Cupertino voters will decide Nov. 3 whether the city's parks should get a much higher level of protection: a citywide vote, with a two-thirds supermajority, before any of that land could be turned into something else.
What Measure L would do
Under Measure L, the city could not redesignate land marked as Parks and Open Space in its General Plan, or grant a rezoning, permit, development agreement, subdivision map or other approval for a "Non-Park Use" on it, unless at least two-thirds of Cupertino voters approve at the city's next general municipal election. That is according to the city attorney's impartial analysis as summarized by California Choices.
The measure would also add a General Plan policy directing the city to keep land designated as parks and open space, and to keep supporting parks, trails and recreation.
What it would not do
Measure L does not ban park changes outright. Uses already allowed under the parks zoning would continue. The impartial analysis also carves out minor boundary and lot line adjustments, land acquisitions, easements, exchanges, maintenance and access agreements and similar transactions, as long as the council makes specified findings.
What a yes or no vote means
A yes vote adds the supermajority voter requirement. A no vote leaves rezoning decisions on park land with the City Council, as now. Ballotpedia lists the measure as needing a two-thirds vote to pass.
Sources describe the measure's legal form differently. The ballot question calls it an ordinance amending Cupertino's General Plan, while Ballotpedia describes it as a city charter amendment. The ballot question wording is the official one.
Cost, supporters and opponents
The fiscal impact statement says Measure L is likely to bring future costs from placing proposed changes on the ballot. No dollar figure was given. Greenbelt Alliance, which endorses a yes vote, argues it comes at no cost to taxpayers. Those two descriptions are not the same, and voters may want to weigh both.
The official argument in favor says that today one council vote could rezone a park, and asks whether "a decision this big" should be made "by the people, not just five council members." No official argument against was submitted. Bay Ballot reported that all three Santa Clara County voter guides it tracked, including Greenbelt Alliance and Silicon Valley DSA, recommend yes as of Oct. 10.