On October 29, the San Jose General Plan Task Force will have the opportunity to choose a new future for Coyote Valley — a future that’s focused on nature, not industrial development. Please email the Task Force to tell them to protect Coyote Valley!

A New Vision For Coyote Valley

Last year, the City of San Jose, together with the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority (OSA) and Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), acquired 937 acres of open space in North Coyote Valley for permanent conservation. This historic transaction ushered in a new era for Coyote Valley. The City Council unanimously stated that the plan for Coyote Valley’s future should focus on a comprehensive vision and set of goals that embrace nature and green infrastructure.

The San Jose General Plan process commenced soon afterwards, with a mandate from the City Council to discuss the long-term future of North and Mid Coyote Valley for open space and wildlife habitat, flood and groundwater protection, agriculture, climate change resilience, and passive recreation. 

On October 29, the General Plan Task Force will be asked to make recommendations to the City Council for how to change the General Plan to bring this new vision for Coyote Valley to fruition. We’re asking the Task Force to recommend amendments that will change the General Plan’s vision for Coyote Valley from industrial development to agriculture and open space.

Coyote Valley Is Still Being Threatened With Development

Although the preservation of 937 acres in 2019 was a landmark victory, there are still hundreds of acres of open space land in North Coyote Valley that are at risk of industrial development. In fact, several North Coyote Valley landowners are already demanding that the Task Force allow warehouses and other industrial development on their land — which is right across the street from the 937 acres that were purchased with taxpayer funding last year. Instead of having a rural farm across the street, San Jose’s new open space preserve would be across from a massive industrial operation, possibly with hundreds of heavy trucks rumbling past every day. Wildlife such as bobcats and coyotes (already at risk of being hit by cars on Monterey Highway) would have their passage blocked by truck traffic; Coyote Valley’s groundwater aquifer would be at risk of contamination; and we would lose yet more of our precious and dwindling prime farmland to sprawling development.

What You Can Do

Please ask the Task Force to protect Coyote Valley by recommending amendments that will change the General Plan’s vision for Coyote Valley from industrial development to agriculture and open space.