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Council sets aside $3 million for Mary Avenue Villas after months of advocacy for housing for people with IDD
Summary
The Cupertino City Council voted to commit $3 million from the city's below-market-rate housing fund to the Mary Avenue Villas project, which would create affordable units including 19 homes set aside for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Council also allocated $1,083,200 to the Eden Housing/Wolf Road project.
The Cupertino City Council on April 15 approved a funding package that commits $3 million in city below-market-rate (BMR) housing funds to the Mary Avenue Villas project, a proposed affordable housing development that includes 19 units targeted to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Council simultaneously approved an allocation of $1,083,200 to the Eden Housing Wolf Road project.
The housing item came as part of the council's funding recommendations for the next fiscal year. Ben Fu, director of community development, and Nikki Vu, senior housing coordinator, presented the staff report and explained the Housing Commission's recommendations and how the requested funds would be distributed across several housing programs. "Our recommended action for you tonight is to approve the funding recommendations as made by the Housing Commission and to authorize the city manager to execute the associated agreements," Vu said.
Public comment was extensive. Advocates and families urged the council to fund Mary Avenue Villas to preserve community-based housing for adults with IDD. Gia Fong, communications coordinator for Housing Choices, said, "This project will bring over 40 affordable homes to Cupertino, including 19 specifically for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. These homes represent doorways to independence, to dignity, to a life in the community that they grew up in." Jennifer Lucas, manager for the Central Coast office of the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities, told the council the state body supports the project and cited the shortage of affordable housing for people who receive Supplemental Security Income.
Opponents and nearby residents voiced concerns about the proposed Mary Avenue site, in particular loss of on-street parking and traffic impacts. Several residents asked the council to require additional parking or to consider alternative locations; staff said the project remains under project review and additional mitigation and design changes could be explored during entitlements.
Council deliberations included multiple proposed allocations and substitute motions. Vice Mayor Moore moved, and Councilmember Fruin seconded, a substitute motion that adopted the Housing Commission's recommendation as modified: commit $3,000,000 of BMR funds to Charities Housing's Mary Avenue project and allocate $1,083,200 to Eden Housing's Wolf Road application. The clerk recorded that the motion carried with Councilmember Long voting no.
The staff report showed the $3 million commitment draws from multiple sources recommended in the Housing Commission: a community development block grant contribution, the permanent local housing allocation and the city's BMR capital fund. Staff said loan documents and final agreements would be executed after projects obtain planning entitlements.
What the vote does and does not do: the action commits city funds to the projects but does not authorize construction; staff said final loan agreements and the timing of disbursement are contingent on the developments receiving planning approval and completing standard funding conditions.
Ending: Council members said they wanted staff to continue working with applicants to explore parking and design mitigations and to ensure the projects meet fair-housing and readiness criteria. The motion prevailed after extended public comment and multiple council amendments.
