Cupertino’s City Council has signed off on a contentious 51-townhome project on a steep, leafy stretch of Linda Vista Drive, pushing a state-triggered housing proposal ahead even as neighbors warned the area is a wildfire danger zone with tight evacuation routes. The vote was close, and Councilmember R “Ray” Wang cast the lone no vote after residents raised alarms about traffic and emergency access.
The SummerHill Homes plan would replace four single-family lots with 51 three-story townhome-style condominiums on roughly 2.53 acres at 10857–10887 Linda Vista Drive, with about 11 units reserved as below-market housing, according to City of Cupertino records. The city’s planning page includes the project plan set, formal description and required permits in a public packet.
Neighbors and engineers told the council the site sits inside a very-high fire hazard severity zone and warned that local streets could seize up in an emergency. One analysis cited by residents estimated it could take more than 90 minutes to clear the neighborhood. The council still approved the project on a 4-1 vote, with Wang dissenting and Councilmember J.R. Fruen cautioning that denying a state-compliant application could expose the city to legal risk, according to San José Spotlight.
Design And Fire Access Worries
Mayor Kitty Moore did not mince words, telling colleagues, “my frank opinion of this is that this is not a good design at all,” and warning that some of the proposed turns could force fire trucks into oncoming lanes. Supporters pointed out that the new homes would include noncombustible materials, sprinklers and other modern fire-safety measures. Residents countered that building technology is no substitute for more ways out of the neighborhood, San José Spotlight reported…