Cupertino Matters
- In the News
- UPCOMING – City Council, Wed., Jan. 21. 2026, 6:45 p.m., Closed session, 6:00 p.m.
- RECAP – City Council, Tues, Jan. 13, 2026, 6:45 p.m.
January is going by much too fast. It’s already the kickoff for Silicon Valley Reads, https://www.siliconvalleyreads.org/, a community engagement program that brings people together through books and a shared annual theme. Each year, from January through March, there are more than 150 free public events for all ages including author talks, book clubs, arts and music activities, movies, hands-on workshops, and creative experiences. In today’s world, the need for connection is more important and more powerful than ever. The 2026 theme, Bridges to Belonging, explores how bridges can be built–to one another, to our families, and to our communities, to create a genuine sense of belonging.
Turning to policy matters, Cupertino continues to struggle with sufficient development to meet the state requirement of producing 4,588 new homes by 2031. City council approved 55 townhomes at the United Furniture (Idlewild Shopping Center) site in December. However, the relatively low density of that application site means that the city is now out of compliance for planned capacity of moderate income housing under the city’s Housing Element, as highlighted in the San Jose Spotlight: Cupertino not meeting its housing goals. One of the two projects on the council agenda tonight also proposes fewer homes than planned for by virtue of relying on older zoning standards in place before the current Housing Element. The city now has six months to amend its Housing Element by adding more sites and strategies that will account for the shortfall.
Two “builder’s remedy” project applicants, one at Scofield Drive and another at Vista Heights, have been suing the city for denying their applications. There is a court hearing scheduled at the end of the month to resolve the dispute in one of the cases as as outlined in: YIMBY Law sues Cupertino for denying builder’s remedy projects City claims developers have 90 days to fix applications, state says otherwise.
The city is also starting on its annual budget cycle–a thing it will now do without the city’s long-standing Director of Administrative Services, Kristina Alfaro, who left to join the Town of Las Gatos. Cupertino will have to contend with increased costs for the sheriff’s contract beginning July 1. A Mercury News article describes the situation in: Cupertino weighs new taxes while facing down mounting financial pressure: The move comes after flagging sales tax revenue from Apple and rising costs of its contract with the Sheriff, but could face significant headwinds.
Returning to community matters, Jerry L. Davis is the next speaker in the Science and Technology Speaker Series sponsored by the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce, which will be held on January 28, 6:30 – 8 in Community Hall. He is a technology and cybersecurity executive with more than 20 years of leadership across government and industry. A former CIA officer and national security advisor to the White House and the Department of Homeland Security, he has served as a five-time Chief Information Security Officer and Chief Security Officer at organizations including NASA, PG&E, Truist Bank, and Lam Research. Today, Jerry advises Microsoft on global security strategy and is nationally recognized for safeguarding critical infrastructure and protecting millions of citizens’ data. He brings a rare combination of executive leadership, deep technical expertise, and public service experience to help organizations and communities thrive in an increasingly digital world.
For research, past issues back to January 2020 of Cupertino Matters are posted on the website. Encourage your friends who would like to become better informed about our community to subscribe to our email newsletter at CupertinoMatters.org.
UPCOMING – CITY COUNCIL, Wed., Jan. 21, 2026, 6:45 p.m.; Closed 6:00 p.m.
Closed Session
Item No. 1: Conference with Real Property Negotiators; California Government Code Section 54954.5 1. Property: 10480 Finch Avenue, Cupertino, CA 2. Agency Negotiators: Tina Kapoor, City Manager, and Floy Andrews, Interim City Attorney 3. Negotiating parties: City of Cupertino and Cupertino Union School District 4. Under negotiation: Price and terms of payment
Regular Session
The sole Ceremonial Item is Presentation from Homestead High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) regarding Sustainable Fashion and Community Upcycling Initiatives. Oral Communications from the public on off-agenda items precede the Consent Calendar, which contains twelve routine items.
Item No. 15: Consideration of a new residential development of 57 townhomes (Dividend Homes I), including 11 affordable units, to replace two office buildings on a 2.6-acre site, located close to the northeast corner of the intersection of Stevens Creek Blvd and Randy Lane. (Application No(s): DP-2025-001, ASA-2024-016, TM-2024-010, TR-2024-045, & U-2025-006; Applicant(s): Dividend Homes; Location: 20085 & 20111 Stevens Creek Blvd. (A.P.N.: 316-23-025, -026). This townhome development for 57 townhomes including 11 affordable units replaces two aging office buildings on large lots fronting on Stevens Creek Boulevard. The application was submitted under the older zoning standards before the adoption of the current Housing Element, which would require higher densities at these locations. The applications also invoke the state Density Bonus Law, which entitles applicants to waiver most development standards for projects that supply defined amounts of affordable housing. Six waivers are requested, mostly minor. In addition, a concession to eliminate retail/commercial space was requested.
