Cupertino neighbors press Planning Commission over Tessellations’ CUP, citing traffic, parking and high‑school plans

Neighbors of the former Regnard Elementary campus told the City of Cupertino Planning Commission on July 22 that Tessellations, a private school now leasing the site, is generating traffic, parking and safety problems they say exceed the limits the city set when it approved the school’s conditional use permit (CUP) in December 2023.

At the start of the public‑comment period, Vic Menon, a Cupertino resident, said the neighborhood represents “about 30 neighbors living in a quarter mile radius of Regnard campus” and asked the commission to block any revision that would expand Tessellations’ enrollment cap. “We understand that the school may soon request permission to revise its CUP by expanding its enrollment cap by over 40% from 300 to 425,” Menon said.

The neighbors told commissioners they are worried first about traffic congestion during drop‑off and pick‑up, then about on‑street parking, and finally about the school’s plan to keep or expand high‑school grades at the elementary site. “Tessellations generates a disproportionate amount of traffic because the vast majority of its students come from out of the area,” Bindia Desai said, describing queuing that can extend along Yorkshire Drive and up to the Rainbow/Yorkshire intersection. Residents said traffic sometimes blocks driveways and forces drivers into the oncoming lane.

Why it matters: neighbors said the CUP’s conditions — including an enrollment cap of 300 and a municipal‑code parking expectation — were intended to preserve neighborhood safety and livability. They said Tessellations’ current operations and any larger expansion would worsen congestion, increase safety risks for children biking to local schools and shift event parking into residential streets.

What residents told the commission - Enrollment and caps: Speakers said Tessellations opened in August 2023 and the CUP granted in December 2023 set a 300‑student cap. Neighbors reported enrollment growth from roughly 141 students early on to roughly 266–268 this school year; one speaker cited a projected enrollment near 277. They asked the city to require the school to abide by the CUP cap of 300. - Parking requirements and exceptions: Residents said the CUP called for 148 parking spaces on site under the city’s parking rules, but the campus footprint provides far fewer. The school negotiated an exception that allows up to 81 parking spaces at New Life Church, paired with a shuttle; neighbors said many staff and visitors instead park in surrounding residential streets. Bonnie Libby, a former Cupertino elementary teacher, said the school has about 20 parking spaces on the blacktop and that staff and parents increasingly park in the neighborhood. - Pick‑up/drop‑off safety and enforcement: Speakers described cars queuing on neighborhood streets, drivers making illegal U‑turns and use of a fire‑lane blacktop entrance for informal drop‑offs. Ravi Kumar said a young child biking to Kennedy Middle School was struck at the Yorkshire/Rainbow corner, an incident neighbors connected to the congestion. - High school grades and promises to move: Neighbors noted language in Tessellations’ CUP application that said the school would add a ninth grade in August 2024 with the intention to move high‑school grades to another site after the first year. Multiple speakers said the school did not move ninth grade as promised and that the school’s proposed revision would keep and expand high‑school grades (10–12) on the Regnard site — a change residents oppose because it would further increase traffic and parking impacts. - Events and enforcement: Neighbors said Tessellations used the campus blacktop for event parking in 2024 but that in 2025 many event cars parked on Yorkshire Drive. The CUP allows up to 100 event cars on the campus blacktop for several large events per year, but neighbors said the city should enforce that limit.

Staff and commission responses Planning staff told the commission there is no timeline yet for any formal amendment to the CUP. Staff also confirmed that proposed changes to a CUP in this case would have to come to the Planning Commission rather than be approved administratively. Staff advised neighbors that alleged violations of CUP conditions must be reported to the city (for example, via the city’s 311 system) so code enforcement can prioritize inspections and maintain a record.

Neighbors’ requests and next steps Speakers asked the Planning Commission to a) insist Tessellations limit enrollment to the existing 300‑student cap, b) require the school to honor its earlier pledge to relocate ninth grade offsite, and c) ensure event parking and daily parking remain within the campus footprint or the permitted shuttle arrangement. Several residents urged stronger, active enforcement — for example, a zero‑tolerance policy enforced by regular patrols — and said the city should monitor compliance with the CUP and consider requiring additional on‑site parking or other mitigations before allowing any expansion.

What the meeting record shows The public‑comment period recorded multiple, detailed accounts from area residents about traffic, parking and safety. Commission members asked staff for clarifications; staff said that any change to the CUP would return to the Planning Commission for review and that the city’s ability to act on violations depends on code‑enforcement capacity and complaints filed by residents.

Ending note: The Planning Commission did not take formal action on Tessellations at the July 22 meeting. Residents were told that any formal amendment to the CUP would come back to the commission for public hearing when staff deems the application ready.