The Cupertino Courier

News

Vallco pulls U-turn, seeks parking garage height extension

By HUGH BIGGAR

It's back like a Halloween ghost, and neighbors are not happy about a possible apparition in their back yards.

After being denied by city council last year, Vallco Fashion Park officials are seeking approval of an extension to its new parking garage.

The source of the neighbors' discontent is a Jan. 17 city council decision capping the building's height at 32 feet and three stories for parking. The decision included a directive not to approve additional height to the structure in the future. Now Vallco is seeking a taller building at the site north of the shopping center's Macy's store.

At the Jan. 17 meeting, more than 30 residents listed their objections to the parking garage exceeding 32 feet. The concerns included potential visual, light and noise impacts on nearby homes.

The council also expressed dissatisfaction with Vallco's piecemeal process.

"I don't want to see you come back a bunch more times," Mayor Richard Lowenthal said at the time.

Even so, Vallco is back, saying a taller building is needed to provide more parking on a fourth level.

And again, neighbors are upset, especially with Vallco's officials' inconsistency. "I'm basically flabbergasted, since the council explicitly told them they could not exceed 32 feet," said resident Steve Scharf. "[Vallco officials] have lied from the beginning," he said, saying Vallco's reasons for not adding a level below ground have since been discounted.

"What part of 32 feet don't they understand?" asked resident Patty Chi. "In January the city council made a very clear decision about the height of the garage."

Vallco authorities say they understand the objections clearly and also held a recent neighborhood meeting on the issue. "We are truly sorry we are bringing this forward," said Vallco's Dan Orleck, at an Oct. 3 city council meeting, "but developing property of this size is complex."

The city council did not make a decision about the parking garage at the Oct. 3 meeting, but is tentatively scheduled to do so Oct. 17 or 18.