipment remain perm~nentl1 i~ place at all times. We are concerned,
because there are currently about 450 children associated wit"
Greenmeadow, and hundreds more who (ome to use the fields, to whom this
equipment, when unsupeMlised, mlght present a hazard. We ask that the
planning commission 91ve detailed conSideration to iss~es of safety and
liability befLre including a challenge course in any plan recommended to
the city co~nctl.
We are indeed glad that the city has leased the Cubberley Site. We expect
t~at it will serve tne City of Palo Alto wel1~ and are pleased to
cooperate in moving the Cubberley project fQrw~rd.· Thank you.
Lorna Affleck ... _383Q...l~tay Court. Pale AHo: I am speak"j'ng tonight on behaH
of the dance cOlTlTlunity and in favor of the master plan. ] am going to be
cnp voice representing many tonight, as most dancers ar~ tied up with
claSSES or rehearsals at this hour~ r would also like to cTarlfy that when
I ~ay -dance,-I am referring to t~e cultural and theatrical forms of
da~ce. rather than the recreational and s~cial fo~s. We are 5peaking in
favor of the master pl an~ which we thin~ is great and wonderful, not just
for our particular dance community. but for all of Palo Alto in ~ny ways.
and all that it will offer. In particular, r want to speak on the dance
center~ whic~ we would like to put in the l"wing. We have been lOSing
dance space in Palo Alto very drastically. Over the past seven years, ~e
have lost three private dance studios. due either to the zoning ordinance
or to the inflation of property, ccusing veri high overhead. Tnis kind of
business is very difficult to run ~ith high rent. We have ~ad no ne~
studios come i~to the area. We have two remaining dance schools in Palo
Alto, and one of those is zoned to go out in July, 1993. Also, we have a
few indhidual teachers wt'IO are trying to stay alive in hope.s that this
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wtl1 ha~pen by renting space hourly at Cubberley tn two different areas
there now.
I have been working on this project now for three-and-a-half years from
the very beginntng, tryffl9' to get tubberley cut from under the school
district and tnto the city_ I have been working w1tn t~e staff ill
along. ~r first goal hiS b!~n to obtain space so that we could move from
there. Tne dance community now has pulled together and fanned a
coalition. Tney bave been working yery~ very hard over the last few
months. Meeting often. and formed an ~r9anilition. They are ready to
begin functioning in the center. as soan is tnt easter plan 1s apprc~ed.
Why do we want the L-w;~g? We likE the location of it be~au~e it is on a
corner of the campus which makes it a very secure and safe location for
chi1dren. They do not have to wander through any corridors. The building
is right there next to the p~rkfng. There is appropriate auto and bicycle
access for b~t~ children and adults. Mainl" tne b~ildin9 itself is
alread1 an open space with high ceiltn9s~ and structures such as thes~ are
ver, hard to find. The center will be serving several hundred people
daily. The ages it will be serving will be from preschool children
throi'gh: adlJTts of all ages. It wl1l serve as a training center in the
cultural and t~eatrical styles of dance. It will serve as a cr2ati~e
center for bot~ professionals and apprentices alike. We will also
accommodate in-house perfonnances which is great for e.)lperimental types of
t~ings and for lect~re-demonstrat10ns. whic~ fs very edlJcatio~al. We will
be reaching out to _ark with the area schools, college~. and it will give
us the opportunity to have guests artists come to the arei. T~ese areas
that J bave jYst mentioned are currently i~ obvious void in our
comrnunity~ If, for whatever reasons, you decide ~ot to accept the master
plan, please be ~ure that yOlJ include the l-wing as a dance center iQ the
portions that you do accept. The dance needs a hone. and ~e all firmly
belie~e that Palo Alto de$erves this fine organization. If it is
importar.t to yo~ to have confirmation from different people on paper,
since ] am onlJ one voice speaking tonight. I wis~ you would let me know,
and W~ will be glad to accommQdate that.
P:rs. Chris Ranes. 3973 Bibbits Drive. Palo Altq: I ljve right near
Cubberley. [am speak;ng tonight for the .isu.1 artists of Cubberley.
Mist~kenly, in the master plan, it says that we ire net housed yet. but we
are. We are ]5 artists ilread~ in residence at Cubberley~ creating
beautiful works of nt. I would 1 ike to put Uds letter in your file.
whic~ r will now read. "Dear Me~~ers of the Planning Commission: We ere
here to speak for the proposed master plan as members of the visual
artists at (ubberley~ This plan has evolved and nas been changed to
reflect the input of o~r local residents. tt has Ittempte~ to address t~e
desires, objectives and the objections of those who have come forth at t~e
hear1ngs .• fhat we bave is I plan of what cauld be, as well IS the
development of a real community cult~ri1 center for the south end of Palo
Alto. So many actf",.,;tles, cultura,l, educational and' recreational are now
taking place at Cubberley. This plan enhances, i~roves and expands on
these actiYit;es~ We all know that budgetary probleRs nave put a cloud on
eyeryt~in9 we cherish in this cit1. At leist, we can plan for a brighter
future for tne SQuth end when ffnancial conditions improve. The Cubberley
experi~nt 1S unique for communities, b~t not so unique for a elty like
Palo Alto known for its leadership. We,. the undersigned visual artists
of Cubberley, urge y~u to support this plan for tne futlJre.-There are 15
of 1,15 present tonight. alld we all thank you. the planning corrt;tission~ fer
~Dnsidering this beautify) plin.
V~"torkman. 4180 Mackay Or1\1!. palo A7ta: My concern is very short.
r bave been using the Cubberley track and field since 1954, and I do not
see any plans for continuing the par course. T~e youngsters at C~bberley
were t~e ones ~ho generated the money to have the ~ar course put in, and I
think it Is going to disappear. I bate to see that go. beca~se there is
an immense amount of people ~ha use that every day.
Ed Simons. 31Q3 Stelling Court. Palo Alto; J hawe been in~olved with
baseball for many years in the community and elsewhere, and have been
di't~ssed by the '.s. of b.seb,ll fields over the p.st number of years.
When t~e tubberley plan came out, including a baseball field. we were very
gratified. 1 found i. t.lking with people that there ~as a lack of
underst.nding of the loss of fields, so I am here to present a letter
des(,ri~ng the bistor~ of the loss of the baseball fields and what th~ir
nee-ds are.
Commtssioner Hirsch: When you say baseball fields~ do you mean hard ball?
Mr. Sim~: Yes, a baseball fi~1d ~~~~~res a 90-foot inf~eld. as opposed
to a little te~gu~ field or softball field. which requires 60-foot
fields. A bas~ball field does reQuire i 10t more space_ When Biyla~a~
Baseball Fie1d was opened around 1970. t~ere were six properly maintained
fields at the t'ree b1gh schools and the three junior h1gh schools. U,ing
thp.se seven fields were the ten Babe Ruth teams, eight youth league teams
and six junfor league teams. which wer~ recreation department programs,
and three or four older teams. In those days, the ten Babe Ruth teams
played games at Baylands. Pily a~ CubbErley. ~hile the youtn lea9ue teams
pl~yed at the junior high fields~ and some at B~ylands. TheTe ~ere 2B
fields using t~e seveR fields, wit~ surfaces maintained. so tnat a game
could be played safely. Baseball played on i gO-foot infi~ld reQuir~s a
good surface for t~at ;~field so that the game can be played safely. A
field that is regularly maintained is called a game+safe field. By 1991,
8aylands remains, a~ Pil~ is maintalnable. On11 these are game-saf!
fje1ds. They are used by six Babe Ruth teams now, and eight to ten
McCQvey teams~ which is the current recreation department program, and
three Older teams. In addition, in the fall. t~ere are three more teams
that playa fall baseball progra.~ so now there are 20 teams and onl) two
9ame-safe fields to play on. Gunn remains. but has ~o open time d~ring
tbe school baseball season. and is ~nm';nti,~able ifte~ards. Jordan
rnains but is unmainhinl!d and is almost un,')hiy;;ble. Jordan and a
non-baseball field area at Cubberley are use(1 f~r practice before league
play beg1ns~ A few gHiE!S IUlst be played at G'lnn~ where rakes~ shovels and
drags ire brought 1" to lIaice-pll,)' as Slfe lS IIQsslble on a game·to-gillM!
bash. So how did we go from fat city to grirl CHy? Tennan Junior High
closed in 1978. il.nd its field deteriorated wi'.h no maintenance, though it
was still used for pr~~!~::. When ho~sing w~nt in, two new soccer fields
and a pew soft~:~i field were b.dlt t.h~re. Nothing anywllere in the t:it,.
repliced th~ loss of this baseball field. By t~is time, the r~creat;on
departaent prcgra~s had ceased to exist. so the t!n Babe Ruth teams. plus
l few ~ider te~s. h,d adequlte fi~il~l'es? so we tould hardly just if)
.. jor cDtlPht"ts~ Thi!n. Cubberh: closed, but its baseball field was
sti~l hll1 utilized. becaus"!! one 101' those fields marked as a softball
fjfld wa~ always iii ~:seb~il field. Tne Cubberley field ~as
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,~ , --ujer-~afntained &s much as possible. rt steadily deteriorated to a pDint
~ere it could ~ used only for practice. but it was well used for that.
