Coyote Valley
Encyclopedia
Coyote Valley is a large expanse of farmland, orchards and homes, approximately 7200 acres (2,914 ha) in size, located in a narrowing of the Santa Clara Valley
, in the southernmost part of San Jose, California
. The Coyote Valley is targeted for urban development and until March 2008 was undergoing the State of California Specific Plan process in which master planning of the area began. The process was intended to analyze the feasibility of bringing new development to the area, with the participation of planners, environmentalists, engineers, and the general public. Although the North and the Mid-Coyote Valley areas have been planned for urban development since 1961, much controversy surrounds the proposal to build in this valley, which is considered by many to be the last remaining "untouched" open area within San Jose, and an open space buffer between the urban City of San Jose and the northward expanding City of Morgan Hill
.
Currently, Coyote Valley is home to large areas of orchard
s and farms, although that scene has been expected to change for decades. The Dahlin Group, based in San Ramon, California
, was chosen by the City of San Jose to create a master plan for the area. Dahlin Group's Conceptual Plan calls for at least 50,000 jobs and 25,000 homes, an international garden, a 54 acres (21.9 ha) central lake, a hub and spoke Bus Rapid Transit system, and a green belt
between the new town and Morgan Hill.
Citing costs and delays, developers stopped funding the planning process in March 2008.
, or DEIR was released in March 2007. San Jose is the only city in Santa Clara County
that allows developers to hand pick the environmental consultants who write the environmental impact reports for proposed projects. They can hire the companies directly, and hand in the reports with their application. When the DEIR was unveiled to the public, an unprecedented amount of criticism was generated with more than 1,000 pages of negative comments. These objections came from 55 organizations and individuals, and 28 public agencies including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The city decided to commission the remake of much of the Draft EIR. The revision work and other planning costs was estimated at 2.5 million dollars and to take over a year to complete. This controversy led to many residents of San Jose to call for an end to San Jose’s developer-controlled environmental impact reports.
City of San Jose Documents
Articles
The Committee for Green Foothills
disputes this analysis, arguing that because household income has only increased 1% above inflation annually in San Jose, it is impossible for the cost of housing to continuously increase faster than the means to pay for housing costs. The Committee also argues the Draft Analysis overestimates income by failing to account for tax revenues "cannibalized" by businesses moving from other parts of San Jose to Coyote Valley.
Other proposed developments remain possible in Coyote Valley, including the previously approved, but never built, Coyote Valley Research Park, and the proposed Gavilan College
campus.
Santa Clara Valley
The Santa Clara Valley is a valley just south of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California in the United States. Much of Santa Clara County and its county seat, San José, are in the Santa Clara Valley. The valley was originally known as the Valley of Heart’s Delight for its high concentration...
, in the southernmost part of San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
. The Coyote Valley is targeted for urban development and until March 2008 was undergoing the State of California Specific Plan process in which master planning of the area began. The process was intended to analyze the feasibility of bringing new development to the area, with the participation of planners, environmentalists, engineers, and the general public. Although the North and the Mid-Coyote Valley areas have been planned for urban development since 1961, much controversy surrounds the proposal to build in this valley, which is considered by many to be the last remaining "untouched" open area within San Jose, and an open space buffer between the urban City of San Jose and the northward expanding City of Morgan Hill
Morgan Hill, California
Morgan Hill is a city located in the southern part of Santa Clara County, California, United States. Founded on November 10, 1906, the city was named after Hiram Morgan Hill, a San Franciscan who built a country retreat home there in 1884...
.
Currently, Coyote Valley is home to large areas of orchard
Orchard
An orchard is an intentional planting of trees or shrubs that is maintained for food production. Orchards comprise fruit or nut-producing trees which are grown for commercial production. Orchards are also sometimes a feature of large gardens, where they serve an aesthetic as well as a productive...
s and farms, although that scene has been expected to change for decades. The Dahlin Group, based in San Ramon, California
San Ramon, California
-2010 census:The 2010 United States Census reported that San Ramon had a population of 72,148. The population density was 3,991.1 people per square mile...
