YIMBYs Prevail on Big Bay Area Mixed-Use Development Proposal

A court ruling in Santa Clara County cleared the way for a large mixed-use development proposal to be built at the location of the Vallco Shopping Mall in Cupertino.

1 minute read

May 11, 2020, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Cupertino, California

Sand Hill Property Co. / Vallco Town Center

"Plans to turn the old Vallco Shopping Mall into a massive housing, office and retail complex can proceed full-steam ahead after the developer won a decisive victory in court Wednesday," reports Marisa Kendall. 

The development calls for 2,402 apartments, 400,000 square feet of retail and 1.8 million square feet of office space. 

"[A] Santa Clara County Superior Court judge ruled city officials did not err when they green-lighted the development and gave it fast-track status," explains Kendall of the reasoning behind the decision. The state law in question is SB 35, authored by State Senator Scott Wiener and approved by the California Legislature in 2017 to streamline development approvals. The Vallco development faced fierce opposition and repeated legal controversies leading up to the court ruling.

Kendall also notes that the same judge ruling in this case recently leveraged SB 35 to clear the way for another development in nearby Los Altos.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020 in The Mercury News

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Aerial view of Albuquerque, New Mexico at sunset.

New State Study Suggests Homelessness Far Undercounted in New Mexico

An analysis of hospital visit records provided a more accurate count than the annual point-in-time count used by most agencies.

May 16 - Source NM

Close-up on white bike helmet lying on pavement with blurred red bike on its side in background abd black car visible behind it.

Michigan Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Deadly Crashes

Proposed state legislation would close a ‘legal gap’ that lets drivers who kill get away with few repercussions.

May 16 - Wood TV 8

Muni bus on red painted bus-only lane in downtown San Francisco, California.

Report: Bus Ridership Back to 86 Percent of Pre-Covid Levels

Transit ridership around the country was up by 85 percent in all modes in 2024.

May 16 - Mass Transit