The Cupertino Courier

Letters & Opinions

Speak Out

Creek plan isn't what
residents voted for

The city of Cupertino plans to embark on a costly $12 million "improvement" project at what is widely known as Blackberry Farm, McClellan Ranch Nature Preserve and the Stocklmeir property. The city website currently calls this the Stevens Creek Restoration Plan, but don't be fooled--it entails a whole lot more than creek restoration.

Do you realize that you, as a Cupertino resident or business, are paying a monthly 2.4 percent utility tax to buy Blackberry Farm as open space? In 1990, forward-thinking residents fought for and passed Measure T to buy the land as open space for Cupertino residents. That is what we voted for, and that is what we should be getting. But, sadly, that isn't what our city government is giving us.

The development the city plans to do is far too much in far too tiny and fragile an area.

The city plans to physically move a portion of the Stevens Creek stream channel and build an 8-foot-wide, paved, two-lane bike path through all three properties, including McClellan Ranch, whose master plan specifically precludes anything but a beaten earth footpath.

The city also plans a significant investment in upgrading its event facilities at Blackberry Farm, which are to be used a mere 100 days per year mostly by non-residents who come to party with alcohol. Why invest in upgrading facilities that will only be used for a few short years until the Blackberry Farm property officially becomes open space? This is completely incompatible with open space and restoration.

The real travesty in the city's current plan is that 187 fine, mature trees , including oak trees, will be chopped down. Trees take a very long time to grow and many, many years to replace.

Why put in a disruptive bike path, which is completely incompatible with both open space and the McClellan Ranch master plan?

Even the environmental planner and most, if not all, of the other specialists on this project (who were paid by the city), make no bones about this project being a compromise every step of the way.

What can be done? If you have lots of money, you can litigate. The other option is to get more people to tell the city to "give us what we voted for."

I'm turning to you, as Cupertino citizens, to participate in making this public property a real model of urban open space that provides a quiet, restful place for people and creatures alike. Please make your thoughts known to the Cupertino City Council by telephone and e-mail and join CupertinoPark-subscribe@yahoo
groups.com for more information.

Gail Bower

Cupertino