The developer of a proposed industrial complex in northern Morgan Hill has revised its plans after receiving hundreds of comments and hours of public testimony against the project.
Whether its efforts were successful or not in quelling public concern will be known when the Morgan Hill Planning Commission reviews the plans on Dec. 10.
Trammell Crow Company’s Morgan Hill Technology Center proposal is located adjacent to De Paul Health Center, just off the intersection of Cochrane Road and De Paul Drive near Highway 101.
New plans submitted to the city show six buildings, ranging in size from 79,900 square feet to 219,600 square feet. Original plans proposed three buildings, at 191,160 square feet, 320,340 square feet and 533,220 square feet.
Total square footage of the site remains roughly the same, at 1,044,600 square feet.
According to documents provided by Pipkin Marsh Advisors, a public relations firm hired by Trammell Crow, trailer storage that was previously located along the site’s perimeter has been eliminated, and the number of service doors have been “substantially reduced” to 124.
Earlier conceptual drawings showed a total of 734 parking stalls, as well as 192 loading bays.
“We hope these fundamental changes give the community confidence that our goal with this project is to bring more and better jobs to Morgan Hill, along with expansion opportunities for local and regional businesses and in a way that is aligned with the city’s Economic Blueprint and 2035 General Plan,” Trammell Crow officials wrote in a document unveiling the revised plans.
Will Parker, principal of Trammell Crow’s Northern California Business Unit, told the planning commission on Oct. 22 that the feedback the company received at a previous public meeting led to the modified plans.
Trammell Crow’s website for the project, morganhilltechcenter.com, describes the proposal as an “advanced manufacturing and research business park.” In the “Get the Facts” section of the website, Trammell Crow responds to claims made by the proposal’s opponents. The size of the project has led many residents to believe that online retail giant Amazon will open a distribution center at the site, which the developer has disputed.
“Trammell Crow Company does not have a tenant and has proposed building the business park on a speculative basis,” the website states. “Preliminary discussions have been held with one high-tech manufacturer about leasing one building in the development, but we believe that firm has chosen to pursue an existing building in another city.”
On its Facebook page, citizens group Morgan Hill Responsible Growth Coalition urged opponents of the project to attend the Dec. 10 meeting.
The meeting will be held at 7pm in the City Council Chambers, 17555 Peak Ave.