In the fall of 1988, the recreation department attempted to convert it to
a softball field, but our howls returned it to at least part-time use for
baseball practice. During these years, the first de--.'elopment at Greer
Park waS undertaken, and two more new soccer fields and two mere new
softball fields were built, but nGtni~g new for baseball anywhere in the
cjty. About this time, the junior hi;~ schoois, now called middle
sch~ols, abandoned baseball, and their fields no longer received any
maintenQnc~. These fields deterforated fast. Patchwork user-maintenance
kept t~e~ nargfnal1y usable. Also at this time, the recreation department
reentered the baseball area with its Willie ~~CoveJ baseball program for
13-1S-y •• r-olds_ A double wha~. By 1985, there were 12·14 teams plus
three ~1der teams. Tne recreation department has ~arked tha fields on the
overbead. Terman was gone. so .e will cross that o~e oUt4 Cubberley was
gone. and ~nmaf~tiined Wllbur and J~rdan were used for games and
practtces, along wit~ Paly and Baylands. Gunn was not maintainable by
anyone after the school season 1S o~er4 The schools do not maintain the
fields, and it would be very difficult for us to get at t~em. The fieij
at Wilbur. now called JLS. was trashed tnrough SDIne Il:"s~erious school
instructions, and (inal1Y9 its use was given over to little league, which
has access to larg~ enough equipment to bring it to a barely usabl~
condition for its ~inDr leagues. Currently, the second and last
development at Greer Park is under way. Under constructl~n are two more
new soccer fields, another new softball fl~ldJ and a~other new little
league field. Still n~tning for base~all anywhere ,~ the city_ Thus,
wlt~ 20+ teams and growing 9 baseball is left wit~ two game-safe fields.
The Cubberle1 site is the last. t~e best and the ~ost c~nvenient and
safely reached by 13-15-year-olds for a baseball field. We thank the
recreation depart~ent for including it in the plan. because we feel that
now it is our turn.
Richard Beckw;th. 78 Roosevelt Circle. Palo Alto: J am presid~~t of the
Pala Alto Babe Ruth and also Commissioner of 8abe Ruth in Distr}ct 6 t
which encompasses an area fro~ San F~ancisco down through San Jose. for
the last se~eral years, as Hr_ Simons has indicated. there nas been i
steady decline in the usable baseball fields here in Pa10 Altc. Hlis is a
graphic of tne types of fields tnat are available for sports acti~ities.
We are not making any implication t~at we wo~ld like to have this changed
as far is the other activities are concerned. but ~re ao illustration of
the fact tnat o~er the last number of years~ we ha~e been reduced from
se~en playable fields dawn to two playable fields. one of which is a
city-run operatfon and one is I school-run operatfon. The softball and
soccer activities have i lot of fields. and justifjably, for ~11 the
ac:th'i'ties that they dOt however, baseball in Palo Alto is a growing
activlty, and as a result of tnis. ne. fields are being locked at all the
time. As the field situation be<:omes Inore and BlOre critical. it impacts
the program by 11.IJ1itfng the number of tealAs that can pla)'. '!"nere ire onlY
a ce~tiin number of hours In the day.
It turns out that Babe R~tn Is i welt established activity in Palo Alt~
whlC~ started more t~an 30 years ago, about t~e S~~ time t~at the
American legion and little league got started. The same founding fathers
put togetner the Babe Ruth progra",. In •• .,ry short period of lime, 1t
became pretty clear that a pla~ablet reasonably good field was needed for
ihe 13-1S-year-old pliyers~ and Baylands was undertaken and successfully
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tonstructed in the late 19605. At that time, in additlon to Bayllnds,
there were st~ school fields that ~e als~ played on, as indicated
earl fer. Baseball is still streng in Palo Alto. As commissioner, I am
very proud to be able to go to tne other cit1!s and explafn to these
leagues how we r~n our system. One Df the best features of the baseball
progra. in Palo Alto is that every child w~o tries out has an opportunity
to play. As the field s1tuatfon deteriorates, this particular claim gets
harder and harder to fill. Every city that I v'sit Cilnrtot sily the same.
Every cfty has problems witn mai~ti1~1ng their leagues beC~USE of their
field sitt.lation, and herE in Palo Alt0 9 .... e are now just start ing to feel
the pinch. So this Cubberley sit~ation tomes at a very timely place, as
far as our own leagues are concerned.
I also would like to thank the recre4tion department for its (ooperation
and the many years of cooperation between our t~o organlzations,
suggesting is they did in the newspaper the baseball f;~ld at Cubbcrley.
I want to urge the planning commfssion to approve this field, as it is
deffnftely needed.
Sandy Snodarass, 362 Parkside Driye, Palo Alto! I represent the Save
Cubberley Park Committee. First I would like to s~are sometn;ng wit~ you
that will be of interest. lou must understand that the city staff and [
have agrEed to disagree over the past mnnths. As I look at the final
master plan~ I find one thing that we agree upon. The platement of the
restrooms! As r rewiew the relationship I have had with the staff 9 J must
share with you a moment of laughter is r read Page 12 of the staff
report. I am listed as Sandra Snodgrass.
Sin<e m9ving to Palo Alto 30 years ago. I have appreciated the care and
attention given to the environment. rt certaiQly is a community that ~as
been we~l planned out by people who were here long before I ever was.
When I attended the (ubberley planning neeting, t~e presenters made it
very clear that the sQu ... re footage of the it~leti( fields would be
maintained, and no one would think of cutting down a redwood tree in Palo
Alto. r felt reassured that the open space was ~oing to be protected.
Tne next meeting showed that the track was gone, i 15,000 square-foot
buildIng appeared it the end of the traCK, and a parking garage with
tennis courts on tne roof was prese"ted. The athletic fields and open
space were greatly r~duced. As a result, I started ~y petition on
Nationa' £arth Day at (ubberley High School. It happened to be • Sunday.
The purpose was to preserve the present facilities and open spa(e at
Cubberley Park. As a resul t of that eJ(perience, I conducted a sl!rvey of
the Cubberley Park use .-the tennis courts, tne baseball field~ the
track~ all the facilities that ~er~ in place. That has been made public,
and you all ~aye copies. In additio~, I did a research stydy on t~e use
of the bleachers. Copies of that are in your pac~et, as well. The
purpose was to provide factual information fer the city. In reviewing th~
January 30 9 1991 CubberTey Master Plan~ on Page 1. it states, -In 1987, it
was proposed that the City of Palo Alto lease surpl~s school sites from
the Palo Alto Unified School District. Such a lease was to accomplish two
goals _. to preserwe in public hands the cpen space and buildings of
surplus sites and to help allewiate the school district's financial
probleas~-Under p~blic inp~t, it states, -The community had concer~s
about preserving the track, trees and open space and limiting the amount
of space reserved for parking lots.-We have had a series of public
meeti~gs, and I again read excerpts from those meetings. Heeting No.1,
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February 6, 1990~ At the end ~f the meeting, the f~11owin9 major points
were confln.ed. Then there .as a serf!s of them. 6ut one area that was
always repeated in eath of the~e neetings, ind J Quote. -Athletic fields
should be maximized.-In Meeting No.2 of March 13th? the second public
meeting. it stated in tne (o~clusions. -Athletic fields must be ~axtmized
and should not be sacrificed to accommodate additional parking.-Meeting
No. h April 3, 1990 at Cubberloy. Again;t was stated. "Athletic fi.lds
sho~Td'be maximized.-At Meeting No.4, a revised plan was presented to
the cOMmunft~ for final review on ThursdlY. April 26. 1990. Since the
prior meeting. I group of people became upset that the traditional
440~yard running track was being replaced with l perimeter running par
course, and we organized tc sa~e the track, with l p~tttiDn w1th over 600
signatures ~n hand. Tbis is the pet1t1on J started Circulating on Earth
Day. Tn,t petition .lso concerned itself with athletic fields and. path
to the par ~ourse stations on the lirge athletic field. This same group
that created this report wanted the bleachers retained. In short, our
basi( concern is that the present square footage an~ open spac~ be
maintained. I would like to go back again and Quote those two goals. "To
preser~E in p~blfc hands the open space and b~ildings at the surplus
school sites and to help alleviate the sthool district's financiil
problems.-The (ubber1ey ~aster Plan Yiolates the primar~ goal of tne
C~bberley Jease~ -To pres~rve in public hands the open space.-] thank
you~
Jillnn Affleck. 3830 May Court. Palo AHq; J consider myself a neighbo'r of
(ubberle1~ I am here to speak in favor of approval of the .aster plan. ]
attended four of the community meeti~gs that were held to listen to the
public input on Cubberley~ I was very impressed both with th~ process and
w!th the city stiff a~d Spencer Associates for their openness to h!ar the
publ;c~5 comments and thefT creative way of accommodating those c~mments
into the pian. [re.] ize that it is a very di ffieul t thing to sati sfy
everyone. and I thlnk that the ~.$ter p1an ~as done i great job of trying
to accommodate is much as possible the comments that I keard at those
public meetings. [iJII especially p1eased to have the prospect of a
community center at Cubberley t~at includes Foothill College, i dance
center. an arts center and recreational facilities~ So I ask you to
plei~e ap~roye the .aster plan.
~_B.rwald, 261 Creekside Drive. Palo Alto;
one time, and at 11:30 i" those days. we were
it is about tnree hours past rn1 bedtime.