Given the state of commercial real estate and empty retail space in the city, there are no grounds to oppose the concessions. Moreover, under current law, it would be the city’s burden to demonstrate that the concessions would not result in savings to the project. There are no grounds for these findings. In response to public comment at the Planning Commission, the developer voluntarily agreed to reduce the height of the townhomes directly adjacent to single family homes from three stories to two stories. As noted, this parcel is included in the Housing Element and creates additional deficit in the Moderate Income category to a negative 9 units. Because of the Housing Element designation, the site is eligible for a much higher density, taller structures, and due to its vicinity to a high frequency transit stop, under AB2097, the project would not be required to provide any parking. The Planning Commission found that the proposed project’s lower density, as well as its design quality, and modifications by the developer made it compatible with the surrounding neighborhoods. Therefore, they voted to recommend approval 4-1 with Scharf voting nay.
Item No. 16: Consider a new residential development of 32 townhomes (Dividend Homes II), including 6 affordable units, to replace three office buildings on a 1.77-acre site, located mid-block corner on Stevens Creek Boulevard between Randy Lane and Blaney Avenue. (Application No(s): DP-2025-002, ASA-2025-004, TM-2025-002, TR-2025-002, & U-2025-007; Applicant(s): Dividend Homes; Location: 20045 & 20065 Stevens Creek Blvd. (A.P.N.: 316-23-095, -096). This application concerns a property adjacent to the one at issue in Item No. 15 with similar aging office buildings and large lots. It is for 32 townhomes including 6 affordable units. Like Item 15, this application relies on SB 330 preliminary vesting rights to use older zoning rules and invokes the state Density Bonus Law. Seven waivers are requested, likewise mostly minor, as well as two concessions to eliminate commercial/retail space. These buildings were office spaces, not retail, and therefore do not implicate sales tax loss to the city. The developer voluntarily agreed to the same reduction of height to two stories for townhomes adjacent to the single family homes. For the same reasons cited in the previous item, the Planning Commission voted to recommend approval 5-0. It is not clear why Commissioner Scharf voted against one project and for the other when the legal and substantive issues are the same.
Item No.17: City Manager Report, (now submitted in written form).
Item No. 18: Council Reports (now submitted in written form) are provided by Mayor Moore, Vice-Mayor Chao, Councilmembers Fruen, Mohan, and Wang.
Item No. 19 Upcoming Draft Agenda Items Report
RECAP – Special Meeting, City Council, Tues, Jan. 13, 2026, 6:45 p.m.
YouTube: 3 hr. 2 min.
Item No. 2: Study session regarding Potential November 2026 Ballot Measure on Parkland Rezoning Considerations. Discussion on this item revealed a number of issues. There are inconsistencies in the city zoning map for parklands, so it’s unclear where new restrictions would apply. There are existing state laws which may already be in place that limit or condition how cities can sell parkland or utilize it differently. The timing and costs of such a ballot measure also need to be determined.
Item No. 3: Study session regarding Various Revenue Tax Options. In 2023, council considered 4 tax measures for the 2024 ballot, ultimately giving direction to examine options given council deprioritization of certain taxes. The city faces a future budget structural deficit, which will be exacerbated by an expected significant increase in public safety costs. This study session reviewed the feasibility of the 2023 options, given the current political environment, and competing tax measures. Ballot measures cost money and may not be successful. In general, tax measures requiring ⅔ voter approval are riskier and more likely to fail, so jurisdictions are more likely to seek those that require simple majorities (50% + 1) to pass. Recent elections have shown significant resistance to passing taxes (of any kind) in Cupertino.
Item No. 4: Study Session to consider possible updates to the City’s practices pertaining to its advisory bodies, including its Commissions and Committees. The discussion focused primarily on commission vacancies and attendance. Some commissions meet infrequently. Regular scheduled meetings may be rescheduled, and considered special meetings which are not counted as regular meetings for attendance purposes.
CUPERTINO COURIER: Jan. 16, 2026
The front page photo and article on page 5 is entitled Creating ‘A Sense of Belonging’: Works by local artists tie to Silicon Valley Reads theme. Community briefs on page 8 are (1) ‘Unlikely’ author, (2) ‘Psychology tonight’ Concert, and (3) Virtual author talk. Legal notices include (1) RFP for 2025 Concrete reconstruction project and (2) Hearing for a hillside exception at 22068 San Fernando Court to be heard at the Jan. 27, 2026 Planning Commission meeting.
Warm regards,
Jean Bedord
Cupertino Matters
Publisher and Editor
