Next Tuesday, September 23, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors will decide whether to overturn decades of settled land use policy and allow a rural landowner to subdivide his property into more than the allowed number of lots. Please join me and ask the board to deny this application. (If you think you’ve heard this before, you’re not imagining it. This was originally scheduled for last December, but delayed until now.)
What You Can Do:
Let the board know that you want them to protect the hillsides and:
1. Send an email to the Clerk of the Board: [email protected]
Supervisor Mike Wasserman: [email protected]
Supervisor Cindy Chavez: [email protected]
Supervisor Dave Cortese: [email protected]
Supervisor Ken Yeager: [email protected]
Supervisor Joe Simitian: [email protected]
2. Join me and speak at the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors meeting:
Tuesday, September 23, 9:30am
County Government Center, Board of Supervisors’ Chambers (1st floor)
70 W. Hedding Street
San Jose, CA 95110
What’s Happening:
For the past several decades, the County of Santa Clara has had policies in place restricting development in rural areas. With the specter of suburban sprawl always in sight, the county has determined to keep rural areas rural. This is based on their belief that scenic views, woodland and creek habitat, plenty of farmland to grow local crops, and low traffic, noise and air pollution, are an important part of what makes this area beautiful and ensures a high quality of life for residents.
The owner of the property at the corner of Uvas and Watsonville Roads is asking for an amendment to the Santa Clara County General Plan to allow him to build up to 12 houses on this 60-acre parcel in the rural area west of Morgan Hill, rather than the 3 houses that are currently allowed there. However, the Santa Clara County General Plan clearly requires that this greater level of housing density be allowed only as “infill” in areas where the housing is already at that level. If the Board of Supervisors approves this application, it will be an unprecedented reversal of decades of established county policy as well as a clear contradiction of unambiguous general plan requirements.
This issue is important not so much for the fate of this individual site, but for the principle it embodies. As the economy recovers, development pressures, which were reduced for several years, have begun to increase. The rolling hills of Santa Clara County, which provide beautiful views, hiking and camping opportunities, and habitat for wildlife, will be in increased jeopardy of sprawling development.
Thanks for joining me and speaking up to protect our hillsides. Your voice does make a difference.
Alice Kaufman
Legislative Advocate
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