The developer of a proposed industrial project facing public uproar said Oct. 22 that the company is willing to modify its plans based on the overwhelming amount of feedback it has received.
The Morgan Hill Planning Commission held its second public hearing in as many weeks on Trammell Crow Company’s Morgan Hill Technology Park proposal, located adjacent to De Paul Health Center, just off the intersection of Cochrane Road and De Paul Drive.
Plans submitted show three buildings, at 191,160 square feet, 320,340 square feet and 533,220 square feet. Conceptual drawings show a total of 734 parking stalls, as well as 192 loading bays, which have led opponents to believe it will pave the way for a large-scale distribution center on the property.
Will Parker, principal of Trammell Crow’s Northern California Business Unit, said the feedback the company received at the Oct. 15 planning commission meeting was received positively.
Following that meeting, Parker said Trammell Crow officials met to discuss modifications to the third, and largest, building. The building could be broken up into two or three smaller buildings, he said, and most of the trailer parking spots on the perimeter of the site could be eliminated.
“This would make it more in line with the average building size in Morgan Hill,” Parker said. “We are seriously considering these options because we heard from the community. We need to develop the concept further, but I wanted to share it with you in this forum tonight.”
Parker added that the draft environmental impact report, expected to be released in December, would address many of the concerns brought up by residents, such as traffic.
“It is clear that a number of speakers are coming from a constructive direction of improving the project,” he said. “We appreciate all the comments.”
Similar to the meeting on Oct. 15, it was standing-room-only in the city council chambers. But since the meeting was a continuation from last week’s hearing, commission chair Juan Miguel Munoz Morris limited the public comment period to 30 minutes, and only six spoke during that time.
Charles Hubbard, who lives near the site, said during public comment that the proposal is an opportunity to “define what our city is going to be.”
“This is the jewel of Silicon Valley,” he said. “Let’s keep it that way. If we get it wrong, this becomes Tracy, this becomes Turlock. Not that there’s anything wrong with those towns, we just didn’t decide to live there.”
Dan Flynn of Morgan Hill said he felt Trammell Crow was presenting conflicting plans for the project. The project is described as an advanced manufacturing center, he said, but the drawings appear to be a warehouse distribution center.
“I suggest they resubmit drawings that don’t represent a warehouse distribution center, but actually reflect what they say they are going to do,” Flynn said.
Michael Roberts of Morgan Hill said Trammell Crow “could care less about us.”
“We live here in Morgan Hill all together,” he said. “These people don’t. I can guarantee you they don’t even live near one of their own projects.”
Commissioner Liam Downey said that although he was still confused on what the project actually entails, due to its conceptual nature, he said he supported more advanced manufacturing jobs in Morgan Hill. More tax revenue, which Trammell Crow estimates at $700,000 annually, would be a major benefit to the city, he added.
“We deal with the realities and strains like every city in California on how expensive it is to run a city,” Downey said. “I would definitely say I would be OK with some zoning amendments to allow that type of development.”
Commissioner Mohammed Habib said he was encouraged by the developer’s willingness to modify the project.
“I would like to see that documented so it’s something we can enforce,” he said.
Commissioner Malisha Kumar told Trammell Crow representatives sitting in the front row of the council chambers that “you need to do your homework,” citing conflicting statements on possible salary numbers and conceptual drawings. She also said she felt the company should have a better knowledge of which tenants are interested in the project.
“We need more transparency,” she said. “I took a tour of an Amazon distribution center yesterday. It’s the same conceptual building you gave to us. You can only draw so many conclusions.”
