Pass: 15,119 / 59.84% Yes votes ...... 10,148 / 40.16% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

YES
NO

Meaning of Voting Yes/No

A YES vote on this measure means:

A "yes" vote is a vote in favor of enactment of the resolution. If enacted by a majority vote of the electors voting, then the General Plan Land Use Map will be changed to decrease the overall density allowance from the current Moderate Density Residential uses (19-25 dwelling units per acre) to Single Family Attached residential uses (12-18 dwelling units per acre), and to identify a one acre public park designated as Parks and Recreation use.

A NO vote on this measure means:

A "no" vote is a vote against enactment of the resolution. If the resolution is not enacted by a majority vote of the electors voting, then the General Plan Land Use Map will not be changed from the current Moderate Density Residential uses (10-25 dwelling units per acre) to Single Family Attached residential uses (12-18 dwelling units per acre), and to identify a one acre public park designated as Parks and Recreation use, and the City Council will be precluded from considering any similar resolution for a period of one year from the date of this election.

The property at issue is owned by the State of California. The University of California used the property for an agricultural research station known as the Bay Area Research Extension Center (BAREC) for approximately eighty (80) years. The State of California declared the property surplus in September 2002, and the University of California decommissioned the agricultural research station.

The property is proposed to be redeveloped for a mixture of single family and senior housing with a one acre public park. Specifically, SummerHill Homes has entered into a purchase contract with the State of California for approximately 11 acres, and is proposing to construct approximately 110 single family homes on ten acres with an approximately one acre public park. The remaining six acres will be developed by Charities Housing, which is proposing to build 165 rental units to be made available to seniors at the low and very low income levels, with approximately 2.5 acres of gardens. The senior units are proposed to be owned and operated by the Santa Clara Methodist Retirement Foundation.

A "no" vote is a vote against enactment of the resolution. If the resolution is not enacted by a majority vote of the electors voting, then the General Plan Land Use Map will not be changed from the current Moderate Density Residential uses (10-25 dwelling units per acre) to Single Family Attached residential uses (12-18 dwelling units per acre), and to identify a one acre public park designated as Parks and Recreation use, and the City Council will be precluded from considering any similar resolution for a period of one year from the date of this election.

A "yes" vote is a vote in favor of enactment of the resolution. If enacted by a majority vote of the electors voting, then the General Plan Land Use Map will be changed to decrease the overall density allowance from the current Moderate Density Residential uses (19-25 dwelling units per acre) to Single Family Attached residential uses (12-18 dwelling units per acre), and to identify a one acre public park designated as Parks and Recreation use.

Helene L. Leichter
City Attorney, City of Santa Clara

This is not an official copy of this ballot measure and its accompanying documents. For an official copy see the City Clerk.

City of Santa Clara

"Current Issues"

General Plan

Yes on Measures A & B

Friends of BAREC

FPPC #1302282

Pro/Con Forum
When: January 16, 2008
Time: 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Where: The Santa Clara Central Park Library
           Cedar Room (Seating for 100 people)
           2635 Homestead Road
           Santa Clara, CA 95051

Google News Search for Barec

Santa Clara Weekly

Recent Articles on Barec

A YES vote on Measure A will reaffirm the City Council's decision to reduce the overall density allowed. The Santa Clara Gardens project follows community-adopted principles and priorities. It is a pedestrian-oriented community ideally located near shopping and public transportation, which will enable future residents, specifically seniors, to walk to most services and not depend on driving.

A YES vote on Measure A will transform an eyesore which has been fenced off and closed to the general public for more than five years. The site is plagued by graffiti, vandalism and toxic pesticide residues due to a lack of state funding.

A YES vote on Measure A will result in the project moving forward and the comprehensive environmental cleanup of the residual pesticides to meet strict government standards. This cleanup will finally address concerns about toxins on the site.

A YES vote on Measure A will not cost the city or taxpayers one dime. Santa Clara Gardens pays for itself. In fact, economic projections indicate the project will generate an annual fiscal surplus for the city.

Santa Clara Gardens will be a beautiful addition to our city, as senior housing specialists are working with gardening groups to beautify the entire site and ensure that the housing blends into the neighborhood.

For more information, visit
http://www.SantaClaraGardens.org.

Please join us in voting YES on A and B to support the Affordable Senior Housing, Parks and Open Space that Santa Clara needs.

