City Council approves modified Westport senior housing plan with reduced retail and added units

The Cupertino City Council on May 20 approved amendments to the Westport development that increase the assisted‑living unit count, reduce ground‑floor retail, eliminate an underground parking level and require additional on‑site parking and a transportation demand management (TDM) program.

The council approved a modification to Building 1 of the Westport project after presentations from City senior planner John Martier and representatives of Related Companies and Oakmont Management Group, which will operate the assisted‑living facility. The amended project raises the assisted‑living unit count for Building 1 from 123 to 136 units and reduces the proposed retail footprint from 17,600 square feet (original entitlement) to 4,000 square feet as currently proposed by the developer; council discussion and follow‑up allowed staff to work with the applicant on possible adjustments to increase retail modestly while protecting city requirements. The council vote carried, with Councilmember Mohan voting no.

City staff and the applicant told the council Related has been unable to secure financing on the originally entitled plan because of increased construction and operating costs since 2020. Related senior vice president Balan Simcic told the council construction costs have risen about 42% since 2020 and that eliminating the roughly 50,000‑square‑foot underground parking level would lower the project cost by an estimated $10 million–$15 million. Simcic said the developer has already paid about $3,600,000 in park‑in‑lieu fees and is asking council to reduce or waive a further roughly $300,000 park payment tied to the 13…