HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity and County Sign Agreement Future Planning Lehigh Site - Press Release - 06.27.2023
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Esther Kwon, PIO
June 27, 2023 pio@cupertino.org
City of Cupertino and County of Santa Clara
Sign Agreement on Future Planning for Lehigh Site
CUPERTINO, CA – The City of Cupertino and the County of Santa Clara have signed on to a
joint agreement that clarifies how the two agencies will approach future development
proposals that may come forward at the Lehigh site. The agreement is in anticipation of the
permanent closure of Lehigh’s cement kiln operations and an end to new limestone
extraction in the unincorporated hillsides just outside of Cupertino city limits.
“The City of Cupertino is pleased to be in a collaborative conversation with the County about
the next steps of the Lehigh property,” said Mayor Hung Wei. “Our City and residents have
lived with the impacts of an industrial neighbor for many decades, and we’re feeling hopeful
about a cleaner, quieter future that is safe, healthy, and more compatible with our
community.”
In April of this year, County Supervisor Joe Simitian requested for City of Cupertino and
Santa Clara County staff to develop a set of guiding principles to use when considering and
evaluating future uses for the Lehigh site.
“With Lehigh stating its willingness to close the cement plant, there’s no better time for our
jurisdictions to work together to come up with a mutually agreed upon policy framework for
how we intend to consider future uses on the site,” said County Supervisor Joe Simitian. “It’s
incumbent on us to be good stewards of this land. A joint agreement ensures that restoration
and development of the Lehigh property takes place in a way that protects public health and
the environment.”
The joint agreement, unanimously approved on June 21 by the Cupertino City Council and
on June 27 by the County Board of Supervisors, stipulates that the City and County will work
together to ensure that any future development of the Lehigh site benefits the surrounding
community. The agreement ensures that Lehigh and any future owners of the property
prevent and eliminate any conditions that could be considered a nuisance or pose a danger to
public health or the environment (including exposure to hazards such as pollutants that
currently exist on the property or may be generated or released through reclamation,
restoration, or remediation activities). The agreement also requires that in order for
development to proceed, reclamation, restoration, and environmental remediation of the site
must be moving forward in compliance with all applicable laws, policies, and regulations.
For more details on the future planning for the Lehigh site and additional information, view
the County’s full press release.