I used tc sit up there at
just getting started. Now
J was really impressed by your consideration of the pnysical and human
environment out at the baylands tonight. I ask the plan~1ng commission to
be eQQalJy concerned abo~t tne environment 4t Cubberley? and the cit]
cQYncil too. It is an envir~nment t~at those of ~s in Greenmeadow and
those of us .ho abut the Cbhherley campus on three sides have come to
enjoy very muc~f partfcularly the open spac~. I wonit repeat what $andy
said, but it seems to me that the pol,cy of the City has been transferred
fntB a concept that you heard about ton;ght. whic~ Pa~l Thiltgen called a
dream, but t~at drea~ does not coincide with the pledges of the city in
the past from the time I have moved here and from the time Cubberley was
developed and at the time the e1ection was held and the lease was signed.
The open space was to be preserved as is. That has c~nged a great deal~
We see now l facility that waS a local facility, a high school limited to
the Palo Alta Unified Scho~l District, having transited to a regional
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center .. Now we see the spectre of its becoming an ellen more intensely
used (ommunity center. 1f I made no other point tnan one tDnight, it
would be that you consider th4 principle of the intensiveness of use at
this sit~, kee~;ng in eind that there are many, many public facilities in
the city t~at can accommodate all of the requests that have beer made by
warious spec;al interests, inciuding ~y own~ and that yo~ limit the
lntensity. By limiting the intenslty, YJU will lfm~t the impact on the
community, parttcularly on those who Ifve 24 ~our$ I day, 365 days Dut of
the year~ near the campus. While J did not make a point of the aco~~tici1
shell, please keep it In ~ind, ind equate that with the Shoreline
acoustical shell. Noise may be a prvble~ with that.
I halle some points I would lik! you t~ consider, and rf you consider the
int~nsity of use, and onl, if you consider the intensity of use there and
=odify some of your dreams and goals, will yo~ assuage these probl€ms.
The first p~int: open space. r ha~e already covered that. I don't want,
and ] d~n't think the people of Greenmeadow or any other residential area
in there. want one square foot of the open space removed. The important
e1ements of tne open space should not be degraded, and I ~a~ the running
track. the green grass areas and the par course and bleachers. r had
heart surgery some years ago, and J walt and do a little running. but
mostly walking. Z hive talked to many people walk!ng down there who say
that their doctors encourage them to do aerobic walking, which means
~alkfng up and down hi~1s. There are no hills in the immediate aret, so
tney run up and cown the bleachers. It seems to do the trick. rt has
said the bleachers are ~nsafe. T~ey are unsafe for the same reason as the
parking lots out iD the baylands Ire. They have not bee~ maintained.
On the swimming pool, I was assured ~y the Clty and school district that
when the swimming pool was c~vered over, we were told that it was simply
fiTled with sand, and all we ~uld have to do someday was to recondition
the pool. An Expens'iv~ new pool ·.,ould not need to be built, so I think
you oug~t to look into that.
I am concerned with traffic flow and pedestrian anc! bicycle safeti.
Raising use intensity and traffic will increase exponentially the amount
of traffic. bot~ in the parking lot. ~hich I thinK is the ugliest parking
in town, with tiD trees there and not even on the plafl., even though it is
called i parking court~ which sounds a little better, I suppose. One of
the th1ngs you could do is to make iii two-Tane access on the gr~en belt
side of the fac;11ty, ~aintiliining the c1rcle and make a two-wa~ access on
the other side back to t~e part where the f~rest service area ~as, and
then yse only the path by the tennis courts for emergency, and not ~aye
tr.ffic circ~liting around t~at area.
~ ... ~ block top. We have enough bhc~ top beth in the bayland, and
around t~ <itl~ We are paving over Adobe Creek. One more bit of biack
top reduces the penneable soil and w~ just read the other day wnere the
water table has dropped six to eight ~eet, and we canlexpect our houses to
crUllb1e. so let's try to delle10p a policy wtlere we don't pa .. e the whole
(. itl·
00 not continue to illow parking on the planted areas. Parking allover
the irea is being il~owed right near the trees, and even if you don't cut
tho. d .... they ire gOing to die. Also. r notice tnat the new black top
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• --is ri~ht behin~ t~e R-l area. It is almost crieinal to even t~ink of I
~arking lot o~er where yo~ say there is compost. I'll give you a little
history. That was I compost storag! pile and has been for i few months,
but before that, it was i commur.1ty garden, and it was ;150 a ~emorial
court where the 9rad~ating seniors of the high schoo' put plaques. The
p1aques hive been stc1en or bulldozed o~t by your bulldozers. ind the
trees art gone. I think t~ose kids who gave those memoria' plaques and
planted those trees should be given more dignified treatment than they
have received.
T~e ropes course is a bad idea, ~ith great r;sK to th~ children, and to
the city as potential defendants in lawsuits. I certair.ly would find it a
glaring intrusion on the opp.n space and on t~e R-I on Nelson Drive.
Point 7, preserve the trees. finally, the city has received no mandate
under its charter nor from t~e people to build, facility to serve every
special interest group that wants splce for thelr f.Yorite activity. We
have to use restraint. cr we will have so much sore traffic in that area
that we won't be ab1e to handle it. I would like to see a dante school,
because I ~ave grandch'ldren wno take dance lfssons, and J hope there is a
w~ to do it, but as it was said by the speaker, the teac~ers aren't here
because they are teac~in9, t~at tells me that the dance teaching would be
held at night, and r don't know where you would put any more people at
ft;g~t. T~at place is jammed fY11 of cars_ Nor does the city have great~
5pendabl~ weaith at this time p so I would ~9a;r. say, limit the intensity
of use. I would ask you to give serious thought before YOLI adopt the
Master pTan without further hearings, as lou~se Herring said. It sounded
a bit tonight witn the boxes that were put up tnat there is a litt~e
different tYPI! of procedu)'e whicfl is being suggested ton;ght, which giVes
quite broad scope to tne wishes of the staff_ [would look at this in the
same way as you look at any other develop~~t and follQ~ those procedures
preclsely.
Chuck Jaffee. 37IS Terstena Place. Santa Clara: I am a member of the Palo
A1to TenniS Club Board of Oirectors and past president. With me tonight
is another past president) the current preside.r.t, the current wice
pres1dent and SOCial director. We jllst want to continue our statement of
support for tne ideas and efforts of the clty to hear from the entire
communtty about t~e tnte1Ilgent p multiple use of the Cubherley fields. We
are happy to be a part of the process, as ~e have been over the years. We
have offered money and given money multiple times in the past. We have
promlsed money to serve this effort in the upcoming years, and ~e are
happy to support it with our ideas. We are about 800 strong. We have
line organized tour~aments a yeir. We have social events. We haye the
US!A tennis. We ~ave interclub efforts, We ha~e SOCill efforts, and for
decades. we have co-sponsored with the Clty the junior tournaments. So
there is a strong tennis presence in the communltJ and we would like to
make sure that we remai~ a part cf this process. But mare importantly. we
understand and encourage that this is a multi-use project. We hear things
about tracks going away. Th€y don't seee to be going away. Trees going
away, but there seem to be more trees. Tnere seems to be close attentl0n
to how much extra might get paved, which seems to be kept to a minimum. I
think it lS ~ery important that all the input be heard and addressed as
well .as possible. It seefl to us that they .are, and Wi!' encourage t"'at they
be, and we will ~ wit~ the process the entire way to see that this turns
out to be the best pOSSible plan. rt looks like a good start so far.
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One particwlar pof~t I WQuld like to mention is that OUT ~~pPQrt is tied
to the idea of a small structure that e~ist5 between the ball fields and
tennfs cOlJrts ... hich ",ill ser'lle two ~ery hrge uses, the boboysox€rs ilnd
us. Inis ~ill make for more Gf a f~~ily~ orga~ized environment for
servlng food and store equipment for bQt~ of those h19~ uses. When we
heard there was I restroom In mind. we thought that could be combined in
this sma11 structure as well. Our support is associated with that
Denmanent structure.
Chai~an Mar~h: [have two ~ore cards. This will be'the last opportunity
to speak~ as we will close the publfc. heafing tonight. When we come bad
a~ discuss th15 in the future t there will not be an opportunity for
co~nts it that time.
L~r.;e Wheel@r. 362 Diablo Court. Palo ATto: Those of you with whom i had
the pleasure of serving a couple of y~ars ago I am sure will reme~~er my
pass10n for ke~ping all cf the closed school sites, or as many as
possible. in th~ public domain~ The one commissioner who is present th1s
evening with whom] did not have the pleasure of serving probably sensed
this passlon in the letter I delivered to all of you Monday evening. Tnat
letter evolved from my sitting down on Sunday afternoon to jot down a few
comments that I wished to make at t~is meeting. Five hours and six pages
later. ] decided [ had best deliver them to you beforehand.
Given tne fact that my letter had some critical comments in it, and my
presentation this Evening contains a few more, it is important that you
know that those are couched within the context of supporting the general
concept of w~at staff has presented to you fer the plan for Cubberley High
School. [support turning tnat school Site into a community c~nter. I
support~ in genfral. the ~ses that are contemplated on that piec! of
property and the miz of userS t as well. It was a little disturbing to me,
t~i! evening, to read the article that appeared i~ the Times Tribune
ye~terdal ~hich fmplied that t~ere was great opposition to the Cubberley
Master Plan. [don't think that is a fafr assessment about anyone who was
quoted ift that article, and J don't think that is i fair assess~nt of
anyt~inQ [ ~ave heard wit";n my neighbor~ood. There are elements of the
plan on whicb I have heard concerns and questions voiced, but I have heard
~obody that I have come in contact with question the basic idea of what we
are trying to accomplish at C~bberley. [am sure we will find some ef
tnose lIIhen it comes to a November election exceeding the city's Gann
l1mit, but they haven't appeared ~et.
