CC 06-04-2018 Exhibit Item No. 1 Study Session Vallco Specific Plan - Written Communications22221 McClellan Road, Cupertino, CA 95014 Phone: (408) 252-3748 * Fax: (408) 252-2850
email: scvas@scvas.org * www.scvas.org
June 1, 2018
Re: Bird-safe Design for Vallco
Dear Mayor Paul and Cupertino Councilmembers,
The Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society engaged in the Vallco Specific Plan charettes in April
and May of this year, where we provided City staff and the design team with example policies
and guidelines for bird-safe design that have been implemented successfully in nearby cities. We
appreciate that the Vallco team has expressed that bird-safe design will be included in the plan,
and we hope you will support this decision.
Birds collide with glass buildings and structures during the day as they attempt to access
resources reflected by or seen through the glass. At night, brightly lit glass buildings lure
migrating birds to their death.
Many neighboring cities recognize bird-collision with glass as an important issue and make an
effort to minimize hazardous construction. The issue is addressed in General and Specific Plans
(San Jose, Palo Alto, Mountain View), in Ordinances and mandatory Guidelines (San Francisco,
Oakland, San Jose, Sunnyvale, Richmond) and in Mitigation Measures for areas near the Bay
(Menlo Park). In our experience, when bird-safe design is adopted as a guiding principal, bird
collission hazards can be greatly reduced.
Please support the integration of bird-safe design policies and guidleines for the Vallco Specific
Plan. We represent many members in Cupertino who care to see that the Vallco Project is
sensitive to nature and wildlife and does not pose as a hazard for migrating birds.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Mackenzie Mossing
Environmental Advocacy Associate
Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society
Santa Clara ValleyAudubon SocietyEstablished 1926
CC 06-04-2018 Item No. 1
From:dicksteinp@aol.com
To:City Council
Subject:Vallco study
Date:Monday, June 04, 2018 11:26:06 AM
To members of the City Council,
You are currently studying the options for Vallco, but all the ones presented by SHP or Opticos call for
heights, densities and general build-up that are well above what a substantial percentage of the
population has indicated as acceptable. Why is there constant reference to a community-based process
when much of the community input has been ignored?
I draw your attention once again, to some history. In 2013/2014 an exercise to update to General Plan
was conducted. The consultants presented a wide range of growth options, ranging from no growth to
very significant growth. The general feeling was level 2, modest growth. In 2016, SHP presented a
humungous plan. It was defeated at the polls. In 2018 Opticos has conducted numerous interviews and
a few polls. There is clearly no groundswell of popular interest in an office park.
SHP’s initiative called for 800 units of housing, so the company must have believed that number would
produce a very high profit. Now, two years later, they present an outrageous plan for 2400 housing units,
almost as much office space as before, and much less retail. How would the same public want that?
Clearly SB-35 is a way of thumbing their nose at and in fact blackmailing the public. Nevertheless, the
Opticos economist claims that some variation of this extremely dense proposal is required for the project
to be profitable? Are we expected to believe this?
How is it that the Oaks developer who previously presented a humongous project, thankfully rejected by
the Council, was able to come back with a project that, while not perfect, is considerably scaled back?
How is it that the EIR consultant was able to consider options of varying densities but the design team
and the economist could not?
By the way, the EIR consultant gave the sweetheart report we have come to expect on many issues
(problems are mitigatable somehow, although the measures might require actions by bodies neither CCC
nor SHP controls). Nevertheless, there were certain areas, e.g., air quality and transportation (especially
congestion on 280), where the impact of Vallco’s office and high density housing proposals were deemed
have “Significant and Unavoidable Impact with Mitigation Incorporated.”
Can the City perhaps conduct another poll, this time limited to residents only? Obviously, there are
various possible points of view: a) some folks (Chamber of Commerce and some Council members,
mainly) who actually want a high density office park; b) residents who do not want an office park or 2400-
3000 housing units but are willing to accept greater or lesser density for the sake of a town center and
amenities; c) those who think town centers and amenities are nice but do not want to pay for them with
high density development (we already have a civic center and a theater at DeAnza College), so blue dots
on some attractive features at the Charrettes should not be taken as approval of any proposals; d) those
who do not care at all about these extras and just want a retail/dining/entertainment center, park land and
a moderate housing allocation. This could be expressed in two broad choices (mixed use including
substantial office and housing allocations, heights and densities as well as amenities) or
(retail/dining/entertainment, park land, town square (but not town center) or special amenities, moderate
level of housing). A comment box could also be included.
