Suzanne - Cupertino Should Purchase Oaks Shopping Center Site

From Suzanne:

Date: Wednesday July 26, 2017

Dear Mayor Vaidhyanathan and Council Members Paul, Sinks, Scharf and Chang;

I respectfully request that the Cupertino City Council deny authorization to KT Urban’s GPA application for The Oaks on August 1. Both of their proposals ignore our General Plan, and would increase the already terrible traffic congestion in this area.

I would like to submit an idea that would be a true enhancement to Cupertino. I respectfully ask our City Council to consider the idea of issuing a Bond for the City to buy the Oaks property and add it to Memorial Park. Something similar was done when the City purchased the property where the Cupertino Sports Club is located. A friend, who lived behind that property at that time, told me a hotel was proposed to be built there. The citizens of Cupertino objected, and the City issued a Bond to build the Sports Center.

I have spoken to many friends and neighbors about having The Oaks become an extension of Memorial Park, and there is much enthusiasm for this idea. Cupertino could use more park and open space, and this is great opportunity to add the 8 acres of The Oaks to make Memorial Park a larger recreation area. The Oaks location would be a good place for an amphitheater for festivals and events, with adequate parking, which is not available near the current amphitheater. There would be space for an Arts and Crafts building, perhaps a small theater, more opportunities for children's activities, and much more. Cupertino could then have a place similar to Sunnyvale's Community Center. The existing Memorial Park could be planted with more trees, walking paths, and shaded areas for people to sit and enjoy the outdoors.

I feel we should keep as much greenery and recreation opportunities as possible in our City. We don't have many parks, and if this land becomes high density, it will never become green again. This idea could be a place for everyone to enjoy, and a star in Cupertino's crown.

Thank you for considering what many of us in Cupertino would like to see in our City – a place of serenity and for community activities instead of more density and traffic problems.