"We did our job and alerted people about the issues," said Dennis Whittaker, a member of the Concerned Citizens of Cupertino, which placed the measures on the ballot.

"We're pleased that what we did made a difference," CCC member Ned Britt said. "I think the council recognized they were out of step with many voters."

The CCC formed in response to the construction of the Cali Mill Plaza and what some felt was a lack of communication from Cupertino's City Council. In response, the group drafted the three ballot measures that would have restricted building height, density and distance from the curb except in an area around Vallco Fashion Park. Voters would have decided exceptions to these restrictions.

As a result, the measures sparked a regional debate about growth in Cupertino and the Santa Clara Valley. The CCC said the measures would protect Cupertino's suburban character and schools as well as reduce traffic. Opponents of the measures feared they could lead to sprawl and limit affordable housing opportunities.

The votes were close. Fifty-three percent of the voters decided against the measure restricting building density. Overall, nearly 6,000 people voted in favor of each of the measures.

This turnout, after a lengthy discussion in the community on the growth issues, has apparently gotten the attention of city council members.

"We have been asked [by city council] to come up with policy changes in line with our objectives," said Britt. "We are going to advise them, but in what form has yet to be determined."

"With over forty percent of the voters voting for the measures, we cannot totally ignore them," Mayor Patrick Kwok said. "We'll have to get [the CCC} involved in a committee of some kind."

Until that happens, the city said it does not expect a surge in applications from developers.

"It's hard to say because the [commercial real estate] market is hot right now, but I don't think there will be that much change," said Steve Piasecki, Cupertino's director of community development. "Most developers got their projects in ahead of the election."