In an apparent rebuke of ballot box planning, both of Cupertino’s Vallco Mall measures appear to have been rejected, according to unofficial results from the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters.

With all precincts reporting at press time Wednesday, Measure C had approximately 60 percent ‘no’ votes and 40 percent ‘yes’ votes. Measure D had roughly 55 percent ‘no’ votes and 45 percent ‘yes’ votes. Each measure needed a simple majority to pass.

Measure D sought to lock in Sand Hill Property Company’s $3 billion plan to turn Vallco Shopping Mall into the mixed-use The Hills at Vallco project. The project proposed bringing 2 million square feet of office space, 640,000 square feet of retail, approximately 400 residential units and a 339-room hotel, along with a 30-acre green roof that Sand Hill touted as the largest in the world.

Measure C, also known as the Cupertino Citizens’ Sensible Growth Initiative, sought to slow growth in the city and restrict the shopping mall property to commercial use.

The defeat of both measures in a deeply bitter and contentious election leaves the city and the Vallco property back where it started nearly a year ago before residents kicked off the ballot initiative process. It also appears Sand Hill is in no rush to revamp the project and bring it back for city review. Vallco Shopping Mall could also become even more bare in the coming months.

“What this means, in the short term, is that for safety and security reasons we will be winding down mall operations. After that, the future is uncertain,” said Reed Moulds, Sand Hill’s managing director, in a statement Wednesday morning. “We will not sell the land nor make investments into the current failed asset. In order for us to invest in Vallco we have to be certain it will be a worthwhile investment and not just the band-aid approaches that have failed Vallco for decades. Until Cupertino is ready for that approach, we have no choice but to stop.”

If the project were to return for traditional city review, it would have to go through the city council.

“If both Measures C and D fail, the developer of the Vallco project will be required to go through the city’s normal planning process,” city manager David Brandt told this newspaper on Wednesday. “This process includes multiple public meetings with an extensive amount of community engagement and expected feedback. It will be a long process, and probably an emotional one for some residents, but the expectation is that it will be a better project for it in the end. The city is prepared to work with all stakeholders to consider a project that meets the expectations of, and contributes positively to, our thriving community.”

Meanwhile, the Better Cupertino group that pushed for rival Measure C said the measure’s failure will not stop it from pursuing its goal of curbing growth.

“Supporters of Better Cupertino are stronger and more determined than ever to stand up to proposals that intend to develop our community beyond our infrastructure capacity,” the group said in a statement to this newspaper. “We will stand up for proposals that are designed with the needs and interests of residents as a guiding principle. We will reject proposals that put profits of (the) developer, its partners, and its local and global investors ahead of the community good.”

Opponents to the Hills at Vallco plan and supporters of Measure C lamented the possible loss of a large retail center and have expressed concern about the mega project’s impact on the city. A group of concerned residents responded by banding together and launching an initiative campaign in November last year to thwart the Hills project. The group, which called itself the Cupertino Residents for Sensible Zoning Action Committee, collected and submitted more than 3,700 valid signatures to the city clerk in early February. Measure C was born out of that process, and Measure D, officially known as the Vallco Town Center Initiative, came about in the spring in an attempt to bypass the city council and outflank Measure C.

Former mayor Richard Lowenthal, chair of the “No on Measure C” effort, was pleased to see the measure defeated.

“I’m happy to see it failed because I think it would have done very long-term damage to the Cupertino General Plan, and I didn’t want that to happen,” he said. “We avoided making some long-term problems … but now we need to reconcile the best we can. In particular, we need a more civil discussion about how to govern the city because it’s become uncivil. I’m all about helping our community play better together.”

Councilman Rod Sinks, who appeared to secure re-election on Tuesday, said he is looking forward to possible future Vallco projects returning to the council.

“I think the takeaway from the election is that our residents prefer the normal process of review and revision by the city’s expert planning staff, planning commission and city council, plus carefully crafted development agreements that compel developers to perform,” he said. “I hope that proponents of all these land use initiatives will stand down and let the normal process work. I do think most residents want to see redevelopment of Vallco, and hope that a new plan is forthcoming that goes through our normal process.”

When the Vallco project was unveiled a year ago, Sand Hill pledged a list of “community benefits” and “environmental design features” if the project were approved. Roughly $40 million was pledged for local school districts, $30 million for interchange improvements, a bicycle and pedestrian trail, a community shuttle, an event hall and more.

Editor Matt Wilson contributed to this report