Cupertino council hears study-session presentation on Mary Avenue Villas, directs staff to clarify parking and legal issues

Charities Housing presented plans for Mary Avenue Villas, a 40-unit, 100% affordable housing development on a narrow, city-owned parcel on Mary Avenue, during a City of Cupertino study session. The presentation described two buildings with parking between them and on-site services for residents, including a partner organization that will provide supports for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

The project team said the proposal includes 40 accessible units: three studios, 22 one-bedroom units, 14 two-bedroom units and one three-bedroom unit intended for on-site staff. Kathy Robinson, senior representative of Charities Housing, said the organization intends the development to serve extremely low-, very low- and low-income households and emphasized a long partnership with local service providers. “We have a whole range of services and supports that we have planned,” Denise Houdeghe, executive director of Housing Choices, said, describing weekly coordination with property management and quarterly “circle of support” meetings that will include regional center staff and family members.

The council and members of the public focused most sharply on parking and public-right-of-way changes related to creating the buildable parcel. John Martier, senior planner in community development, said the parcel…