The intent of my letter and my comments tonight is to say that I think
tt,at the master plan~ is presented, still needs some work to be dene
before it is adopted by the city. Some of the specific projects contained
i! the .aster plan, and even in the implem!ntation phase, n~ed further
examination. Given the state of tity finances and the number of u~knowns
about c~rtai~ elements in the plan as it comes to you tonight. there is
really no need to rush and adopt a master plan. [do r.ot want it to drag
on for years; ] do not _ant the planning commission nor the community to
involve itself in a year~and~a-half of planning on t~i5 item; r do not
t~ir.k it is going to take another year-and~a·half to get the master p1an
right, but J do t~ink it needs more time.
Since you have my letter9 J wil1 not go over it, but 1 do want to repeat
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.Y five concluding statements of tn! letter for the benefit
audience, and a~"fy on those just i little bit.
of the
POint II was that we do not have suffici~nt experience to determine
whether th~ site plan CAn s~pport the leve) of b~llding or actf~;ties
envi$io~ed by tne plan. Adoption of the implementation pla". at this
pof~t. hopefully w;tn some minor modifications. and leaving the adoption
of the ~ster plan to some time in the future, will give us a~ opportunity
to live with t~e parking and the traffic (onditions that will be generated
by the new uses i~ the n~ users. Thls is , new tenant mi) that is
co.1ng in. 1t is an intensification of the site. Most of the uses and
~sers will be on-site with the lmplementation phase of the plan. We will
have a better opportunity, then, to see what our parking shortcomings are
and how badl, that impacts the neighborhood. We will also get a better
view of the c;rculation problems. I have not notited in the 25 odd years
I have lived on -1 little cul-de-sac direct11 across fram lubberley that
people have been too hampered by th~t one~way drive between the tennis
courts and the buildings. I am not a«art of any accidents ~avin9 taken
place there over the years, so I wond£r about the statements concerning
the safety issue t~tre. Thert are other fs~ues. b~t I am not sure sifety
is one of the,.
Some specifits of the implementation p1an, as well as the master plan,
also need to be examined ~re closely prior to commitment to their
construction. Several of the speakers tonight have mentioned the
ctlallenge COLOrse. I join h tneir concern about that. The acoustical
shell --luckily r do not live fn the section of Pilo Alto that hears the
concerts from SnoreTine free of charge, but] do not wish to jOin in
tf;at. The field realignlrlent --[ spent some tille in 1111 letter to you
describing visually what 1 saw gOing O~ ~t tne Cubberley site. I tnought
it mfght be helpful if I showed you this evening visually what I observed
going on. As some of you know because fDa have seen Pe jogging around the
are~~ I spend a lot of time observing what is gOing on in the fields and
the parking lots at tubberley. The top sheet Is the existing site plan.
f described in .Y l!tter to you, there were two formal Bobbysox g~s
being held on the two fOnllal softbal; fields. ThEre was one Bobbysox team
practici~g way over in the cornert wh;c~ I call t~e nortnwesterD corner.
There was a tittle league practice taking place at a temporary backstop
along Nelson Drive next to the Bobbysox practlce. There was a send-formal
adult softball game taking place in that area where Nelson Driv~ curves
around_ [call it semi-fermal Dccause they had a~ umpire present. Then
over at the southernmost extremity of the turf area, tnere were two beer
league g~s i~ each of the corners there, also adults. The nice thing
about the_ is that with;~ the last couple of years, they have started
bringing tneir barbecues out~ ~avin9 big parties and having dinners and
sometimes sharing with some of the r,etghbors that are !Ising the facl1ity.
That was a heavy not, but it was not atypical of what ;s ~appenlnq on that
fiejd~ Mondays through T~ursdays d~ring the spring_ J realize that
8obbysox does not play every night, but when Sobbysox is net using the
rOl"lllal flelds. it hnds to be an adul t softball league~ so it j s a
sligMly different group of users. but the level of acthity i'S always
high those four nights. There were seveq groups being ~c(ommodated that
.eveni'ng.
If you tu~ to the next page, the ~~ter site plan, you have the two
formal softball fields set up~ so those can still be used by Bobbysox ~r
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by the adult leagues, but because the~ are pushed farther into the
property and ~riented, you l~se the ability to have that extra 8obbysox
team practicing or that extr~ little league team practicing from t~at
end~ You might still be able to sQu~eze that one sem1-formal adult
softball game fn that crook of Nelson Drive. Then you come over to the
southern end of the t~rf area, and yo~ ~aye tne formal baseball field.
Until tonight, J was not sure, until I heard Mr. Simons and Mr. Beckwith,
(or whom exact1y that facility was being constructed, but now, given the
facl that they are substantially sized yo~n9 men, I would say that th~ use
of ather portions of the open turf area is going to be severely
restricted, because they can really wallop the ball a goodly distance, and
I do oot t~1nk you are going to be 2ble to have the informal things that
were happening around there contfnue to "appen. S~ although you have not
tak~n away too many square feet of t~at turf ar~a fn the master plan, you
have substantially reduced the amount of space that is available to
accommodate t~ings that are already gOing on there now. ] hope that gives
you i good, visual idea of it.
COmmissioner Hirsch: You did not do this relativ~ to the implementation
plan that yau ha~e recommend~d, did you?
~s. Wh~eler: I do nat need to do that, beca~s~ iD the imp1ementation
plan, the form~l field layout 1S exactly the Same as it is now. Staff has
prepared for the eventual move of the t~nnis courts and t~e expansi~n of
the parking by t~e initial construction of the fields in the
i~1eaentation phase.
(ol'llnissioner Hirsc~_: The layout of the fields is some~hat different ifl
the implementatfon plan, is it not?
Ms. Wheeler: I do not belteve so. r bel ieve it is identical.
~ioner Hirsch: Oh, to the maste-r plan.
Ms. Wheeler: Yes. "y second point i" ~ letter is that there has been
fnadequate information provided to the public, including the planning
commiSSion, on t~e need for and s~bstanc~ of m~ny of the improvements
contemplated in the master plan. Here, agairl, r mention He chillenge
cours~. by way of example. There is one sentence on Page 18 of the ma$ter
plan which disc~sses tne challenge course and what it is. Tnere is no
discuss1o~ at all in the ~aster plan of where the idea t~ ha~e a challenge
course came from; who asked for it; no description of the types of
activitles that would take place therej and no description of the design.
That is W~) there haYe been concerns voiced tonight, betausz people ~re
guessing at what tkis facility is going to be. The pooi is another
example. The onl~ t~ing J can find in the master plan t~at ind~cates a
need for a 50-meter p~ol is in the section of the appendix where there ;s
a summary of the comments that c~me in from the public as a result of some
ads that appeared in the h10 ,1.1to Weetl,1. In that~ ] think there 'W.ere
four responses altogether that isked for i pool. I don't know who asked
for the pool to be resu!"'rected it tt'l,,: site (Ir redes1gne<1 ilt the sHe and
recon5tr~cted there. We do have two pGols ;n the so~thern end of town
that are run by c~nity organizations that are me~bership pools but
their membership boundaries are cpan boundaries that people can join and
have swimming privileges. ~e have public pool at Jane lathrop Stanford
~iddle School, and if you ha~e i note from your doctor and need a pool for
2jl3i91
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therjpeutic purposes (whjcn was one of the purposes stlted for this ne~
5~-meter pool], you can go to the CAR pool. So I think we need to look
again it this particular part of t~e project and evaluate that. That one
parttcwlarly seems to affect the parking and th~ pliying field situatfon.
[ am o~t necessaril1 ebjectin9 to eit~er of these projects. I just think
we need to k~ow more about tneM so that we tan make the tradeoffs.
One of the reasons we need to evalu~te these so carefully 15 that they
S~eG to be so closely related to th( parking situation+ Staff is ~ery
concerned about parkir.g on t~fs property, and I can understand that,
having gone through the Terman experience and seeing the res~lts of what
happened at Terman4 J can understand the sensitivlt}. We have lots of
city facilities that do not provide adequate ,park.ing and do not satisfy
all of the parking needs4 I haye not heard anyont say t~~t we ought to
take ~a1f of Rinconada Pari a~ay to provlde adequate parking for the rest
of Rinconada Park. The parking situation there is atrocious. I hi~e not
heard anyone say tnat in orde~ to accommodate all of tne uses cf the lucie
Stern Community Center~ t~at we ought to do away wit~ the bea~tiful lawns
that front on t~at center. So J don't think ~e ought to all of a 5udden
come to the Cubberley project and think that we need all sorts of parking
preserves and that we have to netessariTy acc:ortroodate ],600 cars.
The ~ther thing we need to take a good look at is somet~ing like ~ lraffi~
Dema~d Management (TOM) progr~. The city has taken leadership f~r its
own e~plcyees in the dQ~ntown area. Tnat 1eadershfp translated later into
the city's taking a leading role i~ the Stanford Research Park. and
imposing. faIrly tough TOH standar< on Sta.ford, I understand that thls
is a ditferent situation~ and i mori 1ifficult situation, i~ which tc
desfgn iI 10M p!""og~~am. But this. is i lighthouse cHy. ilnd we do many
t~ing5 that are new and innovative and different. I tnink we need to give
some attention to i TOM-type pr~gra~ at Cubberley, and siye some thought
as to how that can be accomplj~ked~ if we are in trouble with the parking.
