Morgan Hill officials have voted to send a letter rejecting San
Jose
’s vision for Coyote Valley development, citing concerns that
our giant neighbor to the north has failed to address traffic and
education concerns.
Morgan Hill officials have voted to send a letter rejecting San Jose’s vision for Coyote Valley development, citing concerns that our giant neighbor to the north has failed to address traffic and education concerns. We’d add air pollution to the list of deleterious affects the development will have in South Valley.
It is incumbent upon all South Valley leaders and citizens to remain vigilant in the fight for a Coyote Valley development plan that will not harm South Valley.
So far, with San Jose officials ignoring input from South Valley and disregarding the plan’s negative impacts on Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy, we’ve been unsuccessful.
But that doesn’t mean it’s time to give up the fight. In fact, we’d argue that now’s the time to step up the battle, perhaps by getting lawyers involved.
Yes, litigation can be expensive, but poorly planned development in the Coyote Valley will negatively impact South Valley for generations. So far, from planning for medical services (none) to schools (no representation on the planning task force for Gavilan Community College, which serves Coyote Valley) to outreach to heavily impacted neighboring communities (no representation for Morgan Hill or Gilroy officials); from traffic (what we’ve seen so far will clog Monterey Road and U.S. 101) to air pollution (air quality will likely decrease in South Valley as a result of Coyote Valley development, the news isn’t good.
The only bright light is that some area leaders believe that the long-shuttered Saint Louise Hospital in Morgan Hill might reopen with Coyote Valley development. There’s no plan in place for that, nor is there unanimous consent that Coyote Valley development will lead to increased medical services or a full-service hospital in Morgan Hill.
So, it’s up to Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy residents and their elected officials to keep the pressure on San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales, who seems to view Coyote Valley as a resume-builder for seeking higher office, and the task force to think of their South Valley neighbors now as they plan this development. And it should be clear that if South Valley’s needs aren’t met in the planning stages, we’ll be more than ready to meet San Jose in court.
It’s that important.
To respond to these editorials or comment on this issue, please send letters to Editor, The Morgan Hill Times, 30 E. Third St., Morgan Hill, CA 95037, fax to 779-3886 or email to ed******@mo*************.com
