I have been reading comments from our city councilman, Richard Lowenthal, that, "what we need the most is a significant process so that when a project like Verona is considered; the council hears all points of view. If that was in place in 1999, the council would have heard just how much concern there was about the height and scale of that project, and it would have undoubtedly been scaled back."

I would like to bring to his attention that I spoke before the city council regarding this project. I had carefully reviewed the master plan and was able to point out all of the variances that the city was allowing on height and size. I was representing many people who were very concerned about the project. I spoke before the council, but I was definitely not heard. The developers were present and had no trouble being heard!

I have participated in the large General Plan Task Force study days and have come to the conclusion that those "in charge" hear what they want to hear and do what they want to do.

The people of Cupertino are circulating petitions because the city

council does not seem to be listening to them. This is a sad commentary.

It is time that we all worked together for the good of the community and not the developers.

Madeleine Kasof

Cupertino

Lowenthal gets more than his fair share of space

Have you put Richard Lowenthal on your payroll?

As a city councilmember, he has a forum at every council meeting. As a news maker, he can get his thoughts across in news stories—hopefully with some tough questioning and comments from those who disagree with him.

To repeatedly allow Lowenthal to voice his views, without any dissent, in the opinion section of The Cupertino Courier, is unprofessional.

Would the Courier give one of us "regular citizens" as much newspaper space as it has to Lowenthal?

I doubt it.

M. Conens

Cupertino

We make an effort to balance the commentary on this page and agreed to publish Councilman Richard Lowenthal's opinion piece because of the overwhelming number of letters we've published in support of the initiatives.

—Editor

Before building projects, more drawings, feng shui

Some years ago, when the old grain mill at the corner of Stevens Creek and De Anza was eventually replaced by modern office towers, I was impressed by the aesthetically pleasing architectural design. The design featured adjacent buildings symmetrically centered on connecting crosswalks behind a well manicured lawn.

It was an impressive landmark in the heart of the city of Cupertino. I can't now recall exactly when I realized that I could no longer clearly see the office towers, but I do remember wondering how the current conglomeration of buildings occurred.

Maybe the city council and planning department were provided with a single perspective of an artistic rendering of the building additions and didn't realize that anyone driving by would have a one-second window of opportunity to glance over and actually see that particular view.

I'm afraid that it's going to take more than a feng shui expert to restore any sense of balance and harmony to this corner.

The reality of limited space and housing needs require the use of in-fill housing, but any additions should be complementary to existing structures and not detract from the appearance of the city. This is particularly important if the city council expects public acceptance of city growth.

I suspect that a proposed citizens initiative on building codes was inspired by the crowded and unsightly overbuilding at the corner of Stevens Creek and DeAnza. I don't know if the recommendations in the initiative are the best solutions, but the city should realize that the existing codes that allowed for the overbuilding obviously need some modification.

I hope the city can compromise and come up with some code improvements without resorting to litigation or sending us all to Sacramento for building permits for failure to follow state central planning.

And it might not be a bad idea to get a few more representative drawings and perhaps a little feng shui advise before actually building new projects.

Ann Shirkey

Cupertino

Wiser if council members don't write op-ed letters

I read with interest the letters from Messrs. Nagel and Holland, in the May 19 edition of The Cupertino Courier, to critique earlier comments by Councilman Lowenthal.

I cannot help but wonder if Mr. Lowenthal yet has learned the sagacity of most of his city council predecessors not to engage in local political debates in the letters column.

Give it up, Lowenthal, you cannot win. Follow the lead of earlier (and much wiser) council members—there's no need to feed your assassins!

Gordon Frolich

Cupertino

City gives more weight to developers than residents

Mr. Lowenthal was correct when he said his opinion piece in the May 26 The Cupertino Courier that the CCC members care about the city.

The goal of the CCC is to communicate the citizen's concerns for maintaining our small town character and preventing the city from overdevelopment.

Every project that comes before the city council is either too dense, too high, or too close to the street (or all three) and is not in keeping with the character of the city.

There are tremendous pressures from developers and county and state agencies to increase densities which conflict with the citizens' desires.

It is our feeling that the city council gives more weight to these pressures than to its own citizens. Consequently, the council frequently amends the General Plan to accommodate these pressures. It only takes 3 of the 5 council members to amend the General Plan and that does not provide adequate protection to the residents of Cupertino.

We need to make Cupertino more pleasant and quaint not overly high or overly dense!

LeAnne Cooley

Cupertino