/s/ Patricia Mahan
Mayor, City of Santa Clara

/s/ Aldyth Parle
Former City Councilperson, Senior Citizen Activist

/s/ Bill Gissler
Fmr. Mayor & Senior Advisory Commissioner

/s/ David DeLozier
Small Business Owner, Former Councilman, Former Parks & Recreation Commissioner, City of Santa Clara

/s/ Barbara Ratcliffe
Chair-Elect, Board of Directors, Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce

Do Not Be Fooled This plan is neither about senior citizen housing nor public open space. The lion's share of this public land is for million dollar estates, specifically:

• 60% Private Housing Development by SummerHill Homes
• 18% Senior Citizen Housing
• 16% Private Senior Lawn
• 6% Public Open Space

Developers chose the misleading name "Santa Clara Gardens" for this project to infer gardens, something the voters relate to...but this "Garden of Housing" plan from SummerHill is all about SummerHill, not Santa Clara senior citizens.

The developers say the project "generates an annual fiscal surplus"

• Fact: The City of Santa Clara will receive less than $75,000 in surplus property tax revenues from 110 single family homes stuffed on ten acres of public land. SummerHill's optimistic financial scenario may be far less.

  The developers say the project will have "3 acres of open space and a [1 acre] neighborhood park"

• Fact: Less than 2 acres of "open space" is allocated to the resident seniors and not open to the general public. The rest is dedicated to roads and parking spaces with a 1 acre drive-by pocket park.

  Don't be fooled. This plan helps the developer, SummerHill. Look at where all the money is coming from.

Vote NO on Measures A and B. Save the last 17 acres of agricultural land in Santa Clara for a true garden for seniors and the public.

For more information: http://www.BAREC.orq and http://www.SaveBAREC.org

/s/ William Kirkpatrick
Attorney, Sierra Club Member, Santa Clara Resident

/s/ Dennis Dowling
Advisory Board Member of Ulistac Natural Area

/s/ Kathleen Orlenko
Master Gardener

/s/ John Joseph
Teamster, Santa Clara Citizen

/s/ Helen L. Silveria
Santa Clara Senior Citizen/Volunteer

These two measures can only be defeated by your vote, the City of Santa Clara Citizens. Send a clear message to the City Council that you do not support the change in zoning, the high density bonus, and the general plan amendments proposed for the last 17 acres of agricultural open space land in the City of Santa Clara.

THE PROPERTY Formerly the University of California Agricultural Research Center, recently known as the Bay Area Research and Extension Center (BAREC) on Winchester Boulevard and Forest Avenue.

FLAWED PUBLIC PROCESS

• The City of Santa Clara refused to consider all options for BAREC's future.
• Only one plan was seriously considered by the City of Santa Clara for this historic site.
• Public input was consistently ignored.

UNDERMINES GOOD PLANNING AND PUBLIC OPEN SPACE Over 12,000 signatures were gathered in three weeks opposing the City Council's intended use of this land as well as registering over 400 new voters. The Santa Clara citizens want to consider better uses for this land and want their voices heard.

Stop Measures A and B or they will:

• Eliminate FOREVER the last 17 acres of open space in Santa Clara
• Negatively impact traffic on already congested roads
• Strain city facilities and services
• Not support Smart Growth Principles

Send the politicians your message + vote NO on Measures A and B.

LAND IS A NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCE
Once public land is sold for private uses, it can no longer serve the greatest common good. By voting NO on both measures, you will force the City of Santa Clara to have an open discussion with you, the citizens.

Join thousands of Santa Clara citizens who have already petitioned the Santa Clara City Council to thoughtfully consider other uses for this historic and unique property by voting NO on Measures A and B. Vote NO!

/s/ Kirk Vartan
SaveBAREC Spokesperson, Santa Clara Business Owner

/s/ Chuck Petersen
Historical & Landmarks Commissioner

/s/ Margot Warburton
Santa Clara Resident

/s/ Suzie M. Keels
Santa Clara Residence, Read Santa Clara Member

/s/ Everett N (Eddie) Souza
Former Mayor of Santa Clara

Here are the facts:

• Reality vs. Fiction: This State owned land is NOT public open space today. Due to a lack of State funding, it is fenced off and plagued by vandalism and toxic pesticide residues. A YES vote on Measures A and B will finally clean up the property and create over 3 acres of open space, landscaped gardens and a public park.

• Decrease in Density: Do not be misled; a YES vote is in fact a decrease in the overall density allowed on the property.

• Paid Signatures: An interest group led by a San Jose resident paid professional signature gatherers to put the measures on the ballot following more than four years of public meetings and a unanimous city council vote of support.

• No Impact on Services: A third party fiscal analysis demonstrates that Santa Clara Gardens will NOT negatively impact city services and will produce a surplus for the City's general fund.

• Pedestrian-friendly Community: The City-certified comprehensive traffic study found that, when completed, Santa Clara Gardens will NOT have a significant impact on traffic, especially because residents can walk to services and shopping.

