Subject: Protect Public Safety and Environmental Integrity by Securing City-Owned Land Near Crescent Ct, Crescent Road, and Stevens Creek Blvd

We live near the City-owned parcel at Crescent Ct (APN 326‑17‑004), and we are deeply concerned about the growing safety and environmental threats stemming from unauthorized access and unregulated activity. This land is steep, unstable, and hidden from public view—conditions that make it dangerous for pedestrians and attractive for illicit behavior.

A special interest group has dug trails into this hillside without City permits, environmental review, or public oversight. These unauthorized actions have worsened erosion, triggered landslides, and opened hazardous access points into our creekside neighborhood.

 
⚠️ Violations of Cupertino’s Creekside Standards and Riparian Zone Protections
This parcel lies within a designated Riparian Zone, which is subject to strict environmental protections under Cupertino Municipal Code Title 17. Development or disturbance in these areas requires:

Biological assessments
Hydrological and soil engineering studies
Creek bank setbacks
Erosion control and stormwater management plans
None of these were conducted prior to the trail construction. The unauthorized digging violates multiple sections of the municipal code and undermines the ecological integrity of the riparian corridor.

 
⚠️ FEMA Flood Zone and Liquefaction Risk
The parcel is located in a FEMA-designated flood zone and contains liquefiable soils—conditions that significantly increase the risk of ground failure during storms or seismic events. These hazards are well-documented in regional planning studies and require careful geotechnical evaluation before any land disturbance.

The unauthorized trails have destabilized the slope, increased runoff, and worsened erosion. During heavy rains, the area becomes a muddy, unstable hazard zone, threatening nearby homes and the creek ecosystem.

 
⚠️ Ignored Feasibility and Safety Studies
Previous studies by Cupertino and Sunnyvale have rejected similar creekside trail proposals due to:

Liquefaction risk
Landslide potential
Prohibitive mitigation costs
The conditions on this parcel match those high-risk profiles, yet no formal review was conducted before the trails were carved.

 
⚠️ Lack of Required Review and Public Process
All trail development near a creek must include:

Site-specific environmental review
Planning Commission or City Council approval
Public comment period
Compliance with CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act)
None of these steps were followed. The trail was created without authorization and has already triggered slope instability and environmental degradation.

 
🚨 Public Safety Threats
The area is overgrown and concealed from view. Unauthorized trails have attracted homeless encampments and suspicious activity, including individuals hiding after attempted robberies. Neighbors have witnessed troubling incidents. This is not a safe place for children—it poses risks of assault or abduction.

There are no nearby crosswalks, and cars speed around blind curves. The terrain is steep and unpaved, making it inaccessible to emergency vehicles and unsafe for people with disabilities.

⚠️ City Inaction and Escalating Risk Despite repeated requests—beginning as early as November 2024—the City had not taken action to secure its own parcel for almost a year. There were no gates or barriers to prevent nighttime access. People continued to walk these unstable trails, and the conditions became increasingly dangerous. Even with City signage present, individuals accessed this unstable riparian land, putting themselves and the surrounding community at risk.

 
✅ Update: City Installs Fence to Restrict Unauthorized Access As of today (November 5, 2025), the City of Cupertino has started to install fencing around the parcel to prevent further unauthorized entry and environmental damage. This is a welcome and necessary step toward protecting the community and restoring the integrity of this sensitive area.

 
✅ What We Urge the City to Do Next
We thank the City for taking action and now urge the following next steps:

Conduct a full environmental and geotechnical review, including soil engineering studies to assess slope stability, erosion risks, and liquefaction potential
Enforce compliance with Title 17 and CEQA for any future activity
Monitor and maintain the site to prevent further encampments and criminal activity
Restore the parcel to its original condition as a protected natural habitat, using soil stabilization and erosion control methods to prevent landslides and safeguard community safety
This is not a passive open space—it is a high-risk liability. We urge the City to continue its efforts to secure this parcel, restore its ecological integrity, and protect our neighborhood from further environmental damage and public safety threats.

 
Our families, our environment, and our future deserve better.

👉 Please sign this petition to help keep Cupertino safe.