Residents and stakeholders press council over Mary Avenue Villas safety, parking and traffic impacts; supporters stress need for housing for adults with IDD

Cupertino’s City Council heard extensive public comment Sept. 3 on the proposed Mary Avenue Villas, a 40-unit project intended to provide extremely low-income housing for intellectually and developmentally disabled (IDD) adults alongside other below-market-rate units.

The discussion mattered to speakers because the project sits on a narrow, heavily used artery that residents say already carries school traffic, park visitors and service vehicles; speakers warned adding housing there could worsen pedestrian-vehicle conflicts, reduce neighborhood parking and hamper emergency access.

Several residents and property owners urged the council to reconsider or modify the plan. A resident who identified himself as Rajeev said he and neighbors feel their grievances are not being heard and raised concerns about the narrowness of Mary Avenue and its role as the nearest route to the freeway for hundreds of homes. “Just imagine if some emergency happens there, like earthquake or something,” Rajeev said, arguing the roadway is congested during festivals and could be unsafe for new residents.

Longtime Cupertino resident Joe Houser described crossings and access for people who use walkers,…