Join us in voting Yes on A and B + Please don't take away the affordable senior housing, parks and open space that Santa Clara needs so badly.

/s/ Patricia L. Craig
Retired Teacher, Santa Clara Unified School District

/s/ Don Callejon
Retired Superintendent, Santa Clara Unified School District

/s/ Patrick Kolstad
Santa Clara City Councilman

/s/ Margaret Bard
Co-Chair, Santa Clara County Housing Action Coalition

/s/ Dennis Wan
President, Chinese American Chamber of Commerce of Santa Clara Valley

SCH 2003072093, CEQ2006-01032 (DEIR), CEQ2006-01033 (RDEIR), CEQ2007-01039 (Final EIR), PLN2003-03744 (Rezone from "A" Agriculture to PD Planned Development for 110 units of SF), PLN2003-03745 (General Plan Amendment), PLN2003-03958 (Rezoning of Senior parcel to PD [R3-18D], PLN2007-06295 (Tentative Subdivision Map creating 110+ parcels), PLN2007-06327 (Rezoning application from "A" Agriculture to "B" Public Park), PLN2007-06329 (Development Agreement)

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, AS FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, on March 8, 2003, the State of California and SummerHill Homes, Inc., made application for a General Plan Amendment in connection with the development of the approximately 17 acres of property located at 90 North Winchester Boulevard (the "Project Site"), in order to change the General Plan Land Use Map to decrease the overall density allowance on the 17-acre site from Moderate Density Residential uses (19-25 dwelling units per acre) to Single Family Attached residential uses (12-18 dwelling units per acre) and to identify a 1-acre public park designated as Parks and Recreation use; and
WHEREAS, Government Code 65355 requires the City Council to hold at least one noticed, public hearing on any proposed General Plan amendment; and
WHEREAS, the Government Code further requires that a General Plan amendment be made only "in the public good"; and
WHEREAS, the Government Code further requires that the City Council receive input from the Planning Commission on any proposed General Plan amendment; and
WHEREAS, notice of the public hearing on the General Plan Amendment was published in the San Jose Mercury News, a newspaper of general circulation, on May 26, 2007; and
WHEREAS, notices of the public hearing on the General Plan Amendment were mailed to all property owners within 1000 feet of the property, according to the most recent assessor's roll, on June 4, 2007; and
WHEREAS, following a noticed, public hearing on the rezoning and other project approvals, the Planning Commission adopted Resolution No. 07-002, Certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report, Making Findings Concerning Mitigation Measures, Adopting the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, Making Findings Concerning Alternatives and Adopting the Statement of Overriding Considerations in Accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act for the EIR ("Planning Commission CEQA Resolution") and Resolution No. 07-003, Recommending to the City Council of the City of Santa Clara that it (1) Approve the General Plan Amendment; (2) Rezone the Property to Planned Development and Public Use and Approve a Density Bonus; (3) Approve the Vesting Tentative Map; and (4) Adopt the Development Agreement ("Planning Project Resolution"); and
WHEREAS, the Santa Clara Municipal Code and California State Law permit the granting of Density Bonus incentives for projects that meet guidelines and requirements for the provision of affordable housing, which guidelines and requirements are met by providing 100 percent of the senior housing project on 6 acres of the site at rents to accommodate Very Low Income levels; and
WHEREAS, the Santa Clara Gardens Project includes all of the Santa Clara Gardens Project entitlements, including Resolution No. 07-7429 ("CEQA Resolution"); Resolution No. 07-7431 ("Parcel Map Resolution"); Resolution No. 07-7432 ("Rezoning Resolution"); Resolution No. 07-7433 ("Vesting Tentative Map Resolution"); Ordinance No. 1821 ("Development Agreement Ordinance"); and this General Plan Amendment Resolution (collectively the "Project"); and
WHEREAS, before considering this General Plan amendment, the City Council reviewed and considered the information contained in the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Santa Clara Gardens Project (SCH #2003072093) ("FEIR") and adopted City Council Resolution No. 07-7429 ("CEQA Resolution"); and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that mitigation measures identified in the FEIR have been imposed on and incorporated into the project which mitigate or avoid the significant environmental effects, that certain mitigation measures are within the responsibility and jurisdiction of another public agency and such changes can and should be adopted by such other agency, that specific economic, social and other considerations make infeasible the project alternatives that would avoid or mitigate the environmental impacts and that social, economic and other benefits outweigh the environmental impacts that cannot be fully mitigated; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the General Plan Amendment and conducted a public hearing.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARA THAT IT APPROVES THE PARCEL MAP AS FOLLOWS: