Garden Gate residents say yes to city's annexation

Supporters happy they finally can claim Cupertino as theirs

By GEORGE MOORE

A majority vote was needed to pass Measure D, which would annex the Garden Gate community from Santa Clara County into Cupertino. Early election results showed the majority leaning against the measure, but it ultimately passed with almost 55 percent of the vote.

Les Bowers is one of many residents in the community who have worked hard to make annexation a reality. He is part of a group called the Garden Gate Neighbors for Annexation, who had rallied around the issue for more than a year.

"There was great joy in Mudville," Bowers said. "Because it was so close, we weren't certain it was going to pass."

Bowers added proudly, "After 50 years, Garden Gate now has a city hall."

The 107 acres occupied by 359 homes and dubbed the Garden Gate community, was formed long before Cupertino became a city. For the past 30 years, county policy has attempted to direct urban development "pockets" from the county into the surrounding cities. In 1997, the Urban Pockets Program was formed to encourage and assist cities in annexing these pockets.

Colin Jung, senior planner for the city of Cupertino, said he felt confident that a majority of the Garden Gate residents would see and understand the benefits involved with annexation.

"I'm ecstatic," Jung said. "I'm glad to see it successfully completed."

Initial attempts at annexation were made several years ago, Jung said, but elected officials at the time wanted a more comprehensive plan brought before them, instead of it being done piecemeal. The latest push began in January 2001, when city staff began working on the project.

Don Weden, principal planner for the County of Santa Clara, said he is pleased with the outcome.

"It shows continued progress by making local government more efficient in their serving of the community," Weden said. "I'm impressed with the ambitious and successful campaign by some of the residents in the Garden Gate community."

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