As detailed planning to develop Coyote Valley comes down to the
wire, South Valley governments and agencies are making a final stab
at controlling the fallout affecting them. Residents who own
property in the Coyote Valley greenbelt are meeting to have their
concerns heard as well.
As detailed planning to develop Coyote Valley comes down to the wire, South Valley governments and agencies are making a final stab at controlling the fallout affecting them. Residents who own property in the Coyote Valley greenbelt are meeting to have their concerns heard as well.
Up the road, a final public workshop, put on Saturday by the City of San Jose, will gather public opinion on which of three plans should be sent to San Jose City Council for its consideration. The three plans and the workshop results, plus reports by greenbelt property owners and South Valley officials will all be discussed Monday night by the full Coyote Valley Specific Plan Task Force.
This Wednesday, cities of Morgan Hill and Gilroy, the Morgan Hill School District, Gavilan College, San Martin Neighborhood Alliance and the Open Space Authority will meet to review what their efforts have achieved so far, discuss the developing plan’s progress and itemize future steps which will include a second meeting with San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales.
When fully developed Coyote Valley is expected to provide 50,000 housing units, 25,000 jobs and 80,000 new people to the area.
The 7,000-acre site is divided into three areas: industrial closest to Bernal Road, residential in the middle and greenbelt space closest to Morgan Hill. It is largely bounded by Highway 101 and the foothills west of Santa Teresa Boulevard.
Because of use restrictions on greenbelt property, owners will not be able to seek the lucrative prices residential or industrial property owners may receive and they have banded together to see what they can do, possibly having residential and industrial property sales contribute to a fund that would buy greenbelt property or easements.
They are also concerned about the population density that will descend on the largely open space area.
Jon Hoefling is part of a 45-house group called Southern Urban Reserve Residents Group S.U.R.R.G.
“The planned density will make Coyote Valley the second most densely populated area in Northern America, second only to Manhattan,” Hoefling said in a press release. “80,000 people is more than the populations of Morgan Hill and Gilroy combined.”
S.U.R.R.G. and the South Valley officials – and residents – have, since planning speed picked up two years ago, have objected to the City of San Jose making decisions that will affect them.
• South Valley agencies meet Wednesday, Aug. 11, 4 p.m. at the Community Center, 17000 Monterey Road. Details: 779-7271.
• The Community Workshop, Saturday, Aug. 14, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at at the Coyote Creek Golf Club, located at One Coyote Creek Golf Club Drive, right off the Highway 101. The public is encouraged to attend and should RSVP to Sal Yakubu, sa***********@*******ca.gov; Susan Walsh, su*********@*******ca.gov; or 277-4576.
• Task Force meets Monday, Aug. 16, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at 151 W. Mission St., Room 202 a&b, San Jose. It will hold a retreat on Monday, Aug. 30, 5:30-9 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library, 150 E. San Fernando St. Details: 277-4576.
Carol Holzgrafe covers City Hall for The Times. She can be reached by e-mail at ch********@*************es.com or phoning (408) 779-4106 Ext. 201.
