In a move reportedly intended to preempt recent legislation signed by Governor Brown, two Cupertino City Council members have suggested changing the City’s General Plan to eliminate all residential uses on the site of the 50+ acre Vallco mall.
The subject of two competing ballot measures in 2016 (which both failed to get the necessary votes), the Vallco mall is now largely empty and awaiting redevelopment. In October, Sand Hill Property Company notified the City of its interest in moving forward with a community process to obtain input from residents on the design and composition of the development. Specifically, the developer asked the City to “initiate a process of developing a Specific Plan, along with an EIR, that evaluates” alternatives that could increase residential uses and decrease non-residential uses that are included in the current General Plan.
With closed session meetings, along with efforts to make changes to the General Plan, planned before to the end of the year, the Council is violating the promises it made to engage the community as the project moves forward. This promise is spelled out clearly on the Cupertino website, which says that “the City expects to hold multiple public meetings and invite public input throughout the process.”
Join us at the City Council study session to speak out.
View the action alert from United Cupertino
Read SV@Home’s letter to the City Council