The Morgan Hill City Council has a busy evening lined up for April 19, with two workshops starting at 5 p.m. followed by a regular meeting that features discussions—and potential decisions—on such hot topics as residential development allowances, the long-planned Economic Blueprint and a review of the downtown Sunsweet mixed-use project.
Toward the end of the lengthy meeting agenda, the council will consider how many total housing allotments to issue to developers for the 2019-20 fiscal year, under the city’s Residential Development Control System.
The 2019-20 competition for housing units is the first under Measure S, the growth control update approved by voters in November 2016 that caps annual allotments at 215, and the city’s total population at 58,200, until 2035. The measure allows the council to set each year’s maximum housing units below 215. In fact, the Morgan Hill Planning Commission on March 14 recommended the maximum for 2019-20 be set at 200 units.
At the April 19 meeting, the council will consider whether to approve the planning commission’s recommendation, or approve a higher or lower number (up to 215) of housing units for 2019-20. The council will also consider other policy changes to “non-voter approved” sections of Measure S.
Sunsweet project
The council will consider site, architectural and landscaping plans for the Sunsweet mixed-use, 83-unit residential and commercial project on East Third Street.
Developer Republic Properties is requesting the approvals for the 1.65-acre site that stretches on the south side of Third Street from just east of the new downtown garage to Depot Street.
The project plans include the residential apartments for rent, as well as more than 8,000 square feet of commercial space.
In February, the council approved a planned development zoning for the property, which is owned by Rocke and Glenda Garcia.
Settlement with LAFCO
In response to a settlement with an outside agency that threatened litigation against Morgan Hill, the council April 19 will also consider adopting a policy that adds an extra layer of review, beyond the Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan Update, for future annexation projects.
In August 2016, the Santa Clara County Local Agency Formation Commission voted to pursue litigation against the City of Morgan Hill because LAFCO felt the Morgan Hill 2035 Environmental Impact Report was inadequate.
The city and LAFCO entered discussions to avoid litigation, and came up with a settlement agreement that requires the city to implement an “Annexation EIR” before proposing any future annexation requests, according to a city staff report. The Annexation EIR would conduct further environmental review “prior to the consideration of Urban Service Area amendments and/or annexation of property located within the city’s Urban Growth Boundary.”
The Annexation EIR also “shall not tier from, or rely in any way, on the Morgan Hill 2035 EIR,” the staff report continues. It will also be required to include a water supply assessment of potential annexed lands, as well as an assessment of the city’s water and wastewater infrastructure master plans.
At the April 19 meeting, the council will consider adopting the Annexation EIR process. As an alternative, the council could decide to wait until the county’s Climate and Agricultural Protection Program is complete before adopting the Annexation EIR process.
The only imminent annexation proposal identified in the April 19 council meeting staff report is that of the Catholic High School in the area of Tennant and Murphy avenues. The developer, the San Jose Diocese, will likely ask the city to annex the property “no later than early 2019.”
Preparation of an Annexation EIR is estimated to cost $200,000 in consultants’ fees, and take at least eight months to complete.
Economic Blueprint
The council will also consider passage of the Economic Blueprint draft released by city staff last week. This document, which will also be the subject of a 5:30 council workshop just before the regular meeting, is a long-term plan for how city staff and community members can work together to guide economic development and job creation efforts for the future.
Other April 19 agenda items
• Starting at 5 p.m., the council will conduct a workshop on the city’s Below Market Rate housing percentages, to “discuss how the city creates affordable housing through the (RDCS).” The workshop will also consider whether the council wants to modify the “8 percent on-site BMR provision in the RDCS,” according to the city staff report.
• On the consent calendar of the 7 p.m. regular meeting, the council will consider adopting a resolution remembering the victims of the Holocaust and acknowledging the Days of Remembrance which fall on April 23 to April 30.
• The council will also consider adopting a resolution “encouraging the celebration of the month of June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning Pride Month.”
• A final map approval of the Dunne Murphy residential development is also on the consent calendar.
To see the full April 19 council meeting agenda, visit morganhill.ca.gov. The BMR workshop will start at 5 p.m., followed by the Economic Blueprint workshop. The regular council meeting will start at 7 p.m. All proceedings will take place at 17575 Peak Ave.