Point '3 of my letter ;s that the ~qster pTan process, is proposed, lacks
appropriate c~annets of continued public participation in the
;mpleme~tatjon of plans to accommodate a still evolving mi~ of uses. r
was very pleased, tonfght, to hear Mr4 Tbiltgen say that ~e intends tc
keep the plJblic 1nvol't'ed as \IIIe go along. That;s \I E'ry , \'!ry necessarY4
was 90in9 to propose that p!rhaps an ad hoc citizens committee could be
set up to keep the public process going. But if ~aul wants to deal with
all of us it once. that is fine, too. I think be went'tnrougn a couple of
ro~gh meetings with the public, but on t~e ~hoTe~ this ;s not a very
violent issue. we do net have big differences. "ie do not have wars going
on among the groups that are interested in the Cubherley site. We do have
. issue~. but Wf. do not have arguments. and keeping it in the publ:c arena
is a very 900d and necessary idea~
The master plan. as presented, does not afford protection of the lards to
No used for athletic recreati{ln by clear delineation and park. dedlcition.
[ Tooked at my ~unicipal code o't'er the weekend. and refreshed my memory.
We did park-dedicate all the lands that we added to the city's park
inventor~ at all the surplus school sites l where we did reserve property
for inclusion fn existing parks or establish new p4rks. I think it is
entirelJ appropriate and necessary as part of this process tnat we do
dedicate the open areas it CubberTey.
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~y last pOint was that the staff-stated rationale for requesting appro~il
of the master plan it t~is time is to enable the community services staff
to embark ~pon a fundraising camp;ign. While r hawe great admiratfon for
our staffls enthusllsm and commitment to the project~ I question the
appropriateness of using staff time and resources to engage in fundraising
activities of t~e magnitude envisag~d. That is i job for interested
~itizen volunteErs, not our paid st~ff. As planners, you sho~ld also be
wary of the p05sibilit~ that solicitation of private funding might well
subvert tne planning process. A careful 11st of projects and their
prTGrities for implementation has been drawn up ind included in the ~aster
plan. We run t~e risi of jeopardizing the overall success of the plan if
we allow the avai1ab11ity of funding for specific projects of lesser
importa"c~ to b! constr~cted prior to completion of project elements
ranked above the. on the prior1ty list. There were two points in that
last paragraph. first. t~e appropriateness ~f the use of our staff for
fundrais1ng. That is a matter of my personal opinion, which I recognize.
1 mentioned earlier the elettion that ..,ill ta'ke place in November. I hope
all of us who ~ave spoken to you tonfgbt, as members of the comm~nit~
interested in seeing Cubberley proceed~ take a personal pledge to help
pass that election. r ~aye takEn that pledge, a"d I ~ope they will join
me. But I do believe that there will be opposition to that e1ettion. J
do believe that usin~ staff time and resources to do fundraising wi)} only
be fodder for those who oppose the e~penditure of funds on t~e (ubberley
site.
r.s far as the priorities for implemertation are concerned, this is the
point in that paragraph tnat is lOre i~ortant in the planning pracess.
Private funding can ~~ve strings attached. The tennis people baye said
tonight that they are interested in helping, but only if. PACO has
enunciated an irtterest in helping with the acoustical shell. I doubt tnat
they want to donate money to help construct the swimling pool or 50me
other proj~ct. ~at happens if money comes in for the swimming pool, an
item fairly far down on t~e list Qf priorities, before we have
accomplished those t~ings which rank above it on the priority list. Are
we going to hold off on the construction of the pool? Are we gOing to
barge ahead and construct the pool. perhaps running the risk of either n~t
procuring enough funds to do the things we conSider more important, or
running vut of the ability to use t~at land ~ith the intens;ty ~e think we
can use that land, and not be able to redo L-wing ~nd ~ouse the d~"cers,
when we t~ink that is more important than con$tru~t;ng the pool? I bEg
you to be very cautious about that.
I look forward, as I know you do, t~ seeing this project come to
fr~ition. r hope it is not i Greer Park. I ~ope it does not takp years
and years and years, iltnough I am ~f(aid it might. I hope to be around
~henever it does come to fruition.
PetH_I{~umann, 360 Snast.;. Palo Alto: J ]lve directly in line with a l{lng
field goal kick t~rough t~e west uprights of t~e football field. I have
seyeral comments. ill of which are related. My basic comments begins with
Page 3S of the ~aster pla", w~ere it says that ·Calculation ~f required
parking spaces is based on max;.~q occupancy ~f the facilities.-Ma~lmurn
occupancy occurs three Monday nights a year on the first HandilY of each
Quarter t exce~t for the summer quarter 9 when the students are registering
and when t~e new (lasses begin. They quickly drop out after the first
cliss, for i variety of reasons. It is those three nights t~at ire the
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b~Jnt of the e~ist~n9 parting problem. If we cirry that argument a little
further, we might say that we might put in the shell, and on a S~nday
~ight. PACO has i concert in the su.ner at 6:30 or 7:00, and that is fine.
because there is no other use of the hell it1 on i Sunday night. But if
.. had • ro<~ concert at 7:30 on , ~nd.y night. which happened to be the
first ~onday night of, Quarter, you .Ight as well par~ everybody at
Stanford and bus the~ over.
I .1so come back to the baseball field. If you put the h.rdba11 field .t
t~e upper left-ha~d corner, I am an old man, but if you were to put in the
d~gnut at the back with l little space for spectators, I can still stand
at home plate and hit a ball whfch will go into t~e second row of cars in
the parking lot. There Is simply not enougn room there for a ha~dta'l
field. It is ludicroYs to t~ink that that makes any sense. As we get to
more and more parking problems, you are gofng t~ ~ant to move the ~,ark;n9
or.to tflat grlss. at whicll point you are now hHting the tMrd and fourth
row of parking~ so that ~ke$ no strse. [~ave a basic notion t~at as you
overload DOre and 1OOrt' uses~ this f.!.'ndamental not;on on Page 35 which says
tnat you have to gear parking to ~Yl~m facilit, use is simply
unworkable. unless there are agreements that )OU won't put rock concerts
on the sa~ night as the opening Df a quarter and you won't have baseball
games on the saae evening. lt Mak~s no sense to try and use the facility
to exhaustion. In general, there are lots of well known resuTts in
queueing tneory and all sorts of mathematical theories that show t~ct as
you try to overload a system, it breaks down completely. So r would
caution you to use that master plan item on Page 35 not as a justification
for paving over the entire field, but for lim1tfng usage.
Thert are a few other little points [ .auld like to quickly cover. The
supervised challenge course seems to be utterl) ridicwl~us. The existing
use at the par course is very fnfonnal and does not require any
super~lsioh. You do not have any worry about lawsuits, for the most part.
and the unsupervised use of supervised facilities cD~ld be Quite dangerous
Jnd you could end up with significant lawsuits and significant insurance
reqUirements that may not have been considered. The bleachers on the
north side of the football field arE on the sunny s ide of the field. It
is lovel,. to ~it on the sunn)" side (':t the field on very cold, wind]' days,
such as Cindlestick Park. Sitting in the shade there is a dl~aster. If
you are going to have bleachers and mo~e them o~er to the south side of
the field, they are in the shade, s~aded b) trees and one tall house. It
is shortSighted to simply tear down the bleacners and say that you are
going to move them to the other side of the fjeld. TI'Jilnk yOiJ for It!ttir,g
me bring these issues together. A lot of th~m focus on the parking
issue~ The unrestricted use of green areas, in order to satisfy this
statement io the master plan that the talcu1ation of required parking
spaces based on maximum occupancy is~ ln fact~ a disaster waiting to
happen.
Oan Pritchard. 3244 Greer Road, P?lo Alto: I am here representing the
Palo Alto Bobbysox. I do not ha~e much to add to what the other speakers
have said. J certainly support the open spac~ an" the use of the fields.
We appreciate your keeping it least two of the softball fields in the
plan~ We would. of course~ prefer to see more softball fields, but [
understand tn.t the m"ltipl. us. of the facility has to be taken into
c.onSideration. The one conrnent I w(l'Ild like to make Is that OlJr support
15 !'tot tied to. although we W{luld er; :)oragf the location of restrooms,
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snack bar fac11ity and stora9t facilities closer tD the softball fields~
-akfng it easier on those parents who itte~d with young chilaren to take
care of their young 'nildre~'s needs while st111 watc~ing the older
c~;ldr.n play t~e game. T".n~ you.
Cnair!@o Harsh: Since I have no other cards from members of the publj~.
will close t~e public hearing and return this item to the planning
commission. In our earl1er discussion, we decided we would not discuss
the item tonight, however, it is fmport~nt tnat we get our Questions out
on the floor. if not answered tonig~t, i~ case $taff research ;s
required~
~sfoner CijlJen: I dfd call Nancy lytle this afternoon to find out jf
this proposal for t~e ropes courSE ~ad been run by the risk asse$smer.t
officer. She thought it probably had been, but r would li~e to have
something more definitlve. The ropes C<liJrse at Fort ~i1ey requires a
great deal of supervisfon, and It is rfsky. It also requires cooperation
among the people using it, and is not someth1n9 you can do on your own. so
it is I little dlfficult for r~ to see a ropes course sitting out t~ere in
this kind of a park, partic~larly when it is not closed off. Would yoo
check that out with tne risk Issessment offi(er before we me!t again?
H~. Lytle: Yes, I will.
