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Residents urge environmental review for Babich Court, Vista Heights projects after CAL FIRE hazard designation
Summary
Speakers at Cupertino Planning Commission oral communications asked the city to require an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for proposed projects near Babich Court and Vista Heights following a new CAL FIRE high fire hazard designation.
At the Cupertino Planning Commission meeting on May 27, a resident said proposed developments on Babich Court and the nearby Vista Heights site should require full environmental review given a recent high fire hazard designation from CAL FIRE.
David (last name not provided), speaking remotely during the meeting’s oral communications period, said the Babich Court project sits in one of the city’s most fire-prone areas and that CAL FIRE’s new high fire hazard severity map was being formally adopted. He said the map notes the city cannot downgrade state hazard designations and argued that the new designation warrants pausing any fast-track approvals and conducting a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
David referenced a contemporary dispute in San Diego over whether developers could skip environmental review for projects in similar circumstances and warned that approving housing without full review in high-hazard areas could set a precedent. He also said the Vista Heights proposal is near Linda Vista Park and approximately 500 feet from the site David described; he urged the commission to “take a firm position” and requested an EIR for the projects.
A second resident, Lisa, told the commission she echoed David’s concerns. The commission did not take action on the oral communications item; these remarks were part of the public comment period and not on the formal agenda.
No staff or commissioners committed to a specific follow-up during the meeting. Earlier in the session staff noted the city mailed notices confirming CAL FIRE’s new map; no staff report at the hearing announced a formal pause or an upcoming CEQA determination for the Babich Court or Vista Heights projects.
