Dear Editor,
Thank you for the update on where the City of San Jose is with
the Coyote Valley Specific plan. A couple of the comments quoted in
your story merit further clarification.
Dear Editor,

Thank you for the update on where the City of San Jose is with the Coyote Valley Specific plan. A couple of the comments quoted in your story merit further clarification.

– Ms. Hippard is correct that the depth of the water table in Coyote Valley is an environmental condition that must be carefully considered. The environmental impact report (EIR), which is due out this fall, will have a detailed evaluation of the existing water conditions and how the project plans to address them. However, it should be mentioned that the plan includes the Santa Clara Valley Water District’s use of “advance treated water” in a new, $80-million, state-of-the-art facility, which will purify all outdoor irrigation water before it enters the aquifer. In addition, all storm water run-off will be treated through the use of environmentally friendly, naturally vegetated “bioswales” before entering the aquifer.

– Supervisor Gage’s comment about the viability of housing and the potential for changing markets is another issue well anticipated in the plan. Coyote Valley housing is not being created for the mini-mansion crowd. Over 60 percent of for-sale housing in the plan is projected to be priced at or below the Santa Clara County median. The average density of homes in the plan is 18 units to the acre. Over 20 percent of the homes will be “affordable” under state and local guidelines, reaching families of moderate, low, and even extremely low incomes. The fiscal analysis for Coyote Valley conservatively assumes an average annual real growth rate of 3 percent in home prices. Some years will be higher, some will be lower, but history supports this is a more than reasonable assumption.

– Coyote Valley will offer highly attractive amenities that employers are looking for, and there will continue to be demand for housing in the Bay Area. Full build out is more likely to occur over 20 to 25 years. Nevertheless, the fiscal report for Coyote Valley, which projects an impressive $67 million net annual surplus, indicates Coyote Valley should indeed be a “cash cow” for the City.

Finally, I can tell you that the Coyote Valley Specific Plan is moving along with good speed. Remember, we are undertaking an extraordinary challenge: planning a 21st century community from the ground up. The necessary attention to details requires flexible expectations. Everyone concerned about Coyote Valley’s future should be reassured that this community is being done right.

Kerry Williams, Palo Alto

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