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Measure D lays annexation on the line
By George Moore
Proponents of Measure D have a lot riding on the Nov. 6 election. If passed, the measure would annex the Garden Gate community into the city of Cupertino. If the area is not annexed, the county will hold public hearings on an ordinance that would reduce the allowable size of new homes. The county is slated to vote on the new ordinance at a Dec. 4 meeting.
Don Weden, the principal planner for the county, said there is a perception by some that the county's development standards were not as stringent as Cupertino's, and it was a disincentive for annexation.
"We wanted to eliminate that disincentive and encourage people to annex," Weden said. "If our development standards are a reason for people to want to stay with the county, we want to change them so it is a non-issue."
If the area is not annexed, the county will hold public hearings on the ordinance that would reduce the allowable size of new homes. Weden could not say whether the board of supervisors will adopt it, but said he thinks there is a high probability that it would.
The Floor Area Ratio (FAR) under county standards would drop from 45 to 35 percent for both one- and two-story homes. This would mean the maximum size of a home built on a 10,000-square-foot lot would be reduced from 4,500 to 3,500 square feet. Cupertino standards allow a 45 percent FAR for one-story homes, a 35 percent FAR without design approval for two-story homes, and a 45 percent FAR with design approval. So under Cupertino standards (with design approval) larger homes can be built.
Colin Jung, senior planner for the city of Cupertino, said the county came up with the 35 percent FAR because it does not want to perform design reviews.
"The question remains whether the county is serious about doing that or not," Jung said.
But Jung said he thinks the county supervisors are committed to the program of reducing the number of pockets, because it is inefficient for the county to serve so few people scattered over such a large area.
Those in favor of annexation say it would create a more accessible and responsive local government, better neighborhood services and no increase in property taxes. Those against annexation claim it would not guarantee better services or major benefits or noticeable improvements in the annexed Rancho Rinconada neighborhood; that less government equals fewer restrictions; and it would create additional fees, including a utility-user's tax, a business license fee and a storm drainage service fee. Voters can review rebuttals to arguments for and against Measure D at http://www.cupertino.org.
Residents with questions concerning annexation can contact Colin Jung at 408.777.3257 or Don Weden at 408.299.2521, ext. 234.
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Cupertino, California Since 1947
