Ned Britt's letter in the April 28 Cupertino Courier has some inaccuracies, which I believe must be addressed.

The initiatives that Mr. Britt is advocating would prevent Vallco from having a theater in the original location proposed because it is within 500 feet of Stevens Creek Boulevard.

The initiatives eliminate the current right of property owners or any citizen to get a hearing to allow the theaters.

The specific change we made to Vallco's development agreement to allow the theater could not been made if the initiatives were in place. Vallco has told us that under the restrictions of the initiatives, its project could not go forward.

The initiatives will have a dramatically negative effect on business. Property owners will no longer be able to put a retail shop within 35 feet of a public street. None of the kind of shops you see in Los Gatos, Saratoga, or Los Altos will be allowed in Cupertino.

Shops like Gumba's Pizza, Armadillo Willy's, and Quizno's on Stevens Creek Boulevard could no longer be built in Cupertino.

I agree with the goal of the initiative writers, to have reasonable growth in Cupertino, and the council has been working to that end for the last three years.

The trouble is that initiatives themselves have some terrible, devastating side effects, some of which are difficult to foresee. That is why planning by initiative and removing the right of people to have a hearing is a very poor way to manage our city.

Richard Lowenthal

Cupertino City Councilman

Task force didn't discuss, study important factors

I am responding to recent articles and letters about the General Plan. I participated in the General Plan Task Force and found it a very good experience, but we ran out of time. Due to the time constraint, the Majority Report is lacking some important information.

The task force members decided to eliminate pedestrian elements in favor of more traffic volume or level of service on Stevens Creek and De Anza boulevards.

The task force made this decision without seeing or discussing the high incidence of pedestrian accidents along Stevens Creek Boulevard, the numbers of school children, wheelchairs and seniors who cross these boulevards daily, or the increased pedestrian traffic due to Collins Middle School opening in 2005. These pedestrian issues must be factored into the General Plan.

The task force also tied growth to overcrowding of our schools without much evidence or discussion.

From 1970 to 1985, the local population doubled in size and building heights and densities increased, yet CUSD enrollment went down from 23,177 students to 10,301 students.

The task force did not see or discuss these numbers. Our growth since 1985 and today's enrollment of 16,011 students were not discussed.

Student enrollment is a hot button, and we need to understand how it relates to growth.

City council is using the Majority Report as a starting place. Pedestrian elements and growth must be reviewed again.

I am hopeful that additional facts with thoughtful discussions will create a General Plan that will serve us all well.

David Greenstein

Cupertino

Replacing the city street signs is waste of money

I read with interest the article in your April 28 edition concerning the continuing budget woes of Cupertino. While I have the utmost respect for Carol Atwood, the director of administrative services, I have a suggestion worthy of her further perusal to reduce or postpone expenditures.

City street signs currently are being replaced at intersections throughout west Cupertino. It's laudable they have slightly larger lettering and are in the English language, but the difference between the old and new signs is minimal. They appear to be a wasteful endeavor at this time.

Ms. Atwood might reconsider whether the expenditures for these replacement signs and their installation labor are necessary during the current budget crisis. Last year, the public works department spent a bundle to install new, and totally unnecessary, yield signs at three intersections near Regnart School. That boondoggle, frequently involving two to six city employees, spanned a longer period than U.S. forces needed to invade Iraq and occupy Baghdad.

Gordon Frolich

Cupertino

Cupertino must encourage a diverse housing stock

On behalf of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, I would like to respond to a recent letter from Bob Garten, which claims that renting in Cupertino provides residents with greater benefits than owning a home.

Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, homeownership provides boundless benefits over renting. From tax benefits to building equity, homeownership is the single greatest way for families to create wealth for their future and build a commitment to the community.

The demand for housing in Cupertino continues to outpace supply. In spite of the job losses of recent years, demand for housing has continued. Today's market, with low inventory and high demand, demonstrates that buying a home in Cupertino remains a wise investment.

Recent reports have indicated that Silicon Valley is beginning to recover and that job growth has finally begun. This will continue to increase the demand for housing of all types.

It is important to recognize that Cupertino must make every effort to provide housing opportunities for all residents. Housing options at a variety of densities is required to ensure an adequate housing supply for current and future Cupertino residents. From first-time homebuyers to empty nesters, Cupertino must encourage the creation of a diverse housing stock to ensure that all Cupertino residents have an opportunity to benefit from homeownership.

Mark Burns

District Chairman,

Cupertino/Sunnyvale

Silicon Valley Association of Realtors