In conclusion, any City Council, if it truly represents its constituents, must present options that represent a
range of community views. The commercial real estate/government complex must come to an end.
Sincerely,
Phyllis Dickstein
Cupertino Resident
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From:Grady, David@SCDD
To:Darcy Paul; Rod Sinks; Savita Vaidhyanathan; Barry Chang; Steven Scharf
Subject:Vallco Development
Date:Monday, June 04, 2018 11:14:04 AM
Dear Mayor and Council Members,
In support of Cupertino residents with developmental disability and their families, I am
requesting the City Council set aside 40 Extremely Low Income units with a preference for
people with developmental disabilities when negotiating community benefits with the
developer of the future of the VallCo site.
Adoption of this request assures greater compliance with the citiy's guiding principle within
the Specific Plan process which promotes housing for Cupertino residents of all incomes and
all abilities. Currently the draft Specific Plan proposes 3200 housing units of which 2,560
(80%) would be market-rate and 640 (20%) would be affordable for Low and Very Low
Income residents. Similarly, the Developer's SB 35 application for 2,500 housing units
includes 841 Low-Income units and 360 Very Low-Income units, but no units for Extremely
Low Income people. Although this proposal is very positive in addressing a huge share of the
City's RNHA housing goals, to be fully inclusive of housing for all incomes and all abilities
Extremely Low Income people also need to be included.
As you negotiate community benefits with the developer, whether as part of the Specific Plan
process or as part of the SB 35 application. The State Council on Developmental Disabilities,
Central Coast asks for a more inclusive community and one that truly makes a place for people
of all incomes and all abilities.
Thank you for your consideration,
David Grady, MA
Regional Manager
State Council on Developmental Disability, Central Coast
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From:THF
To:City Council
Subject:Vallco inputs from a disappointed Cupertino resident.
Date:Sunday, June 03, 2018 1:04:49 PM
Should have let the experts do their jobs right from the beginning so Cupertino can have a
world class mall, green roofs and out door spaces for all! This delay in my opinion has already
cost us, those who lives in Cupertino, lost tax dollars, great original design of the project, and
precious time! Our city is going to grow no matter what, let’s benefit from the project’s retail
revenue, job creation, and breath new air into the city! There are no such thing as affordable
housing in the whole bay area, if one wants to look at it this way! Why do we penalize a great
retail space for that? Who wants to live in this retail environment anyway? Young
professionals, and we know they can afford the cost!
Please move this project forward ASAP, some of us would like to see it in our lifetime!
Thanks,
The Hong family in Cupertino
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From:United Cupertino
To:City Council
Subject:FOR VALLCO, IT"S DECISION TIME!
Date:Saturday, June 02, 2018 10:49:54 PM
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If you are interested in what happens at the Vallco site, the TIME IS NOW to make your
voice heard at by either attending the Monday, June 4th Meeting at City Hall from 4pm to
8pm or emailing your comments, desires, and wishes to citycouncil@cupertino.org by
Monday.
What’s happening? There’s a City Council Study Session in which the City Council will
direct City Staff as to the items they want, based on Constituent input, to be included or
not included in the final Plan.
Do you support a City Hall? Do you want a Performing Arts Center? Do you want a
30-Acre Green Roof? Do you want Adult Education Facilities? Do you want an
Innovation Robotics Labs? Do you want more than 15% Affordable Housing?
Now is the LAST opportunity to tell them.
You can find the City Staff Report at this link in which many questions the City Staff will
put to Council for their comment – we’ve excerpted them here for your convenience:
Question 1 – Does the Council have additional comments / direction related to the
recommended heights by Opticos?
Question 2 - Would the City Council consider:
A. reduction of retail from 600,000 to 400,000 as a trade for increased affordable housing
units and/or civic spaces?
B. for the retail component:
i. flexibility in allowed uses such as salons and spas?
ii. flexibility on the 30% entertainment criterion?
C. increase of housing units for a decrease of office to ensure economic feasibility?
D. expanding flexibility in the definition of office to include and allow a certain percentage
of service offices and medical offices?