, was chosen by the City of San Jose to create a master plan for the area. Dahlin Group's Conceptual Plan calls for at least 50,000 jobs and 25,000 homes, an international garden, a 54 acres (21.9 ha) central lake, a hub and spoke Bus Rapid Transit system, and a green belt
Green belt
A green belt or greenbelt is a policy and land use designation used in land use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wild, or agricultural land surrounding or neighbouring urban areas. Similar concepts are greenways or green wedges which have a linear character and may run through an...
between the new town and Morgan Hill.
Citing costs and delays, developers stopped funding the planning process in March 2008.
Environmental impacts of development
To determine the effects of development in the Coyote Valley, a Draft Environmental Impact ReportEnvironmental impact assessment
An environmental impact assessment is an assessment of the possible positive or negative impact that a proposed project may have on the environment, together consisting of the natural, social and economic aspects....
, or DEIR was released in March 2007. San Jose is the only city in Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County, California
Santa Clara County is a county located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 it had a population of 1,781,642. The county seat is San Jose. The highly urbanized Santa Clara Valley within Santa Clara County is also known as Silicon Valley...
that allows developers to hand pick the environmental consultants who write the environmental impact reports for proposed projects. They can hire the companies directly, and hand in the reports with their application. When the DEIR was unveiled to the public, an unprecedented amount of criticism was generated with more than 1,000 pages of negative comments. These objections came from 55 organizations and individuals, and 28 public agencies including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The city decided to commission the remake of much of the Draft EIR. The revision work and other planning costs was estimated at 2.5 million dollars and to take over a year to complete. This controversy led to many residents of San Jose to call for an end to San Jose’s developer-controlled environmental impact reports.
City of San Jose Documents
- 10/18/2007 City of San Jose Memorandum: Update on Scope, Schedule and Budget for Revision and Recirculation of the Coyote Valley Specific Plan Draft Environmental Impact Report.
- 03/30/2007 Coyote Valley Specific Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
- 06/29/2007 Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) Comments Received
Articles
Fiscal analysis
The Draft Fiscal Analysis for Coyote Valley development concludes that San Jose will make more money in tax revenues from development than it will spend on providing government services. It reaches this conclusion by assuming that residential property values and resulting taxes will increase 3% above inflation every year for 57 years.The Committee for Green Foothills
Committee for Green Foothills
The Committee for Green Foothills is a local-level nonprofit environmental organization working to protect open space and habitat in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, located in the San Francisco Bay Area of California.-History:...
disputes this analysis, arguing that because household income has only increased 1% above inflation annually in San Jose, it is impossible for the cost of housing to continuously increase faster than the means to pay for housing costs. The Committee also argues the Draft Analysis overestimates income by failing to account for tax revenues "cannibalized" by businesses moving from other parts of San Jose to Coyote Valley.
Developers end Specific Plan
On March 18, 2008, the developer/landowners in Coyote Valley announced they would no longer fund the Specific Plan process, which terminates that planning process. Developers cited the costs and delays in planning, while news reports noted increased political opposition. Environmental groups claimed they found grossly inadequate environmental and fiscal analyses and claimed those flaws were factors that contributed to end the current proposal.Other proposed developments remain possible in Coyote Valley, including the previously approved, but never built, Coyote Valley Research Park, and the proposed Gavilan College
Gavilan College
Gavilan College is a community college located in Gilroy, California.The college was established in 1919 as the San Benito County Junior College. It operated as such until 1963, when a new community college district was drawn that included both San Benito County and southern Santa Clara County...
campus.
See also
- Metcalf Energy CenterMetcalf Energy CenterThe Metcalf Energy Center is a 600 megawatt combined cycle power plant located in South San Jose, California in an area known as Coyote Valley. The power plant is owned by Calpine and powered by natural gas...
A 600 megawatt power plant located in the northern section of Coyote Valley.