A.  Three petitions to put the three measures on the ballot were filed with the City of Cupertino on March 4, 2004.  These meaures set the height, density, and setback standards for the growth of our city.  Residential buildings up to and including fourplexes are excluded.  The measures include exceptions for the Vallco Park Planning District so that it can develop into a prosperous destination mall and increase retail tax revenue to the city.  The measures encourage development of the Wolfe Road Commercial Corridor bounded by Stevens Creek and Highway 280.  This will promote retail development at Vallco including a theater complex, restaurants and shops along Wolfe Road.

It is important to understand that the measures do not restrict development of any kind in Cupertino if a simple majority of the voters approve.  Development projects that exceed the standards of the measures would be subject to a vote of the citizens.  As a result developers would have to spend more time educating and promoting projects with the citizens rather than focusing on city officials and seeking a 3-2 favorable vote at the City Council.

The entire text of the measure may be found on this website at www.cupertino.cc.  Click on Sensible Growth Initiatives.

A.  The measures, once passed, will set building height, density and setback standards for the future growth of Cupertino.  They will amend the General Plan and will supersede any provision or ordinance in effect now or any adopted in the future.  Current and future City Councils will be required to follow the standards.  The voters of Cupertino may repeal or alter the amendment in an election.

A.  The measures, when passed, will set reasonable and acceptable standards for the future growth of Cupertino, standards that are commensurate with the current suburban nature of our city.  They will slow the growth of high rise, high density, up-against-the-street housing and mixed use developments that will urbanize the city if allowed to continue.  Examples of the type of construction that is urbanizing our city include the Montebello Condos and the Cypress Hotel at the corner of Stevens Creek and Sunnyvale-Saratoga Road

It is important to note, however, that developments of any kind can be constructed as long as the voters of Cupertino approve.  Developers will, of necessity, have to educate and inform the citizens in seeking project approval.  The initiatives, when passed, will place the future development and environment of Cupertino in the hands of its citizens rather than a few city officials.

A.  There are several reasons.  First, many citizens are upset by the types of developments that have been approved by the city officials often over the strenuous objections of the citizens.  Second, developments are approved without sufficient input and comment from citizens because they are not properly informed.  Third, and most important, many citizens participated in the General Plan Development Task Force in 2003 and were frustrated by the entire process.  It seemed to many citizens city officials attempted to orchestrate the outcome in favor of developers.  The Task Force produced a report which opposed rapid development of high rise, high density projects and, overwhelmingly, favored maintaining and increasing retail space in the city.  Following the majority report of the task force, a minority report was developed championed by developers and housing advocacy groups.  The city officials are giving consideration to the minority report which has angered many of the members of the task force.  After these experiences in which it appeared that city officials were pushing their own agenda, the Concerned Citizens of Cupertino formed a separate committee, SAVE OUR CITY committee,  to place the measures on the ballot. The objective was to set high standards for the future growth of our city and to  allow its  citizens to shape that future.

A.  That's an excellent question that many of us have asked many times.  Some City Council members often state that they must represent all the citizens of Cupertino and must do what is best for the City.  If this is the case, then the measures should have been  adopted into law by the City Council immediately because they provide for the best representation of the citizens will through the citizens  vote on projects that exceed the standards set forth.

A.  We welcome all citizens in this effort to keep the future of our city in our hands.  If you can help please contact us through our website at www.cupertino.cc and indicate how you would like to participate. 

 

A.  Housing development actually costs the city because of the increased costs of services to support the housing.  Real estate taxes do not return sufficient revenue to the city to cover the cost of such services and the increased costs to the schools.   The primary revenue source to the city is retail taxes and, unfortunately, the city has been building more housing at the expense of retail in recent years.

A.  Cupertino has a reputation as a developer friendly city unlike some surrounding cities like Saratoga which places its citizens concerns first.  We would like Cupertino to be developer friendly but for developers to have to convince our citizens of the merits of proposed projects rather than a few city officials.  We would like to have as much information as possible on a development before it is built.  This is what the measures will accomplish.