C~mmissjoner Beecham: I ~aye a question ahout how staff dete~ines the
need for sports field a11ocat\ons. How ~a"~ soccer fields are needed
versus the deMand for softball or ~ardball. And another question is
vhethe~ or not the results of your (o~sid~ration of a park-and-flow
alternatfve where the one-way by the tennis courts stay one way, but the
section around the pavtlion i! made "wo-way, so the main lot in the back
has two-'Way flow out to the scutf,.
~. Tbiltgen: Wher. he asks about sports field al10tation, is he speaking
strictl, Qf tubberleYt or is he speaKing ~f the who1e city?
Commissioner Beecnam; Ihe whole city.
Ms. lvtle: Considering one-way circulatiDn ~ere, and t~o-way w~ere1
Commissioner Sefcham: Basically leave the street next to the tennis
courts <lne way, but around tne pa~ilion way. ~a~e it two-way going into
the large b.ck lot.
Ms. {ytle: Mak~ the Greendell area t~o·wa1.
Mr_ Thiltgen: That i~ what the i~lementat;on plan does.
CQmm\ssioner Chrjstensen: t ha~e a CQn~er~ about the parkin9 deferral
process. rt is conceivab'~ that yOJ could pave over the entire open space
area.. ['wfould lik.e to understand hl· ... $taff would see that operat ins by
putting it into i landscape preserve at some time in the future,
tct'~iting it. ind whit kind of control there would be over that?
115. lytle:
50 percent
preserve.
We ba~e t.o choices, by code. Either ~e grant a variance f~r
of the required parking. or we can defer it into lands(aping
for use~ of this type, where ~e know that because of the high
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occupancy loads gene1'ited by the \i'ir-10US facllit'es~ w".:! kno .... they are not
all going tQ be ~sed to fu11 tapac,,)' at one ti=e and we ~nv. ~e nave the
opp~rtunity to condit'on t through the use permit. that they not be, so
that we ~ould net reach a deficit level. The parking res~r~~, in our
estimation, is i way of simply not needing ,I v.riance or postpo~ing any
need for parking indefinitel,. Hopefully, through the use permit. ther~
would be no cause to exercise that in the futUre. The main contern Ui:lt J
he~rd i~ the Dubl;c testimony far that is not so much that it is deferred
but that t~e process of jmpte~~nting it i~ merely administrative, with a
noticir.g requirement. I have heard the director of our department ~tate
t~at he would be wilTing tD live w;t~ i condition t~at that be a public
process thf'ouqk the p1anning cOlMlissfon and city cOl.Jncil. Maybe that
would 4;pease people~ It is simply a way of me~tfng the code and making
the space requirement~ A possible sol~tion to that ~ay be a conditlon of
the ~ister plan stating that any ex~rcfsE of parking reserye would need
commission ~nd co~ncil review.
Co~fssjGner Cnristensen: There are several Dla~es where it mentions the
fact that trip generation rates on t~e Jordan Sc~ool site were applied to
the Cubberley Master Plan. Jordan ,'-quite: a bit smaller~ arid tM uses
ttJert are similar, but c~rt.ilinly muc.r. less? overall? than ... hat is
contemplated for this s~te. I would like a little more understanding from
staff of how those rates were applied and where the f~;~res then came for
thp. Cubberley site.
Mr. Stoffe1; The tri~ generation rites do not really ~av! anything to do
with the quantity of that use. It would sti11 be the same rates, whether
you have i s~ll site or a large one. Choosfng those rates was really our
on11 so~rce for the ~inds of uses th~t ~e have at tubberley. Th~re really
are not a lot of data iF! most of th! literature. Raters were developed for
that parti~ular project~ 4nd t~~ size does not matter~ but the ~ses ha~e
some slmilarlty. enough for the general process that we felt they were
usef~l for the Cubteriey project.
Commissioner Christen~en: Could W~ he provided with those? In my
e~perjence with the Terman site, there was not sufficient parkfr.g. The
ingres.s. and egress is Inu(.h Irlore disrupth'e thar, .. e had anticipated'. So
have a concern that the issues of p;~king and traffic are being swept
under the rug and not bei.ng dealt ~~~,,~ sayir19 It wUl never happen" when
l~ fact. Terman has not been fully ~~ed as contemplated, yet it i5 a
problem.
Hs. lytle: If r can c1arifYl the Tenr.an plan truly did not address the
parking need. In revielrrlng: it. it simply did not addr~ss it. _it" thi.:..
~lan, we willl and have, addressed it by the use permit conditiDn to not
allow co-lateral use of large occtJpancy fac.ilities. So we will have it
set up so t~at you do not exceed the parking requirement by condition of
the use permH through facility adjustment. That is !'jot the case at
Terman.
COMmIssiqner C~ristensen: Well, I am not sure that is entireTy possfble.
What creates a lot of tne prDblems ~t Terman is. if you are using the
fields, the softball people who use the fields, the soccer people who ~se
the fields, and you want them to use the fields. You don't •• nt to say
you canit use the fields? but at the same ti~~. there are almost
continuous acti~itje5 going on, and there will be here, too. at tne Jewish
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Co-munity Center ~~d t~e library.
I use permit system. for the users
or sug~est that the parking is not
So I am not s~re that just by means of
that are there. that yaa can guarantee
gOlog to be exceeded.
Commfssjoner Hirsch; Having almost single-handedly .ritten the document
which was the underlying basiS for the Terman Specific Plan~ we spent an
inordinate amount of time wit~ parking. It .as addressed by putting
specific numbers on specific parking spots. The fact that they turned out
to be in~dequate is attributibTe to a number of factors which i t~ink .ere
perceived It the time and understood r but whic~ we ho~ed would nat ail
~appen si.ultineousl" as they have on a limited number of occasions.
COmmissioner Huber: If anybody has any accident history on Cubberley
(pedestrian/auto t or auto/auto). I would like to see that. Also] would
like some fd~a of what y~u contemplate to be the fundrais1nq ~echanism. A
foundation? Hon·profit? What is the means of raiSing this money. and how
involved is. Ule-stiff in tnat? Third, some sense of the actual dimensions
of the playing fields. r am particularly interested in the baseball
field. My pencil dimensions s~ggest about 300 feet down t~e lines, and
that is not very much. So [ ~ould like to have the actual dimensions you
are using.
Hr. Thiltqen: It is 450 fe.t from hOm<! plate to the parking lot.
CommissiQn€r Cullen: I did ask legal stiff to bring the Measure 8 text,
wh1C~ they ~ave done. but J have not had really had time to sift through
it here. [am trying to find the commitment to open space, and I do not
see i L So [ am ask.ing if it is in the 1 ease that the city drelif up with
the school district? CertaiDly, the advertising~ if not the ballot
measure that went on at the time of the ballot measure was that the main
advantage would be to keep the ~pen space the school distri~t had and to
mai~taiD the buildings. As I recall, there was not any talk about
additional bUildings, but] wonder if there is any legal basis for either
enlarging or not enlarging the commitment ] t~ought was implicit~ So]
would like you to take. look at that.
Also, r did not see muc~ documentation on the demand for the new uses.
There were the three qu€stionnafres that were returned in the master plan,
b~t I did not see some of the t~ings that were list~d ~~ new uses. ]
noticed' that the ballroom da.ncing had dOIJbie the number of n{jnres;d~nts to
reSidents. There was a reference to seme letters you had received iftEr
the meetin9. and we do not have in] of those letters. !f you ~aye some of
those, It would be he1pful f~r us to see them, as the letters we have do
not docuaent that.
Commfssioner HjTSC~: I also a~ int~rested in the costs and funding of
t~is project. as I suspect the other commissioners are, along witn
COOImissioner Huber. HOIf will it be funded and ..,here will the money come
from? fills. liheeler alluded to the forthcami n9 't'ote on tne Garon l1mit and
what impact that will haye on funding for this prnject. Also, I would
like to hear more about the atoustical shell. Amplified music on the
Te~n site ~hjc~ was supposed to be limited was, in fact, e-x~eeded on i
number of occasions, creating tremendous problems in the neighborhood. I
suspect that if an acoustital shell if put in here, it will be used for
am~lified rock nusic. and will cause its own s~t of problems for the 10Cil
cOIMIunity.
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i would like to lncw mo~e about the trees that art intended to be
el1.inated. Thert ire three redwood trees. three large oak trees and
eight sore redwood trees. I wt)uld 1 ike to know the size and st.at • .iS of
those a~d whether any of the. would be considered as landmark trees_
In ranking in Itoy own aind the f~\.\,jre use of this hcnity and ..mat fie..,
f~~ilitte~ .ight be added, J would lite to have city staff lOOK through
the facilities that a~e available elsewhere in town that might support
specific uses. If there 1S a particular use that w~uld ~ant to qo on Slt~
and there is no cOIIlparable use elsewhere in t~e Cit), of Paio Alto, I -,olJld
move tnat up on the list. Howe~€r, if there were other facilities that
could be tsed, soccer fields, for example, and it looks like four more
intended for this sltt, how badly are they needed? What is the
justification for those? Conversel1~ 1 pitch was made tonight for a
baseball field and that there is ar. inadequate ~umb€r ~f hardball fjelds
i~ town~ This would be an extellent opportu~1ty for them.
So ] ~ould like to see all the uses proposed for the site ran~ed somehow
in order of need.
Mr., __ Ttliltgen: Are you also speaking of studiO space for dancers?
Commissioner Hir~h: Yes. £~erything like that. I think we may
potentially have to ~ake some selections, and it would be good to Know,
wit~ regard to both buildings and open space t what the needs are, wnic~
have inadequate facilities in Palo Alto~ and rank the intensification of
uses that would go on site in some logical fashion.
