As the Urban Limit Line committee closes in on a final greenbelt
line around the city, we want to weigh in on what we think is good
and not so good. First of all, the idea itself is terrific. Morgan
Hill has grown from wild farm and ranch land where grizzly bears
were the biggest threat to a relatively tame place to raise kids in
a safe and congenial atmosphere
– where skateboard accidents and fender benders are more
common.
As the Urban Limit Line committee closes in on a final greenbelt line around the city, we want to weigh in on what we think is good and not so good. First of all, the idea itself is terrific. Morgan Hill has grown from wild farm and ranch land where grizzly bears were the biggest threat to a relatively tame place to raise kids in a safe and congenial atmosphere – where skateboard accidents and fender benders are more common.
Enough open space remains to evoke those cowboy and farming days, though it would be a shame to see it developed into a sea of rooftops with no room for the odd horse, llama or goat. Most of the east and west hills are reasonably undeveloped, and, where there are houses, there are also well-grown trees to help them blend into the hillside. Most people, though, live on the flatland and look out and up at the hills, green or golden (California’s colors), depending on month and rainfall. A poll taken several years ago showed that a huge number of residents wanted it to stay this way.
But, imagine, if you owned a piece of land outside the greenbelt line. Your property would be destined to stay undeveloped so flatland residents can enjoy looking at it. But this also means you can’t sell it for housing or much else except agricultural land. And if your land were within the greenbelt itself you would have similar problems.
Ag land brings in far less money than developers are willing to pay for residential land, since they can get so much more out of it. A 5-bedroom, 4-bath house is far more lucrative than carrots, peppers or hay. And imagine that you were planning to use the sale of that land to underwrite your retirement or your kids’ college education. This is a real dilemma furthered by the fact that the city doesn’t really have money to buy either the land or the development rights from potential greenbelt owners.
This dilemma also has complicated the ULL committee’s work since a large number of committee members own property on the disputed east side and would be directly affected by where the line is drawn. It was, perhaps, not the wisest move on the city’s part to compose the committee in this fashion.
However, victory could still be snatched from the jaws of contention if the city were to find a way to compensate the property owners. Agencies such as the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority, of which Morgan Hill is a tax-paying member, and the nonprofit Land Trust have helped fund other cities’ purchase open space land and should be asked to climb on board. It is the Open Space Authority’s job to buy this very same type of land.
Let’s engage these agencies to help Morgan Hill save its rural treasure without punishing property owners who happen to have drawn the short straws in the location lottery. As ULL committee member Mark Grzan told the committee a few weeks ago, “Once it’s gone, it’s gone.” The next ULL committee meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8, in the Morgan Hill Community Center. Details: 779-7271.
To respond to this editorial or comment on this issue, please send or bring letters to Editor, The Morgan Hill Times, 30 E. Third St., Morgan Hill, CA 95037, fax to 779-3886 or e-mail to
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