Question 3 (Open Space):
A. Should the specific plan consider allowing a combination of park land dedication and
in-lieu fees? If so, what combination of on-site space vs in-lieu fees should the Specific
Plan require?
B. Should the specific plan include an increase in the maximum height limits for more than
a base amount of grade level parks?
C. What size and format of parks and open spaces should be required or allowed,
including requirements for public access?
D. What types of roof top parks and open spaces should be expected or allowed,
including public access and bridging of buildings, and those dedicated for private use
only? What percentage may be included as a credit toward the in-lieu fee if applicable?
Question 4 - Which of these community amenities would the City Council wish to direct
staff to prioritize?
Additional Affordable housing
Schools/education space
Business incubator/innovation center
City Hall or other civic space
Performing arts theater
Contributions to mobility/transit choices: such as trails, off-site improvements,
autonomous vehicles, community shuttles
Question 5 - Are there any other program provisions or considerations that the City
Council would like to add?
THIS IS THE LAST TIME when the Council takes comments from their constituents and
expresses what they would like to see at Vallco. Again, send them an email, let them
know what you want to see, DON'T BE SILENT!
We can all be sure that Steven Scharf’s "Better Cupertino" folks will be out in force, but
that’s no matter, their NIMBY agenda is already well known to the City Staff and City
Council. Their minority group calling for nothing has already been discredited and
marginalized. Do not let their bullying tactics cause you to stay silent!
What we need is for the Community to come out in strong support for a plan that includes
the community benefits that we want to see and that delivers on a world-class
development that the City of Cupertino, the very Capital of Innovation, rightly deserves!
Send us your thoughts this weekend - we'll gladly send them along to hold this Council to
do the right thing for our Community.
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From:Kelly Huang
To:Savita Vaidhyanathan
Subject:Cupertino Task Force
Date:Friday, June 01, 2018 12:09:27 AM
Hi Ms. Vaidhyanathan,
How are you?
As the VallCo project moves forward, I am writing on behalf of the Housing Choices
Cupertino Task Force to ask you to negotiate for 40 units of housing to be affordable
to Extremely Low-Income residents with a preference for those with a developmental
disability.
We are Panning and Kelly Huang, the parents of a 20-year-old son, Julian, with
developmental disabilities. We have lived in Cupertino for 28 years, and Julian has a
whole network of formal and informal supports here in Cupertino. His community
connections enrich his life, and we believe that Julian is a valued member of the
Cupertino community. He has been to the schools within the Cupertino school district
as well as the Fremont Union High School district, and now he is in the LYNCs
program at DeAnza College. He has been doing volunteering in the Cupertino library
since 2015 weekly, West Valley Community Services distributing food to homeless
people, Live Oak Senior Center, and Sunny View Senior Center, and many other
community services contributing his time and energy in the city.
As we age and begin to make plans for retirement and no longer house Julian, we
find that there are no real housing solutions for the extremely Low-Incomers (Julian
only receives his SSI currently but lots of volunteering works) here in Cupertino. Our
only resource is to help him apply for wait lists for housing set-asides for people with
developmental disabilities that other communities have created in partnership with
Housing Choices. Because many of those communities have their own "live-work"
preference, we can't be confident that Julian will ever secure an affordable place to
live.
The VallCo project is a huge opportunity for the city to negotiate for some of the 2402
planned units of housing to be affordable to extremely low-income people like Julian,
with a preference for people with developmental disabilities. Our request for 40 units
for this purpose is less than 2% of the total housing that the project will create if the
SB35 application is approved.
As you consider how to ensure that the VallCo project fully reflects the vision and
values of Cupertino, we hope you will include this specific need in the community
benefits you propose.
Sincerely,
Panning and Kelly Huang
10190 Bret Ave. Cupertino
khuang2011@yahoo.com
panninghuang@yahoo.com
408-446-2530
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From:Kelly Huang
To:Steven Scharf
Cc:Panning Huang; Kaili Liau
Subject:Cupertino Task Force
Date:Friday, June 01, 2018 12:08:24 AM
Hi Mr. Scharf,
How are you?
As the VallCo project moves forward, I am writing on behalf of the Housing Choices
Cupertino Task Force to ask you to negotiate for 40 units of housing to be affordable
to Extremely Low-Income residents with a preference for those with a developmental
disability.
