The Cupertino Courier

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Referendums rejected by voters; No condos at H-P site, Vallco

By Hugh Biggar

Tolls Brothers billboards say the residential developer is the ultimate upgrade. Cupertino voters disagreed Nov. 7, rejecting a measure on the ballot allowing for a Toll Brothers project at Stevens Creek Boulevard and Finch Avenue.

Cupertino voters also rejected another growth measure on the Nov. 7 ballot, voting against a proposed condominium project at Vallco Fashion Park.

"ItÕs good news for everyone," said resident Patty Chi, a member of Cupertino Against Rezoning, which campaigned against the Vallco measure. "We hopes this the city will now listen to residents." "Clearly people want to slow down housing growth," said Mayor Richard Lowenthal, who supported both projects. "It puts a chill on housing development in the city, but itÕs not a disaster for Cupertino," he said. "Cupertino is in pretty good shape [economically]."

If passed, the Toll Brothers project, Measure E, would have rezoned 32 acres from industrial to residential land. The rezoning would have allowed for a mixed-use commercial and residential development on former Hewlett-Packard property (Hewlett-Packard contributed significantly to the Yes on E campaign). Eighty of the 300 condominiums would have been for low-income seniors. With the Vallco measure, Measure D, voters also rejected rezoning 5 acres to allow for 137 condominiums abutting Highway 280. Vallco officials considered the condominiums a key part of revitalization plans for the mall.

Both projects sparked considerable community resistance, especially after CupertinoÕs city council approved them. After their approval, frustrated residents gathered the needed signatures last spring to place the referendums on the ballot. Residents had concerns about possible impacts on school enrollment, infrastructure and traffic. With nine residential projects approved or in development in Cupertino, residents also had concerns about Cupertino becoming ÔCondotino.Õ

Proponents of the projects, including the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce and the Sierra Club, countered that they represented sensible land use, or smart growth, and provided more housing for workers.

With their defeats, Measure E by a 63 percent (8,087 votes) to a 34 percent (4,676 votes) margin, Measure D by a 65 percent (8,362 votes) to a 34 percent (4,493 votes) margin, both sites now cannot be considered for similar rezoning for a year.