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2018
pRIDE PrOGRESS A SPECIAL SECTION OF THE MORGAN HILL TIMES
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morganhilltimes.com
Robert Eliason
GROWING EAST This view looking southeast from Santa Clara County’s South County Courthouse shows how Morgan Hill developments stretch into the distance.
What will Morgan Hill look like in 2030? MORE NEW RESIDENTS, INCREASED COMMUTERS, AND BETTER SERVICES ARE IN THE FUTURE Michael Moore Editor
In the coming years, Morgan Hill’s struggle to maintain its identity as a small town—against the odds of a growing regional population and a need for more local jobs—will continue. While the city and developers continue to rebuild Morgan Hill’s downtown—and, in fact, expand this retail center north and south along Monterey Road—the cries
from a vocal segment of in the amount of detail and the voting public to stop description, all envision a the building will grow future city that continues louder. At the same time, to feel like a “small town,” the will of the majority— but has successfully built who in 2016 overwhelm- up its public and business ingly voted to allow the infrastructure to comfortcity to grow its popula- ably manage the inevitation up to about 58,000 ble population growth that over the next 17 will occur over the years—steamrolls next decade-plus. along, as the beginAs of 2017, ning of construcMorgan Hill’s poption of new homes ulation was about on the few vacant 45,037, accordlands remaining in ing to U.S. Census town is a frequent estimates. From occurrence. 2010 (population A number of Christina Turner 37,882) to 2017, local commuthe city’s populanity leaders recently gave tion grew at a rate of just detailed answers to the under 2.5 percent. question posed by the While Measure S—the Times: What will Morgan city’s latest growth conHill look like in 2030? trol ordinance update While their answers varied approved by the voters in
2016—significantly slows documents—including that growth rate, the city’s the General Plan, public population could easily works master plans and surpass 55,000 by 2030. the Economic DevelopWith this growth ment Blueprint. will come the need The city’s future for more police, leadership is key to bigger roads, meeting the needs improved pubof a larger, more lic transportation, diverse population higher sewer and in 2030, accordwater capacity, ing to City Counexpanded fire sercilmember Larry vice and, ideally, Larry Carr Carr. more local jobs to “The things that cut down on commuter make Morgan Hill special traffic. will be the same,” Carr All of these increas- said. “New parks, more ing needs will in turn industry with good paying require more funding for jobs, beautiful homes that maintenance and opera- people can afford, exceltions. The city’s recogni- lent schools, a safe comtion of this necessary long- munity will all be things term response to the new we can expect. But none growth is illustrated in of this can change the various public planning people and the spirit of
Morgan Hill—and this is what makes Morgan Hill so special.” “By 2030, I hope we will have a new generation of leaders in Morgan Hill: A new generation with new ideas and new solutions to issues; leaders who represent our community in age, color, gender, orientation, affiliations; new leaders who approach the issues in our community with a passion for public service and the betterment of our community as their focus,” he said. “Morgan Hill will continue to be a special place.” Morgan Hill City Manager Christina Turner offered a detailed list of the city’s key characteristics in ➝ Progress 2030, 2