1,500 Student Private School Proposed for Stevens Canyon Road
A developer has proposed building Canyon Heights Academy in western Cupertino. This proposed private school will have an enrollment of 1,500 students, from preschool through 12th grade. If approved, this school will have more students than Cupertino High School. The Academy will be located on Stevens Canyon Road in the Cupertino foothills on property zoned for twelve to fourteen homes next to Ricardo Road and adjacent to the open space of Stevens Creek Park (see map and aerial photo). The 131 acre parcel of land was purchased by the developer for $53 million.
This proposed development is a major threat to the quality of life of thousands of Cupertino residents in the Stevens Canyon Road / Foothill Boulevard area. The Association is extremely concerned about the tremendous increase in traffic congestion, traffic danger, and noise this development will have on the entire community.
ARE YOU WILLING TO HELP?
SCRA has a variety of activities planned to oppose Canyon Heights Academy. If you are able to donate some time, we encourage you to email SCRA's Volunteer Coordinator, Shirley Poitras, or call her at 408-255-5398.
Please revisit our website often for the latest information on the proposed Canyon Heights Academy development.
The Proposed Canyon Heights Academy development poses a major threat to the quality of life of Stevens Canyon residents.
Traffic congestion and traffic safety are already significant concerns for residents in the Stevens Canyon Road / Foothill Boulevard area. The proposed Academy can only be accessed by picturesque, narrow and winding Stevens Canyon Road. With the combination of increasing commuter traffic and gravel trucks traveling to and from the quarry, residents feel Stevens Canyon Road is already overburdened. Residents have been working to manage traffic on this road for over 15 years. The additional arrival of 1,500 students and school staff each morning and their departure each afternoon will result in major traffic congestion and increased traffic hazards along the entire length of Stevens Canyon Road and Foothill Boulevard during these periods.
If approved, this development will fundamentally change the character of the neighborhood. Under Cupertino's land use plan, this parcel is currently zoned RHS (residential hillside) and is designated Residential Very Low Density with minimum 5 acre parcels. It has been the understanding of local residents for many years that this parcel would be developed in accordance with Cupertino's General Plan, which calls for twelve to fourteen homes. Homes currently surround the proposed site on the west, north, and across the canyon to the east. Deep Cliff golf course borders the parcel on the northeast and the open space of Stevens Creek Park is to the south. Many neighbors relied on the low density land use plan and the open space afforded by the park when they located their homes in this quiet neighborhood. Noise created by this development will be a major concern, as will be the loss of open space and its harmful impact on the environment and local wildlife. Click here for the Cupertino Planning Department report to City Council on the Academy development.
The Association is concerned about the limited value of the project to Cupertino. Our City already has great public schools, consistently ranked among the best in the state. This proposed private school will primarily benefit non-residents. The Association believes that only a small percentage of its students will live in Cupertino. And as a tax-exempt religious institution, the Academy will pay no property taxes, forcing all other Cupertino taxpayers to pay for the Academy's police, fire protection, and other municipal services.
The Association encourages you to express
your concerns in letters, emails, and telephone calls to your City Council
members and the City Manager. Letters can be addressed to them at Cupertino
City Hall, 10300 Torre Ave. Cupertino, CA 95014.
Cupertino City Council
Members
