MORGAN HILL
– Coming off a successful meeting with several different
agencies regarding the development of Coyote Valley, the City
Council Wednesday discussed suing San Jose if unhappy with the
results of a future meeting between the two cities’ officials.
MORGAN HILL – Coming off a successful meeting with several different agencies regarding the development of Coyote Valley, the City Council Wednesday discussed suing San Jose if unhappy with the results of a future meeting between the two cities’ officials.
And as word begins to spread in the community about the challenges the Morgan Hill School District will face with the future development north of Morgan Hill, School Board trustees are seizing the opportunity to learn more about the district’s options.
San Jose is planning on creating 50,000 jobs and building 25,000 houses for 80,000 people who will live and work just miles from Morgan Hill.
One option is that the district give up the northern portion of the district that extends into south San Jose.
Meanwhile, Mayor Dennis Kennedy announced Wedneday that San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales had accepted an invitation to talk to the South Valley stakeholders, and several people on the Coyote Valley Specific Plan Task Force – the group responsible for planning the valley – have noticed the unrest.
Ever since the South Valley was denied representation on the main task force, the council has been trying to get a seat at the planning table or, at least, a voice.
The school district is represented on the task force by Russ Danielson, a former school board member and San Jose resident who owns a Morgan Hill business. He was appointed while on the school board.
Councilman Greg Sellers had asked the city attorney to review legal recourse if, down the line, Morgan Hill decided it needed to follow that path. City Manager Ed Tewes reported back Wednesday.
“We have looked at all the legal avenues and requirements but the situation may not meet them,” Tewes said. Sellers said council should decide just how strongly they felt about the issue.
Councilman Steve Tate was one who felt strongly but wanted to stop short of threatening lawsuits.
“We should be working on getting participation, showing the impacts on us,” Tate said. “Tell San Jose that if they make poor decisions they may force us to act.”
Two weeks ago Mayor Dennis Kennedy convened a workshop – which he is calling a “summit” – with representatives from the City of Gilroy, Gavilan College, Morgan Hill School District, Open Space Authority, San Martin, plus Supervisor Gage. The group voiced their concerns and suggested ways to control some of the effects of the expected deluge of people.
“The workshop got Mayor Gonzales’ attention,” said Kennedy. “I’d rather pursue that course first (talking) and use legal (action) as a last resort.”
David Vossbrink, Gonzales’ public relations director, said Thursday that the San Jose mayor would be happy to meet with Kennedy and the others over Coyote Valley planning issues.
“The mayor wants as many voices involved as possible,” Vossbrink said.
A workshop has been scheduled at 6:15 p.m. on June 9, at the District Office, 15600 Concord Circle, for the purpose of discussing the Coyote Valley Specific Plan and the impact on schools.
