Public Invited to General Plan Workshops Beginning July 18

Written by L.A. Chung 

Do you think development in our city is being done the right way? Wish you had a say about it?

You do now. 

It's time to re-do the General Plan, the basic rules for how the city develops, including designing new projects, expanding public services, and improving community amenities and conserving resources. This includes goals and policies that, in the words of the city, "set the 'ground rules' and covers a wide area of issues. Every city in the state is required to have one.

If it affects the quality of life in Cupertino, it will likely be in the General Plan. 

The last time the General Plan was amended was 2005, so it's time to examine some properties in our key commercial districts, the city says, including Vallco Shopping Center. 

The first of a series of workshops begin July 18, 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the Cupertino Community Hall, 10350 Torre Avenue, next to the library. There will be light refreshments.

Cupertino's City Council started a process to review several properties in the commercial districts in Cupertino, earlier this year, including the Vallco shopping district, as part of a focused General Plan Amendment. 

The 18-month process includes examining the current conditions through the summer, "visioning" and coming up with alternatives, draft general plan amendment in the fall 2013 to winter 2014, and to go through the CEQA process, public hearings and adoption Summer to Winter 2014.

If you can't go this time, but want to keep up with the process, the city has a sign-up form for you to receive updates. The General Plan Amendment process also has its own website, albeit currently under construction: www.gpa.org