Ms. Lytl~: CGuld we alTow our financ~ dir€ctor to respond to tne only
financial que~tion ra,se~ ton'9ht so that she does not have to return to
tne continuation ~~ting?
.Ellth Harrison: You asked two Questions that I can respond to. One was
abo~t the funding. at least from the utility USer tax. We have done a
ten-year projection of the ~tility user tax funds. The money comes into
the utility user t~x fu~d$ from the city ~nd telephone utilities and lea~e
revenu~ at Cubber1e1_ From that, ~e make payments to the school distr1tl
and iiillso maiptain the facilities at (ubbel"ley. We also have a street and
sidewalk program. The excess of utility revenues over those commltments
is about $30~~OOO-S400.000 a year~ so that over a ten-year period, ~e
anticipate accumulating a~ut $3.5 million for Cubberley.
The second question had to do with the Gann limit election. At this time,
because of Proposition 1]) and the lmplementation guidelines that are not
official1y published it this time but which have been made a~ailab'e in
draft form, it appe_rs that ~e may not have to have i Can" election this
November, and will nave sufficient room to cover th~ expendttures for the
]991-92 budget within our current Gann limit_
Cnairman Narsh: Does that mean that the election would be delayed,
because my understanding was that the electfGn had be~n scheduled to
precede the need?
"'So Harrison: Then! has been no CGurIcH action to put i G.ann 1im;,t
override on the ballot, and at thIs poi~t, it does not look like ~e would
need to take that action.
02/11/91
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'ornni5S1o!"l~LJ:f.irsch: r wculd like to "'ave an assessment of .. hen that
wDuld bappen. It .ig~t not be i~ J991 or i~ 1992, 1993 or wh~never. but
W(luld 1 ike to have an as.sessment. if that 1imit is not approved to be
exceeded b~ the voters of Pila AJto~ of what impact that would have on
this particu'~r prQj2ct, if any.
Ms~ Harrison: I <in project revenues is best I Cin longer tnar. a year or
two in the current economic env;ro~~ntJ ar.d that is what is the bcsis fOT
the Gann limit ciltulation; it is somewhat sketchY9 but I can 9iv~ my best
guess ilt it.
tgmm1ssjaner Hirsch: The conceptual Question is? if the voters do not
approve going above the Gann li~it. what happens to funding for t~is
project?
Mr. Thiltgen: Tne contrict W1t" the school district nas stated it as a
condition t~at tnat has to pass fer the ~ontract to be co~tinued. 50 in
essence, it could be that ve might have to say, tnank you very much~ ~ere
is Cubberley back, and give it back to the school district. That is one
option. The et~er option, if that does not pass, is for the council and
the schooi district to sit down and talk about w~ere do they go from
ther~. That may be arj optio". so it is f)ot real cut and dried. One of
the options is that we give it back~
Commi~siDner Hfrscn; J would like tc t~ank Mr~ 5nad9r~ss for providing
the ~u~ry that he passed out. I found it try be extremely helpful in
being able to see in on! place th~ various plans~
C~atrman Marsh; I ~ave s~veral questions for Ms. Harrison. The amount
that you are projecting 1S available, then, over i t~n~year peri~.
Already about tnree years of tkat period have elapsed. Are we looking at
spreading those expenditures Q~er that ten-)ear pertod, or is there any
way that the counCll .ight front the money from another source with the
expectation that it would latir be paid back from returns from the utjTity
tax?
Ms_ Harrfsc~: The available fund balance at the e~d of fiscal year
1989-90 was S367,OOO Tnat is wnat is awailable now to fund Cubberiey.
Giyen the costs of the initial el~ments of the implementation plan,
ccuncil would have the option of using the reserve for capital
improvements tQ~ in effect, advance tn~ money for the Cubberley
improvements. if it chose to do so.
ChaJ rman Marsh: And if they do not do t~at. then presumably, the
follow-up position is that we implement thlS plan, $300,000 at a tjme~
over i long p(riod of tlB!e.
MT. Thiltg€n: Either that. or you ~ait unt11 sufficient money is
developed to be able to do a portien that costs the money you have
iyailable. You can either go piece by piece. or wait until the money
bullds up~
Chairman Mars~: My next Question is about tne amount, because this is the
big news from what we ha~e heard i~ the past. The assumption, when the
current implementation plan was put together. was tnat the fund might be
in the neighborhood of $6-S1 million. How we have heard tonight that a
01/B/91
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mere ~eiltstfc estimate is half of that. [would liKf stiff to give ~s
any feedback that. giVen that new n'Jaber, how you might recDrmtend
~roceed;n9 differently. It looKs like it ~atches pretty well with t~e
code compliance issues that were 1n1tia111 outlined. But would this
iffpct your (undrafsing, and are th~re other issues that we s~ou1d think
about. 91ven the revised figure?
Mr. T~iltgen: Jf you look it tne list on the implementation plan. t~e
seYE.'n or eight items are writte;1 in pricdty order. That;s how we would
~ve down the list. If we only had 53 =i1lion, we ~ou'd just do t~e code
and ~ondition repairs. If we had S4 m~11iDn, tne next step would be to
BOve into the dance~ and if we have soae more money •• e move to the
arti1ts, and just go down the list ~s the mcney bec~s ivailable.
Chairman Harsh; The rest of my questi~n is, how would t~is iffect what
you antfcipate as the fundraising drive? If all of the implementation
plan is not paid fQr~ are we st;11 in i position to go to the public or to
private donors in I WiY we anticipated before?
Nr~ TbiJtgen: Just because th!~e projects are included i~ the ~Projects
Not to be Done" list does not mean t~at if we cannot afford those projects
in the lllP1ementat10n plan tJ\at we cannot look for outside fundlnq. If we
were to find a foundation or sometbing that was willing to fund faciljties
for artists, I wnuld se! no reason why we could not aCCEpt funding for
that. I would look for other options f~r funding all tn, way from the
outset. Obviously ~ do not have enough mo~ey to do the whole packag~,
and if ] can do part of the implementation pla~ with outside funding~ then
J could mo~e that down the list and do some of the projects that were not
listed to be done.
Commissioner Hirsch; What ~s the lease amount per year with the school
district at t~e prese~t time?
Mr. Fellman: Ri9~t now, it is approximately S3.900,000~ But there will
probably be about a 5 percent increase efffctive January 1st "hid the
school district has not initiated yet.
COmmissioner Hirsch: Is there any reason to ~lieve that if ~e could not
pay it. t~at the school district would let us ceep the pro~erty?
lib-•. .n.ll man; No ~
(~airman Marsh: have a Question regarding a safety ana1ysi! of the
bleachers, beci~se that nas been an issue. Another question is. how would
the level of use at Cubberley differ after the i~lementation plan as
compared to its current use? I think that would probably be lfttle~ if
any, but we ne€d to be clear on that.
Mr. T~iltgen: One final co~~nt. When you tall about open space, you
have to remember that when we went through this elfction, we d!alt with a
lot of other open space issues, not just the CubberlfY open space. There
... ere five other sites involved, so in looking at the who.1e open space
issue~ don't think tnat t~is is the only one.
Cha1~a" Harsh: Also, remember there ... as i generil tax.
01/13/91
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~. Thiltgeo: Al~o. orfgfnal1J we were talKing about two different schooi
sHes.
Cha'r«an Harsh: lhat completes the disc~ss;on 00 t~is ite~ tonjght.
Ms. Lytle: (( you would like i writt€n stiff report summarizing PUT
r~.5pOIJS~S to your Questions. we would n~ed go .to Har~h ll.
~: Commissioner Hirsch: I move that we cQntf~ue the item to
" ... "h Ilth.
~, 8y C.-missloner tull.n.
~PASS<S: en,fro.n Karsh: All those In f,vor, s.y Aye? All
opposed? That passes unanf~usly.
* * * End of Excerpt * • *
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• Armlfed...! ..-.!~= ,\\illll'es :: ______ ~C"d~~ ________________________________________ ~~~ __ ~ ____ __
A, !lOLL CALL
Board Members Present:
Sta~f Members Present:
Thursday, March 21, 1991
8,00 A.M.
Council Conference Room
250 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto, California
Marni Barnes
AiDo daRosa
Michael LY2lii3.
JtJ~ia Maser
Shirley Wil!>on
Sob Fia.ley
Nancy Lytle
Virginia Warheit
B , APPROVAl'. OF HlBUTES OF MUlCB 7. 19!U •
.None
C. 0ItAL COI!ihIMICA"nOilS I
Mr. Bob MOss presented to the Boara a proposal for
improvement of tbe design guidelines for El Camino Real
for the ARB's informatioD and reviev.
D, _ I'l'DIS
APPROVALS: The Arcbitectural Review Board (ARB)
decision on the design of the project 1s a
recommendation to the Director of Plan~ing and
Community Environment (the Director), who ~akes
the final ~ec1sion. Unless otherwise staled by the
ARB" or tbe Director. project approvals generally
incorporate Project R~vlev Committee conditions as
recommende~ in the Information Me.oran~ums~
~WQBSI Any change to an approved design plan must
be resubmitted to the City tor approva14 Resubmittal
~andate~ as a result of complying with Public Works/
Engineering or applicable code or ordinance
reqcirements.
