Volume 3 • Issue 23
November 22, 2021
A Historic Moment: Coyote Valley Finally Protected From Urban Development by: Alice Kaufman Last week, San Jose took a historic step by declaring Coyote Valley a place for open space and farmland. The unanimous vote by the San Jose City Council reversed decades of misguided planning policy and declared over 3,000 acres of open space off-limits to urban development. We thank the City Council, staff, and all our environmental, tribal, and community partners for their efforts in achieving this landmark moment! City Council Decision Signals New Era for Aerial image of Coyote Valley looking west. Photo by Derek Neumann Coyote Valley The City Council voted unanimously on almost never happens due Liccardo, Vice Mayor Matt Mahan. November 16 to change to the immense pressure Chappie Jones, and San Jose City Council the General Plan land to continue approving Councilmembers Sergio Chooses Climate use designation in sprawl development. The Jimenez, Raul Peralez, Resilience Over North Coyote Valley City Council deserves David Cohen, Magdalena Warehouses and Sprawl from industrial to open Carrasco, Dev Davis, credit for standing up to The importance of the space and agriculture, Maya Esparza, Sylvia that pressure and instead Council’s decision was and removed the Urban protecting Coyote Valley Arenas, Pam Foley, and highlighted by the fact Reserve designation from for its wildlife habitat and Mid Coyote Valley. The connectivity, flood and decision to “downzone” groundwater protection, North Coyote Valley in ability to produce locally this way was a nearly grown food, and climate unprecedented step. resilience benefits. Although cities have Please join us the legal right to change in thanking the City www.cdm.org land use and zoning, this Council: Mayor Sam
that a developer submitted a last-minute proposal for a massive, Amazon-style warehouse on the site of the popular Spina Farms cornfield, farmstand and pumpkin patch in North Coyote Valley. Although the warehouse proposal itself was not up for approval at that point, a vote to retain the industrial land use would have clearly signaled the Council’s intent to allow such a use. The removal of the Urban Reserve designation means that Mid Coyote Valley also will no longer be threatened with urban development. While North Coyote Valley is within city limits, Mid Coyote Valley is in the County’s jurisdiction and has always been zoned for agriculture. [Continued on Page 13]