Casino concerns have overtaken much of the land use debate in
the South Valley, but to the north another major project in
planning will be sparking debate for years to come: Coyote Valley.
The city of San Jose would like to see 25,000 new homes go in and
is hoping to lure businesses into the area to create 50,000 jobs in
town, too. The centerpiece of this vision for mixed use will be a
60 square acre artificial lake.
Casino concerns have overtaken much of the land use debate in the South Valley, but to the north another major project in planning will be sparking debate for years to come: Coyote Valley. The city of San Jose would like to see 25,000 new homes go in and is hoping to lure businesses into the area to create 50,000 jobs in town, too. The centerpiece of this vision for mixed use will be a 60 square acre artificial lake.
It’s an idea that’s been tried by other cities with varying degrees of success. In Orange County, Lake Mission Viejo’s views command top dollar for homes, but it’s still a commuter’s hideaway rather than a well-integrated city. Conversely, in San Antonio, Texas, the construction of a river walk filled with restaurants, shops and cantinas has been a booming success with tourists and locals, who often rent out river boats for floating dinner parties. The spot’s success has spawned imitators across the country.
In the case of Coyote Valley, the lake would be a mostly decorative element, according to Russ Danielson, a member of the Coyote Valley Commission since June 2002.
“Water in the lake will be reclaimed water, so it’s not designed to be a recreational lake,” said Danielson, a South San Jose resident and Morgan Hill business owner. “We are planning on keeping one acre separate from the rest and having that be extremely good, purified water for swimming and water activities.”
The committee is also planning on installing a natural liner – a clay barrier of some sort probably – to keep lake water and ground water from mixing.
“This isn’t something that will be mixing with the creeks in the area – Fischer or Coyote – either,” said Danielson. “It would be built to 10 year flood standards, so there is still the question, I guess, of how we drain that.”
The point may be moot according to Melanie Richardson, an assistant operating officer in water supply management for the Santa Clara Valley Water District.
“In California we like to use the word recycled, but all water is recycled in some form,” said Richardson. “If we do use it in the lake, the water district is recommending that it be advance treated. That means reverse osmosis and advance treatments that would make it pretty safe to drain directly.
“You won’t have water quality problems. Almaden Lake has some problems – I’ve heard of farmers getting rashes and having skin problems – but that’s not as high quality water as we’re considering putting in Coyote Valley and it doesn’t have a liner.”
Planners are hoping to attract birds to the area for part of the year, but the spot will probably not become a stop on the Pacific Flyway, a sort of aerial highway for migrating birds.
“The artificial lake will have birds, there’s no doubt about it,” said Craig Breon, executive director of the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society in Cupertino. “Whether or not you have migrating birds is another question, the reason being that the lake is going to be surrounded by human usage. If you put high-rise buildings around it, it’s going to be difficult for the birds to see from the air.”
Breon said residents will more likely see a fixed population of Canada geese and ducks move into the area, deciding not to leave because they’ve been fed. Migrating birds may be more attracted to the area, he said, if the extreme north and south ends of the lake are kept free of tall buildings for easier visibility.
Despite attempts at careful planning, some government watchers are still wary of the lake plan.
“Is it really necessary?” asked Jeremy Madsen, field director for the San Francisco office of the Greenbelt Alliance. “The city is saying that we need it for flood control and we’re wondering if it couldn’t be done in some more natural way. There’s a lot of things that people want out of the Coyote Valley Area. If it’s simply there for aesthetics and it causes something else that’s worthwhile not to happen, I don’t think we need the lake.”