We are Panning and Kelly Huang, the parents of a 20-year-old son, Julian, with
developmental disabilities. We have lived in Cupertino for 28 years, and Julian has a
whole network of formal and informal supports here in Cupertino. His community
connections enrich his life, and we believe that Julian is a valued member of the
Cupertino community. He has been to the schools within the Cupertino school district
as well as the Fremont Union High School district, and now he is in the LYNCs
program at DeAnza College. He has been doing volunteering in the Cupertino library
since 2015 weekly, West Valley Community Services distributing food to homeless
people, Live Oak Senior Center, and Sunny View Senior Center, and many other
community services contributing his time and energy in the city.
As we age and begin to make plans for retirement and no longer house Julian, we
find that there are no real housing solutions for the extremely Low-Incomers (Julian
only receives his SSI currently but lots of volunteering works) here in Cupertino. Our
only resource is to help him apply for wait lists for housing set-asides for people with
developmental disabilities that other communities have created in partnership with
Housing Choices. Because many of those communities have their own "live-work"
preference, we can't be confident that Julian will ever secure an affordable place to
live.
The VallCo project is a huge opportunity for the city to negotiate for some of the 2402
planned units of housing to be affordable to extremely low-income people like Julian,
with a preference for people with developmental disabilities. Our request for 40 units
for this purpose is less than 2% of the total housing that the project will create if the
SB35 application is approved.
As you consider how to ensure that the VallCo project fully reflects the vision and
values of Cupertino, we hope you will include this specific need in the community
benefits you propose.
Sincerely,
Panning and Kelly Huang
10190 Bret Ave. Cupertino
khuang2011@yahoo.com
panninghuang@yahoo.com
408-446-2530
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From:Kelly Huang
To:Barry Chang
Cc:Panning Huang; Kaili Liau
Subject:Cupertino Task Force
Date:Friday, June 01, 2018 12:06:59 AM
Hi Mr. Chang,
How are you?
As the VallCo project moves forward, I am writing on behalf of the Housing Choices
Cupertino Task Force to ask you to negotiate for 40 units of housing to be affordable
to Extremely Low-Income residents with a preference for those with a developmental
disability.
We are Panning and Kelly Huang, the parents of a 20-year-old son, Julian, with
developmental disabilities. We have lived in Cupertino for 28 years, and Julian has a
whole network of formal and informal supports here in Cupertino. His community
connections enrich his life, and we believe that Julian is a valued member of the
Cupertino community. He has been to the schools within the Cupertino school district
as well as the Fremont Union High School district, and now he is in the LYNCs
program at DeAnza College. He has been doing volunteering in the Cupertino library
since 2015 weekly, West Valley Community Services distributing food to homeless
people, Live Oak Senior Center, and Sunny View Senior Center, and many other
community services contributing his time and energy in the city.
As we age and begin to make plans for retirement and no longer house Julian, we
find that there are no real housing solutions for the extremely Low-Incomers (Julian
only receives his SSI currently but lots of volunteering works) here in Cupertino. Our
only resource is to help him apply for wait lists for housing set-asides for people with
developmental disabilities that other communities have created in partnership with
Housing Choices. Because many of those communities have their own "live-work"
preference, we can't be confident that Julian will ever secure an affordable place to
live.
The VallCo project is a huge opportunity for the city to negotiate for some of the 2402
planned units of housing to be affordable to extremely low-income people like Julian,
with a preference for people with developmental disabilities. Our request for 40 units
for this purpose is less than 2% of the total housing that the project will create if the
SB35 application is approved.
As you consider how to ensure that the VallCo project fully reflects the vision and
values of Cupertino, we hope you will include this specific need in the community
benefits you propose.
Sincerely,
Panning and Kelly Huang
10190 Bret Ave. Cupertino
khuang2011@yahoo.com
panninghuang@yahoo.com
408-446-2530
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From:Kelly Huang
To:Rod Sinks
Cc:Panning Huang; Kaili Liau
Subject:Cupertino Task Force
Date:Friday, June 01, 2018 12:05:00 AM
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ATT00002.htm
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From:Kelly Huang
To:Darcy Paul
Cc:Panning Huang
Subject:Cupertino Task Force
Date:Friday, June 01, 2018 12:02:05 AM
Hi Mr. Paul,
How are you?
As the VallCo project moves forward, I am writing on behalf of the Housing Choices
Cupertino Task Force to ask you to negotiate for 40 units of housing to be affordable
to Extremely Low-Income residents with a preference for those with a developmental
disability.
