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Greenbelt Alliance In the News

November 10, 2005

Voters choose a sane course against limits on growth

DISPARATE GROUPS HELPED CITY AVOID UNWISE REGULATIONS

Measures A, B and C would have imposed density limits and design standards. Fortunately, a majority of voters saw through what was at heart an anti-housing campaign to limit school enrollment and increase the price of existing homes.

The measure's sponsors say that while their campaign was grass-roots, the well-financed opposition was all from outside Cupertino. But surely Cupertino has residents who belong to the Sierra Club, the League of Women Voters, the Greenbelt Alliance or the League of Conservation Voters. Surely some residents are members of the Chamber of Commerce or a labor union, or work for Apple or HP.

All of these disparate interests and more fought A, B and C. No wonder thoughtful voters paid attention. They understood that the valley needs more housing, if only for children growing up here today, and that companies faced with Cupertino's growth controls would have taken their future investments elsewhere -- most likely to other regions. Many saw these measures as a test of the whole valley's commitment to deal with the housing shortage.

The entire Cupertino city council opposed A, B and C. Now members need to reach out to the substantial minority that voted for the measures. They need to answer legitimate concerns about growth and help residents see how more urban development, rather than strip malls, along major corridors like Stevens Creek and De Anza boulevards can actually improve the city.

They can start by making sure that the development around Vallco is truly pedestrian-friendly, not just more tall buildings next to parking lots.

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