Muni - OAKs aka Westport Project GPA

From: Muni
Date: Wed, Jul 26, 2017 at 3:51 PM
Subject: OAKs aka Westport Project GPA.
To: City Council <citycouncil@cupertino.org>

Dear Mayor and City Council,

As a vested resident of this city and community with desire to spend rest of my life here, I respectfully request that you vote against OAKs/Westport project GPA request on August 1st. 

I am in favor of approving the other 2 GPA requests as they both are requesting Hotel allocations within the city and they are not trying to trample over our GP on heights and density. It makes sense to accommodate business visitors to Cupertino offices within the city and gain tax revenues.

On the other hand, OAKs/Westport developer is playing hardball with our city and we should not be caving in for their hardball tactics. Here are the reasons why their GPA request should be denied.

1. Their Plan 2 is almost identical to the plan you voted down in 2016 with 4-1 verdict against it.

2. Their Plan 1 adds too many residences to an area that is already congested; moreover, these kids will go into Garden Gate elementary that has 50% classrooms as portables.

3. Adding any office allocation there further aggravates housing balance in Cupertino. We need to stop this vicious cycle of imbalance as we are maxed out on what Cupertino can take.

4. Traffic at that exit is at dangerous levels. There is no alternate public transport option.

5. The developer could not get enough signatures to put their request on ballot measure.

If they are honest about developing that property, they need to bring forward a plan that is within GP; not exceed 45 feet heigh limit, meet setback requirements and not exceed 200 housing units allowable within current GP. If they refuse to honor the GP and Muni code, then you should show your power by voting down their request. This is not a game of chicken to see who blinks first; this is about future of our city; we could be causing irreparable damage to our city by approving their request. 

Alternately, you could consider buying out OAKs property and put it to city use like we did 30 years ago with Cupertino Sports Center property. That would be a perfect solution given that it is located right next to Cupertino Sports Center, Memorial Park and Cupertino Senior Center.

The fact that the developer could not get signatures to support their project shows where residents stand on this project. You are representing the residents who elected you; I hope you listen to the voices of residents. I would hate to see this become another Vallco like contentious issue. I believe Cupertino history is filled with residents standing up for what they believe in and defeating any incursions through referendums. I would hate to see city resources wasted on such efforts.

Please listen to your audience and serve them in good faith.

Thanks

Muni 

Cupertino Resident.