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APPK&LS: All major and minor project approvals are
subject to an appeals period, which allows for tbe
applicant or member~ of the public to file an appeal
from the decision of the Director on the project. The
appeal period for major project! (designated with an
asterisk -.-) 1s eleven (11) working days following the
date of the ARB'S recommendation on the prcjectr
The appeal period for ~1nor projects is seven (7}
Yorking days fo11owing the date of the ARB's
recommendation on the project. Appeals of minor site
and design and minor zone changes are subject to
Chapter 18.93, cf the Palo A1to MuniCipal Code.
Planning Staff shOUld be contacted for further
information regarding appeals and appe31 procedures.
ERVI~AL IHPAcr8l A11 ~jor projects not
identified by an EIA number have been determined to be
CategoricallY Exempt from CEQA review. All minor
projects have been determined to be Categorically
Exempt from CEQA reviev.
rIME LXNlT: Project approvalS is valid for one {l}
year £rcm the original date of approval except for
phased projects Eor which a specific development
schedule, not to exceed five (5) j>ears from the
original date of c:pproval, may be approved. The time
upon application, be extended once by the Director
for an additional year.
EIPZRATIOR: In the even the building permit for a
project is not secured vi thin the above specified time
limits, the approval of the project ViII expire and be
of no Eurther force or effect.
Any interested person may appear and be heard on these
items.
AT 8.00 A.II.
1. 4113 EL o
Honey Baked Hams
~pproval of Dew paint color
This item ~as removed from the Cons
c!iscussion ..
9G-AJlB-.27
Calendar for
Applicant vas not present for presentation.
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oard comment was as follows:
.~ .. ~~tated he felt there vere some unre501ved
design prob with this h~11diDg Inclu~ing the stucco
reveals and cove Will,dOYs, and felt they
should be discussed the applicant v~s present,
together with signage an Idlng colors.
The other Board members agree th Mra Lyzva's
comments.
This item yas COIITIJIDBD,. $-0,
development..
II. ItIIGULAJI AG_
1. 4000 JalIDLIIFrJad) IIOAlI •
City of Falo Alto
91-A1lB-27
SC)...D--15
9O-IIIA-54
Kaster Plan for community center use of the Cubberley
High SChool site, including a net increase of 21,490
square feet of building additfons~ added parking. new
poo1 and 1anascaping, relocated tennis courts and
clrcu~at1on changes.
It is notee that Hs. daRosa stepped down for tbls item.
After detailed presentation and discussion publIc
comment Yas as follows:
Ms. Helen Whee~er 362 Diablo Ct. Palo Alto.
Ms. Wheeler stated to the Board that she would 1ike to
see the tennis courts and the turf area around the
tennis courts preserved# fee1ing it continues to
provide recreaticn opportunities for the community.
She would ~ike to see the one-yay street an~ the main
entrance, where the traffic signal is located,
maintained. Sbe feels the one hundred additional
parking spaces viII provide adequate parking and is
not in support of using the playing field as a parking
reserve.
Ms. Wheeler does not want to see any vehiele access
to Nelson Drive.
Ceci~ Lamb 4094 Nelson Drive, Palo Alto. Mr. Lamb
you~a like to see the present location of the basaball
field preserved feeling that the Dev proposed location
will endanger pedestrians and biCYClists that viII be
using the adjacent wa~kway and feels that this proposal
i~ irresponsible planning.
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Hr. ~eD Crl~tenden 342 Parkside DrIve, Palo Alto.
Mr. Crittended stated to the Board that he is very
concerned with the use of 21,000 square feet of
proposed parking on the existing playing field an1
you~d like to see additiona~ parking mini.ized.
He vould like to see one-story height limits on all
new const~uction, track field maintained at its
present location, all existing trees 6aved~ provi6ioo
of at least six eennis courts, the pOlicy of no vehicle
access along Nelson Drive, preservation of chain link
fence along Nelson Drive, provision of rest-reem
facilities and garbage receptacles on playing fields
3nd the requirement of additional bearings for any
fu~ur~ develop~ent or cbanges on tbi~ site, Yhich~
be would like the Planning Commission and Cit! Council
involved in any additional major changes on this site.
Sandy Snodgrass 362 Parkside Drive, P~lo Alto.
Ks. Snodgrass addressed the ARB as a representative
of ·Save cubberley· group and stated to the Board
their basic concern is t~e proposed rese~ve parking
on the p1aying fie1d and stated she YQuld like to see
no introsion on the athletic fields and sees a major
circulation problem 00 the yest side of the site
adjacent to Greendell Elementary School.
Board comment vas as follows:
K3. BARXBS thanked the applicant for addressing a11
questions posed by ~be ARB and vas delighted about
the interest the pUb1ic has taken and the suggestions
offered. Ms. Barnes agrees vith the position Qf the
Planning ~mmission and supports the imple~entat1on
plan oely and vould like to see the perimeter line
a10ng the property line of the Greendell Elementary
kept open to ease traffic and vonlo like to se~ signage
and perhaps speed bumps placed at the corner located
near the tennis courts. Ms. Barnes is concerned lr'ith
the proposed par~ing reserve encroaching on the
athlet.ic field~
MS. ~ shares the comments made by Ms~ Barroes and
feels there is a need for cirCulation between Greendell
SchOOl and this site and is not in support of any
encroachment on the p.laying fi'al~, but 'Woold be in
support. of' t.he \l~e of a monitoring system to ev~ltl.ate
necessary parking needs on this site.
She is s~pportive of the Master Plan and enthusiastic
abQut the prospects for a public/~rivate partnership
for developing the site according~y.
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MS ...... echoes the CQ~~nts of Ms~ Ba~nes and Ms.
Wilson and stated she woula like to maintain the open
spaces as much as possible ~djaceDt to the tennis
courts and voula lixe to see more cirCulation
developed at the playing fields. Ms. Kaser reco~ended
carrying the courtyard concept 1n~o additional areas
of the site.
She recommended ado~tlon ot the full Master Plan,
rather than the I~p2ementation Plan only and would
11~e t¢ see the plan carried further in the design
develQpment.
MR. LTZKa shares the comments made by fellov Board
members ana is In support of a Master Plan, but 1s Dot
in support of this proposal p because be ~eels this
proposal lacks the ~lement of character and a sense
of order. He would like to see better blending with
what Ie existing an~ what 15 being proposed. Mr. Lyz~a
also stated he did not see an element o~ pedestrian
c1rcu~atioc. He also &tated he would like to see
better plannln~ as far as pedestrians and buildings are
concerned and yoUld like to see mere ~etail of hoy the
landscaping v11~ be positioned and is not 1s support of
further encroachment on the playing f!e~d.
Hr. Lyzva sbared tbe comments of Ms. Maser that the
Master Plan be deve~oped farther to address the issues
~nt!oned and provide a more ambitious plan for the
fac1Uty.
The Board APPltOi&D, 4--0, the Implementation Plan and
expresse4 support £cr the concept of a Master Plan, but
~XRUBD, 4-0, tbe Master Plan, ~ith tbe fo11oving
conditions:
1.. Tz:affic circulatia-n to oe resolved, particular1y
in the area adjacent to Greendell School.
2. Any private funding for specific projects on tbe
site eba21 nave a percen~age Eet aside for necessary
general site improveBlents4
3. Furtber development of t,he lofaster Plan for
interfa.ce of ~_hicles, pedestrians. e%1'crgency vehicles
and biCYCles, courtyards, lighting, landscaping and
colors.
4. De1etion of landscaping re6erve for parking and
no further encroachment into playing fields other than
~hat is shown on the Implementation Plan.
5. Any future propos~l& to reqUire ad~itional parking
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beyond that indicated in the Master PlaD~ shall be
referred by the Director of Planning and Community
Environment to the Planning commission tor
recommEndation an~ City Council for final action~ This
condition is intended to prevent landscape def~rral in
the field area, to be converted of a full public
hearing.
6~ A CUbberley Advisory Committee shall be appointed
co~pr16ed of memb&rs of the Green Meadov Community
Association, existing and potentia! tenants of
Cubberley, members o.f the comttl\lnity at large, a member
of the Planning Co~l&sion and Community Services
Department sta£t. This committee shall hold open
pablic meetings to develOp recoMmEcdations for futUre
implementation phases of the Cubberley Master Plan,
prior to any application for the Master Conditional
Use Permit beyond the I~p~ementation Plan defined in
the document. The reco~~ndations of the Cubberley
Advisory Committee and a summary of their process fer
deriving the recommendation vil1 be transmitted to the
Zoning Administrator with any future' applications for
future Conditional Use Permits on the sitea
FINDINGS
1 a The Master Plar: v111 ensure construction a.nd
operation of the use in a manner that yill be orderly.
harmonious, and compatib1e vith the existing or
potentia1 uses of tbe adjoining or nearby sites~ in
that the facility vil1 be improved and maintained for
community center use for cultural and recreational
purposes, a desire expressed in the Comprehensive Plan
and r~affirmed by the neighboring residents during
the Master P1an community out-reach process.
2. The Master Plan viII enscre the desirability of
investment in same adjacent areas, because it will
allow for maintenance and improvement of facilities,
Which you~d otherv~se be unab~e to be properly
maintained and improved 4
3. The Master F~an will ensure that 50cnd pr~ncip~es
of environmenta1 design and ecological balance sha11 be
observed, as documented in the attached environmental
determination.
~. The Kaster Plan ViII ensure that the use will be in
accor~ with the Pa10 Alto Comprehensive P1an.
particularly. Policies 1 and 2 and Programs 1, 2 and 3
of the SchoOls and parks Element •
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