Don't Legalize Bribery using Development Management Program (a.k.a. Community Benefits program) by Liang

From: Liang C
Date: Tue, Jun 30, 2015
Subject: Development Management Program is still Community Benefits Program
To: City Council citycouncil@cupertino.org
Although the meeting description does not mention it, the focus of this proposed GPA process concerns different forms of "Community Benefits" program, now renamed "Development Management Program." As long as a development project follows all current zoning codes and the current General Plan, the project does not need any GPA at all. Why not encourage all developers to follow our General Plan and zoning code? An amendment should be granted only under very rare circumstances.
The proposed new GPA process would allow exceptions or variables to the General Plan as a common annual practice. However, General Plan Amendments or variances should not be an annual occurrence. Such exceptions to General Plan should be few and far between; otherwise, the 25-year General Plan would not be able to serve its long-range planning purpose.

The proposed new GPA process sends a message to developers: You are welcome to break the zoning code and violate our approved General Plan as long as you bribe us with attractive Community Benefits. And we open the door once a year to see who gives us the best bribe.

Please don't approve a process that legalizes breaking city codes and violating policies in General Plan with bribes, which are confusingly named Community Benefits or Community Amenities or whatever name used.

Liang-Fang Chao
Cupertino Resident