NOTE:
BetterCupertino is the grassroots citizens' group that submitted
Cupertino Citizens' Sensible Growth Initiative. The Cupertino Citizens'
for Sensible Zoning Action Committee is a committee under
BetterCupertino.
Cupertino Voters Deserve a True and Impartial Ballot Question, Not Influenced by Profit-Driven Developers
Topics: (scroll down for details)
>> Donate to CCSG Initiative for Justice. 48-hour Fund Drive for Legal Fund. End 6pm Wednesday June 22.
>> Writ of Mandate Filed to Remove Deceptive Ballot Language Inserted under the influence of developers and their lobbyists.
>> Oaks Initiative Will Aim for Special Election, to be Paid by Taxpayers.
>> Take the City's Survey on Parks, Open Space and Recreations Master Plan by July 15.
>> Projects to be Approved: Marina Plaza and Hamptons.
>> Projects Under Construction: Hyatt House Hotel, Main Street and Apple Campus 2.
>> Writ of Mandate Filed to Remove Deceptive Ballot Language Inserted under the influence of developers and their lobbyists.
>> Oaks Initiative Will Aim for Special Election, to be Paid by Taxpayers.
>> Take the City's Survey on Parks, Open Space and Recreations Master Plan by July 15.
>> Projects to be Approved: Marina Plaza and Hamptons.
>> Projects Under Construction: Hyatt House Hotel, Main Street and Apple Campus 2.
Grassroots Citizens Unite. Donate to CCSG Initiative to Save Cupertino from Uncontrolled Growth.
>> Donate to CCSG Initiative for Justice. 48-hour Fund Drive for Legal Fund.
Two generous anonymous donors have stepped up to match any donation of over $150 for up to $4,000 within a 48-hour period to help reach the target of $50,000 Legal Fund. The clock will start running from Monday June 20 at 6pm to Wednesday June 22 at 6pm. The recommended donation per household is $200. The price of two family meals to help compel the City Council to comply with Election Code to provide the voters "true and impartial" ballot question, "not likely to prejudice" voters.
Without a fair vote for CCSG Initiative in November election, Cupertino will be put back on the path of hypergrowth, where three votes of the City Council can approve ultra-high density projects like Sand Hill's massive office park at Vallco. Even if the voters refuse the Vallco Initiative at the ballot, the City Council can still approve a slightly reduced version, despite of strong opposition.
>> Writ of Mandate Filed to Remove Deceptive Ballot Language Inserted under the influence of developers and their lobbyists.
The
CCSG Initiative gives the voters a choice between hypergrowth, favored
by the City Council with heavy influence by developers, and sensible
growth, where new projects follow a long-term plan. But, the CCSG Initiative is in grave danger because the City Council, under pressure by developers (by a bare 3-2 margin), adopted deceptive language for the November ballot question, based on false interpretation of the initiative and Cupertino's General Plan. CCSG Initiative maintains existing building heights in all areas, including Neighborhoods (30 feet). But the ballot question falsely states that CCSG Initiative will increase building heights in the Neighborhoods to 45 feet, as requested by attorneys representing Sand Hill. Keep in mind that most voters will only read the ballot question, and will use it to decide whether to vote for or against the CCSG Initiative. That’s how critical the ballot question is.
On Monday June 13th the CCSG Initiative Committee filed a Writ of Mandate at the Santa Clara County courthouse to order the City to correct its ballot label. The lawsuit is expected to cost about $50,000. The CCSG Initiative has put in $15,000 and we need your help for the remaining fund. This is the time for grassroots citizens to band together and pitch in to protect our city and to assert justice for the citizens. Lack of action or involvement today will result in higher living expenses with worsen quality of life under unplanned developer-driven hypergrowth.
Cupertino Voters Deserve a True and Impartial Ballot Question of CCSG Initiative in order to exercise their rights of democracy.
- Donate online or by check (preferred method) at http://tiny.cc/ccsgi-donate
- Statement on Nature of the Lawsuit by CCSGI
- Related Blog Posts:
>> Oaks Initiative Will Aim for Special Election, to be Paid by Taxpayers.
KT
Urban, the developer behind the Initiative to redevelop Oaks Shopping
Center into high density mixed use project, has announced that the Oaks
Initiative won't be put in November election. KT Urban will continue to
collect signatures to aim for a special election costing about
$500,000-$1,000,000, to be paid by the taxpayers. Every signature to
"just put it on the ballot" is a signature to agree to fund an election
for the developer's project while skipping a developer-paid
environmental impact review.
>> Take the City's Survey on Parks, Open Space and Recreations Master Plan by July 15.
The Master Plan is a long-term plan (till year 2040) to implement policies adopted in Dec. 2014. BetterCupertino recommends the following:
- Request ground-level parkland for large development, preferably onsite of the development project.
- Request that the priority be put in purchasing more parkland in areas with insufficient parks or access to parks, instead of allowing developers to pay for parkland mitigation.
- Request that the existing parkland is preserved in size and not get reduced for other purposes like parking.
- No rooftop park should be counted towards parkland requirement.
- Large development projects should provide parkland instead of parkland mitigation fee.
- Parkland mitigation fees from development projects should be applied to the area impacted most by the projects.
- Consider 1.5% annual population growth per year when all projects follow the General Plan. Cupertino will face almost 40% increase in population in 25 years. What's needed in the park master plan to cope with that population growth? If massive development projects like Vallco and Oaks get approved, how could the park master plan cope with the accelerat
>> Projects to be Approved: Marina Plaza and Hamptons
- Marina Plaza at the northwest corner of De Anza and Stevens Creek - June 28 at Planning Commission. July 5 at City Council Meeting. Replace 44,000 square feet of retail space by 23,000 square feet of retail space, 122 room hotel,188 residential units, including 16 below market rate units. 45 feet tall.
- Hamptons Project at the northeast corner of Wolfe and 280 - May 10 at Planning Commission. June 6 at City Council Meeting. Replace 342 apartments by 942 apartments at 75 feet tall. ZERO affordable housing.
>> Projects Under Construction: Hyatt House Hotel, Main Street, Apple Campus 2.
- Hyatt House (KCR) Hotel: Already approved. 148 room, 5 story hotel. A full service 2,500 square-foot restaurant, 2,160 square-foot meeting room, and 320 square-foot boardroom.
- Main Street: Under construction. 120-unit market rate apartment. ZERO affordable housing. 180 room hotel. 295,000 square feet of office space (but only 260,000 allocated). 1.55 acre town square and park.
- Apple Campus 2: Under construction. 175 acre area. 2.8 million square feet of office space. A 1,000 seat auditorium, research facility of 600,000 square feet, fitness center and central plant.
>> Latest Blogs:
Home Page: BetterCupertino.org and CCSensibleGrowth.org
Paid
for by Committee supporting Cupertino Citizens' Sensible Growth
Initiative, PO Box 1132, Cupertino, CA 95015, FPPC# 1381645.Stand Together for a Better Cupertino. Protect Our Quality of Life. We Live Here.
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