Public urges council to act as Foothill–De Anza plan for McClellan Terrace raises fears of 94-family displacement

Dozens of residents and local advocates pressed the Cupertino City Council on April 2 to stop or slow a planned Foothill–De Anza Community College District purchase of McClellan Terrace Apartments, saying the district's plan to convert the complex to student housing could displace about 94 families and disrupt local school enrollment.

Speakers asked the council to explore zoning protections and relocation help for tenants. They urged the city to examine whether conversion of family rental units to primarily single-occupancy student beds would be treated as a change of use and whether local law could be used to limit such conversions.

The public commentary, which ran more than an hour, included parents, students and long-time residents. Several speakers said the property hosts families with schoolchildren who attend Lincoln Elementary, Kennedy Middle School and Monte Vista High School and that losing those households could reduce local school enrollment, strain families and disrupt students' education.

"If I'm forced to leave, I won't be just moving. I'll be losing my community, my friendships, and the stability that helps me thrive," said Parth, a McClellan Terrace resident.

Other residents amplified safety and community concerns. "This is not just a simple property transaction. This is an eviction of 94 families and over 60 children who attend their neighborhood Cupertino schools," said Sean Ling, who urged the council to advocate for a pause and meaningful relocation assistance from the college board.

Longtime community members said displacement would have broader effects on neighborhood cohesion and school resources. "We voted for you to keep our community good and safe, and I hope you can provide some influence along with CUSD," wrote Rhoda Frey in a letter she asked the council to read. San Ahr, a resident who organized a walking tour of McClellan Terrace for council members, urged the city to "agendize an item ... to emulate San Francisco code section 317" on protections for rental housing conversions, calling the conversion from family units to unrelated student beds a "change of use."

Council response and next steps came late in the meeting. Mayor Chow asked staff to prepare a study session on the multifamily-to-student-housing issue and instructed that the session include a review of existing state and local bills, comparisons with other jurisdictions and an evaluation of possible ordinances to give the city more control over conversions and local impacts.

Council voted to add that study session to a future agenda; the motion passed unanimously.

The council did not adopt any regulation or impose an immediate moratorium related to the McClellan Terrace matter during the April 2 meeting. Several speakers asked the council to contact Foothill-De Anza and to press for greater transparency and tenant relocation assistance from the district.

Short-term and procedural details remain unsettled: speakers cited varying numbers from the college's outreach materials and local reporting about the timeline and tenant notices. The council directed staff to prepare background materials and legal options for a study session that will examine local ordinance options and examples from other cities.

The council has not yet taken formal action that would change zoning or require the college to alter the sale terms; staff will return with options for council consideration.

Stakeholders can expect the study session and related materials to appear on a future council agenda; the mayor and several council members asked staff to coordinate with the school district and the college on information-sharing in advance of that session.