We, the undersigned residents of Cupertino, urgently call upon the Cupertino City Council to halt the rezoning of 20865 McClellan Road from R3 to R3-TH and to uphold the character of our single-family residential neighborhoods. This rezoning would allow the construction of over 27 townhomes on a one-acre parcel initially designated for just 5 single-family homes—a change that has sent shockwaves through the neighborhood. Residents have been kept in the dark throughout this process, with little to no communication or transparency regarding this significant decision.

We understand that the city must meet the statutory requirements of the State Housing Element Law, which has necessitated aggressive rezoning efforts. However, the concern lies with the LOCATION. 20865 McClellan Road is not an ideal site for such high-density housing due to its location on a very congested, one-lane road that serves as a critical thoroughfare to Faria Elementary School, Lincoln Elementary School, De Anza College, and many high tech companies. This area’s unique traffic challenges make it unsuitable for additional high-density housing, as such a development would significantly increase congestion and pose severe safety risks to children and pedestrians.

It is the city’s duty to safeguard the safety and well-being of its residents rather than yielding to developers who stand to enrich themselves at the community’s expense. Reckless rezoning decisions like this leave residents to bear the brunt of overburdened infrastructure, worsening congestion, and a degraded quality of life—all while developers profit from unsustainable growth.

The potential impact on our community includes:

• Overtaxing Current Infrastructure Without Any Plan for Improvement: This neighborhood was specifically designed as a single-family housing zone. High-density developments like townhomes will overwhelm the area’s infrastructure, which was not built to accommodate such projects. There is no existing infrastructure plan to address the significant influx of housing, leaving utilities and roads unprepared to handle the increased demand.
• Increased Traffic Congestion: McClellan Road is a narrow, one-lane road with limited capacity to handle additional traffic. As a major route to five schools, it already experiences severe congestion during peak hours. High-density housing would crowd the area further, leading to increased delays and greater risks for everyone, especially young children commuting to school.
• Safety Risks: The addition of high-density housing on McClellan Road will create a hazardous environment for schoolchildren and pedestrians. The road’s current infrastructure, including poorly placed bike lanes and high traffic volumes, is already inadequate. Increased housing density will amplify these risks, putting children walking to and from school in direct danger.

This issue is not isolated to McClellan Road. Similar rezoning proposals, such as the 20-unit housing project on Scofield Drive near Faria Elementary School, the 87-unit development on Linda Vista Drive, and the development of St. Jude’s Church, collectively threaten to overwhelm Cupertino’s infrastructure. If all these projects proceed, the cumulative traffic burden will ultimately funnel onto McClellan Road, further exacerbating congestion and safety risks on this already strained thoroughfare.

We demand that:

1. The city does not approve high-density housing at 20865 McClellan Road, recognizing its unsuitability for such projects.
2. Proper infrastructure planning be implemented in conjunction with any housing plans, ensuring that schools, roads, utilities, and other essential services can meet the increased demand from new developments.
3. Future rezoning processes involve transparent communication and direct engagement with affected residents.

We stand united in advocating for responsible development that respects and preserves Cupertino’s single-family residential neighborhoods. Protecting these areas is essential to maintaining the city’s character, livability, and community values.