A Cupertino housing development proposed in a high fire risk area is moving forward despite resident concerns about evacuation safety and traffic congestion. The Cupertino City Council on Wednesday voted 4-1 to approve a 51-townhome project on a 2.5-acre site along Linda Vista Drive, where residents say limited evacuation routes could take more than an hour...
Cupertino residents say housing project sits in risky wildfire zone
A controversial housing development in Cupertino is heading toward potential approval, as city officials weigh state housing mandates against resident concerns about wildfire risk and evacuation safety. The Planning Commission in February voted 3-2 to recommend the city move forward with a 51-townhome project on a 2.5-acre site along Linda Vista Drive — to the...
Cupertino to poll residents on potential tax increase
Cupertino officials are asking residents if they’re willing to pay more taxes, as the city faces mounting financial pressures and rising service costs. The City Council on Tuesday directed staff to poll residents on a potential increase to the city’s utility users tax, signaling that as the most likely path toward placing a measure on...
Cupertino council approves unique affordable housing project
A controversial nonprofit housing project in Cupertino that’s been under consideration for about 20 years has the green light to move forward. After a three-hour marathon of presentations and public comment Tuesday, the City Council voted 3-1-1 to narrowly approve a first-of-its-kind housing mix with 40 affordable apartments. Of those, 19 will be set aside...
Cupertino’s sheriff contract hike upends budget
Cupertino is looking at a problematic increase in its contract with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, its public safety arm. The situation could force the city to consider a tax increase or budget cuts. Rather than maintain its own police force, Cupertino has always contracted with the sheriff’s office to provide law enforcement. The...
Cupertino not meeting its housing goals
Cupertino is falling short in its state-mandated housing goals as developers roll out projects with fewer homes than expected. The upshot is Cupertino will have to add more high-density projects — a move not likely to be popular in a community that frequently resists multifamily housing. Like many California cities, Cupertino is caught between state...
Cupertino mayor blocks ally from becoming vice mayor
Kitty Moore, Cupertino’s new mayor, blocked a City Council ally from becoming vice mayor at a recent meeting — even though both belong to the same political faction in the sharply divided city. The five-member council voted in Moore as mayor Dec. 11 and Mayor Liang Chao as vice mayor, though Councilmember R “Ray” Wang...
Cupertino Vallco development reduces its affordable housing
The developer of a massive residential, office and retail development at the former Vallco shopping mall in Cupertino is reducing affordable housing by 60% and office space by 25% to make the project “financially feasible.” Sand Hill Property Company delivered a revised plan to Cupertino’s city manager Nov. 26, the day before Thanksgiving, and the...
Cupertino City Council appoints familiar face as new city manager
The Cupertino City Council has removed the word “interim” from Tina Kapoor’s title and appointed her as city manager. The position has been a high-profile and high-tension job filled by a parade of nine permanent and temporary hires since 2018. Kapoor was deputy city manager in May when her predecessor, Pamela Wu, was placed on...
Cupertino may enter the limelight with TV show
Cupertino is about to join the rarified list of California cities — including Beverly Hills, San Francisco and Santa Barbara — that have given their names to TV shows. “Cupertino” will premiere on CBS in the fall of 2026. The show is billed as a “David vs. Goliath legal drama set in the heart of...