We are Panning and Kelly Huang, the parents of a 20-year-old son, Julian, with
developmental disabilities. We have lived in Cupertino for 28 years, and Julian has a
whole network of formal and informal supports here in Cupertino. His community
connections enrich his life, and we believe that Julian is a valued member of the
Cupertino community. He has been to the schools within the Cupertino school district
as well as the Fremont Union High School district, and now he is in the LYNCs
program at DeAnza College. He has been doing volunteering in the Cupertino library
since 2015 weekly, West Valley Community Services distributing food to homeless
people, Live Oak Senior Center, and Sunny View Senior Center, and many other
community services contributing his time and energy in the city.
As we age and begin to make plans for retirement and no longer house Julian, we
find that there are no real housing solutions for the extremely Low-Incomers (Julian
only receives his SSI currently but lots of volunteering works) here in Cupertino. Our
only resource is to help him apply for wait lists for housing set-asides for people with
developmental disabilities that other communities have created in partnership with
Housing Choices. Because many of those communities have their own "live-work"
preference, we can't be confident that Julian will ever secure an affordable place to
live.
The VallCo project is a huge opportunity for the city to negotiate for some of the 2402
planned units of housing to be affordable to extremely low-income people like Julian,
with a preference for people with developmental disabilities. Our request for 40 units
for this purpose is less than 2% of the total housing that the project will create if the
SB35 application is approved.
As you consider how to ensure that the VallCo project fully reflects the vision and
values of Cupertino, we hope you will include this specific need in the community
benefits you propose.
Sincerely,
Panning and Kelly Huang
10190 Bret Ave. Cupertino
khuang2011@yahoo.com
408-446-2530
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From:Kitty Moore
To:City Council; Darcy Paul; Rod Sinks; Barry Chang; Savita Vaidhyanathan; Steven Scharf; City Clerk
Subject:Vallco Specific Plan Study Session Charts
Date:Monday, June 04, 2018 8:05:09 PM
Attachments:SpecificPlanStudySessionParksNoiseJune 4.pdf
Dear City Council and City Clerk,
Please add the attached file with charts shared at City Council's Vallco Specific Plan Study
Session today into the record. I handed copies to the City Clerk this evening.
I also had a question regarding if there would be concessions to an office tenant if they
provide a shuttle system and brought up the question if whether Apple Park got concessions
since they have around a 3,200 parking space deficit and have to pay maybe $15k-$18K per
employee or more for their system? If Apple were to occupy Vallco office space, would it
make any sense to give them concession?
Thank you,
Kitty Moore
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From: ckittymoore@gmail.com
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June 4, 2018
Dear City Council,
Please do not accept park land space on the roof as a substitute for park land acreage for the Vallco Shopping District
Specific Plan.
The plans will result in a minimum of 500 children which is the size of an entire sports league and they will need space
for sports. The sound level and air quality next to the I-280 makes the roof space unacceptable as an alternative,
whereas park space on the ground, protected by buildings may be quieter and better for youth sports.
Additionally, in reading the Draft Environmental Impact Report for Vallco, it does not appear that the housing amounts
derived at in the alternatives are consistent with the General Plan:
DEIR, p. 15 PDF p 51, states in 2.4.2:
“The General Plan, however, controls residential development through an allocation system.
This alternative [General Plan Buildout with Maximum Residential Alternative] assumes that
there are no residential allocation controls in place and development can occur at the maximum
density allowed by the General Plan”.
Source: Vallco Specific Plan DEIR, p 51, http://www.cupertino.org/home/showdocument?id=20887
The city has not mentioned whether the Vallco SB 35 plans are compliant, has pressed on with projects at 3,200
residential units, and the Specific Plan has to be consistent with the General Plan by law, yet it is not.
The proposed project is a moving target and we are tasked with commenting on the Draft Environmental Impact Report.
The City Attorney does not respond to emails.
I have no confidence in this process.
Sincerely,
Kitty Moore
From:Aaron Eckhouse
To:Darcy Paul; Rod Sinks; Savita Vaidhyanathan; Barry Chang; Steven Scharf
Cc:Catarina Kidd; Aarti Shrivastava
Subject:Vallco plan
Date:Monday, June 04, 2018 6:06:59 PM
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