The Greenbelt Alliance’s blueprint for developing Coyote Valley,
a passing point for the thousands of San Benito County commuters,
is a splendid starting point for South Valley residents, agencies
and organizations that will be affected by growth in the now-rural
region of south San Jose.
The Greenbelt Alliance’s blueprint for developing Coyote Valley, a passing point for the thousands of San Benito County commuters, is a splendid starting point for South Valley residents, agencies and organizations that will be affected by growth in the now-rural region of south San Jose.
The Greenbelt Alliance’s vision for the area includes 25,000 housing units for up to 80,000 people, employers providing up to 50,000 jobs, plans ahead for school facility sites and emphasizes mass transit.
And, although some may quibble with the details – we’re not alone in endorsing Greenbelt Alliance’s plan.
“They’re right on, frankly,” John Sobrato, chairman of the Sobrato Development Corp., which owns 300 acres at the corner of Bailey and Santa Teresa, said of the plan.
We encourage region politicians and area school boards, whose boundaries extend into South San Jose, to get involved in the process for planning Coyote Valley early.
The city of San Jose has already appointed a Coyote Valley specific plan task force to craft a detailed vision for Coyote Valley. We encourage them to take a close look at the suggestions offered by Greenbelt Alliance.
The current recession has slowed development in Coyote Valley – Cisco’s plans for a mammoth campus, for example, have been delayed by the slow economy. Let’s take advantage of the time the recession affords us to plan thoughtful development that will give the area jobs and housing together, that will minimize traffic and negative environmental impacts, that will plan for schools located near the students who will attend them.
Development in Coyote Valley will have a great impact within Morgan Hill’s borders and beyond to our county. The development will be felt not only by area public schools, but by police and fire services, healthcare systems, businesses and residents. It will bring additional customers to the region, and attract businesses that might otherwise not count enough “rooftops” to meet their demographic criteria.
Even though Coyote Valley is on the San Jose side of the line, whatever changes occur there will greatly impact the rest of South Valley.
The Greenbelt Alliance vision for Coyote Valley is a good step in making sure development there is beneficial to us all.
